Ezekiel Chapter 6 — Prophecy Against the Mountains of Israel
Ezekiel prophesies against the mountains and high places of Israel, warning of the destruction of idols and the preservation of a scattered remnant.
1The LORD’s word came to me, saying,
2“Son of man, set your face toward the mountains of Israel, and prophesy to them,
3and say, ‘You mountains of Israel, hear the word of the Lord GOD! The Lord GOD says to the mountains and to the hills, to the watercourses and to the valleys: “Behold, I, even I, will bring a sword on you, and I will destroy your high places.
4Your altars will become desolate, and your incense altars will be broken. I will cast down your slain men before your idols.
5I will lay the dead bodies of the children of Israel before their idols. I will scatter your bones around your altars.
6In all your dwelling places, the cities will be laid waste and the high places will be desolate, so that your altars may be laid waste and made desolate, and your idols may be broken and cease, and your incense altars may be cut down, and your works may be abolished.
7The slain will fall among you, and you will know that I am the LORD.
8“ ‘ “Yet I will leave a remnant, in that you will have some that escape the sword among the nations, when you are scattered through the countries.
9Those of you that escape will remember me among the nations where they are carried captive, how I have been broken with their lewd heart, which has departed from me, and with their eyes, which play the prostitute after their idols. Then they will loathe themselves in their own sight for the evils which they have committed in all their abominations.
10They will know that I am the LORD. I have not said in vain that I would do this evil to them.” ’
11“The Lord GOD says: ‘Strike with your hand, and stamp with your foot, and say, “Alas!”, because of all the evil abominations of the house of Israel; for they will fall by the sword, by the famine, and by the pestilence.
12He who is far off will die of the pestilence. He who is near will fall by the sword. He who remains and is besieged will die by the famine. Thus I will accomplish my wrath on them.
13You will know that I am the LORD when their slain men are among their idols around their altars, on every high hill, on all the tops of the mountains, under every green tree, and under every thick oak—the places where they offered pleasant aroma to all their idols.
14I will stretch out my hand on them and make the land desolate and waste, from the wilderness toward Diblah, throughout all their habitations. Then they will know that I am the LORD.’ ”
WEB Translation
Notable Verses
Ezekiel 6:7
“The slain will fall among you, and you will know that I am the LORD.”
This verse introduces a recurring theme in Ezekiel where the goal of judgment is the recognition of God's authority.
Ezekiel 6:8
“Yet I will leave a remnant, in that you will have some that escape the sword among the nations, when you are scattered through the countries.”
It highlights God's mercy in preserving a portion of the people even during severe judgment.
Ezekiel 6:9
“Those of you that escape will remember me among the nations where they are carried captive, how I have been broken with their lewd heart...”
It describes the internal transformation and repentance of the exiles while in captivity.
Chapter Summary
In Ezekiel 6, the prophet is commanded to direct his message toward the mountains of Israel. God announces a coming judgment by the sword against the mountains, hills, valleys, and watercourses. The focus of this judgment is the total destruction of the 'high places' where the people practiced idolatry. God declares that altars will be made desolate, incense altars broken, and the bodies of the people will fall before their idols. The purpose of this devastation is to end the spiritual infidelity of the nation. Despite this total destruction, God promises to leave a remnant. This group will escape the sword and be scattered among the nations. In their captivity, they will remember God, acknowledge their past abominations, and loathe their previous actions. Through these events, God repeatedly states that the people will finally 'know that I am the LORD' and realize His warnings were not in vain.
Frequently Asked Questions
The mountains, hills, and valleys were the primary locations for 'high places,' where the people of Israel built altars to worship idols instead of God. By directing the prophecy at the geography, God addresses the physical centers of the nation's spiritual rebellion.
The remnant refers to the small group of Israelites who survive the coming war, famine, and pestilence. These survivors are scattered among the nations as captives, where they eventually turn back to God in repentance.
This phrase appears several times in this chapter and throughout the book of Ezekiel. It signifies that the purpose of God's actions—whether judgment or restoration—is to reveal His true nature, power, and sovereignty to His people.
High places were elevated sites used for religious worship, often involving the sacrifice of incense or animals. In the context of Ezekiel 6, they represent sites of pagan worship and idolatry that God vowed to destroy.
Study Note
The recurring refrain 'Then they will know that I am the LORD' is known as the 'recognition formula,' appearing more than 60 times in the book of Ezekiel.
Related Chapters
Leviticus 26
Both chapters describe the consequences of idolatry and the promise of a remnant using similar language.
Ezekiel 36
While Chapter 6 prophesies against the mountains, Chapter 36 later prophesies a restoration for the same mountains of Israel.
Jeremiah 44
Jeremiah also deals with the theme of judgment specifically targeting the people's persistent idolatry.
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