Ezekiel 9 · Verse 4

Ezekiel 9:4

And the Lord said unto him, Go through the midst of the city, through the midst of Jerusalem, and set a mark upon the foreheads of the men that sigh and that cry for all the abominations that be done in the midst thereof.
Ezekiel 9:4, King James Version

Ezekiel 9:4 in other translations

BSB“Go throughout the city of Jerusalem,” said the LORD, “and put a mark on the foreheads of the men sighing and groaning over all the abominations committed there.”
WEBThe LORD said to him, “Go through the middle of the city, through the middle of Jerusalem, and set a mark on the foreheads of the men that sigh and that cry over all the abominations that are done within it.”
ASVAnd Jehovah said unto him, Go through the midst of the city, through the midst of Jerusalem, and set a mark upon the foreheads of the men that sigh and that cry over all the abominations that are done in the midst thereof.
YLTAnd He calleth unto the man who is clothed with linen, who hath the scribe's inkhorn at his loins, and Jehovah saith unto him, ‘Pass on into the midst of the city, into the midst of Jerusalem, and thou hast made a mark on the foreheads of the men who are sighing and who are groaning for all the abominations that are done in its midst.'
DARBYand Jehovah said unto him, Go through the midst of the city, through the midst of Jerusalem, and set a mark upon the foreheads of the men that sigh and that cry for all the abominations that are done in the midst thereof.
BBEThe Lord said to him, Go through the town, through the middle of Jerusalem, and put a mark on the brows of the men who are sorrowing and crying for all the disgusting things which are done in it.
WebsterAnd the LORD said to him, Go through the midst of the city, through the midst of Jerusalem, and set a mark upon the foreheads of the men that sigh and that cry for all the abominations that are done in the midst of it.

What does Ezekiel 9:4 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
4. midst of ... city ... midst of Jerusalem--This twofold designation marks more emphatically the scene of the divine judgments. a mark--literally, the Hebrew letter Tau, the last in the alphabet, used as a mark ("my sign," Job 31:35, Margin); literally, Tau; originally written in the form of a cross, which Tertullian explains as referring to the badge and only means of salvation, the cross of Christ. But nowhere in Scripture are the words which are now employed as names of letters used to denote the letters themselves or their figures [Vitringa]. The noun here is cognate to the verb, "mark a mark." So in Re 7:3 no particular mark is specified. We seal what we wish to guard securely. When all things else on earth are confounded, God will secure His people from the common ruin. God gives the first charge as to their safety before He orders the punishment of the rest (Psa 31:20; Is 26:20, 21). So in the case of Lot and Sodom (Ge 19:22); also the Egyptian first-born were not slain till Israel had time to sprinkle the blood-mark, ensuring their safety (compare Re 7:3; Am 9:9). So the early Christians had Pella provided as a refuge for them, before the destruction of Jerusalem. upon the foreheads--the most conspicuous part of the person, to imply how their safety would be manifested to all (compare Jr 15:11; 39:11-18). It was customary thus to mark worshippers (Re 13:16; 14:1, 9) and servants. So the Church of England marks the forehead with the sign of the cross in baptizing. At the exodus the mark was on the houses, for then it was families; here, it is on the foreheads, for it is individuals whose safety is guaranteed. sigh and ... cry--similarly sounding verbs in Hebrew, as in English Version, expressing the prolonged sound of their grief. "Sigh" implies their inward grief ("groanings which cannot be uttered," Ro 8:26); "cry," the outward expression of it. So Lot (2Pe 2:7, 8). Tenderness should characterize the man of God, not harsh sternness in opposing the ungodly (Psa 119:53, 136; Jr 13:17; 2Co 12:21); at the same time zeal for the honor of God (Psa 69:9, 10; 1Jo 5:19).

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 4 Set a mark upon the foreheads of the men that sigh - This is in allusion to the ancient every-where-used custom of setting marks on servants and slaves, to distinguish them from others. It was also common for the worshippers of particular idols to have their idol's mark upon their foreheads, arms, etc. These are called sectarian marks to the present day among the Hindoos and others in India. Hence by this mark we can easily know who is a follower of Vishnoo, who of Siva, who of Bramah, etc. The original words, והתוית תו vehithvitha tau, have been translated by the Vulgate, et signa thau, "and mark thou tau on the foreheads," etc. St. Jerome and many others have thought that the letter tau was that which was ordered to be placed on the foreheads of those mourners; and Jerome says, that this Hebrew letter ת tau was formerly written like a cross. So then the people were to be signed with the sign of the cross! It is certain that on the ancient Samaritan coins, which are yet extant, the letter ת tau is in the form +, which is what we term St. Andrew's cross. The sense derived from this by many commentators is, that God, having ordered those penitents to be marked with this figure, which is the sign of the cross, intimated that there is no redemption nor saving of life but by the cross of Christ, and that this will avail none but the real penitent. All this is true in itself, but it is not true in respect to this place. The Hebrew words signify literally, thou shalt make a mark, or sign a sign, but give no intimation what that mark or sign was. It was intended here to be what the sprinkling of the blood of the paschal lamb on the lintels and door-posts of the Israelites was, namely, a notice to the destroying angel what house he should spare. As the whole of this matter only passed in vision we are bound to neither letter, nor any other kind of figure. The symbolical action teaches us that God, in general judgments, will make a distinction between the innocent and the guilty, between the penitent and the hardened sinner.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Ezekiel 9:1-4

A vision denoting the destruction of the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and the departure of the symbol of the Divine presence. Verses 1-4 It is a great comfort to believers, that in the midst of destroyers and destructions, there is a Mediator, a great High Priest, who has an interest in heaven, and in whom saints on earth have an interest. The representation of the Divine glory from above the ark, removed to the…

Read the full comment on Ezekiel 9:1-4 →

Ezekiel 9:4 in the original Hebrew

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

וַיֹּ֤אמֶרvai.Yo.merand he saidH559
יְהוָה֙Yah.wehYahwehH3068
אֵלָ֔יו'e.lovto himH413
עֲבֹר֙'a.VorpassH5674
בְּת֣וֹךְbe.Tokhin [the] midst ofH8432
הָעִ֔ירha.'Irthe cityH5892
בְּת֖וֹךְbe.Tokhin [the] midst ofH8432
יְרֽוּשָׁלִָ֑םye.ru.sha.LimJerusalemH3389
וְהִתְוִ֨יתָve.hit.Vi.taand you will markH8427
תָּ֜וtava markH8420
עַל\־'al-onH5921
מִצְח֣וֹתmitz.Chot[the] foreheads ofH4696
הָאֲנָשִׁ֗יםha.'a.na.Shimthe peopleH582
הַנֶּֽאֱנָחִים֙ha.ne.'e.na.Chimwho sighH584
וְהַנֶּ֣אֱנָקִ֔יםve.ha.Ne.'e.na.Kimand who groanH602
עַ֚ל'alonH5921
כָּל\־kol-allH3605
הַתּ֣וֹעֵב֔וֹתha.To.'e.Votthe abominationsH8441
הַֽנַּעֲשׂ֖וֹתha.na.'a.Sotwhich are doneH6213
בְּתוֹכָֽהּ\׃be.to.Khahin [the] midst of itH8432

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for Ezekiel 9:4

  • Revelation 9:4

    And it was commanded them that they should not hurt the grass of the earth, neither any green thing, neither any tree; but only those men which have not the seal of God in their foreheads.

  • 2 Corinthians 1:22

    Who hath also sealed us, and given the earnest of the Spirit in our hearts.

  • Revelation 14:1

    And I looked, and, lo, a Lamb stood on the mount Sion, and with him an hundred forty and four thousand, having his Father’s name written in their foreheads.

  • Revelation 7:2-3

    And I saw another angel ascending from the east, having the seal of the living God: and he cried with a loud voice to the four angels, to whom it was given to hurt the earth and the sea, Saying, Hurt not the earth, neither the sea, nor the trees, till we have sealed the servants of our God in their foreheads.

  • Revelation 20:4

    And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years.

  • 2 Timothy 2:19

    Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his. And, Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity.

  • Ephesians 4:30

    And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.

  • Psalms 119:136

    Rivers of waters run down mine eyes, because they keep not thy law.

  • Jeremiah 13:17

    But if ye will not hear it, my soul shall weep in secret places for your pride; and mine eye shall weep sore, and run down with tears, because the Lord’s flock is carried away captive.

  • Exodus 12:13

    And the blood shall be to you for a token upon the houses where ye are: and when I see the blood, I will pass over you, and the plague shall not be upon you to destroy you, when I smite the land of Egypt.

  • Exodus 12:7

    And they shall take of the blood, and strike it on the two side posts and on the upper door post of the houses, wherein they shall eat it.

  • Malachi 3:16

    Then they that feared the Lord spake often one to another: and the Lord hearkened, and heard it, and a book of remembrance was written before him for them that feared the Lord, and that thought upon his name.

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
set a mark. Heb. mark a mark.
Ex 12:7,13; Mal 3:16; 2Co 1:22; Eph 4:30; 2Ti 2:19; Re 7:2,3; 9:4
Re 13:6,7; 14:1; 20:4
that sigh.
6:11; 2Ki 22:13,19,20; Ps 119:53,136; Isa 57:15; Jer 13:17
2Co 12:21; 2Pe 2:8,9

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • Ezekiel 9:3

    And the glory of the God of Israel was gone up from the cherub, whereupon he was, to the threshold of the house. And he called to the man clothed with linen, which had the writer’s inkhorn by his side;

  • Ezekiel 9:4

    And the Lord said unto him, Go through the midst of the city, through the midst of Jerusalem, and set a mark upon the foreheads of the men that sigh and that cry for all the abominations that be done in the midst thereof.

  • Ezekiel 9:5

    And to the others he said in mine hearing, Go ye after him through the city, and smite: let not your eye spare, neither have ye pity:

Read all of Ezekiel 9

Ezekiel 9:4 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Y díjole Jehová: Pasa por medio de la ciudad, por medio de Jerusalem, y pon una señal en la frente á los hombres que gimen y que claman á causa de todas las abominaciones que se hacen en medio de ella.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		et l’ Éternel lui dit: Passe au milieu de la ville, au milieu de Jérusalem, et fais une marque sur les fronts des hommes qui soupirent et gémissent à cause de toutes les abominations qui se commettent au-dedans d’elle.
German
Elberfelder 1871		und Jehova sprach zu ihm: Gehe mitten durch die Stadt, mitten durch Jerusalem, und mache ein Zeichen an die Stirnen der Leute, welche seufzen und jammern über all die Greuel, die in ihrer Mitte geschehen.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		et dixit Dominus ad eum: Transi per mediam civitatem, in medio Jerusalem, et signa thau super frontes virorum gementium et dolentium super cunctis abominationibus quæ fiunt in medio ejus.