And I will give it into the hands of the strangers for a prey, and to the wicked of the earth for a spoil; and they shall pollute it.

EZEKIEL 7:21KJV
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Ezekiel 7:21 (KJV)

What does Ezekiel 7:21 mean?

Ezekiel 7:21 says that God will hand over the treasures and valuables of Jerusalem to foreigners and wicked people as loot, and these outsiders will defile what was once considered holy. This is a warning that the things the people valued most will be taken away and treated with disrespect because of their unfaithfulness.

In this verse, God is speaking through the prophet Ezekiel to the people of Judah, warning them about the coming destruction of Jerusalem. The situation is one of judgment: because the people have turned away from God, even the sacred things in the city will be given over to enemies, who are described as "strangers" and "the wicked of the earth." The verse emphasizes the seriousness of the coming punishment and the loss of what was once protected and revered.

The Hebrew behind Ezekiel 7:21

  • "Strangers" (זָרִים, zarim): This word refers to foreigners or people outside the community of Israel. Here, it highlights that outsiders, not just local enemies, will take possession of Jerusalem’s treasures.
  • "Prey" (מַלְקוֹחַ, malqoach): This word means something taken by force, like plunder or spoil in war. It shows that what was valuable will be seized violently, not just lost.
  • "Pollute" (חָלַל, chalal): This word often means to defile or make something unclean, especially something holy. The verse warns that the city’s treasures, possibly including items from the temple, will be treated with disrespect and lose their sacredness.

Why Ezekiel 7:21 matters

  • This verse clears up the idea that Jerusalem’s treasures, even those considered holy, were not immune to loss if the people were unfaithful; God himself would allow them to be taken.
  • It emphasizes that the punishment would come through outsiders, making the loss even more humiliating and complete for the people of Judah.
  • Ezekiel 7:21 connects to the larger message in Ezekiel 7, which is a warning of total judgment and the end of Jerusalem’s security, showing that nothing would be spared from destruction.