King James Version

What Does Ezekiel 39:14 Mean?

Ezekiel 39:14 in the King James Version says “And they shall sever out men of continual employment, passing through the land to bury with the passengers those that re...” — study this verse from Ezekiel chapter 39 with commentary, cross-references, and original Hebrew word analysis.

“And they shall sever out men of continual employment, passing through the land to bury with the passengers those that remain upon the face of the earth, to cleanse it: after the end of seven months shall they search. men: Heb. men of continuance”

Ezekiel 39:14 · KJV

Context

12

And seven months shall the house of Israel be burying of them, that they may cleanse the land.

13

Yea, all the people of the land shall bury them; and it shall be to them a renown the day that I shall be glorified, saith the Lord GOD.

14

And they shall sever out men of continual employment, passing through the land to bury with the passengers those that remain upon the face of the earth, to cleanse it: after the end of seven months shall they search. men: Heb. men of continuance

15

And the passengers that pass through the land, when any seeth a man's bone, then shall he set up a sign by it, till the buriers have buried it in the valley of Hamongog. set up: Heb. build

16

And also the name of the city shall be Hamonah. Thus shall they cleanse the land. Hamonah: that is, The multitude

Read Ezekiel 39 full chapter

Commentary

KJV Study Commentary
They shall sever out men of continual employment—The Hebrew anshei tamid (אַנְשֵׁי תָמִיד) literally means "men of continuity" or "permanent duty," indicating professional burial crews appointed for sustained work. The verb havdilu (הִבְדִּילוּ, "sever out") means to separate or set apart, the same term used for Levitical consecration, suggesting this cleansing work carries quasi-sacred status.

Passing through the land with the passengers indicates systematic surveying of the entire territory. After the end of seven months shall they search reveals two phases: initial mass burial (seven months), then careful inspection to find overlooked remains. The Hebrew chaqar (חָקַר, "search") implies thorough investigation, used elsewhere for mining precious metals (Job 28:3). This meticulous approach demonstrates that covenant holiness requires exhaustive diligence, not casual approximation.

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Historical & Cultural Context

Ancient Israelite purity laws required identifying and removing all sources of defilement. The two-phase process (mass burial followed by careful search) reflects practical wisdom: after initial removal of obvious corpses, detailed inspection could locate scattered remains.

Appointing permanent crews (anshei tamid) parallels Levitical duties of maintaining temple purity. This suggests the land's cleansing holds covenantal significance comparable to sanctuary purification. For exilic readers, this promised comprehensive restoration—not partial recovery but thorough renewal fitting for God's renewed presence. The phrase echoes Joshua's conquest instructions to thoroughly dispossess Canaan, suggesting Gog's defeat accomplishes what incomplete earlier obedience had not.

Reflection Questions

  1. Why does God require such exhaustive thoroughness rather than declaring the land ceremonially clean by divine fiat?
  2. How does the two-phase purification process (initial cleansing plus careful searching) apply to pursuing holiness in the Christian life?

Original Language Analysis

Hebrew · 18 words
וְאַנְשֵׁ֨י1 of 18
H376

a man as an individual or a male person; often used as an adjunct to a more definite term (and in such cases frequently not expressed in translation)

תָמִ֤יד2 of 18

“of continual employment”

H8548

properly, continuance (as indefinite extension); but used only (attributively as adjective) constant (or adverbially, constantly); elliptically the re

יַבְדִּ֙ילוּ֙3 of 18

“And they shall sever out”

H914

to divide (in variation senses literally or figuratively, separate, distinguish, differ, select, etc.)

הָעֹבְרִ֗ים4 of 18

“passing through”

H5674

to cross over; used very widely of any transition (literal or figurative; transitive, intransitive, intensive, causative); specifically, to cover (in

הָאָ֖רֶץ5 of 18

“of the earth”

H776

the earth (at large, or partitively a land)

מְקַבְּרִ֣ים6 of 18

“to bury”

H6912

to inter

אֶת7 of 18
H853

properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)

הָעֹבְרִ֗ים8 of 18

“passing through”

H5674

to cross over; used very widely of any transition (literal or figurative; transitive, intransitive, intensive, causative); specifically, to cover (in

אֶת9 of 18
H853

properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)

הַנּוֹתָרִ֛ים10 of 18

“those that remain”

H3498

to jut over or exceed; by implication, to excel; (intransitively) to remain or be left; causatively to leave, cause to abound, preserve

עַל11 of 18
H5921

above, over, upon, or against (yet always in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great variety of applications

פְּנֵ֥י12 of 18

“upon the face”

H6440

the face (as the part that turns); used in a great variety of applications (literally and figuratively); also (with prepositional prefix) as a preposi

הָאָ֖רֶץ13 of 18

“of the earth”

H776

the earth (at large, or partitively a land)

לְטַֽהֲרָ֑הּ14 of 18

“to cleanse”

H2891

to be pure (physical sound, clear, unadulterated; levitically, uncontaminated; morally, innocent or holy)

מִקְצֵ֥ה15 of 18

“it after the end”

H7097

an extremity

שִׁבְעָֽה16 of 18

“of seven”

H7651

seven (as the sacred full one); also (adverbially) seven times; by implication, a week; by extension, an indefinite number

חֳדָשִׁ֖ים17 of 18

“months”

H2320

the new moon; by implication, a month

יַחְקֹֽרוּ׃18 of 18

“shall they search”

H2713

properly, to penetrate; hence, to examine intimately

Study Guide

Historical Context

This verse is found in the book of Ezekiel. Understanding the historical and cultural background helps illuminate its meaning for the original audience and for us today.

Theological Significance

Ezekiel 39:14 contributes to our understanding of God's character and His relationship with humanity. Consider how this verse connects to the broader themes of Scripture.

Cross-References

Verses related to Ezekiel 39:14 from Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

Ezekiel 39:12Numbers 19:11-19

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