Ezekiel 9:5
New International Version
As I listened, he said to the others, “Follow him through the city and kill, without showing pity or compassion.

New Living Translation
Then I heard the LORD say to the other men, “Follow him through the city and kill everyone whose forehead is not marked. Show no mercy; have no pity!

English Standard Version
And to the others he said in my hearing, “Pass through the city after him, and strike. Your eye shall not spare, and you shall show no pity.

Berean Standard Bible
And as I listened, He said to the others, “Follow him through the city and start killing; do not show pity or spare anyone!

King James Bible
And to the others he said in mine hearing, Go ye after him through the city, and smite: let not your eye spare, neither have ye pity:

New King James Version
To the others He said in my hearing, “Go after him through the city and kill; do not let your eye spare, nor have any pity.

New American Standard Bible
But to the others He said in my presence, “Go through the city after him and strike; do not let your eye have pity and do not spare.

NASB 1995
But to the others He said in my hearing, “Go through the city after him and strike; do not let your eye have pity and do not spare.

NASB 1977
But to the others He said in my hearing, “Go through the city after him and strike; do not let your eye have pity, and do not spare.

Legacy Standard Bible
But to the others He said in my hearing, “Go through the city after him and strike; do not let your eye have pity and do not spare.

Amplified Bible
But to the others I heard Him say, “Follow him [the man with the scribe’s writing case] throughout the city and strike; do not let your eyes have pity and do not spare [anyone].

Christian Standard Bible
He spoke to the others in my hearing: “Pass through the city after him and start killing; do not show pity or spare them!

Holman Christian Standard Bible
He spoke as I listened to the others, “Pass through the city after him and start killing; do not show pity or spare them!

American Standard Version
And to the others he said in my hearing, Go ye through the city after him, and smite: let not your eye spare, neither have ye pity;

English Revised Version
And to the others he said in mine hearing, Go ye through the city after him, and smite: let not your eye spare, neither have ye pity:

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Then he said to the others as I was listening, "Follow him throughout the city and kill. Don't have any compassion, and don't feel sorry.

Good News Translation
And I heard God say to the other men, "Follow him through the city and kill. Spare no one; have mercy on no one.

International Standard Version
As I continued to listen, he also told the others, "Follow him through the city and start killing. Don't spare anyone you see, and don't show pity of any kind.

Majority Standard Bible
And as I listened, He said to the others, “Follow him through the city and start killing; do not show pity or spare anyone!

NET Bible
While I listened, he said to the others, "Go through the city after him and strike people down; do no let your eye pity nor spare anyone!

New Heart English Bible
To the others he said in my hearing, "Go through the city after him, and strike: do not let your eye spare, neither have pity;

Webster's Bible Translation
And to the others he said in my hearing, Go ye after him through the city, and smite: let not your eye spare, neither have ye pity:

World English Bible
To the others he said in my hearing, “Go through the city after him, and strike. Don’t let your eye spare, neither have pity.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
And to the others he said in my ears, “Pass on into the city after him, and strike; your eye does not pity, nor do you spare;

Young's Literal Translation
And to the others he said in mine ears, 'Pass on into the city after him, and smite; your eye doth not pity, nor do ye spare;

Smith's Literal Translation
And to these he said in mine ears, Pass through into the city after him, and strike: your eye shall not spare, and ye shall not pity.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
And to the others he said in my hearing: Go ye after him through the city, and strike: let not your eyes spare, nor be ye moved with pity.

Catholic Public Domain Version
And he said to the others, in my hearing: “Cross through the city after him, and strike! Your eye shall not be lenient, and you shall not take pity.

New American Bible
To the others he said in my hearing: Pass through the city after him and strike! Do not let your eyes spare; do not take pity.

New Revised Standard Version
To the others he said in my hearing, “Pass through the city after him, and kill; your eye shall not spare, and you shall show no pity.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
And to those who were with him he said in my sight, Go after him through the city and destroy; let not your eyes spare, nor have pity;

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And to those who were with him he said: “Pass before my eyes within the city after me and destroy, and your eyes shall not have pity and you shall not show mercy
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
And to the others He said in my hearing: 'Go ye through the city after him, and smite; let not your eye spare, neither have ye pity;

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And he said to the first in my hearing, Go after him into the city, and smite: and let not your eyes spare, and have no mercy.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Slaughter of the Idolaters
4“Go throughout the city of Jerusalem,” said the LORD, “and put a mark on the foreheads of the men sighing and groaning over all the abominations committed there.” 5And as I listened, He said to the others, “Follow him through the city and start killing; do not show pity or spare anyone! 6Slaughter the old men, the young men and maidens, the women and children; but do not go near anyone who has the mark. Now begin at My sanctuary.” So they began with the elders who were before the temple.…

Cross References
Revelation 7:3
“Do not harm the land or sea or trees until we have placed a seal on the foreheads of the servants of our God.”

Revelation 9:4
They were told not to harm the grass of the earth or any plant or tree, but only those who did not have the seal of God on their foreheads.

Revelation 14:9-11
And a third angel followed them, calling out in a loud voice, “If anyone worships the beast and its image and receives its mark on his forehead or on his hand, / he too will drink the wine of God’s anger, poured undiluted into the cup of His wrath. And he will be tormented in fire and sulfur in the presence of the holy angels and of the Lamb. / And the smoke of their torment rises forever and ever. Day and night there is no rest for those who worship the beast and its image, or for anyone who receives the mark of its name.”

Revelation 16:2
So the first angel went and poured out his bowl on the earth, and loathsome, malignant sores broke out on those who had the mark of the beast and worshiped its image.

Revelation 19:20
But the beast was captured along with the false prophet, who on its behalf had performed signs deceiving those who had the mark of the beast and worshiped its image. Both the beast and the false prophet were thrown alive into the fiery lake of burning sulfur.

Revelation 20:4
Then I saw the thrones, and those seated on them had been given authority to judge. And I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for their testimony of Jesus and for the word of God, and those who had not worshiped the beast or its image and had not received its mark on their foreheads or hands. And they came to life and reigned with Christ for a thousand years.

Matthew 13:41-42
The Son of Man will send out His angels, and they will weed out of His kingdom every cause of sin and all who practice lawlessness. / And they will throw them into the fiery furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

Matthew 24:30-31
At that time the sign of the Son of Man will appear in heaven, and all the tribes of the earth will mourn. They will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. / And He will send out His angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather His elect from the four winds, from one end of the heavens to the other.

Luke 17:34-37
I tell you, on that night two people will be in one bed: one will be taken and the other left. / Two women will be grinding grain together: one will be taken and the other left.” / Two men will be in the field: One and will be taken and the other left. ...

2 Thessalonians 1:7-9
and to grant relief to you who are oppressed and to us as well. This will take place when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with His mighty angels / in blazing fire, inflicting vengeance on those who do not know God and do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus. / They will suffer the penalty of eternal destruction, separated from the presence of the Lord and the glory of His might,

Romans 2:8-9
But for those who are self-seeking and who reject the truth and follow wickedness, there will be wrath and anger. / There will be trouble and distress for every human being who does evil, first for the Jew, then for the Greek;

Hebrews 10:26-27
If we deliberately go on sinning after we have received the knowledge of the truth, no further sacrifice for sins remains, / but only a fearful expectation of judgment and of raging fire that will consume all adversaries.

Isaiah 13:15-18
Whoever is caught will be stabbed, and whoever is captured will die by the sword. / Their infants will be dashed to pieces before their eyes, their houses will be looted, and their wives will be ravished. / Behold, I will stir up against them the Medes, who have no regard for silver and no desire for gold. ...

Isaiah 65:12
I will destine you for the sword, and you will all kneel down to be slaughtered, because I called and you did not answer, I spoke and you did not listen; you did evil in My sight and chose that in which I did not delight.”

Jeremiah 25:29-33
For behold, I am beginning to bring disaster on the city that bears My Name, so how could you possibly go unpunished? You will not go unpunished, for I am calling down a sword upon all the inhabitants of the earth, declares the LORD of Hosts.’ / So you are to prophesy all these words against them and say to them: ‘The LORD will roar from on high; He will raise His voice from His holy habitation. He will roar loudly over His pasture; like those who tread the grapes, He will call out with a shout against all the inhabitants of the earth. / The tumult will resound to the ends of the earth because the LORD brings a charge against the nations. He brings judgment on all mankind and puts the wicked to the sword,’” declares the LORD. ...


Treasury of Scripture

And to the others he said in my hearing, Go you after him through the city, and smite: let not your eye spare, neither have you pity:

hearing [heb] ears

1 Samuel 9:15
Now the LORD had told Samuel in his ear a day before Saul came, saying,

Isaiah 5:9
In mine ears said the LORD of hosts, Of a truth many houses shall be desolate, even great and fair, without inhabitant.

Isaiah 22:14
And it was revealed in mine ears by the LORD of hosts, Surely this iniquity shall not be purged from you till ye die, saith the Lord GOD of hosts.

Go

Ezekiel 9:10
And as for me also, mine eye shall not spare, neither will I have pity, but I will recompense their way upon their head.

Ezekiel 5:11
Wherefore, as I live, saith the Lord GOD; Surely, because thou hast defiled my sanctuary with all thy detestable things, and with all thine abominations, therefore will I also diminish thee; neither shall mine eye spare, neither will I have any pity.

Ezekiel 7:4,9
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…

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Ezekiel 9
1. A vision, whereby is shown the preservation of some
5. and the destruction of the rest
8. God cannot be entreated for them














And as I listened
This phrase indicates the attentive posture of the prophet Ezekiel. The Hebrew root for "listened" is "שָׁמַע" (shama), which implies not just hearing but understanding and obeying. In the biblical context, listening is often associated with obedience to God's commands. Ezekiel's role as a prophet required him to be attuned to God's voice, emphasizing the importance of spiritual receptivity in fulfilling God's will.

He said to the others
The "He" refers to God, who is issuing a command to the angelic executioners. The phrase underscores God's sovereign authority and His ability to direct both heavenly and earthly beings. The "others" are likely the six men mentioned earlier in the chapter, representing divine agents of judgment. This highlights the biblical theme of God using His messengers to carry out His purposes on earth.

Follow him through the city
The command to "follow him" suggests a structured and deliberate action. The Hebrew word for "follow" is "עָבַר" (avar), meaning to pass over or through. This indicates a thorough and comprehensive execution of judgment. The "city" refers to Jerusalem, symbolizing the center of God's chosen people who have turned away from Him. This phrase serves as a sobering reminder of the consequences of collective disobedience and idolatry.

and start killing
This phrase is stark and direct, reflecting the severity of God's judgment. The Hebrew root "הָרַג" (harag) means to kill or slay. In the context of Ezekiel, this judgment is a response to the rampant sin and idolatry in Jerusalem. It serves as a divine purging, a necessary act to restore holiness among God's people. This difficult passage challenges readers to consider the seriousness of sin and the holiness of God.

do not show pity
The command to "not show pity" emphasizes the impartiality and righteousness of divine judgment. The Hebrew word "חָמַל" (chamal) means to spare or have compassion. In this context, it underscores the idea that God's justice is not swayed by human emotions or relationships. It serves as a reminder that God's ways and thoughts are higher than ours, and His judgments are always just.

or spare anyone
The phrase "spare anyone" reiterates the totality of the judgment. The Hebrew root "חָסַךְ" (chasak) means to withhold or refrain. This highlights the comprehensive nature of the divine decree, where no one is exempt from accountability. It serves as a sobering reminder of the universal call to repentance and the reality of divine justice for all, regardless of status or position.

(5) Go ye after him.--No interval is allowed. Here, as in the corresponding visions in Revelation referred to above, judgment waits only until those whom mercy will spare have been protected. (Comp. the deliverance of Lot, Genesis 19:22-25.) The destruction was to be utter and complete, and was to begin at the sanctuary, where the gross sin of the people had culminated. This is one of those many important passages in Scripture (comp. Matthew 25:41; Luke 23:30; Revelation 6:16, &c.) in which God reveals Himself as one who will ultimately take vengeance without pity upon those who have rejected and insulted His mercy and long-suffering kindness. The revelation of future wrath is no less clear and distinct than that of love to those who trust in Him.



Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
And as I listened,
בְּאָזְנַ֔י (bə·’ā·zə·nay)
Preposition-b | Noun - fdc | first person common singular
Strong's 241: Broadness, the ear

He said
אָמַ֣ר (’ā·mar)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 559: To utter, say

to the others,
וּלְאֵ֙לֶּה֙ (ū·lə·’êl·leh)
Conjunctive waw, Preposition-l | Pronoun - common plural
Strong's 428: These, those

“Follow him
עִבְר֥וּ (‘iḇ·rū)
Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine plural
Strong's 5674: To pass over, through, or by, pass on

through the city
בָעִ֛יר (ḇā·‘îr)
Preposition-b, Article | Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 5892: Excitement

and start killing;
וְהַכּ֑וּ (wə·hak·kū)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Imperative - masculine plural
Strong's 5221: To strike

do not
תָּחֹ֥ס (tā·ḥōs)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect Jussive - third person feminine singular
Strong's 408: Not

show pity
עֵינְכֶ֖ם (‘ê·nə·ḵem)
Noun - common singular construct | second person masculine plural
Strong's 5869: An eye, a fountain

or spare anyone!
תַּחְמֹֽלוּ׃ (taḥ·mō·lū)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine plural
Strong's 2550: To commiserate, to spare


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OT Prophets: Ezekiel 9:5 To the others he said in my (Ezek. Eze Ezk)
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