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Judgment against Idolatry
Ezekiel 6:1–7 is a hard prophecy of judgement. Yahweh speaks against Israel’s idolatry and announces ruin for places of false worship so that people will know that he is Yahweh.
Understanding the passage
The setting of this message
Yahweh’s word comes to Ezekiel and tells him to prophesy towards the mountains of Israel. The message addresses mountains, hills, watercourses and valleys because the land contains the high places, altars, incense altars and idols that Yahweh says he will destroy.
Ezekiel 6:1–7Main takeaway
This prophecy warns that Yahweh judges idolatry completely and makes himself known as Yahweh.
Explore the message
Open a card to explore the full explanation and its Bible references.
01A prophetic message to the landThe passage begins with Yahweh speaking to Ezekiel and calling him ‘son of man’. He is told to set his face towards the mountains of Israel and prophesy to them.
Explanation
The passage begins with Yahweh speaking to Ezekiel and calling him ‘son of man’. He is told to set his face towards the mountains of Israel and prophesy to them. The mountains, hills, watercourses and valleys are addressed because the judgement reaches the land where this false worship is found.
02High places will be destroyedYahweh says he will bring a sword and destroy the high places. In this passage, these places include altars, incense altars and idols.
Explanation
Yahweh says he will bring a sword and destroy the high places. In this passage, these places include altars, incense altars and idols. The repeated words about destruction show that these worship sites will be made desolate when Yahweh acts in judgement.
03Judgement falls before the idolsThe prophecy says slain people will fall before their idols, and bones will be scattered around altars.
Explanation
The prophecy says slain people will fall before their idols, and bones will be scattered around altars. This is a severe picture of judgement. The passage places death and ruin right at the sites of false worship, with idols and altars still named in the scene.
04Cities, idols and human works are brought downThe judgement is not limited to one shrine. In all their dwelling places, cities will be laid waste, high places desolate, idols broken, incense altars cut down and works abolished.
Explanation
The judgement is not limited to one shrine. In all their dwelling places, cities will be laid waste, high places desolate, idols broken, incense altars cut down and works abolished. The language piles up to show the end of these places and objects of worship.
05The purpose of the judgementThe final line gives the purpose: ‘you will know that I am Yahweh’. This does not lessen the warning, but it explains it.
Explanation
The final line gives the purpose: ‘you will know that I am Yahweh’. This does not lessen the warning, but it explains it. Through the fall of the slain among them, Yahweh’s identity is made known in the judgement he announces.
Questions to explore
Pause, look back at the verses and talk together.
01Why does Yahweh tell Ezekiel to speak to mountains, hills, watercourses and valleys?
Look at how the land itself is linked with the high places, altars and idols named in the prophecy.
02What things does Yahweh say he will destroy or abolish?
List the places, objects and works named in the passage, and notice how often the destruction is repeated.
03What result does Yahweh say this judgement will produce?
Focus on the final statement and connect it with the repeated acts of judgement earlier in the passage.
Read the Bible passage
World English Bible ClassicScripture quotation · Public domain
Ezekiel 6:1–7
1Yahweh’s word came to me, saying,
2“Son of man, set your face toward the mountains of Israel, and prophesy to them,
3and say, ‘You mountains of Israel, hear the word of the Lord Yahweh! The Lord Yahweh says to the mountains and to the hills, to the watercourses and to the valleys: “Behold, I, even I, will bring a sword on you, and I will destroy your high places.
4Your altars will become desolate, and your incense altars will be broken. I will cast down your slain men before your idols.
5I will lay the dead bodies of the children of Israel before their idols. I will scatter your bones around your altars.
6In all your dwelling places, the cities will be laid waste and the high places will be desolate, so that your altars may be laid waste and made desolate, and your idols may be broken and cease, and your incense altars may be cut down, and your works may be abolished.
7The slain will fall among you, and you will know that I am Yahweh.