King James Version

What Does Ezekiel 4:6 Mean?

Ezekiel 4:6 in the King James Version says “And when thou hast accomplished them, lie again on thy right side, and thou shalt bear the iniquity of the house of Juda...” — study this verse from Ezekiel chapter 4 with commentary, cross-references, and original Hebrew word analysis.

“And when thou hast accomplished them, lie again on thy right side, and thou shalt bear the iniquity of the house of Judah forty days: I have appointed thee each day for a year . each: Heb. a day for a year, a day for a year”

Ezekiel 4:6 · KJV

Context

4

Lie thou also upon thy left side, and lay the iniquity of the house of Israel upon it: according to the number of the days that thou shalt lie upon it thou shalt bear their iniquity.

5

For I have laid upon thee the years of their iniquity, according to the number of the days, three hundred and ninety days: so shalt thou bear the iniquity of the house of Israel.

6

And when thou hast accomplished them, lie again on thy right side, and thou shalt bear the iniquity of the house of Judah forty days: I have appointed thee each day for a year . each: Heb. a day for a year, a day for a year

7

Therefore thou shalt set thy face toward the siege of Jerusalem, and thine arm shall be uncovered, and thou shalt prophesy against it.

8

And, behold, I will lay bands upon thee, and thou shalt not turn thee from one side to another, till thou hast ended the days of thy siege. from one: Heb. from thy side to thy side

Read Ezekiel 4 full chapter

Commentary

KJV Study Commentary
And when thou hast accomplished them, lie again on thy right side, and thou shalt bear the iniquity of the house of Judah forty days: I have appointed thee each day for a year. After bearing Israel's 390 years of iniquity, Ezekiel must lie on his right side for 40 days representing Judah's guilt. The right side may symbolize Judah's southern location or greater privilege as keeper of Jerusalem and the Davidic throne. The 40 years likely span from Josiah's reforms (circa 628 BC) to Jerusalem's fall (586 BC), though interpretations vary.

The asymmetry is striking: Israel receives 390 years of judgment; Judah only 40. This reflects Judah's shorter history of idolatry in its final form—though both kingdoms sinned, Judah experienced periods of reformation under kings like Hezekiah and Josiah, while Israel consistently rebelled. Yet even Judah's comparatively brief period of accumulated guilt warranted devastating judgment, demonstrating that sin's seriousness isn't measured solely by duration.

The phrase "I have appointed thee" (natati lekha, נָתַתִּי לְךָ) emphasizes divine sovereignty—God determines both the sin's period and the judgment's duration. This refutes human bargaining or minimizing of sin. God alone calculates guilt's weight and punishment's measure. The specificity of days and years reveals God's perfect justice—neither arbitrary nor excessive, His judgments precisely correspond to sin's reality.

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Historical & Cultural Context

Judah's final 40 years (approximately 628-586 BC) witnessed dramatic spiritual oscillation. Josiah's reforms (2 Kings 22-23) temporarily restored covenant faithfulness, including destroying high places, purging idolatry, and reinstituting Passover. However, Josiah's death in 609 BC triggered rapid apostasy under his sons Jehoahaz, Jehoiakim, Jehoiachin, and Zedekiah.

Archaeological evidence confirms this period's turbulence. Numerous lmlk ("belonging to the king") seal impressions from Josiah's reign show administrative reorganization. Yet cultic sites excavated at locations like Arad reveal that high places, though officially suppressed, persisted in popular practice. The people's hearts remained attached to syncretistic worship despite official reforms.

Jeremiah, Ezekiel's contemporary, repeatedly warned that Josiah's reforms were superficial—"Judah has not turned to me with her whole heart, but only in pretense" (Jeremiah 3:10). Within decades, this proved tragically true. The 40 years of Judah's final guilt thus represent not merely overt idolatry but hypocritical religiosity—maintaining temple worship while pursuing forbidden practices. Such duplicity warranted the same judgment as Israel's blatant apostasy.

Reflection Questions

  1. How does the difference between Israel's 390 years and Judah's 40 years illustrate varying degrees of guilt and privilege?
  2. What does Judah's rapid descent from Josiah's reforms to Babylonian exile teach about superficial versus genuine repentance?
  3. In what ways might contemporary Christianity mirror Judah's pattern of outward religiosity masking heart-level idolatry?

Original Language Analysis

Hebrew · 21 words
וְכִלִּיתָ֣1 of 21

“And when thou hast accomplished”

H3615

to end, whether intransitive (to cease, be finished, perish) or transitive (to complete, prepare, consume)

אֶת2 of 21
H853

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

אֵ֗לֶּה3 of 21

“them”

H428

these or those

וְשָׁ֨כַבְתָּ֜4 of 21

“lie”

H7901

to lie down (for rest, sexual connection, decease or any other purpose)

עַל5 of 21
H5921

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

צִדְּךָ֤6 of 21

“side”

H6654

a side; figuratively, an adversary

הַיְמָונִי֙7 of 21
H3227

right

שֵׁנִ֔ית8 of 21

“again”

H8145

properly, double, i.e., second; also adverbially, again

וְנָשָׂ֖אתָ9 of 21

“and thou shalt bear”

H5375

to lift, in a great variety of applications, literal and figurative, absolute and relative

אֶת10 of 21
H853

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

עֲוֹ֣ן11 of 21

“the iniquity”

H5771

perversity, i.e., (moral) evil

בֵּית12 of 21

“of the house”

H1004

a house (in the greatest variation of applications, especially family, etc.)

יְהוּדָ֑ה13 of 21

“of Judah”

H3063

jehudah (or judah), the name of five israelites; also of the tribe descended from the first, and of its territory

אַרְבָּעִ֣ים14 of 21

“forty”

H705

forty

י֥וֹם15 of 21

“days”

H3117

a day (as the warm hours), whether literal (from sunrise to sunset, or from one sunset to the next), or figurative (a space of time defined by an asso

י֥וֹם16 of 21

“days”

H3117

a day (as the warm hours), whether literal (from sunrise to sunset, or from one sunset to the next), or figurative (a space of time defined by an asso

לַשָּׁנָ֖ה17 of 21

“for a year”

H8141

a year (as a revolution of time)

י֥וֹם18 of 21

“days”

H3117

a day (as the warm hours), whether literal (from sunrise to sunset, or from one sunset to the next), or figurative (a space of time defined by an asso

לַשָּׁנָ֖ה19 of 21

“for a year”

H8141

a year (as a revolution of time)

נְתַתִּ֥יו20 of 21

“I have appointed”

H5414

to give, used with greatest latitude of application (put, make, etc.)

לָֽךְ׃21 of 21
H0

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 4:6 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 4:6 from Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

Numbers 14:34Daniel 12:11-12Daniel 9:24-26Revelation 11:2-3Revelation 13:5Revelation 12:14

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