King James Version

What Does Ezekiel 6:3 Mean?

Ezekiel 6:3 in the King James Version says “And say, Ye mountains of Israel, hear the word of the Lord GOD; Thus saith the Lord GOD to the mountains, and to the hil...” — study this verse from Ezekiel chapter 6 with commentary, cross-references, and original Hebrew word analysis.

“And say, Ye mountains of Israel, hear the word of the Lord GOD; Thus saith the Lord GOD to the mountains, and to the hills, to the rivers, and to the valleys; Behold, I, even I, will bring a sword upon you, and I will destroy your high places.”

Ezekiel 6:3 · KJV

Context

1

And the word of the LORD came unto me, saying,

2

Son of man, set thy face toward the mountains of Israel, and prophesy against them,

3

And say, Ye mountains of Israel, hear the word of the Lord GOD; Thus saith the Lord GOD to the mountains, and to the hills, to the rivers, and to the valleys; Behold, I, even I, will bring a sword upon you, and I will destroy your high places.

4

And your altars shall be desolate, and your images shall be broken: and I will cast down your slain men before your idols. images: or, sun images

5

And I will lay the dead carcases of the children of Israel before their idols; and I will scatter your bones round about your altars. lay: Heb. give

Read Ezekiel 6 full chapter

Commentary

KJV Study Commentary
And say, Ye mountains of Israel, hear the word of the Lord GOD; Thus saith the Lord GOD to the mountains, and to the hills, to the rivers, and to the valleys; Behold, I, even I, will bring a sword upon you, and I will destroy your high places. God addresses all topography—mountains, hills, rivers, valleys—comprehensively covering the entire land. The emphatic "I, even I" (hineni ani, הִנְנִי אֲנִי) stresses divine agency; God Himself brings the sword and destroys the high places (bamot, בָּמוֹת). These elevated worship sites, meant for Yahweh alone, became centers of idolatrous syncretism combining worship of God with Baal, Asherah, and other Canaanite deities. God's jealousy demands their complete destruction—He shares glory with no rival (Exodus 20:5; Isaiah 42:8).

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Historical & Cultural Context

High places persisted throughout Israel's monarchy despite periodic reforms. Hezekiah destroyed them (2 Kings 18:4), but Manasseh rebuilt them (2 Kings 21:3). Josiah demolished them again (2 Kings 23:5-20), yet they reappeared. Archaeological evidence confirms extensive high place network across Israel's hill country. These sites' destruction during Babylonian conquest (586 BC) finally ended the practice—post-exilic Judaism centralized worship in Jerusalem's rebuilt temple, eliminating high places permanently.

Reflection Questions

  1. What modern 'high places' (substitutes for pure worship) does God call us to destroy in our lives?
  2. How does God's emphatic 'I, even I' challenge us to recognize His direct involvement in historical events?
  3. Why does God's jealousy demand exclusive worship without syncretistic compromise?

Original Language Analysis

Hebrew · 22 words
אָמַ֣ר1 of 22

“And say”

H559

to say (used with great latitude)

לֶהָרִ֨ים2 of 22

“Ye mountains”

H2022

a mountain or range of hills (sometimes used figuratively)

יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל3 of 22

“of Israel”

H3478

he will rule as god; jisral, a symbolical name of jacob; also (typically) of his posterity

שִׁמְע֖וּ4 of 22

“hear”

H8085

to hear intelligently (often with implication of attention, obedience, etc.; causatively, to tell, etc.)

דְּבַר5 of 22

“the word”

H1697

a word; by implication, a matter (as spoken of) or thing; adverbially, a cause

אֲדֹנָ֣י6 of 22

“of the Lord”

H136

the lord (used as a proper name of god only)

יְ֠הוִה7 of 22

“GOD”

H3069

god

כֹּה8 of 22
H3541

properly, like this, i.e., by implication, (of manner) thus (or so); also (of place) here (or hither); or (of time) now

אָמַ֣ר9 of 22

“And say”

H559

to say (used with great latitude)

אֲדֹנָ֣י10 of 22

“of the Lord”

H136

the lord (used as a proper name of god only)

יְ֠הוִה11 of 22

“GOD”

H3069

god

לֶהָרִ֨ים12 of 22

“Ye mountains”

H2022

a mountain or range of hills (sometimes used figuratively)

וְלַגְּבָע֜וֹת13 of 22

“and to the hills”

H1389

a hillock

לָאֲפִיקִ֣ים14 of 22

“to the rivers”

H650

properly, containing, i.e., a tube; also a bed or valley of a stream; also a strong thing or a hero

וְלַגֵּֽיאָ֗וֹת15 of 22

“and to the valleys”

H1516

a gorge (from its lofty sides; hence, narrow, but not a gully or winter-torrent)

הִנְנִ֨י16 of 22
H2009

lo!

אֲנִ֜י17 of 22
H589

i

מֵבִ֤יא18 of 22

“Behold I even I will bring”

H935

to go or come (in a wide variety of applications)

עֲלֵיכֶם֙19 of 22
H5921

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

חֶ֔רֶב20 of 22

“a sword”

H2719

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

וְאִבַּדְתִּ֖י21 of 22

“upon you and I will destroy”

H6

properly, to wander away, i.e., lose oneself; by implication to perish (causative, destroy)

בָּמֽוֹתֵיכֶֽם׃22 of 22

“your high places”

H1116

an elevation

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 6:3 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 6:3 from Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

Leviticus 26:30Micah 6:2Jeremiah 3:23Jeremiah 3:6Ezekiel 36:8Ezekiel 36:1-4

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