Ezekiel 7:18

KJV

They shall also gird [themselves] with sackcloth, and horror shall cover them; and shame [shall be] upon all faces, and baldness upon all their heads.

KJV (with Strong's)

They shall also gird {H2296} themselves with sackcloth {H8242}, and horror {H6427} shall cover {H3680} them; and shame {H955} shall be upon all faces {H6440}, and baldness {H7144} upon all their heads {H7218}.

Complete Jewish Bible

They will put on sackcloth; horror will cover them; every face will be ashamed, every head shaved bald.

Berean Standard Bible

They will put on sackcloth, and terror will overwhelm them. Shame will cover all their faces, and all their heads will be shaved.

American Standard Version

They shall also gird themselves with sackcloth, and horror shall cover them; and shame shall be upon all faces, and baldness upon all their heads.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Ezekiel 7:18 vividly portrays the profound despair, public humiliation, and intense mourning that will engulf the inhabitants of Judah and Jerusalem as God's severe judgment descends upon them. Stripped of their former glory and security, the people are depicted engaging in traditional acts of lamentation—donning sackcloth, experiencing overwhelming horror, and publicly displaying shame through baldness—signifying the utter devastation and inescapable consequences of their pervasive rebellion against God.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Ezekiel 7 serves as a powerful and unyielding oracle of the "end" that is coming upon the land of Israel due to its pervasive idolatry, violence, and moral corruption. The chapter is characterized by a relentless repetition of phrases like "the end has come" and "I will pour out my wrath," emphasizing the finality and totality of the impending judgment. Verse 18 follows a description of the people's weakened state and inability to resist the divine wrath, where their "hands will hang limp, and their knees will turn to water," as described in [Ezekiel 7:17](/ezekiel/7-17 "Ezekiel 7:17 - Weakened Hands and Knees"). It specifically details the physical and emotional manifestations of their despair, functioning as a direct consequence of the divine pronouncements of judgment earlier in the chapter. This verse, therefore, is not merely a description of suffering but a prophetic depiction of the inevitable human reaction to a judgment that leaves no room for escape or comfort, setting the stage for further descriptions of the desolation, such as the casting away of silver and gold in [Ezekiel 7:19](/ezekiel/7-19 "Ezekiel 7:19 - Silver and Gold Cast Away").
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The prophecy of Ezekiel was delivered to the Jewish exiles in Babylon, foretelling the imminent and devastating fall of Jerusalem to the Babylonian Empire (586 BC). In ancient Near Eastern cultures, the practices described in this verse—girding with sackcloth and shaving one's head (baldness)—were deeply ingrained customs associated with extreme grief, mourning, repentance, or profound humiliation. Sackcloth, a coarse fabric typically made from goat's hair, was worn directly against the skin to signify deep sorrow, self-abasement, and a state of lament. Shaving the head was a dramatic and public display of mourning, often performed in times of national calamity or personal tragedy, indicating a complete loss of dignity and hope. These actions were not merely symbolic but were tangible expressions of a people stripped of their identity, security, and divine favor, facing an existential crisis as their temple, city, and way of life were destroyed.
* **Key Themes:** This verse powerfully contributes to several key themes prevalent throughout the book of Ezekiel and the broader prophetic literature. Foremost among them is the theme of **Divine Judgment and its Inevitable Consequences**. The suffering described is a direct, inescapable result of Israel's persistent rebellion and idolatry, underscoring God's justice and holiness. Another crucial theme is **Profound Despair and Humiliation**, where the people's outward expressions of mourning signify an internal state of utter hopelessness and the public disgrace of a nation whose glory has been utterly stripped away. This contrasts sharply with the earlier confidence and false security of Jerusalem, as highlighted in passages like [Ezekiel 5:11](/ezekiel/5-11 "Ezekiel 5:11 - No Pity for Idolatry"). Furthermore, the verse emphasizes the **Loss of Dignity and Status**, as the very acts of mourning (sackcloth, baldness) were public acknowledgments of a fall from grace and a reversal of fortune, a stark reminder that their covenant relationship had been broken by their unfaithfulness, leading to the withdrawal of divine protection. The severity of the judgment underscores the seriousness of covenant infidelity, a recurring motif throughout [the book of Ezekiel](/ezekiel/1 "The Book of Ezekiel").

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS

#### Key Word Analysis
* **gird (Hebrew, _châgar'_):** This primitive root means "to gird on (as a belt, armor, etc.)" and also carries connotations of being "afraid" or "restrained." In Ezekiel 7:18, it describes the act of putting on sackcloth. The choice of this word emphasizes not just the physical act of wearing mourning attire, but the compelled nature of it, as if the people are being forced or "restrained" into a state of lamentation, or that fear itself is girding them, encompassing them completely.
* **horror (Hebrew, _pallâtsûwth'_):** Derived from a root meaning "to affright," this word denotes "fearfulness," "horror," or "trembling." Its use here highlights the overwhelming terror and dread that will seize the people. It's not merely sadness, but a profound, paralyzing fear that covers them, indicating a state of extreme psychological distress in the face of the impending catastrophe. This "horror" is an internal, visceral response to the divine judgment.
* **shame (Hebrew, _bûwshâh'_):** This feminine passive participle directly translates to "shame" and signifies a deep sense of disgrace, humiliation, and dishonor. In the context of a nation, it speaks to the public exposure of their sin and the consequent loss of reputation and standing before God and other nations. The "shame upon all faces" implies a universal, inescapable public disgrace, where their sin and its consequences are openly displayed for all to witness.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"They shall also gird themselves with sackcloth,"**: This clause describes the initial, visible act of mourning. "Girding" implies a deliberate, yet compelled, action of putting on the coarse, uncomfortable fabric of sackcloth. This was a universally recognized sign of deep distress, grief, and often repentance in the ancient world. Here, it signifies the people's forced entry into a state of lamentation, acknowledging the severity of their impending doom and their utter helplessness.
* **"and horror shall cover them;"**: This phrase moves beyond outward action to describe the internal, overwhelming emotional state. "Horror" (pallâtsûwth) denotes a profound, paralyzing fear and dread. The verb "cover" (kâçâh) suggests that this terror will not merely be felt but will completely envelop them, leaving no part of their being untouched or unexposed to its chilling grip. It speaks to the psychological impact of the judgment, indicating a pervasive and inescapable dread that permeates their very being.
* **"and shame shall be upon all faces,"**: This clause emphasizes the public and pervasive nature of the disgrace. "Shame" (bûwshâh) refers to the humiliation and dishonor resulting from their sin and the subsequent judgment. "Upon all faces" indicates that this shame will be universally visible, etched into the countenances of every individual, signifying a collective loss of dignity and honor for the entire nation. It is a public display of their utter downfall, a stark reversal of their former pride and self-assurance.
* **"and baldness upon all their heads."**: This final clause describes another extreme, public act of mourning and humiliation. Shaving or plucking out hair (baldness, qorchâh) was a common, albeit drastic, sign of lamentation in the ancient Near East, signifying profound grief, despair, or even a curse. The phrase "upon all their heads" reinforces the universality of this suffering and humiliation, indicating that no one will be exempt from this visible mark of national catastrophe and disgrace, a complete stripping away of their former identity and glory.

#### Literary Devices
Ezekiel 7:18 is rich in **Imagery**, painting a vivid and disturbing picture of a people consumed by despair. The visual images of "sackcloth," "horror," "shame upon all faces," and "baldness upon all their heads" create a powerful and unsettling scene of widespread suffering and public humiliation. **Symbolism** is central, as sackcloth and baldness are potent, culturally recognized symbols of mourning, humiliation, and utter destitution in ancient Near Eastern cultures. The phrase "horror shall cover them" employs **Personification**, giving the abstract concept of horror an active, almost tangible role, as if it were a physical blanket enveloping the people. This also functions as a form of **Hyperbole**, emphasizing the overwhelming and inescapable nature of the terror that will seize every individual. The repetition of "all" ("all faces," "all their heads") serves as **Anaphora** and **Emphasis**, underscoring the universality and totality of the impending judgment and its emotional and physical toll on every individual in the land, leaving no one untouched by the pervasive despair and disgrace.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Ezekiel 7:18 powerfully articulates the theological principle that persistent rebellion against God's covenant and widespread spiritual apostasy inevitably lead to severe and unavoidable consequences. The physical manifestations of despair and shame described in the verse are not arbitrary punishments but the natural outworking of a broken relationship with a holy God. They highlight the gravity of sin, which ultimately strips humanity of its dignity, security, and peace, leaving only a bitter harvest of horror and shame. This divine judgment, while severe, is an expression of God's perfect justice, demonstrating that His warnings are to be taken with utmost seriousness and that He will not tolerate unrepentant sin indefinitely. The outward signs of mourning serve as a stark reminder of the internal spiritual decay that has led to such a catastrophic downfall, underscoring the profound connection between national sin and national suffering.

* [Jeremiah 7:19](/jeremiah/7-19 "Jeremiah 7:19 - Provoking God to Shame")
* [Amos 8:10](/amos/8-10 "Amos 8:10 - Turning Feasts into Mourning")
* [Joel 2:13](/joel/2-13 "Joel 2:13 - Rend Your Hearts, Not Your Garments")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Ezekiel 7:18, while depicting a specific historical judgment, carries profound and timeless implications for reflection and application in contemporary life. It serves as a stark reminder that true spiritual health is not merely about outward religious observance but about genuine heart-level obedience and faithfulness to God. The forced mourning and public shame described in the verse stand in stark contrast to the voluntary, contrite repentance that God truly desires. For believers today, this passage calls for a deep introspection into areas of our lives where we might be compromising our walk with God, pursuing idols (whether material possessions, status, or self-gratification), or neglecting His commands. It underscores the importance of spiritual vigilance and the sober reality that persistent sin, left unaddressed, can lead to severe consequences, not necessarily in the form of national catastrophe, but in spiritual barrenness, broken relationships, and a loss of peace. The verse challenges us to cultivate a heart that genuinely grieves over sin and turns to God in humility and obedience, rather than waiting for external pressures to compel us to lament. It reminds us that true security and dignity are found only in a right relationship with God, not in worldly achievements or false confidence.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **In what areas of my life might I be experiencing a "horror" or "shame" that points to a departure from God's will?**
* **How does this verse challenge my understanding of God's justice and His unwavering response to unrepentant sin?**
* **What are the "sackcloth" and "baldness" of my own spiritual life—outward displays or internal states that indicate a need for deeper repentance and reliance on God?**

### FAQ

**Why were sackcloth and baldness such significant signs of mourning and shame in ancient Israel?**

Answer: Sackcloth and baldness were deeply symbolic and culturally ingrained practices in ancient Israel and the broader Near East for expressing extreme grief, mourning, repentance, or profound humiliation. Sackcloth (Hebrew: *saq*) was a coarse, uncomfortable fabric, often made of goat's hair, worn directly against the skin. Its rough texture and humble appearance signified deep sorrow, self-abasement, and a rejection of comfort and worldly adornment in times of calamity or national disaster, as seen in [Isaiah 22:12](/isaiah/22-12 "Isaiah 22:12 - Call to Weeping and Mourning"). Baldness (Hebrew: *qorchâh*), achieved by shaving or plucking the hair, was a dramatic and public act. While priests were forbidden from such acts for the dead, as specified in [Leviticus 21:5](/leviticus/21-5 "Leviticus 21:5 - Priestly Restrictions"), for ordinary people, it was a powerful visual sign of intense lamentation, often associated with a complete loss of dignity, honor, and hope, as seen in [Micah 1:16](/micah/1-16 "Micah 1:16 - Shave Your Heads for Your Children"). Both acts were public declarations of a broken state, whether due to personal tragedy or, as in Ezekiel 7:18, national judgment and shame, serving as a visceral expression of profound distress and lost favor.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Ezekiel 7:18, with its stark depiction of judgment, horror, and shame, finds its ultimate Christ-centered fulfillment not in the perpetuation of such despair, but in the radical transformation brought about by the person and work of Jesus Christ. The "horror" that covered the people of Judah points to the terrifying reality of God's righteous wrath against sin, a wrath that Jesus fully absorbed on the cross. He became the ultimate bearer of our shame and judgment, enduring the ultimate humiliation and suffering so that we might be delivered from it. The public shame etched "upon all faces" in Ezekiel finds its counterpoint in the public display of Christ's suffering, where He was exposed and reviled, mocked by those who passed by, as recorded in [Matthew 27:39-44](/matthew/27-39-44 "Matthew 27:39-44 - Mocking Jesus on the Cross"). Yet, through His sacrifice, He removes the true source of our shame—sin itself—enabling us to "look to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame," as stated in [Hebrews 12:2](/hebrews/12-2 "Hebrews 12:2 - Looking to Jesus, the Founder and Perfecter of Our Faith"). The forced "sackcloth" and "baldness" of judgment are replaced by the comfort and true repentance offered in Christ; instead of outward displays of despair, He invites a rending of the heart and a Spirit-empowered transformation that leads to genuine peace and joy, even amidst suffering, for God is "the God of all comfort," as taught in [2 Corinthians 1:3-4](/2_corinthians/1-3-4 "2 Corinthians 1:3-4 - God of All Comfort"). Through His atoning work, the curse of sin that brought such devastation is broken, offering reconciliation and eternal life to all who believe, thereby averting the ultimate horror of eternal separation from God, for "while we were still sinners, Christ died for us," as declared in [Romans 5:8-11](/romans/5-8-11 "Romans 5:8-11 - Reconciliation Through Christ").

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

Amos 8:10

And I will turn your feasts into mourning, and all your songs into lamentation; and I will bring up sackcloth upon all loins, and baldness upon every head; and I will make it as the mourning of an only [son], and the end thereof as a bitter day.

Isaiah 15:2

He is gone up to Bajith, and to Dibon, the high places, to weep: Moab shall howl over Nebo, and over Medeba: on all their heads [shall be] baldness, [and] every beard cut off.

Isaiah 15:3

In their streets they shall gird themselves with sackcloth: on the tops of their houses, and in their streets, every one shall howl, weeping abundantly.

Ezekiel 27:31

And they shall make themselves utterly bald for thee, and gird them with sackcloth, and they shall weep for thee with bitterness of heart [and] bitter wailing.

Isaiah 3:24

And it shall come to pass, [that] instead of sweet smell there shall be stink; and instead of a girdle a rent; and instead of well set hair baldness; and instead of a stomacher a girding of sackcloth; [and] burning instead of beauty.

Job 21:6

Even when I remember I am afraid, and trembling taketh hold on my flesh.

Psalms 55:4

My heart is sore pained within me: and the terrors of death are fallen upon me.