Ezekiel – Chapter 8

Old Testament18 Verses

Chapter Summary

"And it came to pass in the sixth year, in the sixth month, in the fifth day of the month, as I sat in my house, and the ancients of Juda…" — so begins Ezekiel 8. Across its 18 verses, two threads run through the text: family and covenant relationships and worship and praise. The Church invites us to read this chapter within the whole sweep of salvation history, where every page points toward Christ.

1And it came to pass in the sixth year, in the sixth month, in the fifth day of the month, as I sat in my house, and the ancients of Juda sat before me, that the hand of the Lord God fell there upon me.

2And I saw, and behold a likeness as the appearance of fire: from the appearance of his loins, and downward, fire: and from his loins, and upward, as the appearance of brightness, as the appearance of amber.

3And the likeness of a hand was put forth and took me by a lock of my head: and the spirit lifted me up between the earth and the heaven, and brought me in the vision of God into Jerusalem, near the inner gate, that looked toward the north, where was set the idol of jealousy to provoke to jealousy.

4And behold the glory of the God of Israel was there, according to the vision which I had seen in the plain.

5And he said to me: Son of man, lift up thy eyes towards the way of the north, and I lifted up my eyes towards the way of the north: and behold on the north side of the gate of the altar the idol of jealousy in the very entry.

6And he said to me: Son of man, dost thou see, thinkest thou, what these are doing, the great abominations that the house of Israel committeth here, that I should depart far off from my sanctuary? and turn thee yet again and thou shalt see greater abominations.

7And he brought me in to the door of the court: and I saw, and behold a hole in the wall.

8And he said to me: Son of man, dig in the wall, and when I had digged in the wall, behold a door.

9And he said to me: Go in, and see the wicked abominations which they commit here.

10And I went in and saw, and behold every form of creeping things, and of living creatures, the abominations, and all the idols of the house of Israel, were painted on the wall all round about.

11And seventy men of the ancients of the house of Israel, and Jezonias the son of Saaphan stood in the midst of them, that stood before the pictures: and every one had a censer in his hand: and a cloud of smoke went up from the incense.

12And he said to me: Surely thou seest, O son of man, what the ancients of the house of Israel do in the dark, every one in private in his chamber: for they say: The Lord seeth us not, the Lord hath forsaken the earth.

13And he said to me: If thou turn thee again, thou shalt see greater abominations which these commit.

14And he brought me in by the door of the gate of the Lord's house, which looked to the north: and behold women sat there mourning for Adonis.

15And he said to me: Surely thou hast seen, O son of man: but turn thee again, thou shalt see greater abominations than these.

16And he brought me into the inner court of the house of the Lord: and behold at the door of the temple of the Lord, between the porch and the altar, were about five and twenty men having their backs towards the temple of the Lord, in their faces to the east: and they adored towards the rising of the sun.

17And he said to me: Surely thou hast seen, O son of man: is this a light thing to the house of Juda, that they should commit these abominations which they have committed here: because they have filled the land with iniquity, and have turned to provoke me to anger? and behold they put a branch to their nose.

18Therefore I also will deal with them in my wrath: my eye shall not spare them, neither will I shew mercy: and when they shall cry to my ears with a loud voice, I will not hear them.

Important Verses in Ezekiel 8

And it came to pass in the sixth year, in the sixth month, in the fifth day of the month, as I sat in my house, and the ancients of Juda sat before me, that the hand of the Lord God fell there upon me.

Ezekiel 8:1

And behold the glory of the God of Israel was there, according to the vision which I had seen in the plain.

Ezekiel 8:4

And he said to me: Surely thou seest, O son of man, what the ancients of the house of Israel do in the dark, every one in private in his chamber: for they say: The Lord seeth us not, the Lord hath forsaken the earth.

Ezekiel 8:12

Therefore I also will deal with them in my wrath: my eye shall not spare them, neither will I shew mercy: and when they shall cry to my ears with a loud voice, I will not hear them.

Ezekiel 8:18

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 8 of 48 belongs to the early movement of the book, where the narrative or argument is still unfolding. It is a genealogical record linking earlier promises to later generations with 18 verses in the Douay-Rheims translation. The chapter begins: "And it came to pass in the sixth year, in the sixth month, in the fifth day of the month, as I sat in my house, and the…" It concludes: "Therefore I also will deal with them in my wrath: my eye shall not spare them, neither will I shew mercy: and when they…" Read against its original backdrop, 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… Catholic tradition dates the book to the period described in its introduction: 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

This chapter traces lines of descent that connect earlier promises to later figures in salvation history. A pivotal line is verse 1: "And it came to pass in the sixth year, in the sixth month, in the fifth day of the month, as I sat in my house, and the ancients of Juda sat before me, that…" The passage repeatedly touches on family and covenant relationships.

The Church teaches that every passage of Scripture must be read in light of Christ and the Magisterium (CIC 1032). Here, Ezekiel's visions inform Catholic understanding of heaven and liturgy (CIC 1137). The spiritual sense invites believers to recognize family and covenant relationships as part of God's pedagogy of salvation.

For Christians today, the chapter's lesson is clear: The family is the first school of faith, where love, obedience, and forgiveness are learned.. 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

  • The family is the first school of faith, where love, obedience, and forgiveness are learned.
  • Worship is the heart of the covenant: giving God the praise and adoration that are His due.
  • God's mercy is greater than any sin; He calls us to receive His forgiveness and extend it to others.

Reflection for Today

When the Church proclaims Ezekiel Chapter 8 at Mass or in the Liturgy of the Hours, she treats this text as the living voice of God.

In the four senses of Scripture—literal, allegorical, moral, and anagogical—the Church finds rich meaning in Ezekiel Chapter 8. At the moral level, evangelization and missionary discipleship challenges us to examine conscience and amend our lives (CIC 1965).

Entrust your meditation to Mary, who pondered God's Word in her heart. Through her intercession, may the message of evangelization and missionary discipleship bear fruit in humility, courage, and charity this day.

💡Catholic Reflection • Church Teachings

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Ezekiel Chapter 8 about?

Ezekiel 8 contains 18 verses. It opens with "And it came to pass in the sixth year, in the sixth month, in the fifth day of the month, as I sat in my house, and the…" and closes with "Therefore I also will deal with them in my wrath: my eye shall not spare them, neither will I shew mercy: and when they…". The book as a whole is prophetic visions and oracles.

What is a key verse in Ezekiel 8?

One of the most significant verses is verse 1: "And it came to pass in the sixth year, in the sixth month, in the fifth day of the month, as I sat in my house, and the ancients of Juda sat before me, that the hand of the Lord…" 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.

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