TRV
Study This Verse
Public-domain commentary
Matthew Henry
From his Commentary on the Whole Bible. Henry comments on passages, not single verses — this entry covers Ezekiel 7:16–22. His four-level outline is real structure in the source text, so it is rendered as structure.
We have attended the fate of those that are cut off, and are now to attend the flight of those that have an opportunity of escaping the danger; some of them shall escape (Eze 7:16), but what the better? As good die once as, in a miserable life, die a thousand deaths, and escape only like Cain to be fugitives and vagabonds, and afraid of being slain by every one they meet; so shall these be.
I.They shall have no comfort or satisfaction in their own minds, but be in continual anguish and terror; for, wherever they go, they carry about with them guilty consciences, which make them a burden to themselves.
1.They shall be always solitary and under prevailing melancholy; they shall not be in the cities, or places of concourse, but all alone upon the mountains, not caring for society, but shy of it, as being ashamed of the low circumstances to which they are reduced.
2.They shall be always sorrowful. Those have reason to be so that are under the tokens of God's displeasure; and God can make those so that have been most jovial and have set sorrow at defiance. Those that once thought themselves as the lions of the mountains, so daring were they, now become as the doves of the valleys, so timid are they, and so dispirited, ready to flee when none pursues and to tremble at the shaking of a leaf. They are all of them mourning (not with a godly sorrow, but with the sorrow of the world, which works death), every one for his iniquity, that is, for those calamities which they now see their iniquity has brought upon them, not only the iniquity of the land, but their own: they shall then be brought to acknowledge what they have each of them contributed to the national guilt. Note, Sooner or later sin will have sorrow of one kind or other; and those that will not repent of their iniquity may justly be left to pine away in it; those that will not mourn for it as it is an offence to God shall be made to mourn for it as it is a shame and ruin to themselves, to mourn at the last, when the flesh and the body are consumed, and to say, How have I hated instruction! Pro 5:11, Pro 5:12.
3.They shall be deprived of all their strength of body and mind (Eze 7:17): All hands shall be feeble, so that they shall not be able to fight, or defend themselves, and all knees shall be weak as water, so that they shall neither be able to flee nor to stand their ground; they shall feel a universal colliquation: their knees shall flow as water, so that they must fall of course. Note, It is folly for the strong man to glory in his strength, for God can soon weaken it.
4.They shall be deprived of all their hopes and shall abandon themselves to despair (Eze 7:18); they shall have nothing to hold up their spirits with; their aspects shall show what are their prospects, all dreadful, for they shall gird themselves with sackcloth, as having no expectation ever to wear better clothing. Horror shall cover them, and shame, and baldness, all the expressions of a desperate sorrow, Isa 17:11. Note, Those that will not be kept from sin by fear and shame shall by fear and shame be punished for it; such is the confusion that sin will end in.
II.They shall have no benefit from their wealth and riches, but shall be perfectly sick of them, Eze 7:19.
Those that were reduced to this distress were such as had had abundance of silver and gold, money, and plate, and jewels, and other valuable goods, from which they promised themselves a great deal of advantage in times of public trouble. They thought their wealth would be their strong city, that with it they could bribe enemies and buy friends, that it would be the ransom of their lives, that they could never want bread as long as they had money, and that money would answer all things; but see how it proved.
1.Their wealth had been a great temptation to them in the day of their prosperity; they set their affections upon it, and put their confidence in it. By their eager pursuit of it they were drawn into sin, and by their plentiful enjoyment of it they were hardened in sin; and thus it was the stumbling-block of their iniquity; it occasioned their falling into sin and obstructed their return to God. Note, There are many whose wealth is their snare and ruin. The gaining of the world is the losing of their souls; it makes them proud, secure, covetous, oppressive, voluptuous; and that which, it well used, might have been the servant of their piety, being abused, becomes the stumbling-block of their iniquity.
2.It was no relief to them now in the day of their adversity; for,
(1.)Their gold and silver could not protect them from the judgments of God. They shall not be able to deliver them in the day of the wrath of the Lord; they shall not serve to atone his justice, or turn away his wrath, nor to screen them from the judgments he is bringing upon them. Note, Riches profit not in the day of wrath, Pro 11:4. They neither set them so high that god's judgments cannot reach them nor make them so strong that they cannot conquer them. There is a day of wrath coming, when it will appear that men's wealth is utterly unable to deliver them or do them any service. What the better was the rich man for his full barns when his soul was required of him, or that other rich man for his purple, and scarlet, and sumptuous fare, when in hell he could not procure a drop of water to cool his tongue? Money is no defence against the arrests of death, nor any alleviation to the miseries of the damned.
(2.)Their gold and silver could not give them any content under their calamities.
[1.]They could not fill their bowels; when there was no bread left in the city, none to be had for love or money, their silver and gold could not satisfy their hunger, nor serve to make one meal's meat for them. Note, We could better be without mines of gold than fields of corn; the products of the earth, which may easily be gathered from the surface of it, are much greater blessings to mankind than its treasures, which are with so much difficulty and hazard dug out of its bowels. If God give us daily bread, we have reason to be thankful, and no reason to complain, though silver and gold we have none.
[2.]Much less could they satisfy their souls, or yield them any inward comfort. Note, The wealth of this world has not that in it which will answer the desires of the soul, or be any satisfaction to it in a day of distress. He that loves silver shall not be satisfied with silver, much less he that loses it.
(3.)Their gold and silver shall be thrown into the streets, either by the hands of the enemy, who shall have more spoil than they care for or can carry away (silver shall be nothing accounted of; they shall cast that in the streets; but the gold, which is more valuable, shall be removed and brought to Babylon); or they themselves shall throw away their silver and gold, because it would be an incumbrance to them and retard their flight, or because it would expose them and be a temptation to the enemy to cut their throats for their money, or in indignation at it, because, after all the care and pains they had taken to scrape it together and hoard it up, they found that it would stand them in no stead, but do them a mischief rather. Note, The world passes away, and the lusts thereof, Jo1 2:17. The time may come when worldly men will be as weary of their wealth as now they are wedded to it, when those will fare best that have least.
III.God's temple shall stand them in no stead, Eze 7:20-22.
This they had prided themselves in, and promised themselves security from (Jer 7:4; Mic 3:11); but this confidence of theirs shall fail them. Observe,
1.The great honour God had done to that people in setting up his sanctuary among them (Eze 7:20): As for the beauty of his ornament, that holy and beautiful house, where they and their fathers praised God (Isa 64:11), which was therefore beautiful because holy (it was called the beauty of holiness, and holiness is the beauty of its ornament; it was also adorned with gold and gifts) - as for this, he set it in majesty; every thing was contrived to make it magnificent, that it might help to make the people of Israel the more illustrious among their neighbours. He built his sanctuary like high palaces, Psa 78:69. It was a glorious high throne from the beginning, Jer 17:12. But,
2.Here is the great dishonour they had done to God in profaning his sanctuary; they made the images of their counterfeit deities, which they set up in rivalship with God, and which are here called their abominations and their detestable things (for so they were to God, and so they should have been to them), and these they set up in God's temple, than which a greater affront could not be put upon him. And therefore,
3.It is here threatened that they shall be deprived of the temple, and it shall be no succour to them: Therefore have I set it far from them, that is, sent them far from it, so that it is out of the reach of their services and they are out of the reach of its influences. Note, God's ordinances, and the privileges of a profession of religion, will justly be taken away from those that despise and profane them. Nay, they shall not only be kept at a distance from the temple, but the temple itself shall be involved in the common desolation (Eze 7:21); the Chaldeans, who are strangers, and therefore have no veneration for it, who are the wicked of the earth, and therefore have an antipathy to it, shall have it for a prey and for a spoil; all the ornaments and treasures of it shall fall into their hands, who will make no difference between that and other plunder. This was a grief to the saints in Zion, who complained of nothing so much as of that which the enemy did wickedly in the sanctuary (Psa 74:3); but it was the punishment of the sinners in Zion, who, by profaning the temple with strange gods, provoked God to suffer it to be profaned by strange nations, and to turn his face from those that did it as if he had not seen them and their crimes and from those that deprecated it as not regarding them and their prayers. Let the soldiers do as they will; let them enter into the secret place, into the holy of holies, as robbers; let them strip it, let them pollute it; its defence has departed, and then farewell all its glory. Note, Those are unworthy to be honoured with the form of godliness who will not be governed by the power of godliness.
Historical interpretation
Historical Reception
One surviving comment on this verse from the historical church.
(Verse 17.) All hands will be dissolved, and all knees will flow with water. And they will gird themselves with sackcloth, and terror will cover them. For knees flowing with water, Seventy have moved, thighs are polluted with moisture. But when all are trembling, and fleeing to the mountains, all hands will be dissolved, and no one will be able to resist the enemies, and with the magnitude of fear, urine will pollute the knees: and the bladder will not be able to contain the flowing waters. They will gird themselves with sackcloth, and trembling will possess all things. This happened among that people, not only under the Babylonians, but also under the Romans, when the wrath of God came upon them to the very end. Moreover, it happened in our own Judea, where the confession of the Lord is, when iniquities have multiplied and the love of many has grown cold, all the hands of good works will be dissolved, and all knees, or thighs, will flow with the waters of those who have sought unlawful unions, and who, in the law, are called eunuchs, that is, those sustaining a flow of semen and are called unclean by Scripture. Whereas those who are such, should gird themselves with the hairshirts of repentance, and fear the impending judgement. And whoever does this, will merit to hear Isaiah saying: Strengthen the weak hands, and make firm the feeble knees (Isaiah 35:3).
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Summary
Ezekiel 7:17 delivers a chilling prophetic declaration, forming an integral part of God's comprehensive and inescapable judgment upon the land of Israel for its pervasive sin and idolatry. This verse powerfully depicts the profound physical and psychological paralysis that will grip the inhabitants of Judah and Jerusalem as divine wrath unfolds. Through the vivid imagery of hands rendered useless and knees trembling like water, it underscores the utter despair, incapacitation, and complete inability to resist or flee that will overwhelm everyone in the face of the impending catastrophe, signaling the total collapse of human strength, resolve, and self-reliance.
Context
Literary Context
Ezekiel 7 marks a dramatic and unyielding shift in the prophet's early ministry, moving from general warnings to an explicit and emphatic declaration that "the end has come" upon Israel. This chapter is a stark pronouncement of imminent judgment, notably devoid of the usual calls to repentance or promises of future restoration that often punctuate Ezekiel's prophecies. The preceding verses (7:1-16) establish the finality and universality of this divine reckoning, emphasizing that God's patience has reached its limit and His wrath will be poured out without mitigation. The specific imagery of "feeble hands" and "weak knees" in verse 17 serves as a visceral depiction of the immediate emotional and physical state of the people. This imagery is then immediately elaborated upon by descriptions of widespread mourning, shaven heads, sackcloth, and the complete devaluation of silver and gold (Ezekiel 7:18-19), reinforcing the pervasive terror, material ruin, and societal breakdown that will accompany the Babylonian invasion. Thus, verse 17 acts as a powerful visual and emotional anchor for the unfolding catastrophe.
Historical & Cultural Context
The prophecy of Ezekiel 7:17 is deeply rooted in the historical reality of the impending Babylonian siege and subsequent destruction of Jerusalem, which culminated in 586 BCE. Ezekiel, prophesying from exile in Babylon, addressed a people—both among the exiles and those remaining in Judah—who stubbornly clung to false hopes. They believed in the impregnability of Jerusalem and the Temple, viewing them as guarantees of divine protection, or they placed their trust in unreliable political alliances. However, their persistent idolatry, rampant social injustice, and flagrant covenant-breaking had provoked God's righteous anger. Culturally, "hands" were potent symbols of strength, capability, action, and military prowess (e.g., the Lord's "strong hand" in delivering Israel, or human hands working and fighting). "Knees" represented stability, physical support, the ability to stand firm, to run, or to engage in battle. Therefore, the imagery of hands becoming feeble and knees weakening "as water" would have been immediately understood by Ezekiel's audience as a complete and devastating loss of all human capacity—military, economic, and personal—in the face of an overwhelming and divinely ordained calamity. It signified utter helplessness and the collapse of all human systems of security.
Key Themes
Ezekiel 7:17 powerfully contributes to several overarching themes central to Ezekiel's prophecy and broader biblical literature. Foremost, it underscores the Inevitable and Comprehensive Nature of Divine Judgment. The repeated use of "all" ("All hands," "all knees") emphasizes the universality of this debilitating terror, signifying that no one will be exempt from the consequences of God's decree. This highlights the absolute futility of human strength, military might, or personal resolve when confronted with divine wrath. This aligns seamlessly with the theme of God's Sovereignty and Justice, demonstrating His unwavering commitment to punish sin and uphold His covenant, even if it means bringing severe discipline upon His own people. Furthermore, the vivid imagery of physical collapse vividly portrays the theme of Utter Despair and Incapacitation that results from persistent rebellion against God. The people's spiritual feebleness in obeying God's laws is directly manifested in their physical feebleness in the face of judgment, leading to a state where they cannot fight, flee, or even stand. This profound sense of terror and loss of strength is echoed in other prophetic warnings, such as when Jeremiah describes the anguish that causes "every face to turn pale" and "all hands to go limp" in Jeremiah 30:6. The verse thus serves as a stark warning about the dire consequences of unfaithfulness and the ultimate futility of relying on anything other than God for true security and strength.
Exposition and Analysis
Key Word Analysis
This primitive word refers to "a hand (the open one (indicating power, means, direction, etc.))". In Ezekiel 7:17, "hands" symbolize human agency, capability, strength, and the ability to act, work, or fight. When hands become "feeble," it signifies a complete loss of power and initiative, rendering individuals utterly helpless and unable to defend themselves or their possessions. It speaks to a profound inability to carry out any effective action.
Derived from the verb "to bless," this noun refers to "a knee." Knees are fundamental for standing, walking, running, and kneeling (whether in submission, worship, or simply to rest). In this verse, "knees" represent stability, physical support, and the capacity for movement and resistance. Their becoming "weak as water" vividly portrays a collapse of all physical and psychological fortitude, leading to an inability to stand firm, flee, or offer any resistance.
A primitive root meaning "to slacken (in many applications, literal or figurative)." It conveys a sense of letting go, being disheartened, failing, or becoming weak. Here, it describes the state of the hands, indicating not just a lack of physical strength but a complete loss of firmness, resolve, and courage, as if all energy and will have drained away, leaving one utterly disheartened and without power.
Verse Breakdown
"All hands shall be feeble"
This clause emphatically declares the universality of the impending paralysis and despair. The word "All" signifies that no one, regardless of their social standing, physical strength, or perceived security, will be exempt from this debilitating fear and incapacitation. "Hands," as the instruments of human action, labor, and military engagement, becoming "feeble" (meaning slackened, disheartened, or weakened) illustrates a profound and comprehensive loss of human capacity to resist, defend, or even function. It speaks to a deep psychological and physical collapse, where the very will to act is drained away, leaving individuals utterly helpless.
"and all knees shall be weak as water"
This parallel clause powerfully reinforces the theme of universal incapacitation and terror. "All knees" again stresses the comprehensive nature of the affliction, indicating that every person will be affected. The vivid simile "weak as water" is a potent biblical idiom, found elsewhere in Scripture (e.g., Psalm 22:14), used to describe extreme terror, fear, and a complete loss of physical and psychological control. It evokes the image of a body so overcome by dread that its joints lose all firmness and stability, becoming fluid and unable to bear weight, leading to an inevitable collapse. This signifies an absolute inability to stand firm, flee, or offer any resistance in the face of overwhelming and inescapable divine judgment.
Literary Devices
Ezekiel 7:17 employs several potent literary devices to convey its chilling message of impending doom and universal despair. The most prominent is Hyperbole, as the phrases "all hands" and "all knees" exaggerate the universality of the terror, emphasizing that the judgment will affect every single person without exception, leaving no one untouched. This hyperbole is powerfully coupled with vivid Imagery, painting a clear and visceral picture of physical collapse and profound despair. The direct reference to specific body parts—hands and knees—creates a concrete and relatable image of human frailty and vulnerability. Furthermore, the verse utilizes a striking Simile in "weak as water." This comparison is highly effective, as water inherently lacks solidity and form, perfectly illustrating the complete loss of firmness, stability, and control in the human body when gripped by extreme fear and terror. This sensory detail evokes a powerful, almost nauseating, visceral response, conveying the profound shock and incapacitation experienced by the people. Finally, the Parallelism between "hands shall be feeble" and "knees shall be weak" reinforces the message through a balanced and rhythmic structure, underscoring the totality of the physical and psychological breakdown and making the prophetic declaration more memorable and impactful.
Theological and Thematic Connections
Ezekiel 7:17 serves as a stark and enduring reminder of the severe consequences of sustained rebellion against God and the ultimate futility of human strength when confronted by divine judgment. It profoundly underscores God's unwavering justice and His steadfast commitment to uphold His covenant, even if it necessitates bringing severe discipline upon His own people. The verse highlights the immutable principle that when a nation or an individual persistently rejects divine instruction and pursues idolatry, injustice, and moral corruption, they will inevitably experience a profound loss of peace, security, and inherent strength. This depicted physical and psychological collapse is not merely a consequence but a direct manifestation of their spiritual feebleness and their utter inability to stand before a holy God. It powerfully teaches that true security, lasting resilience, and genuine strength are found not in human might, material possessions, or political alliances, but solely in a right, obedient, and trusting relationship with the Almighty.
Reflection and Application
Ezekiel 7:17, though a prophecy of ancient judgment, carries timeless and profound implications for our lives today. It compels us to confront the stark reality of human fragility and the ultimate inadequacy of self-reliance, especially when facing the overwhelming challenges of life or the inevitable consequences of our choices. The vivid imagery of feeble hands and weak knees should prompt a deep examination of where we truly place our trust and from what source we derive our strength. Do we rely on our own abilities, accumulating worldly resources, or trusting in human systems, all of which can ultimately fail and leave us in utter despair? Or do we anchor our hope, security, and strength in God, who is unchanging, all-powerful, and eternally faithful? This verse serves as a powerful call to humility, reminding us that true security, resilience, and fortitude come only from a vibrant, obedient, and dependent relationship with our Creator. It encourages us to cultivate spiritual strength through unwavering faith, fervent prayer, and diligent adherence to God's word, recognizing that only in Him can we find the unwavering resolve to stand firm amidst the trials and uncertainties of life, and to face any "end" that may come with divine grace.
Questions for Reflection
FAQ
What does "weak as water" mean in this context?
The phrase "weak as water" is a profoundly vivid biblical idiom used to describe a state of extreme terror, overwhelming fear, and a complete loss of physical and psychological control. It signifies a condition where one's body loses all firmness, stability, and rigidity, becoming fluid and unable to bear weight or maintain composure, leading to an inevitable collapse. It's a powerful image of utter incapacitation, despair, and helplessness, often employed in prophetic literature to describe the debilitating effects of divine judgment or an overwhelming calamity. This imagery is also found in other biblical passages, such as Psalm 22:14, where the psalmist describes his heart as "melted like wax in the midst of my bowels," conveying a similar sense of utter dissolution and despair.
Is this verse only about physical weakness, or does it have a deeper meaning?
While Ezekiel 7:17 employs striking physical imagery ("hands," "knees"), its meaning extends far beyond mere physical weakness. It primarily describes a profound spiritual and psychological collapse that manifests physically. The "feeble hands" symbolize a comprehensive loss of agency, capability, and the very will to act or resist, reflecting a deep spiritual despondency. Simultaneously, "knees weak as water" represent the complete erosion of courage, stability, and the ability to stand firm or flee. This physical manifestation is a direct consequence and reflection of the deeper spiritual brokenness and the overwhelming, terrifying nature of divine wrath. The verse illustrates that spiritual rebellion ultimately leads to a state of utter helplessness and despair in the face of God's righteous judgment.
How does this verse relate to God's character?
This verse, situated within the broader context of Ezekiel 7, powerfully highlights God's attributes of holiness and justice. It unequivocally demonstrates that God is not indifferent to sin; rather, in His perfect righteousness, He will indeed bring judgment upon those who persistently rebel against Him and violate His covenant. While it portrays the terrifying severity of His wrath, it also implicitly underscores His sovereignty—that He is in ultimate control of history and human affairs, and His divine decrees will inevitably come to pass. This judgment, though terrifying in its scope and impact, is presented as a just and necessary response to the pervasive idolatry, social injustice, and moral corruption of His covenant people. It affirms His unwavering commitment to His own righteous standards and the sanctity of His covenant.
Christ-Centered Fulfillment
Ezekiel 7:17, with its vivid portrayal of universal human feebleness and despair in the face of divine judgment, finds its ultimate Christ-centered fulfillment not in the terror of judgment upon believers, but in the profound strength and salvation offered through Jesus Christ. The "feeble hands" and "weak knees" of a people facing an inescapable wrath foreshadow the universal human condition of spiritual helplessness and our inherent inability to save ourselves from the devastating consequences of sin. Humanity, in its fallen state, is utterly incapable of standing before a holy God or earning His favor through our own efforts. However, the New Testament triumphantly reveals that what was utterly impossible for us in our weakness, God miraculously accomplished through His Son, Jesus Christ. Jesus, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world, bore the full, crushing weight of God's wrath and judgment on the cross, becoming weak for us so that we might be made strong in Him. His crucifixion, where His own body was broken and His strength poured out, represents the ultimate act of divine substitution, absorbing the terror and despair that Ezekiel so vividly describes. Through His glorious resurrection, Christ decisively conquered sin, death, and the grave, offering true spiritual strength, unwavering stability, and eternal life to all who believe in Him. No longer do believers face judgment with "feeble hands" and "weak knees," but rather, we stand firm in the imputed righteousness of Christ, empowered by the indwelling Holy Spirit to live lives of faith and obedience. As Philippians 4:13 powerfully declares, "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me," transforming our inherent human weakness into divine strength, and replacing the terror of judgment with the peace of reconciliation and the hope of eternal life.