Ezekiel 7:27

The king shall mourn, and the prince shall be clothed with desolation, and the hands of the people of the land shall be troubled: I will do unto them after their way, and according to their deserts will I judge them; and they shall know that I [am] the LORD.

The king {H4428} shall mourn {H56}, and the prince {H5387} shall be clothed {H3847} with desolation {H8077}, and the hands {H3027} of the people {H5971} of the land {H776} shall be troubled {H926}: I will do {H6213} unto them after their way {H1870}, and according to their deserts {H4941} will I judge {H8199} them; and they shall know {H3045} that I am the LORD {H3068}.

The king will go into mourning, the prince will be clothed with fright, and the hands of the people of the land will tremble in terror. I will treat them as their way of life deserves and judge them as they have judged others. Then they will know that I am ADONAI.'"

The king will mourn, the prince will be clothed with despair, and the hands of the people of the land will tremble. I will deal with them according to their conduct, and I will judge them by their own standards. Then they will know that I am the LORD.’”

The king shall mourn, and the prince shall be clothed with desolation, and the hands of the people of the land shall be troubled: I will do unto them after their way, and according to their deserts will I judge them; and they shall know that I am Jehovah.

Ezekiel 7:27 delivers a stark prophecy of impending judgment, emphasizing its comprehensive and inescapable nature upon the nation of Judah during the time of the Babylonian exile. This verse concludes a chapter filled with vivid imagery of despair and destruction, painting a picture of total societal collapse.

Context of Ezekiel 7:27

This verse is part of a larger prophetic oracle in Ezekiel chapter 7, which announces the "end" for the land of Israel. The prophet Ezekiel, ministering to the Jewish exiles in Babylon, conveys God's message that the time for punishment has arrived. The land's inhabitants, from the highest echelons of power to the common person, will face the devastating consequences of their prolonged idolatry and disobedience. This prophecy foretells the final destruction of Jerusalem and the Temple in 586 BC, a pivotal event in ancient Israelite history.

Key Themes and Messages

  • Universal Judgment: The prophecy explicitly states that the judgment will affect all strata of society: "The king shall mourn, and the prince shall be clothed with desolation, and the hands of the people of the land shall be troubled." This highlights that no one, regardless of status or influence, is exempt from God's righteous wrath when a nation persists in rebellion.
  • Divine Justice and Consequences: The phrase "I will do unto them after their way, and according to their deserts will I judge them" underscores the principle of divine justice. God's judgment is not arbitrary but is a direct and just consequence of the people's actions and moral failures. It emphasizes accountability for sin and disobedience. For a similar theme of God's righteous judgment, see Jeremiah 17:10.
  • God's Sovereignty Revealed: The concluding declaration, "and they shall know that I [am] the LORD," is a signature phrase in the Book of Ezekiel, appearing over 60 times. It signifies that even through devastating judgment, God's ultimate purpose is to reveal His true identity, power, and sovereignty to His people and the surrounding nations. The suffering is intended to lead to the recognition of His unique authority. Another instance of this revelation can be found in Ezekiel 6:7.
  • Desolation and Panic: The imagery of leaders mourning and princes being "clothed with desolation" alongside the "troubled" hands of the people paints a vivid picture of widespread panic, despair, and the utter ruin that will engulf the land.

Linguistic Insights

The Hebrew word for "desolation" here is shemamah (שׁממה), which conveys a sense of utter ruin, waste, and astonishment, emphasizing the complete devastation. The term "troubled" comes from the Hebrew bahal (בהל), meaning to be in haste, dismayed, or terrified, accurately depicting the widespread fear and confusion that would grip the populace during this period of divine reckoning. The recurring phrase "know that I am the LORD" (v'yad'u ki ani Yahweh) is central to Ezekiel's prophetic message, indicating a forced, yet profound, recognition of God's character through His powerful acts.

Practical Application

Ezekiel 7:27 serves as a powerful reminder that God is just and holds all people accountable for their actions, regardless of their position or power. It teaches us that sin has severe consequences, and true repentance is necessary to avert divine judgment. For believers today, it reinforces the importance of living righteously and recognizing God's ultimate sovereignty over all affairs. Even in times of difficulty or judgment, God's purpose is often to draw people to a deeper knowledge and acknowledgment of who He truly is. This verse encourages humility before God and a steadfast trust in His righteous character, understanding that He will render to every man according to his deeds.

Note: Commentary was generated by an advanced AI, utilizing a prompt that emphasized Biblical fidelity over bias. We've found these insights to be consistently reliable, yet we always encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

  • Ezekiel 18:30

    ¶ Therefore I will judge you, O house of Israel, every one according to his ways, saith the Lord GOD. Repent, and turn [yourselves] from all your transgressions; so iniquity shall not be your ruin.

  • Ezekiel 7:4

    And mine eye shall not spare thee, neither will I have pity: but I will recompense thy ways upon thee, and thine abominations shall be in the midst of thee: and ye shall know that I [am] the LORD.

  • Ezekiel 7:8

    Now will I shortly pour out my fury upon thee, and accomplish mine anger upon thee: and I will judge thee according to thy ways, and will recompense thee for all thine abominations.

  • 1 Kings 20:28

    And there came a man of God, and spake unto the king of Israel, and said, Thus saith the LORD, Because the Syrians have said, The LORD [is] God of the hills, but he [is] not God of the valleys, therefore will I deliver all this great multitude into thine hand, and ye shall know that I [am] the LORD.

  • Ezekiel 26:16

    Then all the princes of the sea shall come down from their thrones, and lay away their robes, and put off their broidered garments: they shall clothe themselves with trembling; they shall sit upon the ground, and shall tremble at [every] moment, and be astonished at thee.

  • Psalms 9:16

    The LORD is known [by] the judgment [which] he executeth: the wicked is snared in the work of his own hands. Higgaion. Selah.

  • Romans 2:5

    But after thy hardness and impenitent heart treasurest up unto thyself wrath against the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God;

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