They shall also bring up a company against thee, and they shall stone thee with stones, and thrust thee through with their swords.

EZEKIEL 16:40KJV
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Ezekiel 16:40 (KJV)

What does Ezekiel 16:40 mean?

Ezekiel 16:40 describes how a group of people will come against Jerusalem, attacking the city with stones and swords as a form of judgment. The verse uses vivid language to show that Jerusalem will face a harsh and public punishment for its unfaithfulness.

In this part of Ezekiel, God is speaking through the prophet to the people of Jerusalem, comparing the city to an unfaithful spouse. The setting is one of warning: Jerusalem’s actions have brought about consequences, and the coming attack is pictured as both a legal sentence and a violent punishment. The verse’s imagery would have been understood as a shameful and serious penalty in the ancient world.

The Hebrew behind Ezekiel 16:40

  • "Company" (קָהָל, qāhāl): This word means an assembled group or congregation. Here, it emphasizes that the judgment is not just from one person but a collective action, making the punishment more public and severe.
  • "Stone" (רָגַם, rāgam) and "stones" (אֶבֶן, ʾeven): The verb and noun together highlight the method of execution—stoning—which was a common way to punish certain crimes in ancient Israel, especially those seen as serious betrayals.
  • "Through" (דָּקַר, dāqar): This verb means to pierce or thrust through, usually with a weapon like a sword. It adds to the sense of violence and finality in the judgment described here.
  • "Swords" (חֶרֶב, cherev): This word means a sword or dagger, reinforcing the idea that the punishment is both brutal and fatal.

Why Ezekiel 16:40 matters

  • This verse clarifies that the judgment against Jerusalem is not just symbolic but involves real, physical consequences, using language that would have been understood as both legal and violent.
  • The public nature of the punishment—carried out by a "company"—shows that Jerusalem’s actions have led to shame before others, not just private guilt.
  • Understanding these details helps connect this verse to the larger message of Ezekiel 16, where Jerusalem’s unfaithfulness is described in personal and relational terms, and the consequences are shown as both just and severe.

Where else these words appear

“stone” Hebrew H7275 · used in 15 verses

  • Leviticus 20:2 Again, thou shalt say to the children of Israel, Whosoever he be of the children of Israel, or of the strangers that sojourn in Israel, that giveth any of his seed unto Molech; he shall surely be put to death: the people of the land shall stone him with stones.
  • Leviticus 24:23 And Moses spake to the children of Israel, that they should bring forth him that had cursed out of the camp, and stone him with stones. And the children of Israel did as the LORD commanded Moses.
  • Joshua 7:25 And Joshua said, Why hast thou troubled us? the LORD shall trouble thee this day. And all Israel stoned him with stones, and burned them with fire, after they had stoned them with stones.

“company” Hebrew H6951 · used in 116 verses

  • Genesis 28:3 And God Almighty bless thee, and make thee fruitful, and multiply thee, that thou mayest be a multitude of people;
  • 1 Kings 8:22 And Solomon stood before the altar of the LORD in the presence of all the congregation of Israel, and spread forth his hands toward heaven:
  • Nehemiah 5:13 Also I shook my lap, and said, So God shake out every man from his house, and from his labour, that performeth not this promise, even thus be he shaken out, and emptied. And all the congregation said, Amen, and praised the LORD. And the people did according to this promise.