King James Version

What Does Ezekiel 6:12 Mean?

Ezekiel 6:12 in the King James Version says “He that is far off shall die of the pestilence; and he that is near shall fall by the sword; and he that remaineth and i...” — study this verse from Ezekiel chapter 6 with commentary, cross-references, and original Hebrew word analysis.

“He that is far off shall die of the pestilence; and he that is near shall fall by the sword; and he that remaineth and is besieged shall die by the famine: thus will I accomplish my fury upon them.”

Ezekiel 6:12 · KJV

Context

10

And they shall know that I am the LORD, and that I have not said in vain that I would do this evil unto them.

11

Thus saith the Lord GOD; Smite with thine hand, and stamp with thy foot, and say, Alas for all the evil abominations of the house of Israel! for they shall fall by the sword, by the famine, and by the pestilence.

12

He that is far off shall die of the pestilence; and he that is near shall fall by the sword; and he that remaineth and is besieged shall die by the famine: thus will I accomplish my fury upon them.

13

Then shall ye know that I am the LORD, when their slain men shall be among their idols round about their altars, upon every high hill, in all the tops of the mountains, and under every green tree, and under every thick oak, the place where they did offer sweet savour to all their idols.

14

So will I stretch out my hand upon them, and make the land desolate, yea, more desolate than the wilderness toward Diblath, in all their habitations: and they shall know that I am the LORD. more: or, desolate from the wilderness

Read Ezekiel 6 full chapter

Commentary

KJV Study Commentary
He that is far off shall die of the pestilence; and he that is near shall fall by the sword; and he that remaineth and is besieged shall die by the famine: thus will I accomplish my fury upon them. No location provides safety—those far from Jerusalem die by pestilence, those near fall by sword, those remaining under siege starve. The comprehensive geographical coverage (far, near, besieged) eliminates all escape possibilities. "Thus will I accomplish my fury" (vekheliti chamati, וְכִלֵּיתִי חֲמָתִי) indicates God's wrath will fully exhaust itself, completing its purpose. Divine anger isn't capricious emotion but settled judicial response that must run its course until justice is satisfied. Only Christ's substitutionary atonement fully exhausted God's fury against believers' sin (Romans 3:25; 1 John 2:2).

KJV Study — Public Domain

Historical & Cultural Context

Historical fulfillment confirmed this comprehensive judgment. Refugees who fled Jerusalem early died from disease in crowded conditions elsewhere. Those who stayed to defend the city fell by Babylonian swords when walls were breached. Survivors trapped during the 18-month siege starved to death (2 Kings 25:3; Lamentations 4:4-10). No strategy succeeded; every location proved deadly. This taught that when God decrees judgment, human ingenuity cannot circumvent it. The only safety lies in repentance and submission to God's will, not in geographical relocation or military strategy.

Reflection Questions

  1. How does the elimination of all escape routes illustrate the futility of fleeing from God?
  2. What does God's fury being 'accomplished' teach about divine justice requiring full satisfaction?
  3. In what ways does Christ's exhausting God's wrath provide assurance believers will never face divine fury?

Original Language Analysis

Hebrew · 13 words
הָרָח֞וֹק1 of 13

“He that is far off”

H7350

remote, literally or figuratively, of place or time; specifically, precious; often used adverbially (with preposition)

בַּדֶּ֣בֶר2 of 13

“of the pestilence”

H1698

a pestilence

יָמ֑וּת3 of 13

“shall die”

H4191

to die (literally or figuratively); causatively, to kill

וְהַקָּרוֹב֙4 of 13

“and he that is near”

H7138

near (in place, kindred or time)

בַּחֶ֣רֶב5 of 13

“by the sword”

H2719

drought; also a cutting instrument (from its destructive effect), as a knife, sword, or other sharp implement

יִפּ֔וֹל6 of 13

“shall fall”

H5307

to fall, in a great variety of applications (intransitive or causative, literal or figurative)

וְהַנִּשְׁאָר֙7 of 13

“and he that remaineth”

H7604

properly, to swell up, i.e., be (causatively, make) redundant

וְהַנָּצ֔וּר8 of 13

“and is besieged”

H5341

to guard, in a good sense (to protect, maintain, obey, etc.) or a bad one (to conceal, etc.)

בָּרָעָ֖ב9 of 13

“by the famine”

H7458

hunger (more or less extensive)

יָמ֑וּת10 of 13

“shall die”

H4191

to die (literally or figuratively); causatively, to kill

וְכִלֵּיתִ֥י11 of 13

“thus will I accomplish”

H3615

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

חֲמָתִ֖י12 of 13

“my fury”

H2534

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

בָּֽם׃13 of 13
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 6:12 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 6:12 from Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

Ezekiel 5:13Lamentations 4:22Lamentations 4:11Daniel 9:7Isaiah 40:2

Test Your Knowledge

Ezekiel 6 QuizTest your knowledge of this chapterEzekiel Book QuizComprehensive quiz for the entire book

Continue Your Study

Read Ezekiel 6 with CommentaryAll Ezekiel ChaptersComplete Ezekiel QuizBible CharactersNave's Topical BibleAll Bible Quizzes