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Ezekiel 9:6

Old Testament Major Prophet ASV (1901)

What does Ezekiel 9:6 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “slay utterly the old man, the young man and the virgin, 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 old men that were before the house.” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

slay utterly the old man, the young man and the virgin, 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 old men that were before the house.
Ezekiel 9:6 — American Standard Version

Context — Ezekiel 9

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
3And the glory of the God of Israel was gone up from the cherub, whereupon it was, to the threshold of the house: and he called to the man clothed in linen, who had the writer`s inkhorn by his side.
4And Jehovah said unto him, Go through the midst of the city, through the midst of Jerusalem, and set a mark upon the foreheads of the men that sigh and that cry over all the abominations that are done in the midst thereof.
5And to the others he said in my hearing, Go ye through the city after him, and smite: let not your eye spare, neither have ye pity;
6slay utterly the old man, the young man and the virgin, 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 old men that were before the house.
7And he said unto them, Defile the house, and fill the courts with the slain: go ye forth. And they went forth, and smote in the city.
8And it came to pass, while they were smiting, and I was left, that I fell upon my face, and cried, and said, Ah Lord Jehovah! wilt thou destroy all the residue of Israel in thy pouring out of thy wrath upon Jerusalem?
9Then 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 wrestling [of judgment]: for they say, Jehovah hath forsaken the land, and Jehovah seeth not.
← Ezekiel 9:5Ezekiel 9:7 →
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What do historical commentaries say?

John Gill's Exposition
John Gill (1697–1771) · Exposition of the Old and New Testament · 18th-century historical commentary
“Slay utterly old [and] young, both maids, and little children, and women, &c.] All, of them objects of compassion, because of their age and sex; and yet none to be spared; and which orders were exactly obeyed; (see <143617> 2 Chronicles 36:17); but come not near any man on whom [is] the mark; these were not to be slain; and though some were carried captive, as Daniel, and others; yet it was for their good and God’s glory; (see <660703>Revelation 7:3,4 9:3,4); and begin at my sanctuary; the temple, the house of God, and the priests and Levites that dwelt there. The Septuagint version is, “begin at my saints”; those who professed themselves to be the saints of the Lord, and were separated and…”
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Jamieson, Fausset & Brown
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown · Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“come not near any . . . upon whom . . . mark-- (Rev 9:4). It may be objected that Daniel, Jeremiah, and others were carried away, whereas many of the vilest were left in the land. But God does not promise believers exemption from all suffering, but only from what will prove really and lastingly hurtful to them. His sparing the ungodly turns to their destruction and leaves them without excuse [CALVIN]. However, the prophecy waits a fuller and final fulfilment, for Rev 7:3-8, in ages long after Babylon, foretells, as still future, the same sealing of a remnant (one hundred forty-four thousand) of Israel previous to the final outpouring of wrath on the rest of the nation; the correspondence is…”
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Barnes' Notes
Albert Barnes (1798–1870) · Notes on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“Begin at my sanctuary - The first to be punished were those who had brought idolatry nearest to the holy place. The “ancient men,” i. e., the 25 men who had stood with their backs to the altar Ezekiel 8:16 were the first to be slain. return to 'Top of Page'”
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Wesley's Explanatory Notes
John Wesley (1703–1791) · Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament and Old Testament notes · 18th-century historical commentary
“At my sanctuary - There are the great sinners, and the abominable sins which have brought this on them. Ezekiel 9:7”
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Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“utterly: Heb. to destruction old: Num 31:15-17; Deu 2:34, Deu 3:6; Jos 6:17-21; Sa1 15:3; Ch2 36:17 but: Exo 12:23; Jos 2:18, Jos 2:19, Jos 6:22-25; Ti2 2:19; Rev 7:3, Rev 9:4, Rev 14:4 and begin: Eze 8:5-16; Jer 25:29; Amo 3:2; Luk 12:47; Pe1 4:17, Pe1 4:18 at the: Eze 8:11, Eze 8:16, Eze 11:1 Ezekiel 9:7”
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Related study paths

Read Ezekiel 9 in contextBrowse Hebrew word studiesOpen this verse in the study reader

Sources and verification