King James Version

What Does Ezekiel 9:8 Mean?

Ezekiel 9:8 in the King James Version says “And it came to pass, while they were slaying them, and I was left, that I fell upon my face, and cried, and said, Ah Lor...” — study this verse from Ezekiel chapter 9 with commentary, cross-references, and original Hebrew word analysis.

“And it came to pass, while they were slaying them, and I was left, that I fell upon my face, and cried, and said, Ah Lord GOD! wilt thou destroy all the residue of Israel in thy pouring out of thy fury upon Jerusalem?”

Ezekiel 9:8 · KJV

Context

6

Slay utterly old and young, both maids, and little children, and women: but come not near any man upon whom is the mark; and begin at my sanctuary. Then they began at the ancient men which were before the house. utterly: Heb. to destruction

7

And he said unto them, Defile the house, and fill the courts with the slain: go ye forth. And they went forth, and slew in the city.

8

And it came to pass, while they were slaying them, and I was left, that I fell upon my face, and cried, and said, Ah Lord GOD! wilt thou destroy all the residue of Israel in thy pouring out of thy fury upon Jerusalem?

9

Then said he unto me, The iniquity of the house of Israel and Judah is exceeding great, and the land is full of blood, and the city full of perverseness: for they say, The LORD hath forsaken the earth, and the LORD seeth not. full of blood: Heb. filled with, etc perverseness: or, wresting of judgment

10

And as for me also, mine eye shall not spare, neither will I have pity, but I will recompense their way upon their head.

Read Ezekiel 9 full chapter

Commentary

KJV Study Commentary
"And it came to pass, while they were slaying them, and I was left, that I fell upon my face, and cried, and said, Ah Lord GOD! wilt thou destroy all the residue of Israel in thy pouring out of thy fury upon Jerusalem?" Ezekiel intercedes, horrified by judgment's scope. His cry "Ah Lord GOD!" (ahah Adonai Yahweh) expresses anguished protest. The question "wilt thou destroy all?" reveals fear that total annihilation will leave no remnant. This demonstrates proper prophetic balance—faithfully declaring judgment while grieving its necessity and interceding for mercy. True prophets announce God's wrath without celebrating it.

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Historical & Cultural Context

Ezekiel's intercession mirrors Moses (Exodus 32:11-14), Abraham (Genesis 18:23-32), and Jeremiah (Jeremiah 14:7-9, 19-22). Prophetic ministry combines unflinching truth-telling with compassionate intercession. Though Ezekiel proclaimed judgment for years, witnessing its visionary execution still moved him to pray for the remnant's preservation. God's response (verse 9) explains judgment's necessity while implying (through marking the remnant, verse 4) that total destruction won't occur.

Reflection Questions

  1. How does Ezekiel's intercession model balancing truth-telling about judgment with compassionate prayer?
  2. What does the prophet's grief over judgment teach about maintaining tender hearts while proclaiming hard truths?
  3. In what ways should knowledge of coming judgment drive us to intercession rather than celebration?

Original Language Analysis

Hebrew · 23 words
וַֽיְהִי֙1 of 23
H1961

to exist, i.e., be or become, come to pass (always emphatic, and not a mere copula or auxiliary)

כְּהַכּוֹתָ֔ם2 of 23

“And it came to pass while they were slaying”

H5221

to strike (lightly or severely, literally or figuratively)

וְנֵֽאשֲׁאַ֖ר3 of 23

“them and I was left”

H7604

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

אָ֑נִי4 of 23
H589

i

וָאֶפְּלָ֨ה5 of 23

“that I fell”

H5307

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

עַל6 of 23
H5921

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

פָּנַ֜י7 of 23

“upon my 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

וָאֶזְעַ֗ק8 of 23

“and cried”

H2199

to shriek (from anguish or danger); by analogy, (as a herald) to announce or convene publicly

וָֽאֹמַר֙9 of 23

“and said”

H559

to say (used with great latitude)

אֲהָהּ֙10 of 23

“Ah”

H162

oh!

אֲדֹנָ֣י11 of 23

“Lord”

H136

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

יְהוִ֔ה12 of 23

“GOD”

H3069

god

הֲמַשְׁחִ֣ית13 of 23

“wilt thou destroy”

H7843

to decay, i.e., (causatively) ruin (literally or figuratively)

אַתָּ֗ה14 of 23
H859

thou and thee, or (plural) ye and you

אֵ֚ת15 of 23
H853

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

כָּל16 of 23
H3605

properly, the whole; hence, all, any or every (in the singular only, but often in a plural sense)

שְׁאֵרִ֣ית17 of 23

“all the residue”

H7611

a remainder or residual (surviving, final) portion

יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל18 of 23

“of Israel”

H3478

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

בְּשָׁפְכְּךָ֥19 of 23

“in thy pouring out”

H8210

to spill forth (blood, a libation, liquid metal; or even a solid, i.e., to mound up); also (figuratively) to expend (life, soul, complaint, money, etc

אֶת20 of 23
H853

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

חֲמָתְךָ֖21 of 23

“of thy fury”

H2534

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

עַל22 of 23
H5921

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

יְרוּשָׁלִָֽם׃23 of 23

“upon Jerusalem”

H3389

jerushalaim or jerushalem, the capital city of palestine

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 9:8 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 9:8 from Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

Ezekiel 11:13Numbers 16:45Ezekiel 4:141 Chronicles 21:16Numbers 14:5Joshua 7:6

Places in This Verse

JerusalemSettlement · Modern: Jerusalem · 31.78°N, 35.23°E955 verses across 37 books
View all places in Ezekiel 9 →

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