King James Version

What Does Ezekiel 5:13 Mean?

Ezekiel 5:13 in the King James Version says “Thus shall mine anger be accomplished, and I will cause my fury to rest upon them, and I will be comforted: and they sha...” — study this verse from Ezekiel chapter 5 with commentary, cross-references, and original Hebrew word analysis.

“Thus shall mine anger be accomplished, and I will cause my fury to rest upon them, and I will be comforted: and they shall know that I the LORD have spoken it in my zeal, when I have accomplished my fury in them.”

Ezekiel 5:13 · KJV

Context

11

Wherefore, as I live, saith the Lord GOD; Surely, because thou hast defiled my sanctuary with all thy detestable things, and with all thine abominations, therefore will I also diminish thee; neither shall mine eye spare, neither will I have any pity.

12

A third part of thee shall die with the pestilence, and with famine shall they be consumed in the midst of thee: and a third part shall fall by the sword round about thee; and I will scatter a third part into all the winds, and I will draw out a sword after them.

13

Thus shall mine anger be accomplished, and I will cause my fury to rest upon them, and I will be comforted: and they shall know that I the LORD have spoken it in my zeal, when I have accomplished my fury in them.

14

Moreover I will make thee waste, and a reproach among the nations that are round about thee, in the sight of all that pass by.

15

So it shall be a reproach and a taunt, an instruction and an astonishment unto the nations that are round about thee, when I shall execute judgments in thee in anger and in fury and in furious rebukes. I the LORD have spoken it.

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Commentary

KJV Study Commentary
Thus shall mine anger be accomplished, and I will cause my fury to rest upon them, and I will be comforted: and they shall know that I the LORD have spoken it in my zeal, when I have accomplished my fury in them. God's anger will run its full course—"accomplished" (khalah appi, כָּלָה אַפִּי) means completed, finished, or brought to exhaustion. Divine wrath isn't arbitrary emotion but settled judicial response to sin that must fully express itself. "I will cause my fury to rest" (hanichoti chamati, הֲנִחוֹתִי חֲמָתִי) uses language of satisfaction—God's righteous anger will be appeased, not through human sacrifice but through just punishment of sin.

"I will be comforted" (hitnechamti, הִתְנֶחָמְתִּי) uses anthropomorphic language describing God's satisfaction when justice is served. This doesn't mean God takes pleasure in human suffering (Ezekiel 18:23, 32; 33:11) but that His righteous character finds vindication when sin is punished. "They shall know that I the LORD have spoken" emphasizes the pedagogical purpose—judgment teaches God's reality, sovereignty, and faithfulness to His word. The phrase "in my zeal" (be-qin'ati, בְּקִנְאָתִי) reveals that jealous love for His own honor and His people's good drives divine judgment.

This verse confronts modern sentimentalism that dismisses divine wrath. God's anger against sin is real, settled, and must be satisfied. The gospel's glory is that Christ's death fully accomplished and exhausted God's fury against believers' sin (Romans 3:25-26; 1 John 2:2). The anger that should rest on us rested on Him. God is 'comforted' (satisfied) by Christ's sacrifice, so believers never face divine fury (Romans 5:9; 1 Thessalonians 5:9).

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Historical & Cultural Context

The phrase 'they shall know that I the LORD have spoken' occurs over 70 times in Ezekiel, forming a key theme. Israel's exile forced recognition that prophetic warnings weren't empty threats but divine truth. When Jerusalem fell exactly as Ezekiel prophesied, survivors had to acknowledge God's word proved faithful and His judgment righteous.

God's 'zeal' (qin'ah) appears throughout Ezekiel (5:13; 36:5-6; 38:19; 39:25), describing His passionate commitment to His own glory and His people's good. Like a husband's jealousy when his wife commits adultery, God's zeal burns against covenant unfaithfulness. This zeal motivated both judgment (removing what defiled) and eventual restoration (renewing covenant relationship).

Historical outcome vindicated God's zeal. The exile purged idolatry from Israel—post-exilic Jews never again practiced widespread idol worship as pre-exilic generations had. The severe discipline accomplished God's purpose: producing a people who truly knew the LORD and took His word seriously. Suffering served refinement, not annihilation, demonstrating that even God's fury ultimately serves redemptive ends.

Reflection Questions

  1. How does God's anger being 'accomplished' challenge views that minimize divine wrath against sin?
  2. What does God's 'zeal' teach about His passionate commitment to His own glory and His people's holiness?
  3. In what ways does Christ's exhausting God's fury on the cross bring comfort to believers?

Original Language Analysis

Hebrew · 15 words
בְּכַלּוֹתִ֥י1 of 15

“be accomplished”

H3615

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

אַפִּ֗י2 of 15

“Thus shall mine anger”

H639

properly, the nose or nostril; hence, the face, and occasionally a person; also (from the rapid breathing in passion) ire

וַהֲנִחוֹתִ֧י3 of 15

“to rest”

H5117

to rest, i.e., settle down; used in a great variety of applications, literal and figurative, intransitive, transitive and causative (to dwell, stay, l

חֲמָתִ֖י4 of 15

“and I will cause my fury”

H2534

heat; figuratively, anger, poison (from its fever)

בָּ֖ם5 of 15
H0
וְהִנֶּחָ֑מְתִּי6 of 15

“upon them and I will be comforted”

H5162

properly, to sigh, i.e., breathe strongly; by implication, to be sorry, i.e., (in a favorable sense) to pity, console or (reflexively) rue; or (unfavo

וְֽיָדְע֞וּ7 of 15

“and they shall know”

H3045

to know (properly, to ascertain by seeing); used in a great variety of senses, figuratively, literally, euphemistically and inferentially (including o

כִּי8 of 15
H3588

(by implication) very widely used as a relative conjunction or adverb (as below); often largely modified by other particles annexed

אֲנִ֣י9 of 15
H589

i

יְהוָ֗ה10 of 15

“that I the LORD”

H3068

(the) self-existent or eternal; jeho-vah, jewish national name of god

דִּבַּ֙רְתִּי֙11 of 15

“have spoken”

H1696

perhaps properly, to arrange; but used figuratively (of words), to speak; rarely (in a destructive sense) to subdue

בְּקִנְאָתִ֔י12 of 15

“it in my zeal”

H7068

jealousy or envy

בְּכַלּוֹתִ֥י13 of 15

“be accomplished”

H3615

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

חֲמָתִ֖י14 of 15

“and I will cause my fury”

H2534

heat; figuratively, anger, poison (from its fever)

בָּֽם׃15 of 15
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 5:13 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 5:13 from Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

Ezekiel 36:5-6Isaiah 1:24Lamentations 4:11Ezekiel 21:17Ezekiel 20:21Ezekiel 7:8

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