Ezekiel 24:23 (KJV)

What does Ezekiel 24:23 mean?

Ezekiel 24:23 tells the people that, even in the face of disaster, they will not show the usual outward signs of mourning—like removing their head coverings or shoes—but instead will suffer inwardly because of their own wrongdoing. The verse describes a time when grief will be so deep and personal that normal public rituals of sorrow will be set aside.

Ezekiel, speaking God’s message to the exiled Israelites, warns them about the coming destruction of Jerusalem. In this verse, he says that when tragedy strikes, the people will keep their “tires” (head coverings) on their heads and their shoes on their feet, which was unusual during mourning. Instead of public weeping, their pain will be internal, a direct result of their iniquities, and they will grieve privately with each other.

The Hebrew behind Ezekiel 24:23

• “Tires” (פְּאֵר, pe’er): This word refers to a type of turban or head covering. In ancient Israel, removing this was a sign of grief, so keeping it on shows a break from normal mourning customs.
• “Mourn” (פָּאַר, safad): The word used here means to express sorrow or lament. The verse stresses that the people will not do this in the usual outward way.
• “Pine away” (מָקַק, maqaq): This word means to waste away or rot, often used for deep, consuming grief. Here, it points to the inner suffering that replaces public mourning.
• “Iniquities” (עָוֹן, avon): This word means guilt or moral wrongdoing. The verse connects the people’s suffering directly to their own sins, not just to external events.

Why Ezekiel 24:23 matters

• Ezekiel 24:23 highlights that the coming judgment is so severe that it disrupts even the most basic cultural expressions of grief, showing the depth of the crisis.
• The verse connects personal suffering to collective wrongdoing, making clear that the pain is not random but tied to the people’s own actions.
• This verse helps explain the unique way Ezekiel is told to act as a sign to the people, setting the stage for understanding the seriousness of Jerusalem’s fall in the wider context of Ezekiel’s message.