Ezekiel 6:11

KJV

¶ Thus saith the Lord GOD; Smite with thine hand, and stamp with thy foot, and say, Alas for all the evil abominations of the house of Israel! for they shall fall by the sword, by the famine, and by the pestilence.

KJV (with Strong's)

Thus saith {H559} the Lord {H136} GOD {H3069}; Smite {H5221} with thine hand {H3709}, and stamp {H7554} with thy foot {H7272}, and say {H559}, Alas {H253} for all the evil {H7451} abominations {H8441} of the house {H1004} of Israel {H3478}! for they shall fall {H5307} by the sword {H2719}, by the famine {H7458}, and by the pestilence {H1698}.

Complete Jewish Bible

"Here is what Adonai ELOHIM says: 'Strike with your hand, and stamp with your foot, and bemoan all the terrible disgusting practices of the house of Isra'el. For they will fall by sword, famine and plague.

Berean Standard Bible

This is what the Lord GOD says: Clap your hands, stomp your feet, and cry out “Alas!” because of all the wicked abominations of the house of Israel, who will fall by sword and famine and plague.

American Standard Version

Thus saith the Lord Jehovah: Smite with thy hand, and stamp with thy foot, and say, Alas! because of all the evil abominations of the house of Israel; for they shall fall by the sword, by the famine, and by the pestilence.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Ezekiel 6:11 presents a solemn divine directive to the prophet Ezekiel, commanding him to perform a dramatic, public act of lament—smashing his hands together and stamping his foot—as a profound expression of grief and indignation. This visceral demonstration anticipates the severe and inevitable judgment awaiting the house of Israel. Their pervasive and detestable idolatry, characterized as "evil abominations," will culminate in a comprehensive national catastrophe, manifesting through the devastating trio of the sword, famine, and pestilence, thereby underscoring the certainty and righteous nature of God's wrath against their persistent rebellion.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Ezekiel 6:11 is deeply embedded within a powerful prophetic oracle (Ezekiel 6-7) that pronounces God's unyielding judgment against the defiled land and people of Israel. Chapter 6 initiates with a direct, symbolic address to the "mountains of Israel" (/ezekiel/6-2 "Ezekiel 6:2 - Prophecy Against the Mountains"), which served as prominent sites for idolatrous worship and "abominations." The preceding verses detail the comprehensive destruction of their pagan altars, idols, and high places, emphasizing that the land will be desolated and the bodies of the idolaters scattered around their detestable objects of worship (/ezekiel/6-4-7 "Ezekiel 6:4-7 - Destruction of Idolatry"). Verse 11, therefore, serves as a climactic and emotionally charged command, transitioning from a general pronouncement of judgment to a specific, embodied lament by the prophet. It reinforces the certainty and severity of the declared judgment, portraying God's own anguish over the fate His people have brought upon themselves.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** This prophecy was delivered to the Jewish exiles in Babylon, likely between 593-587 BC, following the first Babylonian deportation of Judah's elite in 597 BC. While Jerusalem and the remaining kingdom of Judah still stood, their spiritual condition was dire, marked by deep-seated idolatry and moral corruption, even within the sacred precincts of the temple itself, as later revealed in [Ezekiel 8](/ezekiel/8 "Ezekiel 8 - The Idolatry in the Temple"). The "house of Israel" in this context primarily refers to the kingdom of Judah, which had continued the apostasy of the northern kingdom. The physical gestures commanded of Ezekiel—smashing hands and stamping feet—were culturally recognizable in the ancient Near East as powerful expressions of extreme grief, despair, or indignation, often performed during times of national calamity or lament. This made Ezekiel's actions immediately impactful and comprehensible to his audience. The "sword, famine, and pestilence" triad was a conventional and terrifying motif of divine judgment, frequently appearing in prophetic warnings across the Old Testament, such as in [Jeremiah 14:12](/jeremiah/14-12 "Jeremiah 14:12 - Consequences of Disobedience") and [Jeremiah 21:7](/jeremiah/21-7 "Jeremiah 21:7 - Prophecy of Destruction").
* **Key Themes:** Ezekiel 6:11 powerfully contributes to several overarching themes pervasive in the book of Ezekiel and broader prophetic literature. Firstly, it underscores **God's unwavering holiness and justice**, demonstrating that His righteous character necessitates a response to persistent sin, particularly the egregious idolatry that violated His covenant. Secondly, the verse highlights the **inevitability of divine judgment** when warnings are disregarded and repentance is withheld; the prophet's commanded "Alas" and physical actions convey a sense of irreversible doom that awaits the unrepentant. Thirdly, the explicit focus on "abominations" reinforces the theme of **Israel's deep-seated spiritual rebellion and defilement**, which rendered such severe divine purification necessary. Finally, the prophet's commanded lament foreshadows the **profound sorrow of God Himself** over the impending destruction of His people, even as He executes righteous judgment, a poignant theme echoed in passages like [Hosea 11:8](/hosea/11-8 "Hosea 11:8 - God's Compassion for Israel").

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **Alas (Hebrew, _ʼâch'_):** This interjection (H253) is an exclamation of profound grief, sorrow, or surprise. In Ezekiel 6:11, it functions as a deep cry of woe and lamentation, amplifying the emotional weight of Ezekiel's commanded actions. It signifies the prophet's, and by extension, God's, intense anguish over the dire spiritual state and impending doom of Israel, directly attributable to their pervasive sin.
* **abominations (Hebrew, _tôwʻêbah'_):** This term (H8441) refers to something utterly disgusting, abhorrent, or detestable, particularly in a moral or religious sense. It is frequently employed in the Old Testament to describe practices repugnant to God, most notably idolatry, pagan rituals, and associated immoralities. Its use here underscores the severity, offensive nature, and profound defilement of Israel's transgressions against God's holy character and covenant.
* **fall (Hebrew, _nâphal'_):** This primitive root (H5307) means "to fall" in a wide variety of applications, including to die, be overthrown, or perish. In the context of Ezekiel 6:11, it specifically denotes the perishing and demise of the "house of Israel" through the instruments of divine judgment—the sword, famine, and pestilence—signifying their complete collapse and destruction as a direct consequence of God's righteous wrath.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"Thus saith the Lord GOD; Smite with thine hand, and stamp with thy foot, and say, Alas for all the evil abominations of the house of Israel!":** This opening clause establishes the absolute divine authority behind the command, emphasizing that the message originates from "the Lord GOD" (Adonai YHWH). Ezekiel is then instructed to perform a dramatic, public act of lament. "Smite with thine hand, and stamp with thy foot" are vivid physical expressions of extreme grief, despair, and indignation, visually communicating the depth of sorrow and the certainty of impending doom. The exclamation "Alas" (H253) further intensifies this lament, directed specifically at "all the evil abominations of the house of Israel," highlighting the pervasive, detestable, and offensive nature of their idolatry and sin as the direct and undeniable cause of God's impending judgment.
* **"for they shall fall by the sword, by the famine, and by the pestilence.":** This concluding clause provides the explicit reason and the precise instruments of the judgment. The "house of Israel" (primarily referring to Judah in this context) will "fall" (H5307), meaning they will perish, be overthrown, or collapse. This comprehensive judgment will be executed through the devastating triad of "the sword" (representing warfare, violence, and conquest), "the famine" (signifying severe lack of food, starvation, and economic collapse), and "the pestilence" (denoting widespread disease, plague, and epidemic). These were the most common and comprehensive forms of divine chastisement in the ancient world, signifying a complete societal collapse and a stark, undeniable fulfillment of the covenant curses for disobedience.

#### Literary Devices
Ezekiel 6:11 masterfully employs several potent literary devices to convey its urgent and severe message. The prophet's commanded actions to "smite with thine hand, and stamp with thy foot" exemplify **Symbolic Action**, a hallmark of Ezekiel's prophetic ministry. These gestures are not merely descriptive but performative, functioning as a visual and auditory sermon that embodies the divine grief and the prophet's despair over Israel's impending destruction. The phrase "Alas for all the evil abominations" utilizes **Exclamation** to convey profound sorrow and **Hyperbole** to emphasize the overwhelming extent and severity of Israel's sin. The repeated emphasis on "abominations" throughout Ezekiel 6 (e.g., [Ezekiel 6:9](/ezekiel/6-9 "Ezekiel 6:9 - Remembering God Amidst Desolation")) functions as **Anaphora** or **Repetition**, underscoring the central cause of God's wrath and the pervasive nature of Israel's defilement. Finally, the listing of "sword, famine, and pestilence" is a classic example of a **Triad** or **Climax**, representing the comprehensive, inescapable, and utterly devastating nature of God's judgment, a common prophetic motif for complete societal collapse.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Ezekiel 6:11 profoundly emphasizes the gravity of idolatry and the unwavering justice of God. It reveals that God's holiness cannot tolerate persistent rebellion and defilement, even from His chosen people. The physical lament commanded of Ezekiel underscores the divine sorrow over the necessity of judgment, yet it also affirms the certainty of consequences for sin. This passage serves as a stark reminder that true worship demands exclusive allegiance to the Lord, and any deviation into "abominations" will inevitably lead to severe divine discipline, designed either to purify and restore a right relationship, or, failing that, to demonstrate God's righteous character to the nations.

* [Leviticus 26:25](/leviticus/26-25 "Leviticus 26:25 - Covenant Curses for Disobedience")
* [Deuteronomy 28:21-22](/deuteronomy/28-21-22 "Deuteronomy 28:21-22 - Curses of Disease, Famine, and Sword")
* [Jeremiah 14:12](/jeremiah/14-12 "Jeremiah 14:12 - God's Refusal to Hear")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Ezekiel 6:11 confronts us with the profound seriousness of idolatry and the inevitable consequences of persistent sin. While we may no longer bow to physical statues, modern idolatry often takes more subtle and insidious forms: the worship of self, the relentless pursuit of wealth, power, or pleasure above God, or even placing our ultimate trust in human institutions, ideologies, or personal achievements rather than in the Creator. This verse calls us to deep introspection, prompting us to identify and dismantle any "abominations" in our own hearts and lives that compete for the ultimate devotion due to God alone. It serves as a potent reminder that God's justice is real, and His warnings are not idle threats but expressions of His righteous character and covenant faithfulness. The prophet's lament should stir within us a holy fear of God and a compassionate sorrow for a world that often ignores divine truth, urging us to humble ourselves, repent, and turn wholeheartedly to the Lord, embracing His holiness and seeking His will above all else.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **What are the "abominations" in my own life or in our society that might provoke God's righteous displeasure today?**
* **How seriously do I take God's warnings about sin and its consequences, both personally and corporately?**
* **In what ways can I "smite with my hand and stamp with my foot"—that is, express genuine lament and sorrow—over the spiritual condition of the world around me?**
* **How does the inevitability of judgment in this verse motivate me to pursue a deeper relationship with God and to share His truth with others?**

### FAQ
**What does "Smite with thine hand, and stamp with thy foot" mean in this context?**

Answer: This command to Ezekiel (H5221, H7554) is a powerful symbolic action, a common feature of prophetic ministry in the Old Testament. It represents a visceral, public display of extreme grief, despair, and indignation. By smashing his hands together and stamping his foot, Ezekiel was embodying the profound sorrow and anguish of God Himself over the impending destruction of Israel due to their persistent idolatry and sin. It was a visible, audible sermon designed to convey the certainty and severity of the judgment to the exiles, leaving no doubt about the divine lament over their tragic fate and the just consequences of their rebellion.

**What are the "evil abominations" referred to in the verse?**

Answer: The "evil abominations" (H7451, H8441) primarily refer to the widespread and deeply entrenched idolatry practiced by the house of Israel (Judah). This included the worship of false gods on "every high hill and under every green tree" (as mentioned in [Ezekiel 6:13](/ezekiel/6-13 "Ezekiel 6:13 - Idolatry on High Places")), the erection of pagan altars, and participation in detestable rituals that often involved child sacrifice and sexual immorality. These practices were utterly repugnant to the holy character of Yahweh and a direct violation of His covenant with Israel, making them "abominations" in His sight.

**Why are "sword, famine, and pestilence" repeatedly mentioned as instruments of judgment in the Old Testament?**

Answer: "Sword" (H2719), "famine" (H7458), and "pestilence" (H1698) form a common prophetic triad representing comprehensive divine judgment and societal collapse. These were the most devastating and inescapable forms of catastrophe in the ancient world, often occurring together. The sword brought war and violence, leading to death. Famine often followed, as war disrupted agriculture and supply lines, causing widespread starvation. Pestilence, or plague, frequently accompanied these conditions, as weakened populations and unsanitary environments became breeding grounds for disease. Their repeated mention (e.g., [Jeremiah 24:10](/jeremiah/24-10 "Jeremiah 24:10 - The Good and Bad Figs")) underscores their effectiveness as instruments of divine discipline, signifying that no aspect of life would be untouched by God's wrath, ensuring a complete and unavoidable consequence for national sin.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
While Ezekiel 6:11 vividly portrays the dire consequences of Israel's idolatry and God's righteous judgment, it implicitly points to the ultimate solution and fulfillment found in Jesus Christ. The "evil abominations" of the house of Israel, which brought about the devastating trio of sword, famine, and pestilence, represent humanity's universal sin and rebellion against a holy God. The lament of Ezekiel, mirroring God's own profound sorrow, foreshadows the ultimate anguish of God over sin, an anguish that would be fully expressed in the person of Jesus Christ. The judgment that "they shall fall by the sword, by the famine, and by the pestilence" is a powerful picture of the spiritual death and separation from God that all humanity faces due to sin. However, in Christ, the ultimate [Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world](/john/1-29 "John 1:29 - Jesus, the Lamb of God"), God Himself bore the full weight of this judgment. Jesus became the one who "fell" for our abominations, enduring the spiritual sword of divine wrath, the famine of God's presence, and the pestilence of sin's curse on the cross ([Galatians 3:13](/galatians/3-13 "Galatians 3:13 - Christ Redeemed Us from the Curse")). Through His atoning sacrifice, those who believe are delivered from the judgment pronounced in Ezekiel, experiencing instead the abundant life and reconciliation with God that He offers ([Romans 5:10](/romans/5-10 "Romans 5:10 - Reconciliation through Christ")). Thus, Ezekiel's lament over impending doom finds its ultimate reversal and hope in the redemptive work of Christ, who transforms the curse into blessing and spiritual death into eternal life for all who turn to Him ([2_corinthians/5-21](/2_corinthians/5-21 "2 Corinthians 5:21 - Christ Our Righteousness")).

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 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.

Ezekiel 25:6

For thus saith the Lord GOD; Because thou hast clapped [thine] hands, and stamped with the feet, and rejoiced in heart with all thy despite against the land of Israel;

Ezekiel 9:4

And the LORD 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 for all the abominations that be done in the midst thereof.

Ezekiel 21:14

Thou therefore, son of man, prophesy, and smite [thine] hands together, and let the sword be doubled the third time, the sword of the slain: it [is] the sword of the great [men that are] slain, which entereth into their privy chambers.

Ezekiel 21:17

I will also smite mine hands together, and I will cause my fury to rest: I the LORD have said [it].

Joel 1:15

Alas for the day! for the day of the LORD [is] at hand, and as a destruction from the Almighty shall it come.