Ezekiel 7:21

And I will give it into the hands of the strangers for a prey, and to the wicked of the earth for a spoil; and they shall pollute it.

And I will give {H5414} it into the hands {H3027} of the strangers {H2114} for a prey {H957}, and to the wicked {H7563} of the earth {H776} for a spoil {H7998}; and they shall pollute {H2490} it.

I will hand it over to foreigners as booty, to the wicked of the earth as spoil, and they will profane it.

And I will hand these things over as plunder to foreigners and loot to the wicked of the earth, who will defile them.

And I will give it into the hands of the strangers for a prey, and to the wicked of the earth for a spoil; and they shall profane it.

Commentary

Ezekiel 7:21 is a stark declaration of God's severe judgment against the kingdom of Judah, specifically focusing on the desecration of Jerusalem and its prized temple. It highlights the divine hand orchestrating the impending destruction, delivering what was once considered holy into the grasp of foreign invaders as a consequence of Israel's widespread sin and rebellion.

Historical and Cultural Context

The prophet Ezekiel delivered his messages during a tumultuous period, primarily to Jewish exiles in Babylon, just before and during the final siege and destruction of Jerusalem. This verse speaks directly to the imminent Babylonian invasion led by Nebuchadnezzar. For the people of Judah, the Temple in Jerusalem was not just a building; it was the symbolic center of their faith, the place where God's presence dwelt, and often, a source of false security. They believed its presence guaranteed their safety, despite their rampant idolatry and moral corruption, which Ezekiel vividly describes in chapters like Ezekiel 8. This verse shatters that illusion, revealing God's intention to allow its defilement as a direct response to their spiritual defilement.

Key Themes and Messages

  • Divine Judgment: The phrase "I will give it" underscores God's active role in permitting and directing the calamity. This was not merely a random act of war but a divinely ordained consequence for Judah's persistent sin (Amos 3:6).
  • Consequences of Sin: The verse powerfully illustrates the severe repercussions of spiritual rebellion and idolatry. The very object of their misplaced pride and securityโ€”the templeโ€”would be plundered and profaned because of their unfaithfulness to God.
  • Sovereignty of God: Even the "strangers" and "wicked of the earth" (the Babylonians) are instruments in God's hand, fulfilling His righteous purposes. God remains sovereign over all nations and events (Daniel 2:21).
  • Profanation of the Sacred: The ultimate indignity is that the invaders "shall pollute it." This refers to the physical desecration of the temple and its treasures, mirroring how Israel's sin had already spiritually polluted the holy place (Ezekiel 5:11).

Linguistic Insights

The Hebrew words for "prey" (baz, ื‘ึทึผื–) and "spoil" (shalal, ืฉึธืืœึธืœ) both convey the idea of plunder and loot taken by force. They emphasize the complete subjugation and exploitation by the invading forces. The word "pollute" (chalal, ื—ึธืœึทืœ) means to profane, defile, or make common that which is sacred. It's a strong term indicating the stripping away of holiness and reverence, turning a consecrated object into something ordinary or worse, abominable, a direct consequence of Israel's own profaning of God's name and laws.

Practical Application

Ezekiel 7:21 serves as a timeless reminder of God's holiness and His unwavering justice. It warns against spiritual complacency and the danger of placing false security in religious institutions or material possessions rather than in a genuine relationship with God. Our actions have consequences, and while God is merciful, He is also just. This verse calls us to examine our own lives for any areas of spiritual defilement or misplaced trust, urging us to pursue true holiness and reverence for God, understanding that His presence is not bound to physical structures but to hearts that are pure and obedient.

Note: If the commentary doesnโ€™t appear instantly, please allow 2โ€“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 โ€” the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • 2 Kings 24:13

    And he carried out thence all the treasures of the house of the LORD, and the treasures of the king's house, and cut in pieces all the vessels of gold which Solomon king of Israel had made in the temple of the LORD, as the LORD had said.

  • Psalms 74:2

    Remember thy congregation, [which] thou hast purchased of old; the rod of thine inheritance, [which] thou hast redeemed; this mount Zion, wherein thou hast dwelt.

  • Psalms 74:8

    They said in their hearts, Let us destroy them together: they have burned up all the synagogues of God in the land.

  • 2 Chronicles 36:18

    And all the vessels of the house of God, great and small, and the treasures of the house of the LORD, and the treasures of the king, and of his princes; all [these] he brought to Babylon.

  • 2 Chronicles 36:19

    And they burnt the house of God, and brake down the wall of Jerusalem, and burnt all the palaces thereof with fire, and destroyed all the goodly vessels thereof.

  • 2 Kings 25:13

    And the pillars of brass that [were] in the house of the LORD, and the bases, and the brasen sea that [was] in the house of the LORD, did the Chaldees break in pieces, and carried the brass of them to Babylon.

  • 2 Kings 25:16

    The two pillars, one sea, and the bases which Solomon had made for the house of the LORD; the brass of all these vessels was without weight.
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