Ezekiel – Chapter 9

Old Testament • 11 Verses

Chapter Summary

Chapter 9 of Ezekiel begins: "And he cried in my ears with a loud voice, saying: The visitations of the city are at hand, and every one hath a destroying weapon in his…" Across its 11 verses, two threads run through the text: worship and praise and repentance and conversion. The Church invites us to read this chapter within the whole sweep of salvation history, where every page points toward Christ.

1And he cried in my ears with a loud voice, saying: The visitations of the city are at hand, and every one hath a destroying weapon in his hand.

2And behold six men came from the way of the upper gate, which looketh to the north: and each one had his weapon of destruction in his hand: and there was one man in the midst of them clothed with linen, with a writer's inkhorn at his reins: and they went in, and stood by the brazen altar.

3And the glory of the Lord of Israel went up from the cherub, upon which he was, to the threshold of the house: and he called to the man that was clothed with linen, and had a writer's inkhorn at his loins.

4And the Lord said to him: Go through the midst of the city, through the midst of Jerusalem: and mark Thau upon the foreheads of the men that sigh, and mourn for all the abominations that are committed in the midst thereof.

5And to the others he said in my hearing: Go ye after him through the city, and strike: let not your eyes spare, nor be ye moved with pity.

6Utterly destroy old and young, maidens, children and women: but upon whomsoever you shall see Thau, kill him not, and begin ye at my sanctuary. So they began at the ancient men who were before the house.

7And he said to them: Defile the house, and fill the courts with the slain: go ye forth. And they went forth, and slew them that were in the city.

8And the slaughter being ended I was left; and I fell upon my face, and crying, I said: Alas, alas, alas, O Lord God, wilt thou then destroy all the remnant of Israel, by pouring out thy fury upon Jerusalem?

9And he said to me: The iniquity of the house of Israel, and of Juda, is exceeding great, and the land is filled with blood, and the city is filled with perverseness: for they have said: The Lord hath forsaken the earth, and the Lord seeth not.

10Therefore neither shall my eye spare, nor will I have pity: I will requite their way upon their head.

11And behold the man that was clothed with linen, that had the inkhorn at his back, returned the word, saying: I have done as thou hast commanded me.

Important Verses in Ezekiel 9

“And the glory of the Lord of Israel went up from the cherub, upon which he was, to the threshold of the house: and he called to the man that was clothed with linen, and had a writer's inkhorn at his loins.”

Ezekiel 9:3

“And the slaughter being ended I was left; and I fell upon my face, and crying, I said: Alas, alas, alas, O Lord God, wilt thou then destroy all the remnant of Israel, by pouring out thy fury upon Jerusalem?”

Ezekiel 9:8

“And behold the man that was clothed with linen, that had the inkhorn at his back, returned the word, saying: I have done as thou hast commanded me. ”

Ezekiel 9:11

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 9 of 48 belongs to the early movement of the book, where the narrative or argument is still unfolding. It is a narrative passage recounting concrete events in salvation history with 11 verses in the Douay-Rheims translation. The passage starts with these words: "And he cried in my ears with a loud voice, saying: The visitations of the city are at hand, and every one hath a…" The chapter ends with: "And behold the man that was clothed with linen, that had the inkhorn at his back, returned the word, saying: I have…" 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… 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

In this 11-verse passage, the sacred author describes events, speeches, or revelations central to judgment, restoration, and God's glory. A pivotal line is verse 3: "And the glory of the Lord of Israel went up from the cherub, upon which he was, to the threshold of the house: and he called to the man that was clothed with…" The passage repeatedly touches on worship and praise.

Catholic exegesis reads Ezekiel 9 within the unity of Scripture and Tradition. Ezekiel's visions inform Catholic understanding of heaven and liturgy (CIC 1137). St. Augustine and other Fathers of the Church saw in texts like this a preparation for or reflection of Christ, the center of revelation (CIC 265).

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.
  • ✓True conversion means turning away from sin and returning to God with our whole heart.
  • ✓The family is the first school of faith, where love, obedience, and forgiveness are learned.

Reflection for Today

Ezekiel Chapter 9 belongs to the Old Testament and forms part of the Catholic canon proclaimed in the liturgy of the Word.

Through typology, the Church often reads Old Testament passages as preparing for Christ, while New Testament passages reveal Him explicitly. Ezekiel's visions inform Catholic understanding of heaven and liturgy (CIC 1137). Here the believer is invited to ponder gratitude as the foundation of prayer.

Let Ezekiel Chapter 9 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 9 about?

Ezekiel 9 contains 11 verses. It opens with "And he cried in my ears with a loud voice, saying: The visitations of the city are at hand, and every one hath a…" and closes with "And behold the man that was clothed with linen, that had the inkhorn at his back, returned the word, saying: I have…". The book as a whole is prophetic visions and oracles.

What is a key verse in Ezekiel 9?

One of the most significant verses is verse 3: "And the glory of the Lord of Israel went up from the cherub, upon which he was, to the threshold of the house: and he called to the man that was clothed with linen, and had a…" 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 35Shares people and themes with this chapter2 Samuel 6Shares people and themes with this chapter1 Kings 1Shares people and themes with this chapter

Prayers Related to This Chapter

🙏Gloria in Excelsis🙏The Divine Praises🙏Act of Contrition🙏The Confiteor

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