Ezekiel 14:19

KJV

Or [if] I send a pestilence into that land, and pour out my fury upon it in blood, to cut off from it man and beast:

KJV (with Strong's)

Or if I send {H7971} a pestilence {H1698} into that land {H776}, and pour out {H8210} my fury {H2534} upon it in blood {H1818}, to cut off {H3772} from it man {H120} and beast {H929}:

Complete Jewish Bible

"Or if I bring a plague into that land and pour out my fury on it in bloodshed, so that I eliminate both its humans and its animals;

Berean Standard Bible

Or if I send a plague into that land and pour out My wrath upon it through bloodshed, cutting off from it both man and beast,

American Standard Version

Or if I send a pestilence into that land, and pour out my wrath upon it in blood, to cut off from it man and beast;

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Ezekiel 14:19 delivers a stark prophetic declaration of divine judgment, identifying pestilence as one of God's "four sore judgments" against a land deeply entrenched in rebellion and idolatry. This verse powerfully asserts God's absolute sovereignty over all creation and His righteous indignation against sin, emphasizing the comprehensive and devastating nature of His wrath, which spares neither human nor animal life in its execution.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Ezekiel 14:19 is situated within a profound prophetic discourse (Ezekiel 14:12-23) where the Lord directly confronts the persistent idolatry and hypocrisy among the elders of Israel, even those who feigned seeking His counsel. The chapter opens with God declaring that He will answer the elders "according to their many idols" [Ezekiel 14:4](/ezekiel/14-4 "Ezekiel 14:4 - God's Response to Idolatry"), exposing their duplicity. The immediate preceding context (Ezekiel 14:12-20) details a sequence of four escalating divine judgments – sword, famine, wild beasts, and pestilence – each presented as capable of utterly devastating a rebellious land. Verse 19 specifically introduces pestilence as the fourth and final judgment in this escalating series, highlighting its unique capacity to "cut off from it man and beast," thereby underscoring the totality and indiscriminateness of the impending destruction. This passage functions as a severe warning, illustrating God's unwavering commitment to justice against unrepentant sin and His refusal to be mocked.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The book of Ezekiel was written during the tumultuous period of the Babylonian exile (circa 593-571 BC), with the prophet himself among those deported to Babylon by the river Chebar. The primary audience consisted of exiles who had witnessed the destruction of Jerusalem and the temple, yet many still clung to false hopes of a swift return or continued in idolatrous practices, believing God would not fully abandon them. In the ancient Near East, natural calamities such as famine, plague, and warfare were commonly understood as direct manifestations of divine judgment, reflecting a deity's displeasure or wrath. Pestilence, in particular, represented a terrifying and often uncontrollable threat, capable of decimating entire populations and their essential livestock, thereby dismantling the very foundations of society and economy. The explicit mention of "man and beast" in the judgment reflects the agricultural and pastoral nature of ancient Israelite society, where the well-being of livestock was inextricably linked to human survival, prosperity, and even sacrificial worship. God's declaration of sending pestilence in [Ezekiel 14](/ezekiel/14 "Ezekiel 14 - Idolatry and Judgment") would have resonated deeply with the exiles' understanding of divine retribution and the catastrophic impact of such widespread calamities.
* **Key Themes:** This verse powerfully contributes to several overarching themes prevalent within Ezekiel and the broader prophetic literature. A central theme is **Divine Sovereignty and Judgment**, asserting God's absolute control over the forces of nature and His willingness to employ them as instruments of His righteous wrath against sin. The phrase "I send a pestilence" unequivocally emphasizes His direct agency and intentionality. Another crucial theme is the **Seriousness of Idolatry and Rebellion**, which is consistently presented as the primary catalyst for these severe judgments throughout the book. The people's persistent unfaithfulness and their turning away from the Lord are met with dire consequences, demonstrating that God will not tolerate rivals to His worship, as seen in the broader warnings against idolatry in [Ezekiel 6](/ezekiel/6 "Ezekiel 6 - Judgment Against Idolatry"). Finally, the verse highlights the **Totality of Divine Retribution**, conveyed by the comprehensive destruction implied in "pour out my fury upon it in blood, to cut off from it man and beast." This echoes similar accounts of widespread judgment, such as the [Great Flood](/genesis/7 "Genesis 7 - The Great Flood") or the plagues upon Egypt in [Exodus 9](/exodus/9 "Exodus 9 - The Plagues on Egypt"), where God's judgment affects all aspects of life, leaving nothing untouched, underscoring the profound consequences of national apostasy.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **Pestilence (Hebrew, _deber'_):** This word (H1698) refers to a plague, epidemic, or murrain, often used in the Old Testament to denote a divinely sent affliction. It signifies a widespread, deadly disease, particularly one that affects both humans and animals, leading to mass casualties and societal collapse. Its use here emphasizes the direct, calamitous nature of God's judgment, indicating a severe and pervasive outbreak.
* **Fury (Hebrew, _chêmâh'_):** This term (H2534) denotes intense heat, figuratively representing anger, rage, or hot displeasure. It conveys the burning intensity of God's righteous indignation against unrepentant sin. When God "pours out" His fury, it is not a mild displeasure but a consuming, destructive wrath, indicating the extreme severity of the offense that provoked such a profound divine response.
* **Cut off (Hebrew, _kârath'_):** This primitive root (H3772) means to cut (off, down, or asunder), implying destruction or consumption. In this context, it signifies a complete eradication or termination of life, a severing of existence. The phrase "to cut off from it man and beast" underscores the comprehensive and absolute nature of the judgment, leaving no survivors and ensuring the land is utterly desolated and devoid of life.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"Or [if] I send a pestilence into that land,"**: This clause establishes God's direct and active agency in initiating the judgment. While the KJV includes "if," in the context of Ezekiel 14, it functions more as a declaration of what God *will* do given the persistent sin and idolatry of the people. God is not merely allowing a natural disaster to occur; He is purposefully dispatching a plague as a direct instrument of His sovereign will against a rebellious nation, demonstrating His control over the forces of disease and death.
* **"and pour out my fury upon it in blood,"**: This vivid imagery powerfully conveys the intensity and consequence of God's wrath. The phrase "pour out" suggests an unrestrained, overwhelming, and complete release of divine anger, much like a flood or an overflowing vessel. The addition of "in blood" is a potent metonymy, signifying widespread death, carnage, and the shedding of life. It indicates that the pestilence will result in immense loss of life, painting a grim and graphic picture of the judgment's severity and its bloody, devastating outcome.
* **"to cut off from it man and beast:"**: This final clause specifies the comprehensive and indiscriminate scope of the judgment. The phrase "cut off" signifies total annihilation, complete removal, or utter termination of existence. By explicitly mentioning both "man and beast," the verse highlights that the judgment is all-encompassing, affecting every living thing in the land without distinction. This underscores the devastating totality of God's righteous judgment against unrepentant sin, leaving no aspect of life untouched and ensuring the complete desolation of the land.

#### Literary Devices
Ezekiel 14:19 employs several potent literary devices to convey its message of divine judgment with maximum impact. **Anthropomorphism** is clearly evident in the depiction of God "sending" and "pouring out" His fury, attributing human actions (sending, pouring) and emotions (fury) to the divine. This makes God's active and intentional involvement in judgment tangible and comprehensible to the human audience. The phrase "pour out my fury upon it in blood" utilizes **Metonymy**, where "blood" stands for the widespread death, carnage, and loss of life that will inevitably result from the pestilence. It serves as a powerful shorthand for the horrific and deadly consequences of the plague. Furthermore, the verse employs **Intensification** and a form of **Hyperbole** through the comprehensive scope of the judgment: "to cut off from it man and beast." This emphasizes the absolute and total devastation, leaving no life untouched, thereby magnifying the severity of God's wrath and underscoring the dire consequences of persistent rebellion and idolatry.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Ezekiel 14:19 profoundly contributes to the biblical understanding of divine justice and the dire consequences of sin. It reveals a God who is not merely merciful and patient but also immutably holy and righteous, one who will not indefinitely tolerate rebellion, idolatry, and spiritual infidelity. The concept of pestilence as a direct divine judgment is deeply rooted in Old Testament theology, serving as a stark reminder that God remains sovereign over all creation, including the forces of disease and death, and can wield them as instruments of His righteous will. This verse emphasizes that sin has not only individual but also profound communal consequences, impacting the entire land and its inhabitants, both human and animal. It underscores the severity of God's wrath, which, when unleashed, is comprehensive and devastating, often aiming to purge sin and restore righteousness, ultimately serving as a severe means of calling a people to repentance and a renewed relationship with Him.

* [Deuteronomy 28:21-22](/deuteronomy/28-21-22 "Deuteronomy 28:21-22 - Pestilence as a Curse for Disobedience")
* [Jeremiah 21:6](/jeremiah/21-6 "Jeremiah 21:6 - Pestilence in Jerusalem as Divine Judgment")
* [Revelation 6:8](/revelation/6-8 "Revelation 6:8 - The Fourth Seal: Death and Pestilence")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Ezekiel 14:19 serves as a sobering and profound reminder of God's unwavering holiness and justice. While believers today live under the New Covenant of grace, the eternal principles of God's character revealed here remain profoundly true. This verse calls us to cultivate a deep and abiding reverence for God, recognizing His ultimate authority and the seriousness with which He views sin, particularly idolatry—anything that subtly or overtly takes precedence over Him in our lives and affections. It challenges us to engage in honest self-examination, both individually and as communities, asking if there are areas where we have subtly or overtly placed other allegiances, desires, or comforts above our singular devotion to the Lord. The comprehensive nature of the judgment ("man and beast") should impress upon us that sin has far-reaching and systemic consequences, impacting not only individuals but also the broader society, the natural world, and even future generations. Ultimately, this passage, though severe in its portrayal of judgment, is a powerful call to humility, sincere repentance, and a renewed, unwavering commitment to living in faithful obedience to the One who holds all life, all judgment, and all mercy in His sovereign hands.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **In what ways might we, even subtly, engage in "idolatry" in our modern lives, placing other things or pursuits before God?**
* **How does understanding God's justice in verses like Ezekiel 14:19 deepen our appreciation for His boundless mercy and transformative grace?**
* **What responsibility do believers have to advocate for righteousness, justice, and repentance within their communities, recognizing the communal impact of sin?**
* **How does the comprehensive nature of this judgment ("man and beast") challenge and expand our understanding of God's sovereignty over all creation?**

### FAQ
**What does "pour out my fury upon it in blood" mean?**

Answer: This phrase is a powerful and vivid expression of God's intense wrath and the devastating consequences of His judgment. "Pour out" signifies an unrestrained, overwhelming, and complete release of divine anger, much like a flood or an overflowing vessel. "Fury" (Hebrew: *chêmâh*) denotes a burning, intense indignation, a fierce displeasure. The addition of "in blood" is a **metonymy**, meaning that the pestilence will result in widespread death, carnage, and the shedding of life. It's not that God is literally pouring out blood, but that the effect of His fury, manifested through a deadly pestilence, will be a land filled with the dead bodies of humans and animals, symbolizing immense loss of life and utter devastation. This imagery emphasizes the severity and totality of the judgment, leaving no doubt about its destructive impact.

**How does this verse relate to God's character of love and mercy?**

Answer: While Ezekiel 14:19 starkly highlights God's justice and wrath against sin, it must be understood within the broader, holistic context of His multifaceted character and overarching redemptive plan. God's holiness demands that sin be addressed; His justice is not arbitrary but an intrinsic expression of His perfect righteousness and moral order. The judgments described in Ezekiel, though severe, are often intended to bring about repentance, restoration, and a return to Him, as seen in passages like [Jeremiah 18:7-8](/jeremiah/18-7-8 "Jeremiah 18:7-8 - God's Willingness to Relent from Judgment"). God's love and mercy are profoundly demonstrated in His patience, His repeated warnings, and His provision of opportunities for His people to turn from their wicked ways before judgment falls. Ultimately, His love is most fully revealed in His provision for salvation through Jesus Christ, offering a way for humanity to escape the ultimate consequences of sin, which is spiritual death and eternal separation, for "the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord" [Romans 6:23](/romans/6-23 "Romans 6:23 - The Wages of Sin"). Thus, His justice and His love are not contradictory but complementary aspects of His divine nature, working in perfect harmony.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Ezekiel 14:19, with its stark portrayal of divine judgment and the cutting off of life due to sin, finds its profound Christ-centered fulfillment in the person and redemptive work of Jesus Christ. The "fury" of God, which was threatened to be poured out "in blood" to "cut off" man and beast, points to the ultimate consequence of sin: death and separation from a holy God. The Old Testament sacrificial system, with its repeated shedding of animal blood, foreshadowed the absolute necessity of a perfect, unblemished sacrifice to atone for sin, for "without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sins" [Hebrews 9:22](/hebrews/9-22 "Hebrews 9:22 - Without the Shedding of Blood"). Jesus, as the [Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world](/john/1-29 "John 1:29 - Jesus, the Lamb of God"), became the ultimate and final fulfillment of this profound need. On the cross, the full wrath and "fury" of God against humanity's sin were poured out upon Him, not upon the rebellious land or its inhabitants. Through His shed blood, Christ was literally "cut off" from life, experiencing the ultimate separation and bearing the curse of sin so that humanity might not be. His death was the propitiation for our sins, satisfying God's righteous demands and turning away His wrath [Romans 3:25](/romans/3-25 "Romans 3:25 - Christ Our Propitiation"). Therefore, while Ezekiel 14:19 warns of physical judgment and desolation, Christ's atoning work offers deliverance from spiritual death and eternal separation, transforming the consequence of sin into the promise of life for all who believe, demonstrating that [God so loved the world that He gave His only Son](/john/3-16 "John 3:16 - God's Love and Salvation") to save us from the very wrath we deserve. In Him, we are no longer "cut off" but made alive and reconciled to God [Colossians 2:13-14](/colossians/2-13-14 "Colossians 2:13-14 - Made Alive in Christ").

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

Ezekiel 38:22

And I will plead against him with pestilence and with blood; and I will rain upon him, and upon his bands, and upon the many people that [are] with him, an overflowing rain, and great hailstones, fire, and brimstone.

Ezekiel 7:8

Now will I shortly pour out my fury upon thee, and accomplish mine anger upon thee: and I will judge thee according to thy ways, and will recompense thee for all thine abominations.

2 Samuel 24:15

So the LORD sent a pestilence upon Israel from the morning even to the time appointed: and there died of the people from Dan even to Beersheba seventy thousand men.

Jeremiah 14:12

When they fast, I will not hear their cry; and when they offer burnt offering and an oblation, I will not accept them: but I will consume them by the sword, and by the famine, and by the pestilence.

Ezekiel 5:12

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.

Jeremiah 24:10

And I will send the sword, the famine, and the pestilence, among them, till they be consumed from off the land that I gave unto them and to their fathers.

2 Samuel 24:13

So Gad came to David, and told him, and said unto him, Shall seven years of famine come unto thee in thy land? or wilt thou flee three months before thine enemies, while they pursue thee? or that there be three days' pestilence in thy land? now advise, and see what answer I shall return to him that sent me.