Ezekiel 5:15

KJV

So it shall be a reproach and a taunt, an instruction and an astonishment unto the nations that [are] round about thee, when I shall execute judgments in thee in anger and in fury and in furious rebukes. I the LORD have spoken [it].

KJV (with Strong's)

So it shall be a reproach {H2781} and a taunt {H1422}, an instruction {H4148} and an astonishment {H4923} unto the nations {H1471} that are round about {H5439} thee, when I shall execute {H6213} judgments {H8201} in thee in anger {H639} and in fury {H2534} and in furious {H2534} rebukes {H8433}. I the LORD {H3068} have spoken {H1696} it.

Complete Jewish Bible

When I execute judgments and furious punishments among you in anger and fury, [Yerushalayim] will be an object of reproach, derision and horror, and a lesson to warn the nations around you. I, ADONAI, have announced it.

Berean Standard Bible

So you will be a reproach and a taunt, a warning and a horror to the nations around you, when I execute judgments against you in anger, wrath, and raging fury. I, the LORD, have spoken.

American Standard Version

So it shall be a reproach and a taunt, an instruction and an astonishment, unto the nations that are round about thee, when I shall execute judgments on thee in anger and in wrath, and in wrathful rebukes (I, Jehovah, have spoken it);

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Ezekiel 5:15 powerfully declares that Jerusalem's impending and devastating judgment will serve as a public spectacle and a grim, didactic lesson for the surrounding nations. Far from being a private calamity, the city's ruin will become a source of profound humiliation and mockery, yet simultaneously a stark instruction and a cause for overwhelming astonishment, revealing the unwavering justice and fierce indignation of the Lord against persistent rebellion. This verse underscores the absolute certainty of divine judgment, emphasizing that God's spoken word will inevitably come to pass with full force.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Ezekiel 5:15 serves as a climactic pronouncement within a highly symbolic and graphic prophetic act initiated at the chapter's outset. The preceding verses [Ezekiel 5:1-4](/ezekiel/5-1 "Ezekiel 5:1-4 - The Prophetic Haircut and its Division") detail Ezekiel's command to shave his head and beard, dividing the hair into three portions, each representing a distinct fate for Jerusalem's inhabitants: one-third burned within the city, one-third struck with a sword around it, and one-third scattered to the wind, with only a few strands preserved as a remnant. This vivid imagery, culminating in the detailed judgments described in [Ezekiel 5:12](/ezekiel/5-12 "Ezekiel 5:12 - The Threefold Judgment"), sets the stage for verse 15. This verse then shifts focus from the internal suffering of Jerusalem to the external perception of its downfall by the surrounding Gentile nations, highlighting the international implications of God's justice. It acts as a summary declaration, solidifying the outcomes of the preceding symbolic actions and divine pronouncements, emphasizing the public nature of Jerusalem's humiliation and the didactic purpose of God's judgment.

* **Historical & Cultural Context:** Jerusalem, depicted in [Ezekiel 5:5](/ezekiel/5-5 "Ezekiel 5:5 - Jerusalem at the Center of the Nations") as "the center of the nations," held a unique strategic and symbolic position in the ancient Near East. It was intended to be a beacon of God's truth, righteousness, and covenant faithfulness to the Gentile world. However, instead of upholding God's covenant, the people of Judah had plunged into widespread idolatry, child sacrifice, and a profound defilement of the Temple, surpassing even the wickedness and abominations of the surrounding pagan nations [Ezekiel 5:6-11](/ezekiel/5-6 "Ezekiel 5:6-11 - Jerusalem's Abominations and Defilement"). In the ancient Near Eastern worldview, the fate of a nation was often directly attributed to the power and favor of its patron deity. Thus, Jerusalem's destruction would not merely be interpreted as a military defeat by its neighbors, but as a public display of the power (or perceived weakness) of its God. God's declaration in this verse asserts that His judgment would unequivocally demonstrate His supreme power and unyielding justice, transforming Israel's humiliation into a profound object lesson for all who observed.

* **Key Themes:** This verse powerfully contributes to several overarching themes within the book of Ezekiel and the broader prophetic literature. It underscores the theme of **Divine Sovereignty and Unyielding Justice**, showcasing God's absolute authority over all nations and His unwavering commitment to righteousness, even when it necessitates judging His own chosen people. The concept of **Shame and Public Spectacle** is profoundly prominent, as Jerusalem's downfall is not a private affair but a highly visible demonstration of the dire consequences of covenant unfaithfulness, intended to elicit specific reactions from observers. Furthermore, it highlights the **Didactic Purpose of Judgment**, where God's severe actions serve as an "instruction" or moral lesson, not only for the remnant of Israel but also for the surrounding nations, teaching them about the holy and just nature of the Almighty. Finally, the repeated declaration of God's "anger and fury and furious rebukes" vividly emphasizes the theme of **God's Righteous Indignation** against persistent rebellion and idolatry, a motif found throughout the prophetic books, as seen, for example, in the powerful imagery of divine wrath in [Nahum 1:6](/nahum/1-6 "Nahum 1:6 - God's Indignation and Fury").

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **Reproach (Hebrew, _cherpâh'_):** From H2781, this term signifies profound contumely, disgrace, or shame. In this context, it describes the public humiliation and deep dishonor that Jerusalem will experience as a direct consequence of God's judgment. It implies a devastating loss of status and respect, transforming the once-favored city into an object of scorn and derision among the nations.
* **Instruction (Hebrew, _mûwçâr'_):** From H4148, this word properly means chastisement or discipline, but figuratively refers to reproof, warning, or moral instruction. Here, it conveys the profound idea that Jerusalem's catastrophic fate will serve as a stern moral lesson or a severe warning to the surrounding nations, teaching them about the dire and inescapable consequences of defying the Almighty God. It is a disciplinary act with a clear, universal educational purpose.
* **Fury (Hebrew, _chêmâh'_):** From H2534, this term denotes intense heat, and figuratively, overwhelming anger, wrath, or even poison. Its powerful triple repetition in the phrase "anger and in fury and in furious rebukes" is a rhetorical device designed to underscore the overwhelming intensity, deliberateness, and righteous nature of God's indignation. This is not a fleeting emotion but a settled, consuming wrath against profound and persistent sin.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"So it shall be a reproach and a taunt, an instruction and an astonishment unto the nations that [are] round about thee":** This opening clause vividly describes the multifaceted reactions of the surrounding nations to Jerusalem's impending judgment. The city will become a "reproach" (an object of deep shame and disgrace) and a "taunt" (a byword, an object of ridicule), signifying its utter humiliation. Simultaneously, its downfall will serve as a profound "instruction" (a moral lesson or stern warning) and an "astonishment" (a cause for utter horror, shock, and overwhelming amazement), demonstrating the profound and undeniable impact of God's judgment on all who observe it.
* **"when I shall execute judgments in thee in anger and in fury and in furious rebukes":** This pivotal part specifies the divine agent and the precise nature of the impending judgment. God Himself, YHWH, declares that He will "execute judgments" within Jerusalem, emphasizing His direct, personal involvement and the deliberate, intentional nature of His actions. The powerful triple emphasis on "anger," "fury," and "furious rebukes" (or "chastisements") highlights the intense, righteous indignation and the comprehensive, unrelenting nature of God's wrath against the city's persistent rebellion, idolatry, and covenant unfaithfulness.
* **"I the LORD have spoken [it].":** This concluding declaration is a solemn and authoritative affirmation of the absolute certainty and divine authority behind the entire prophecy. It asserts that this is not merely a human prediction or a speculative warning, but a divinely ordained decree from YHWH (H3068, `Yᵉhôvâh`), the self-existent, covenant-keeping God. His word is immutable, His purposes are unchangeable, and His judgments will undoubtedly be accomplished, reinforcing His ultimate sovereignty and the terrifying inevitability of His righteous judgment.

#### Literary Devices
Ezekiel 5:15 employs several powerful **Literary Devices** to convey its message with maximum impact. The verse utilizes striking **Repetition** through the triple emphasis on God's wrath—"anger and in fury and in furious rebukes"—which serves to underscore the overwhelming intensity, deliberateness, and comprehensive nature of the divine judgment. This rhetorical device powerfully amplifies the severity of God's righteous indignation. There is also a strong element of **Irony**: Jerusalem, once chosen and intended to be a blessing and a radiant light to the nations, becomes instead a "reproach and a taunt," a negative and horrifying example of divine judgment. The city's catastrophic fall, intended to be a public display of God's power, also becomes a stark spectacle of its own profound failure and apostasy. Furthermore, the descriptions of "astonishment" and "instruction" suggest a profound **Didactic Purpose**, where the judgment itself acts as a **Symbolic Act** on a grand, international scale, teaching crucial lessons to both the remnant of Israel and the surrounding Gentile peoples about the dire consequences of disobedience and the unyielding, holy character of God.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Ezekiel 5:15 profoundly articulates the theological principle that God's justice is not confined solely to His covenant people but extends with universal authority to all nations, serving as a public, undeniable display of His holy character and sovereign rule. The judgment on Jerusalem, though devastating in its scope, is not arbitrary or capricious but a perfectly righteous response to profound and persistent covenant unfaithfulness. This divine action transforms a localized catastrophe into a universal object lesson, demonstrating unequivocally that God holds all accountable for their actions and that His word, once spoken with divine authority, is irrevocably true and will be fulfilled. The shame, taunt, and astonishment associated with Jerusalem's fall are divinely intended to instill a profound fear of the Lord in those who witness it, revealing that the God of Israel is a holy God who cannot be trifled with, and that His standards of righteousness are immutable and eternally binding.

* [Deuteronomy 28:37](/deuteronomy/28-37 "A Proverb and Byword Among All Peoples")
* [Jeremiah 19:8](/jeremiah/19-8 "A Desolation and a Hissing")
* [Lamentations 2:15](/lamentations/2-15 "Nations Mock Jerusalem's Fall")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Ezekiel 5:15 serves as a profoundly sobering reminder of the gravity of sin and the unwavering, holy justice of God. For believers today, it calls us to deep introspection, prompting us to consider with utmost seriousness the way God views disobedience, especially from those who bear His sacred name. It challenges any complacent notion that God's boundless grace somehow negates His absolute holiness or that a covenant relationship provides automatic immunity from righteous judgment. Instead, it underscores the profound truth that privilege brings greater responsibility and accountability. This verse also powerfully reminds us that our actions, both individually and corporately as the Church, have an impact far beyond ourselves; they can either bring profound glory to God's name or, tragically, cause His name to be reproached and reviled among those who observe us. It compels us to live lives of faithful obedience, marked by integrity and devotion, recognizing that our witness to a watching world is deeply and inextricably intertwined with our adherence to God's commands and our reflection of His holy character.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **In what specific ways might our actions, as individuals or as a community of faith, inadvertently bring "reproach" or, conversely, serve as "instruction" to those outside the church?**
* **How does understanding the intensity of God's "anger and fury" in judgment deepen our profound appreciation for His boundless mercy and transformative grace revealed in Christ?**
* **What specific areas of my personal life or our church's collective life need to be brought into greater alignment with God's perfect will to avoid spiritual "reproach" and ensure a faithful witness?**

### FAQ
**Why would God allow His chosen people to become a "reproach and a taunt" to other nations?**

Answer: God allowed Jerusalem, His chosen city and people, to become a "reproach and a taunt" not out of weakness, indifference, or caprice, but as a severe, public, and undeniable demonstration of His perfect justice and unwavering holiness. Jerusalem was strategically positioned "in the midst of the nations" [Ezekiel 5:5](/ezekiel/5-5 "Ezekiel 5:5 - Jerusalem's Central Position") to be a radiant beacon of righteousness and a living testimony to God's glory. However, the people's persistent idolatry, profound moral corruption, and flagrant rebellion, which surpassed even the wickedness of the surrounding pagan nations [Ezekiel 5:6-7](/ezekiel/5-6 "Ezekiel 5:6-7 - Israel's Greater Wickedness"), defiled His holy sanctuary and egregiously broke His sacred covenant. Therefore, their judgment served a dual and critical purpose: it was a just and necessary punishment for their egregious sin, and simultaneously, a powerful, undeniable lesson to the observing nations that the God of Israel is a holy God who judges sin with absolute impartiality, even among His own. This public humiliation underscored the extreme gravity of their apostasy and God's unwavering commitment to His righteous and immutable standards.

**What does it mean for God to execute judgments "in anger and in fury and in furious rebukes"?**

Answer: This powerful triple emphasis on God's "anger," "fury," and "furious rebukes" (or "chastisements") is a rhetorical device designed to highlight the profound intensity, unwavering deliberateness, and comprehensive nature of God's righteous indignation against sin. It is crucial to understand that this is not an uncontrolled, volatile outburst of emotion, but rather a settled, burning wrath that stems from His perfect holiness and absolute justice in response to profound and persistent rebellion and covenant unfaithfulness. The repetition underscores the extreme severity and absolute certainty of the judgment, indicating that God's actions are not arbitrary but are a just, necessary, and proportionate consequence of sustained disobedience. It communicates the profound depth of His displeasure with the pervasive sin that had permeated Jerusalem, signifying that the judgment would be thorough, devastating, and entirely reflective of the seriousness of the offenses committed against His holy character.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
While Ezekiel 5:15 vividly portrays the severe and public judgment of God upon His disobedient people, its ultimate Christ-centered fulfillment lies in the profound and glorious contrast between humanity's deserved wrath and God's perfect provision of salvation through Jesus Christ. The "anger and fury and furious rebukes" that were justly poured out upon Jerusalem for its profound sin find their ultimate expression and complete absorption not in the destruction of a city, but in the person of Jesus Christ on the cross. The Old Testament judgments, like the one upon Jerusalem, were profound shadows and types of the complete and final judgment due to all humanity for its pervasive sin [Romans 1:18](/romans/1-18 "Romans 1:18 - God's Wrath Revealed Against Ungodliness"). Yet, Christ, the perfect and sinless Lamb of God, willingly became the divine recipient of this very wrath, suffering the "furious rebukes" and the full "fury" of God's judgment in our place [Isaiah 53:5](/isaiah/53-5 "Isaiah 53:5 - Christ Wounded for Our Transgressions"). He became the "reproach and a taunt" [Psalm 22:6](/psalm/22-6 "Psalm 22:6 - Christ, a Reproach of Men") for humanity, enduring public shame, mockery, and crucifixion, precisely so that all who believe in Him might be eternally spared the just wrath of God and receive instead His astonishing grace and eternal instruction [John 3:16](/john/3-16 "John 3:16 - God's Love and Provision of Eternal Life"). Thus, the ultimate and most profound "instruction" for the nations is not merely the terrifying horror of judgment, but the astonishing, redemptive grace of God revealed in the atoning sacrifice of Christ, who fully satisfied the righteous demands of divine justice, triumphantly declaring, "It is finished!" [John 19:30](/john/19-30 "John 19:30 - Jesus' Final Words on the Cross").

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 25:17

And I will execute great vengeance upon them with furious rebukes; and they shall know that I [am] the LORD, when I shall lay my vengeance upon them.

Jeremiah 22:8

And many nations shall pass by this city, and they shall say every man to his neighbour, Wherefore hath the LORD done thus unto this great city?

Jeremiah 22:9

Then they shall answer, Because they have forsaken the covenant of the LORD their God, and worshipped other gods, and served them.

Isaiah 26:9

With my soul have I desired thee in the night; yea, with my spirit within me will I seek thee early: for when thy judgments [are] in the earth, the inhabitants of the world will learn righteousness.

Isaiah 66:15

¶ For, behold, the LORD will come with fire, and with his chariots like a whirlwind, to render his anger with fury, and his rebuke with flames of fire.

Isaiah 66:16

For by fire and by his sword will the LORD plead with all flesh: and the slain of the LORD shall be many.

1 Corinthians 10:11

Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come.