Ezekiel 7:6

KJV

An end is come, the end is come: it watcheth for thee; behold, it is come.

KJV (with Strong's)

An end {H7093} is come {H935}, the end {H7093} is come {H935}: it watcheth {H6974} for thee; behold, it is come {H935}.

Complete Jewish Bible

The end is coming! The end is coming! It rouses itself against you - here it comes!

Berean Standard Bible

The end has come! The end has come! It has roused itself against you. Behold, it has come!

American Standard Version

An end is come, the end is come; it awaketh against thee; behold, it cometh.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Ezekiel 7:6 delivers an urgent and emphatic declaration of impending divine judgment upon ancient Judah and Jerusalem. The repeated proclamation, "An end is come, the end is come," underscores the absolute certainty and finality of God's patience reaching its limit. This verse signifies that the long-foretold consequences of Israel's persistent idolatry and rebellion are no longer a distant threat but an immediate, active, and inescapable reality, personified as a watchful entity poised to execute God's righteous decree.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Ezekiel 7 marks a pivotal shift in the prophet's message. Prior to this chapter, Ezekiel had engaged in a series of symbolic acts and pronouncements (e.g., the siege of Jerusalem depicted on a brick in [Ezekiel 4](/ezekiel/4 "Ezekiel 4 - The Siege of Jerusalem") or the cutting of hair in [Ezekiel 5](/ezekiel/5 "Ezekiel 5 - The Hair and the Sword")) that graphically illustrated the coming destruction of Jerusalem. These acts served as prophetic warnings, often met with skepticism or complacency by the exiles. Chapter 7, however, abandons symbolic representation for direct, unvarnished declaration. The repeated, urgent pronouncements in verses like [Ezekiel 7:2](/ezekiel/7-2 "Ezekiel 7:2 - The End Has Come") and [Ezekiel 7:5](/ezekiel/7-5 "Ezekiel 7:5 - Disaster After Disaster") escalate the tone, signaling that the time for warning is over, and the time for judgment has definitively arrived. This verse, therefore, functions as a climactic affirmation of the immediate and unavoidable nature of the catastrophe.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** Ezekiel ministered during a tumultuous period for Judah, specifically among the exiles in Babylon following the first deportation in 597 BC. Back in Jerusalem, the remaining inhabitants and leadership clung to a false sense of security, believing that God would never allow His temple or His chosen city to be destroyed, a belief often fueled by corrupt prophets. This complacency was rooted in a misunderstanding of the unconditional nature of God's covenant promises versus the conditional nature of the Mosaic covenant, which promised blessing for obedience and curses for disobedience (cf. [Deuteronomy 28](/deuteronomy/28 "Deuteronomy 28 - Blessings and Curses")). Ezekiel's prophecies directly challenged this false security, declaring that Judah's persistent idolatry, social injustice, and covenant breaking had exhausted God's patience. The "end" specifically refers to the impending Babylonian invasion and the complete destruction of Jerusalem and its temple in 586 BC, a historical event that validated Ezekiel's prophetic warnings.
* **Key Themes:** The verse powerfully contributes to several overarching themes in Ezekiel and the broader prophetic literature. The most prominent is **The Certainty and Immediacy of Divine Judgment**. The emphatic repetition of "An end is come, the end is come" leaves no room for doubt or delay; the judgment is not merely a possibility but a decreed and present reality, actively manifesting. This theme is echoed throughout the book, particularly in its early chapters, which detail the reasons for God's wrath and the inevitability of His righteous response to sin. Furthermore, the phrase "it watcheth for thee" introduces the theme of **Divine Oversight and Active Agency in Judgment**. This is not a random calamity but a divinely orchestrated, purposeful act of justice, demonstrating God's sovereign control over history and His unwavering commitment to upholding His covenant, even through severe discipline. The judgment is personified as a vigilant entity, highlighting God's meticulous attention to the moral state of His people and His precise execution of consequences for their unfaithfulness, a concept also seen in passages describing God's active involvement in the affairs of nations, such as [Isaiah 45:7](/isaiah/45-7 "Isaiah 45:7 - God Creates Good and Evil").

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS

#### Key Word Analysis
* **end (Hebrew, _qêts'_):** From H7093, this word signifies an extremity, border, or ultimate conclusion. Its repetition in Ezekiel 7:6 emphasizes not merely a stopping point, but a definitive, absolute cessation or finality. It conveys the idea that a process of divine patience and warning has reached its ultimate limit, and the inevitable consequence is now at hand. This "end" is not merely a temporal close but a qualitative one, marking the termination of a particular era or state of affairs due to divine decree.
* **come (Hebrew, _bôwʼ'_):** From H935, this primitive root is a versatile verb meaning "to go or come" in a wide variety of applications, including to arrive, befall, or come to pass. In this context, its repeated use with "end" ("An end is come, the end is come... behold, it is come") stresses the actualization and present reality of the judgment. It's not just approaching or threatened; it has actively arrived and is now unfolding. The shift from potentiality to actuality is central to the verse's urgency.
* **watcheth (Hebrew, _qûwts'_):** From H6974, this root means "to awake" or "to arise," often with the idea of abruptness in starting up from sleep. The KJV's "watcheth" captures the sense of vigilance, but the literal "it has awoken" or "it has roused itself" implies an active, deliberate, and perhaps even aggressive, awakening of the judgment itself. It personifies the "end" as something that was dormant but is now fully alert and purposeful, ready to execute its mission. This conveys the intentionality and precision of God's justice.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"An end is come, the end is come":** This powerful double declaration immediately establishes the central message of the verse: the definitive termination of a period of grace and the commencement of judgment. The repetition ("bā’ haqqēṣ bā’ haqqēṣ") is a Hebrew literary device known as **epizeuxis**, used for intense emphasis and to convey absolute certainty and finality. It shatters any illusion of delay or escape, proclaiming that the long-warned-of doom is no longer a future possibility but a present, undeniable reality.
* **"it watcheth for thee":** This clause introduces a striking **personification** of the "end" or judgment. The Hebrew verb "qûwts" (to awake, arise) suggests that this "end" is not a passive event but an active, vigilant, and purposeful entity. It has "awoken" or "roused itself" specifically "for thee"—meaning for Judah and Jerusalem. This implies that the judgment is not random or accidental but divinely orchestrated, precise, and targeted, having been patiently waiting for the appointed time to execute God's righteous decree.
* **"behold, it is come":** This final phrase serves as a climactic exclamation, reinforcing the immediacy and undeniable presence of the judgment. The interjection "behold" (hinneh) draws the listener's attention to a sudden and significant event, emphasizing that what was foretold is now undeniably manifesting. It reiterates the theme of arrival and actuality, leaving no room for doubt about the inescapable nature of the impending catastrophe.

#### Literary Devices
Ezekiel 7:6 is rich in literary devices that amplify its urgent and severe message. The most prominent is **Repetition**, specifically **epizeuxis**, seen in "An end is come, the end is come" and reinforced by the concluding "behold, it is come." This emphatic repetition serves to underscore the absolute certainty, finality, and immediacy of the divine judgment, leaving no room for misinterpretation or delay. Another powerful device is **Personification**, where the abstract concept of "the end" is given human-like qualities: "it watcheth for thee" (or "it has awoken for you"). This imbues the judgment with a sense of active agency, vigilance, and deliberate purpose, suggesting that it is not a random calamity but a conscious, targeted, and inescapable force. Finally, the use of the interjection "behold" (Hebrew: *hinneh*) functions as **Exclamatory Language**, drawing immediate attention to the gravity and suddenness of the declaration, creating a sense of dramatic urgency and undeniable truth for the audience.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Ezekiel 7:6 profoundly articulates the biblical principle of divine accountability and the certainty of judgment for unrepentant sin. It underscores God's absolute sovereignty over history, demonstrating that His warnings are not idle threats but declarations of His righteous character and His commitment to covenant faithfulness. For Judah, the "end" signified the culmination of centuries of rebellion, idolatry, and social injustice, proving that God's patience, though vast, is not infinite. This passage serves as a stark reminder that while God is merciful and slow to anger, He is also just and will ultimately hold His creation accountable for their actions, ensuring that righteousness prevails and sin is dealt with. This theological truth resonates throughout Scripture, from the earliest covenants to the final consummation of all things.

* [Proverbs 11:21](/proverbs/11-21 "The Wicked Will Not Go Unpunished")
* [Romans 2:5-6](/romans/2-5-6 "God's Righteous Judgment")
* [Hebrews 9:27](/hebrews/9-27 "Appointed to Die Once, Then Judgment")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Ezekiel 7:6, while historically rooted in Judah's judgment, carries profound and timeless implications for all who read it. It compels us to confront the seriousness of God's warnings and the reality of consequences for persistent disobedience. In a world often prone to spiritual complacency or a dismissal of divine authority, this verse serves as a sober call to spiritual vigilance. It reminds us that God is not to be trifled with; His character is holy, and His justice is as certain as His love. This should inspire a healthy fear of the Lord, leading to genuine repentance and a renewed commitment to living in accordance with His revealed will. The immediacy conveyed by "behold, it is come" challenges believers to live with a sense of urgency, recognizing that our time on earth is finite and that spiritual realities are not distant concepts but present truths demanding our attention and response. It encourages us to examine our own lives, our communities, and our nations for any patterns of idolatry, injustice, or spiritual apathy that might invite divine correction.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **In what areas of my life might I be complacent about God's warnings or commands?**
* **How does the certainty of God's judgment shape my understanding of His holiness and justice?**
* **What does "living with urgency" in light of this verse practically look like in my daily walk with Christ?**
* **How can I better align my life and priorities with the understanding that God's "end" for sin is always a present reality?**

### FAQ

**What does "An end is come, the end is come" specifically refer to in Ezekiel 7:6?**

Answer: This declaration refers specifically to the imminent and unavoidable destruction of Jerusalem and the kingdom of Judah by the Babylonian Empire. For the prophet Ezekiel and his audience, it signified the culmination of God's patience with their idolatry, covenant breaking, and moral corruption. It was the "end" of their national sovereignty, their temple worship in Jerusalem, and their false sense of security, marking the definitive execution of the covenant curses outlined in [Deuteronomy 28](/deuteronomy/28 "Deuteronomy 28 - Blessings and Curses") for disobedience.

**How does "it watcheth for thee" relate to God's character?**

Answer: The phrase "it watcheth for thee" (or "it has awoken for you") personifies the impending judgment, implying that it is not a random or accidental event but a deliberate, active, and purposeful act. This highlights God's attribute of **omniscience** (He sees all sin) and **justice** (He acts righteously to address it). It demonstrates that God is actively involved in the affairs of humanity, meticulously observing the moral state of His people and orchestrating events to bring about His just decrees. It underscores that even in judgment, God is sovereign and intentional, ensuring that the consequences of sin are met with precision, as seen in passages like [Psalm 33:13-15](/psalm/33-13 "Psalm 33:13-15 - God Sees All").

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
While Ezekiel 7:6 speaks of a historical "end" for ancient Judah, its profound theological undercurrents find ultimate fulfillment and re-interpretation in the person and work of Jesus Christ. The "end" that came upon Judah was a judgment for sin under the Old Covenant, a foreshadowing of a greater, eschatological "end" that all humanity faces. In Christ, the ultimate "end" to the power of sin and death has come. His atoning sacrifice on the cross marked the definitive end of the old covenant system, its sacrifices, and its inability to truly cleanse from sin, ushering in a new covenant of grace (cf. [Hebrews 8:13](/hebrews/8-13 "Hebrews 8:13 - The New Covenant")). The "end" that "watcheth for thee" in Ezekiel's day, a judgment for unrighteousness, is ultimately absorbed and transformed in Christ for those who believe. For the believer, the judgment for sin has already fallen upon Christ, who became sin for us (cf. [2 Corinthians 5:21](/2_corinthians/5-21 "2 Corinthians 5:21 - Christ Became Sin for Us")). However, for those who reject Him, the "end" of the age will indeed come, and Christ Himself will be the righteous Judge before whom all must stand (cf. [Matthew 25:31-32](/matthew/25-31 "Matthew 25:31-32 - The Son of Man Will Judge All Nations") and [John 5:22](/john/5-22 "John 5:22 - The Father Judges No One, But Has Given All Judgment to the Son")). Thus, Ezekiel's urgent warning of an "end" points forward to the decisive work of Christ, who brings either salvation and new life or final, just condemnation, depending on one's response to Him.

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

Zechariah 13:7

¶ Awake, O sword, against my shepherd, and against the man [that is] my fellow, saith the LORD of hosts: smite the shepherd, and the sheep shall be scattered: and I will turn mine hand upon the little ones.

Ezekiel 39:8

¶ Behold, it is come, and it is done, saith the Lord GOD; this [is] the day whereof I have spoken.

Ezekiel 7:10

Behold the day, behold, it is come: the morning is gone forth; the rod hath blossomed, pride hath budded.

Jeremiah 44:27

Behold, I will watch over them for evil, and not for good: and all the men of Judah that [are] in the land of Egypt shall be consumed by the sword and by the famine, until there be an end of them.

Ezekiel 7:3

Now [is] the end [come] upon thee, and I will send mine anger upon thee, and will judge thee according to thy ways, and will recompense upon thee all thine abominations.

2 Peter 2:5

And spared not the old world, but saved Noah the eighth [person], a preacher of righteousness, bringing in the flood upon the world of the ungodly;

Ezekiel 21:25

And thou, profane wicked prince of Israel, whose day is come, when iniquity [shall have] an end,