Ezekiel 7:11

Violence is risen up into a rod of wickedness: none of them [shall remain], nor of their multitude, nor of any of theirs: neither [shall there be] wailing for them.

Violence {H2555} is risen up {H6965} into a rod {H4294} of wickedness {H7562}: none of them shall remain, nor of their multitude {H1995}, nor of any {H1991} of theirs: neither shall there be wailing {H5089} for them.

Violence has grown into a rod of wickedness. Nothing is left of them, nothing of their crowds, nothing of their wealth - there is nothing of importance in them.

Their violence has grown into a rod to punish their wickedness. None of them will remain: none of their multitude, none of their wealth, and nothing of value.

Violence is risen up into a rod of wickedness; none of them shall remain, nor of their multitude, nor of their wealth: neither shall there be eminency among them.

Ezekiel 7:11 is a stark pronouncement of God's impending judgment upon the land of Israel, specifically Jerusalem, during the time of the prophet Ezekiel. This verse is part of a larger prophecy detailing the swift and inescapable "end" that is coming due to the nation's pervasive wickedness and idolatry.

Context

Chapter 7 of Ezekiel serves as a powerful declaration of the Lord God's righteous wrath against a people who have repeatedly turned away from Him. The entire chapter emphasizes the finality and comprehensiveness of the coming judgment, often referred to as "the end" (Ezekiel 7:2). The inhabitants of Jerusalem had filled the land with violence and engaged in detestable practices, provoking God to bring about an unprecedented devastation. This verse highlights the severity of the moral decay and the equally severe divine response.

Key Themes

  • Pervasive Wickedness: The phrase "Violence is risen up into a rod of wickedness" vividly portrays how violence had not merely become an act, but a dominant and oppressive force, an instrument of evil that characterized the society. It suggests that sin had reached its full measure, becoming a tool of oppression.
  • Divine Judgment and Retribution: The verse underscores God's absolute commitment to justice. The judgment is not arbitrary but a direct consequence of the nation's actions. It signifies that God is bringing an end to the reign of violence and injustice.
  • Total Annihilation: The declaration "none of them [shall remain], nor of their multitude, nor of any of theirs" speaks to the utter completeness of the destruction. It signifies a judgment so severe that there will be no survivors, no remnants, and no possessions left to continue their legacy. This mirrors the warnings found in other prophetic books regarding God's judgment against unrepentant nations, such as in Isaiah 13:9 concerning the day of the Lord.
  • Absence of Lamentation: The final clause, "neither [shall there be] wailing for them," is particularly poignant. In ancient cultures, mourning and wailing for the dead were essential rites. The absence of such lamentation implies either that no one will be left to mourn, or that their demise is so deserved that no one will grieve for them, signifying a profound and terrible finality to their judgment. A similar theme of widespread death and lack of proper mourning is seen in Jeremiah 16:4.

Linguistic Insights

The Hebrew word for "rod" (מַטֶּה - matteh) can mean a staff, club, or scepter, often symbolizing authority or an instrument of power. Here, it is explicitly a "rod of wickedness" (רֶשַׁע - resha'), indicating an instrument wielded for injustice and evil. The imagery suggests that violence itself had become the governing principle or the tool by which evil was enacted and enforced in society.

Practical Application

Ezekiel 7:11 serves as a timeless reminder of the severe consequences of unchecked sin and societal corruption. It emphasizes that God's justice is inevitable and that turning away from His laws, especially through violence and injustice, leads to destruction. For believers today, it underscores the importance of pursuing righteousness and peace, recognizing that a society permeated by wickedness ultimately faces divine reckoning. It encourages introspection, urging individuals and communities to repent and seek God's mercy rather than persisting in ways that invite His judgment, as articulated in Romans 6:23 regarding the wages of sin.

Note: Commentary was generated by an advanced AI, utilizing a prompt that emphasized Biblical fidelity over bias. We've found these insights to be consistently reliable, yet we always encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

  • Zephaniah 1:18

    Neither their silver nor their gold shall be able to deliver them in the day of the LORD'S wrath; but the whole land shall be devoured by the fire of his jealousy: for he shall make even a speedy riddance of all them that dwell in the land.

  • Jeremiah 16:5

    For thus saith the LORD, Enter not into the house of mourning, neither go to lament nor bemoan them: for I have taken away my peace from this people, saith the LORD, [even] lovingkindness and mercies.

  • Jeremiah 16:6

    Both the great and the small shall die in this land: they shall not be buried, neither shall [men] lament for them, nor cut themselves, nor make themselves bald for them:

  • Isaiah 59:6

    Their webs shall not become garments, neither shall they cover themselves with their works: their works [are] works of iniquity, and the act of violence [is] in their hands.

  • Isaiah 59:8

    The way of peace they know not; and [there is] no judgment in their goings: they have made them crooked paths: whosoever goeth therein shall not know peace.

  • Ezekiel 7:23

    ¶ Make a chain: for the land is full of bloody crimes, and the city is full of violence.

  • Ezekiel 6:11

    ¶ 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.

Add TrulyRandomVerse to your Home Screen for quick access!

← Back