Ezekiel 7:16

KJV

¶ But they that escape of them shall escape, and shall be on the mountains like doves of the valleys, all of them mourning, every one for his iniquity.

KJV (with Strong's)

But they that escape {H6403} of them shall escape {H6412}, and shall be on the mountains {H2022} like doves {H3123} of the valleys {H1516}, all of them mourning {H1993}, every one {H376} for his iniquity {H5771}.

Complete Jewish Bible

But if any of them manage to escape, they will head for the mountains like doves from the valleys, all of them moaning, each for his sin.

Berean Standard Bible

The survivors will escape and live in the mountains, moaning like doves of the valley, each for his own iniquity.

American Standard Version

But those of them that escape shall escape, and shall be on the mountains like doves of the valleys, all of them moaning, every one in his iniquity.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Ezekiel 7:16 vividly portrays the grim aftermath of God's impending judgment on Judah and Jerusalem, depicting the few survivors not as victors, but as a desolate remnant. These escapees, finding refuge on the mountains, are likened to mournful doves, overwhelmed by profound grief and lamentation. Their sorrow is explicitly tied to a deep, personal recognition of their collective and individual iniquity, highlighting that even physical escape from destruction does not alleviate the spiritual burden of unaddressed sin.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Ezekiel 7:16 is situated within a chapter that serves as a powerful and unyielding prophecy of the "end" for the land of Israel. The chapter begins with the declaration of an imminent, comprehensive judgment (cf. [Ezekiel 7:2](/ezekiel/7-2 "Ezekiel 7:2 - The End Has Come")). The preceding verses detail the various manifestations of this divine wrath, including widespread devastation, the collapse of societal order, and the futility of wealth and idols in the face of God's righteous anger (cf. [Ezekiel 7:19](/ezekiel/7-19 "Ezekiel 7:19 - Silver and Gold Cast Away")). Verse 16 specifically shifts focus from the general destruction to the pitiable state of the *few* who manage to survive, emphasizing that their survival is not a reprieve but an entry into a state of profound lament. This verse sets the stage for the further description of the judgment's impact on the people, their land, and their religious practices.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The prophecy in Ezekiel 7 was delivered during the Babylonian exile, likely to the exiles in Babylon. Ezekiel's ministry often involved confronting the false hopes and spiritual complacency of his audience, who clung to the belief that Jerusalem and the Temple were inviolable. The historical reality was that Jerusalem was facing imminent destruction by Babylon, a judgment for centuries of idolatry, injustice, and covenant unfaithfulness. The imagery of fleeing to the mountains reflects a common ancient Near Eastern practice of seeking refuge in high, inaccessible places during times of invasion or war. The "doves of the valleys" alludes to the common sight of doves, known for their mournful cooing, being displaced from their natural habitats in the wadis or lowlands and seeking shelter in the crags of the mountains, symbolizing vulnerability and distress. The emphasis on "iniquity" (Hebrew: *'avôn*) highlights the deep-seated moral and spiritual corruption that permeated Judahite society, which was the root cause of God's severe judgment.
* **Key Themes:** Ezekiel 7:16 powerfully contributes to several overarching themes within Ezekiel and broader prophetic literature. Firstly, it underscores the **Certainty and Totality of Divine Judgment**, demonstrating that God's justice will be fully executed, leaving no one truly untouched by the consequences of sin, even if they physically escape. Secondly, it introduces the theme of a **Remnant of Sorrow**, a stark contrast to remnants of hope or restoration found elsewhere (e.g., [Isaiah 10:21](/isaiah/10-21 "Isaiah 10:21 - A Remnant Will Return")). Here, the remnant's survival is marked by deep lamentation and a painful confrontation with their own guilt. Thirdly, the verse highlights the **Personal Nature of Sin and Repentance**, as each survivor mourns "for his iniquity," indicating a dawning, albeit agonizing, awareness of personal culpability. This profound sorrow, while born of judgment, hints at the necessary precursor for genuine repentance and a turning back to God, a theme explored more fully in later chapters of [Ezekiel](/ezekiel/36 "Ezekiel 36 - Restoration of Israel").

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **mourning (Hebrew, _hâmâh'_):** This primitive root signifies making a loud sound, often implying great commotion, tumult, rage, or moaning. In this context, it describes a deep, guttural sound of lamentation, a collective and individual expression of profound sorrow and distress. It's not a quiet weeping but an audible, intense wailing that reflects inner turmoil and anguish.
* **doves (Hebrew, _yôwnâh'_):** This term refers to a dove or pigeon, often associated with gentleness, timidity, and a distinctive mournful cooing sound. Here, the simile "like doves of the valleys" evokes an image of helplessness, vulnerability, and displacement. Doves, when disturbed from their usual nesting places in the valleys, would seek refuge in the mountains, where their mournful calls would echo, emphasizing their distress and lack of true security.
* **iniquity (Hebrew, _ʻâvôn'_):** This word denotes perversity, moral evil, fault, or sin. Crucially, it also carries the connotation of the *punishment* or *consequence* of that sin. The survivors' mourning is specifically "for his iniquity," indicating not just regret over the consequences of judgment, but a deep, personal sorrow over the moral corruption and rebellion against God that brought about their suffering. It points to a recognition of their guilt and the deservedness of their plight.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"But they that escape of them shall escape":** This clause emphasizes the certainty of a small remnant surviving the immediate devastation. The repetition of the root "escape" (Hebrew: *pâlaṭ*) underscores the fact that a few will indeed get away from the direct impact of the judgment, but their escape is not presented as a triumph or a sign of divine favor in the traditional sense, but merely a physical survival into a new, sorrowful reality.
* **"and shall be on the mountains like doves of the valleys":** This vivid simile paints a picture of the survivors' plight. They flee to the mountains, traditionally places of refuge, but their state is one of extreme vulnerability and distress. Like doves displaced from their familiar valley habitats, they are timid, helpless, and without comfort, their mournful cooing echoing their profound sorrow and displacement. The imagery suggests a lack of true peace or security even in their escape.
* **"all of them mourning, every one for his iniquity":** This final clause reveals the profound spiritual and emotional state of the remnant. Their collective and individual mourning is not merely for their physical losses or the destruction around them, but explicitly for their "iniquity." This signifies a dawning awareness of their personal and corporate sin as the direct cause of God's judgment. It's a deep, guttural lamentation (as implied by *hâmâh*) driven by guilt and sorrow over their rebellion against God.

#### Literary Devices
The verse employs powerful **Imagery** and **Symbolism** to convey the depth of despair and the nature of the survivors' condition. The scene of "doves of the valleys" on the "mountains" is a potent **Simile**, effectively communicating the refugees' helplessness, vulnerability, and mournful state. Doves are commonly associated with timidity and lamentation (e.g., their cooing), and their displacement from the familiar "valleys" to the exposed "mountains" symbolizes their utter lack of security and comfort. The act of "mourning" is not just a physical act but a symbolic representation of profound spiritual anguish and a dawning, painful awareness of their **Iniquity**, which is the ultimate cause of their suffering. This collective and individual lamentation underscores the inescapable consequences of sin and the profound spiritual burden it imposes, even on those who physically survive.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Ezekiel 7:16 offers a stark theological truth: God's judgment, when it falls, is comprehensive, and even those who physically escape it cannot escape its spiritual and emotional weight. The verse highlights that true escape from the consequences of sin involves a deep, personal reckoning with one's iniquity, leading to a sorrowful acknowledgment of guilt. This is not a superficial regret but a profound, guttural mourning that precedes any possibility of genuine repentance and restoration. It underscores the severity of God's justice, demonstrating that sin always carries a heavy price, and that a superficial "escape" from physical danger does not equate to spiritual freedom or peace.

* [Isaiah 59:2](/isaiah/59-2 "Isaiah 59:2 - Your Sins Have Separated You")
* [Psalm 38:18](/psalm/38-18 "Psalm 38:18 - I Confess My Iniquity")
* [Joel 2:12-13](/joel/2-12-13 "Joel 2:12-13 - Return to the Lord with All Your Heart")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Ezekiel 7:16 serves as a potent reminder of the gravity of sin and the profound impact it has, not just on external circumstances but on the inner spirit. It challenges us to move beyond a superficial understanding of consequences to a deeper, heartfelt recognition of our own "iniquity." In a world that often seeks to minimize personal responsibility or attribute blame elsewhere, this verse calls for a radical self-examination, prompting us to mourn over our sins, not just their outcomes. This kind of genuine sorrow for sin is the fertile ground for true repentance and spiritual transformation. It teaches us that true peace and freedom are not found in escaping physical hardship, but in confronting and confessing the spiritual brokenness within, leading to a humble turning back to God.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **What does "mourning for his iniquity" mean to you personally, beyond just regretting consequences?**
* **How does the imagery of "doves of the valleys" challenge our modern notions of escape or survival?**
* **In what ways might we, like the remnant, be physically "safe" but spiritually "mourning" due to unaddressed sin?**

### FAQ
**Does this verse offer any hope for the future of Israel?**

Answer: While Ezekiel 7:16 itself portrays a scene of unmitigated sorrow and judgment, it lays a crucial foundation for future hope within the book of Ezekiel. The profound mourning "for his iniquity" (H5771, *ʻâvôn*) is a necessary precursor to genuine repentance. Later in Ezekiel, particularly in chapters like [Ezekiel 36](/ezekiel/36 "Ezekiel 36 - Restoration of Israel") and [Ezekiel 37](/ezekiel/37 "Ezekiel 37 - The Valley of Dry Bones"), God promises a future restoration for Israel, where He will give them a new heart and put His Spirit within them, enabling them to walk in His statutes. This future hope is predicated on a deep acknowledgment of sin, which Ezekiel 7:16 vividly illustrates.

**Why are they described as "doves of the valleys"? What is the significance of this imagery?**

Answer: The imagery of "doves of the valleys" is highly significant. Doves are known for their mournful cooing, their timidity, and their tendency to flee to high places (like mountains) when disturbed from their natural habitats in the lowlands or valleys. This simile emphasizes the survivors' extreme vulnerability, helplessness, and deep distress. They are not escaping victoriously but are driven by fear and sorrow, their lamentations echoing their profound grief and displacement. It highlights that their "escape" is not into safety or triumph, but into a state of profound, unalleviated sorrow over their sins and the devastation they have witnessed.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Ezekiel 7:16, with its grim depiction of a remnant mourning for their iniquity, finds a profound Christ-centered fulfillment not in a physical escape from judgment, but in the ultimate spiritual escape provided by Jesus Christ. The "iniquity" that causes such deep mourning in Ezekiel is the very burden that Christ came to bear. He is the [Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world](/john/1-29 "John 1:29 - Jesus, the Lamb of God"), enduring the full weight of God's righteous wrath on the cross (cf. [Isaiah 53:5-6](/isaiah/53-5-6 "Isaiah 53:5-6 - He Was Pierced for Our Transgressions")). While the remnant in Ezekiel mourns *for* their iniquity, Christ's sacrifice allows believers to mourn *over* their iniquity in a way that leads to repentance and forgiveness, rather than despair. The "escape" for believers is not to a desolate mountain, but into the secure refuge of Christ's finished work, where our sins are truly forgiven and remembered no more (cf. [Hebrews 8:12](/hebrews/8-12 "Hebrews 8:12 - I Will Remember Their Sins No More")). The sorrow over sin, which Ezekiel 7:16 portrays as a consequence of judgment, becomes in the New Covenant a "godly grief" that "produces a repentance that leads to salvation without regret" (cf. [2 Corinthians 7:10](/2_corinthians/7-10 "2 Corinthians 7:10 - Godly Grief Produces Repentance")). Thus, Christ transforms the mournful lament of the condemned into a sorrow that leads to life, offering true and lasting peace from the burden of iniquity.

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

Ezra 9:15

O LORD God of Israel, thou [art] righteous: for we remain yet escaped, as [it is] this day: behold, we [are] before thee in our trespasses: for we cannot stand before thee because of this.

Isaiah 59:11

We roar all like bears, and mourn sore like doves: we look for judgment, but [there is] none; for salvation, [but] it is far off from us.

Isaiah 38:14

Like a crane [or] a swallow, so did I chatter: I did mourn as a dove: mine eyes fail [with looking] upward: O LORD, I am oppressed; undertake for me.

Isaiah 37:31

And the remnant that is escaped of the house of Judah shall again take root downward, and bear fruit upward:

Zechariah 12:10

And I will pour upon the house of David, and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the spirit of grace and of supplications: and they shall look upon me whom they have pierced, and they shall mourn for him, as one mourneth for [his] only [son], and shall be in bitterness for him, as one that is in bitterness for [his] firstborn.

Zechariah 12:14

All the families that remain, every family apart, and their wives apart.

Ezekiel 6:8

¶ Yet will I leave a remnant, that ye may have [some] that shall escape the sword among the nations, when ye shall be scattered through the countries.