Ezekiel – Chapter 6

Old Testament • 14 Verses

Chapter Summary

Chapter 6 of Ezekiel begins: "And the word of the Lord came to me, saying:" Across its 14 verses, two threads run through the text: worship and praise and sin and divine judgment. Read slowly, this chapter rewards the kind of prayerful attention the Church calls lectio divina.

1And the word of the Lord came to me, saying:

2Son of man set thy face towards the mountains of Israel, and prophesy against them.

3And say: Ye mountains of Israel, hear the word of the Lord God: Thus saith the Lord God to the mountains, and to the hills, and to the rocks, and the valleys: Behold, I will bring upon you the sword, and I will destroy your high places.

4And I will throw down your altars, and your idols shall be broken in pieces: and I will cast down your slain before your idols.

5And I will lay the dead carcasses of the children of Israel before your idols: and I will scatter your bones round about your altars,

6In all your dwelling places. The cities shall be laid waste, and the high places shall be thrown down, and destroyed, and your altars shall be abolished, and shall be broken in pieces: and your idols shall be no more, and your temples shall be destroyed, and your works shall be defaced.

7And the slain shall fall in the midst of you: and you shall know that I am the Lord.

8And I will leave in you some that shall escape the sword among the nations, when I shall have scattered you through the countries.

9And they that are saved of you shall remember me amongst the nations, to which they are carried captives: because I have broken their heart that was faithless, and revolted from me: and their eyes that went a fornicating after their idols: and they shall be displeased with themselves because of the evils which they have committed in all their abominations.

10And they shall know that I the Lord have not spoken in vain that I would do this evil to them.

11Thus saith the Lord God: Strike with thy hand and stamp with thy foot, and say: Alas, for all the abominations of the evils of the house of Israel: for they shall fall by the sword, by the famine, and by the pestilence.

12He that is far off shall die of the pestilence: and he that is near, shall fall by the sword: and he that remaineth, and is besieged, shall die by the famine: and I will accomplish my indignation upon them.

13And you shall know that I am the Lord, when your slain shall be amongst your idols, round about your altars, in every high hill, and on all the tops of mountains, and under every woody tree, and under every thick oak, the place where they burnt sweet smelling frankincense to all their idols.

14And I will stretch forth my hand upon them: and I will make the land desolate, and abandoned from the desert of Deblatha in all their dwelling places: and they shall know that I am the Lord.

Important Verses in Ezekiel 6

“And the word of the Lord came to me, saying:”

Ezekiel 6:1

“And the slain shall fall in the midst of you: and you shall know that I am the Lord.”

Ezekiel 6:7

“Thus saith the Lord God: Strike with thy hand and stamp with thy foot, and say: Alas, for all the abominations of the evils of the house of Israel: for they shall fall by the sword, by the famine, and by the pestilence.”

Ezekiel 6:11

“And I will stretch forth my hand upon them: and I will make the land desolate, and abandoned from the desert of Deblatha in all their dwelling places: and they shall know that I am the Lord. ”

Ezekiel 6:14

Historical Context

As a Old Testament book, Ezekiel was written with the exiles in Babylon, moved from despair to hope of restoration in view. Chapter 6 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 14 verses in the Douay-Rheims translation. The passage starts with these words: "And the word of the Lord came to me, saying:" It concludes: "And I will stretch forth my hand upon them: and I will make the land desolate, and abandoned from the desert of…" The wider setting of Ezekiel is this: 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 the word of the Lord came to me, saying:" The passage repeatedly touches on worship and praise.

The Church teaches that every passage of Scripture must be read in light of Christ and the Magisterium (CIC 1324). Here, Ezekiel's visions inform Catholic understanding of heaven and liturgy (CIC 1137). The spiritual sense invites believers to recognize worship and praise as part of God's pedagogy of salvation.

For Christians today, the chapter's lesson is clear: Worship is the heart of the covenant: giving God the praise and adoration that are His due.. The Church invites us to receive this word not as antiquarian information but as living Scripture proclaimed at Mass and prayed in lectio divina.

Main Teachings

  • ✓Worship is the heart of the covenant: giving God the praise and adoration that are His due.
  • ✓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.

Reflection for Today

Ezekiel Chapter 6, containing 14 verses in the Douay-Rheims translation, offers a distinct passage for prayer and meditation.

The Magisterium teaches that every biblical passage must be read in light of Christ, the center of Scripture (CIC 756). Here the emphasis falls on hope in the resurrection, which shapes how the Church understands judgment, restoration, and God's glory.

As you continue through Ezekiel, carry this chapter's lesson into your family, parish, and work. Catholic faith is always ecclesial—God speaks to us as members of Christ's Body, not as isolated individuals.

💡Catholic Reflection • Church Teachings

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Ezekiel Chapter 6 about?

Ezekiel 6 contains 14 verses. It opens with "And the word of the Lord came to me, saying:" and closes with "And I will stretch forth my hand upon them: and I will make the land desolate, and abandoned from the desert of…". The book as a whole is prophetic visions and oracles.

What is a key verse in Ezekiel 6?

One of the most significant verses is verse 1: "And the word of the Lord came to me, saying:" 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.

Related Chapters

Exodus 5Shares people and themes with this chapterLeviticus 9Shares people and themes with this chapterNumbers 5Shares people and themes with this chapter

Prayers Related to This Chapter

🙏Gloria in Excelsis🙏The Divine Praises🙏Act of Contrition🙏Kyrie Eleison

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