Ezekiel – Chapter 5

Old Testament17 Verses

Chapter Summary

"And thou, son of man, take thee a sharp knife that shaveth the hair: and cause it to pass over thy head, and over thy beard: and take thee…" — so begins Ezekiel 5. Across its 17 verses, two threads run through the text: sin and divine judgment and family and covenant relationships. The Church invites us to read this chapter within the whole sweep of salvation history, where every page points toward Christ.

1And thou, son of man, take thee a sharp knife that shaveth the hair: and cause it to pass over thy head, and over thy beard: and take thee a balance to weigh in, and divide the hair.

2A third part thou shalt burn with fire in the midst of the city, according to the fulfilling of the days of the siege: and thou shalt take a third part, and cut it in pieces with the knife all round about: and the other third part thou shalt scatter in the wind, and I will draw out the sword after them.

3And thou shalt take thereof a small number: and shalt bind them in the skirt of thy cloak.

4And thou shalt take of them again, and shalt cast them in the midst of the fire, and shalt burn them with fire: and out of it shall come forth a fire into all the house of Israel.

5Thus saith the Lord God: This is Jerusalem, I have set her in the midst of the nations, and the countries round about her.

6And she hath despised my judgments, so as to be more wicked than the Gentiles; and my commandments, more than the countries that are round about her: for they have cast off my judgments, and have not walked in my commandments.

7Therefore thus saith the Lord God: Because you have surpassed the Gentiles that are round about you, and have not walked in my commandments, and have not kept my judgments, and have not done according to the judgments of the nations that are round about you:

8Therefore thus saith the Lord God: Behold I come against thee, and I myself will execute judgments in the midst of thee in the sight of the Gentiles.

9And I will do in thee that which I have not done: and the like to which I will do no more, because of all thy abominations.

10Therefore the fathers shall eat the sons in the midst of thee, and the sons shall eat their fathers: and I will execute judgments in thee, and I will scatter thy whole remnant into every wind.

11Therefore as I live, saith the Lord God: Because thou hast violated my sanctuary with all thy offences, and with all thy abominations: I will also break thee in pieces, and my eye shall not spare, and I will not have any pity.

12A third part of thee shall die with the pestilence, and shall be consumed with famine in the midst of thee: and a third part of thee shall fall by the sword round about thee: and a third part of thee will I scatter into every wind, and I will draw out a sword after them.

13And I will accomplish my fury, and will cause my indignation to rest upon them, and I will be comforted: and they shall know that I the Lord have spoken it in my zeal, when I shall have accomplished my indignation in them.

14And I will make thee desolate, and a reproach among the nations that are round about thee, in the sight of every one that passeth by.

15And thou shalt be a reproach, and a scoff, an example, and an astonishment amongst the nations that are round about thee, when I shall have executed judgments in thee in anger, and in indignation, and in wrathful rebukes.

16I the Lord have spoken it: When I shall send upon them the grievous arrows of famine, which shall bring death, and which I will send to destroy you: and I will gather together famine against you: and I will break among you the staff of bread.

17And I will send in upon you famine, and evil beasts unto utter destruction: and pestilence, and blood shall pass through thee, and I will bring in the sword upon thee. I the Lord have spoken it.

Important Verses in Ezekiel 5

And thou, son of man, take thee a sharp knife that shaveth the hair: and cause it to pass over thy head, and over thy beard: and take thee a balance to weigh in, and divide the hair.

Ezekiel 5:1

Thus saith the Lord God: This is Jerusalem, I have set her in the midst of the nations, and the countries round about her.

Ezekiel 5:5

Therefore thus saith the Lord God: Behold I come against thee, and I myself will execute judgments in the midst of thee in the sight of the Gentiles.

Ezekiel 5:8

And I will send in upon you famine, and evil beasts unto utter destruction: and pestilence, and blood shall pass through thee, and I will bring in the sword upon thee. I the Lord have spoken it.

Ezekiel 5:17

Historical Context

Ezekiel addresses the exiles in Babylon, moved from despair to hope of restoration within the broader story of God's covenant people. Chapter 5 of 48 belongs to the early movement of the book, where the narrative or argument is still unfolding. It is a prophetic oracle addressed to Israel in a moment of covenant crisis or renewal with 17 verses in the Douay-Rheims translation. The chapter begins: "And thou, son of man, take thee a sharp knife that shaveth the hair: and cause it to pass over thy head, and over thy…" The chapter ends with: "And I will send in upon you famine, and evil beasts unto utter destruction: and pestilence, and blood shall pass…" In terms of historical background, Ezekiel was deported to Babylon in 597 BC and prophesied among the exiles through astonishing visions: God's throne-chariot, the departure of His glory from the Temple, the valley of dry bones brought to life, and a new… The book's material reflects the era summarized as follows: About 593-571 BC, in Babylon.

Who Wrote It

The prophet Ezekiel, priest and exile

When It Was Written

About 593-571 BC, in Babylon

Catholic Commentary

At the literal level, this oracle names the sins, judgments, or promises relevant to its original hearers. A pivotal line is verse 1: "And thou, son of man, take thee a sharp knife that shaveth the hair: and cause it to pass over thy head, and over thy beard: and take thee a balance to weigh…" The passage repeatedly touches on sin and divine judgment.

The Church teaches that every passage of Scripture must be read in light of Christ and the Magisterium (CIC 2772). Here, Ezekiel's visions inform Catholic understanding of heaven and liturgy (CIC 1137). The spiritual sense invites believers to recognize sin and divine judgment as part of God's pedagogy of salvation.

Applied to the life of faith, the passage supports the Church's conviction that God will give His people a new heart. Whether read privately or heard in the liturgy, Ezekiel 5 calls for a response of faith, repentance, and charity.

Main Teachings

  • Sin has real consequences, but God's judgment always aims at conversion and restoration.
  • The family is the first school of faith, where love, obedience, and forgiveness are learned.
  • From the manna to the Last Supper, God feeds His people — fully in the Eucharist.

Reflection for Today

Sacred Scripture presents Ezekiel Chapter 5 as a unique stage in salvation history, not merely as background to other books.

St. John Damascene and other Fathers of the Church meditated on texts like this one, seeing in them instruction for the spiritual life. Ezekiel's visions inform Catholic understanding of heaven and liturgy (CIC 1137). The passage calls believers to grasp that God will give His people a new heart.

Let Ezekiel Chapter 5 deepen your love for the Eucharist, where the Word made flesh continues to feed His people. The same Christ who speaks in Scripture offers Himself sacramentally on the altar.

💡Catholic Reflection • Church Teachings

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Ezekiel Chapter 5 about?

Ezekiel 5 contains 17 verses. It opens with "And thou, son of man, take thee a sharp knife that shaveth the hair: and cause it to pass over thy head, and over thy…" and closes with "And I will send in upon you famine, and evil beasts unto utter destruction: and pestilence, and blood shall pass…". The book as a whole is prophetic visions and oracles.

What is a key verse in Ezekiel 5?

One of the most significant verses is verse 1: "And thou, son of man, take thee a sharp knife that shaveth the hair: and cause it to pass over thy head, and over thy beard: and take thee a balance to weigh in, and divide the…" It is often cited in Catholic teaching and preaching.

Who wrote Ezekiel and when?

The prophet Ezekiel, priest and exile. About 593-571 BC, in Babylon.

Deepen your understanding with these related articles