Ezekiel 7:19

They shall cast their silver in the streets, and their gold shall be removed: their silver and their gold shall not be able to deliver them in the day of the wrath of the LORD: they shall not satisfy their souls, neither fill their bowels: because it is the stumblingblock of their iniquity.

They shall cast {H7993} their silver {H3701} in the streets {H2351}, and their gold {H2091} shall be removed {H5079}: their silver {H3701} and their gold {H2091} shall not be able {H3201} to deliver {H5337} them in the day {H3117} of the wrath {H5678} of the LORD {H3068}: they shall not satisfy {H7646} their souls {H5315}, neither fill {H4390} their bowels {H4578}: because it is the stumblingblock {H4383} of their iniquity {H5771}.

They will throw their silver into the streets; their gold will be like something unclean. On the day of ADONAI's wrath their silver and gold won't be able to rescue them. These things won't satisfy their hunger, these things won't fill their stomachs, because these are what caused them to sin.

They will throw their silver into the streets, and their gold will seem unclean. Their silver and gold cannot save them in the day of the wrath of the LORD. They cannot satisfy their appetites or fill their stomachs with wealth, for it became the stumbling block that brought their iniquity.

They shall cast their silver in the streets, and their gold shall be as an unclean thing; their silver and their gold shall not be able to deliver them in the day of the wrath of Jehovah: they shall not satisfy their souls, neither fill their bowels; because it hath been the stumblingblock of their iniquity.

Commentary

Ezekiel 7:19 delivers a stark warning about the futility of material wealth in the face of divine judgment. It paints a vivid picture of a people in desperation, discarding their most prized possessions—silver and gold—because these cannot provide deliverance or sustenance during a time of God's intense wrath.

Context

This verse is part of a prophetic message from Ezekiel to the people of Judah and Jerusalem, delivered just before the city's final destruction by the Babylonians. Chapter 7 specifically outlines the coming "end" for the land of Israel, emphasizing the swift and inescapable nature of God's judgment. The people had fallen deep into idolatry, injustice, and a false sense of security, often placing their trust in their accumulated riches and alliances rather than in the Lord. The prophecy describes a time of siege, famine, and war where the very things they valued most would become utterly worthless, unable to save them from the impending doom.

Key Themes

  • The Worthlessness of Worldly Wealth in Judgment: The primary message is that riches are powerless to save or satisfy in the day of God's wrath. What was once valuable becomes a burden, discarded and ignored.
  • Divine Judgment and its Inevitability: The phrase "the day of the wrath of the LORD" signifies a period of intense, righteous judgment against sin. For Judah, this was the Babylonian invasion, but it also points to a broader principle of God's ultimate reckoning. Zephaniah 1:18 also speaks of this day, where "their silver and their gold shall not be able to deliver them."
  • The Idolatry of Riches: The verse explicitly states that their wealth was "the stumblingblock of their iniquity." This means their pursuit and trust in silver and gold led them into sin, diverting their allegiance from God. Material possessions became an idol, a snare that caused their spiritual and physical downfall. Covetousness, or the love of money, is indeed idolatry, as the New Testament confirms.
  • Lack of True Satisfaction: Even in abundance, wealth cannot "satisfy their souls, neither fill their bowels" in a time of famine and spiritual emptiness. True satisfaction comes not from material possessions but from a relationship with God (John 6:35).

Linguistic Insights

The term "day of the wrath of the LORD" uses the Hebrew phrase yom 'evrat Yahweh, emphasizing a day of fierce anger and divine indignation. The word "stumblingblock" (Hebrew: mikshol) literally means an obstacle, a cause of stumbling or ruin. Here, it vividly illustrates how their wealth, instead of being a blessing, became the very thing over which they tripped and fell into deeper sin and ultimately, judgment.

Practical Application

Ezekiel 7:19 serves as a timeless warning against placing ultimate trust and security in worldly possessions. In times of crisis or judgment, whether personal, national, or eschatological, material wealth proves utterly useless. This verse challenges us to:

  • Examine Our Allegiance: Are we subtly, or overtly, making wealth an idol in our lives? Do we trust in our bank accounts more than in God's provision?
  • Seek Eternal Riches: Invest in spiritual treasures that endure, rather than perishable earthly goods (Matthew 6:19-21).
  • Find True Security in God: Real peace and security come only from a relationship with the Almighty, who is our refuge and strength in every time of trouble (Psalm 46:1).
  • Cultivate Contentment: Learn to be content with what we have, knowing that God is our provider and ultimate satisfaction.

Ultimately, this verse calls for a reevaluation of priorities, reminding us that true value and deliverance are found only in the Lord, not in the fleeting glitter of gold and silver.

Note: If the commentary doesn’t appear instantly, please allow 2–5 seconds for it to load. It is generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash using a prompt focused on Biblical fidelity over bias. While the insights have been consistently reliable, we encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit.

Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated — the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • 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.

  • Proverbs 11:4

    ¶ Riches profit not in the day of wrath: but righteousness delivereth from death.

  • Ezekiel 14:7

    For every one of the house of Israel, or of the stranger that sojourneth in Israel, which separateth himself from me, and setteth up his idols in his heart, and putteth the stumblingblock of his iniquity before his face, and cometh to a prophet to enquire of him concerning me; I the LORD will answer him by myself:

  • Luke 12:19

    And I will say to my soul, Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years; take thine ease, eat, drink, [and] be merry.

  • Luke 12:20

    But God said unto him, [Thou] fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided?

  • Isaiah 2:20

    In that day a man shall cast his idols of silver, and his idols of gold, which they made [each one] for himself to worship, to the moles and to the bats;

  • Ezekiel 44:12

    Because they ministered unto them before their idols, and caused the house of Israel to fall into iniquity; therefore have I lifted up mine hand against them, saith the Lord GOD, and they shall bear their iniquity.