The Sign of the Hair
Ezekiel 5
Ezekiel shaves his head and beard and divides the hair into thirds to be burned, struck with a sword, and scattered to the wind, symbolizing how Jerusalem's people will be destroyed by pestilence, sword, and famine and scattered among the nations. The Lord declares judgment upon the city for defiling his sanctuary and exceeding the wickedness of the surrounding nations.
About these editions
The Septuagint (LXX) in Greek, with Charles Thomson’s 1808 and Sir Lancelot Brenton’s 1851 English translations, set beside the King James Version and the Jewish Masoretic text (JPS 1917) where they align, so you can compare the Greek and the Hebrew. All public domain; choose which to show with the controls above.
Thomson 1808Septuagint
Brenton 1851Septuagint
Greek · BrentonSeptuagint
KJV 1769Masoretic
JPS 1917Masoretic
1
ThomsonAND thou, son of man, take thee a knife sharper than a barber’s razor and having procured such a one thou shalt pass it over thy head and thy beard. Then thou shalt take a pair of scales;
BrentonAnd thou, son of man, take thee a sword sharper than a barber's razor; thou shalt procure it for thyself, and shalt bring it upon thine head, and upon thy beard: and thou shalt take a pair of scales, and shalt separate the hair.
GreekΚαὶ σὺ, υἱὲ ἀνθρώπου, λάβε σεαυτῷ ῥομφαίαν ὀξεῖαν ὑπὲρ ξυρὸν κουρέως, κτήσῃ αὐτὴν σεαυτῷ, καὶ ἐπάξεις αὐτὴν ἐπὶ τὴν κεφαλήν σου, καὶ ἐπὶ τὸν πώγωνά σου· καὶ λήψῃ ζυγὸν σταθμίων, καὶ διαστήσεις αὐτούς.
KJVAnd thou, son of man, take thee a sharp knife, take thee a barber’s razor, and cause it to pass upon thine head and upon thy beard: then take thee balances to weigh, and divide the hair.
JPSAnd thou, son of man, take thee a sharp sword, as a barber’s razor shalt thou take it unto thee, and cause it to pass upon thy head and upon thy beard; then take thee balances to weigh, and divide the hair.
2
Thomsonand having weighed the hair thou shalt burn the fourth part of it with fire, in the space before the city; during the completion of the days of the siege. And thou shalt take another fourth part and burn it in the midst of the city; and thou shalt hack with the sword another fourth part, around the city; and the other fourth part thou shalt scatter to the wind and I will draw out a sword after them.
BrentonA fourth part thou shalt burn in the fire in the midst of the city, at the fulfilment of the days of the siege: and thou shalt take a fourth part, and burn it up in the midst of it: and a fourth part thou shalt cut with a sword round about it: and a fourth part thou shalt scatter to the wind; and I will draw out a sword after them.
GreekΤὸ τέταρτον ἐν πυρὶ ἀνακαύσεις ἐν μέσῃ τῇ πόλει κατὰ τὴν πλήρωσιν τῶν ἡμερῶν τοῦ συγκλεισμοῦ· καὶ λήψῃ τὸ τέταρτον, καὶ κατακαύσεις αὐτὸ ἐν μέσῳ αὐτῆς· καὶ τὸ τέταρτον κατακόψεις ἐν ῥομφαίᾳ κύκλῳ αὐτῆς· καὶ τὸ τέταρτον διασκορπιεῖς τῷ πνεύματι· καὶ μάχαιραν ἐκκενώσω ὀπίσω αὐτῶν.
KJVThou shalt burn with fire a third part in the midst of the city, when the days of the siege are fulfilled: and thou shalt take a third part, and smite about it with a knife: and a third part thou shalt scatter in the wind; and I will draw out a sword after them.
JPSA third part shalt thou burn in the fire in the midst of the city, when the days of the siege are fulfilled; and thou shalt take a third part, and smite it with the sword round about her; and a third part thou shalt scatter to the wind, and I will draw out a sword after them.
3
ThomsonBut of this parcel thou shalt take a few in number and tie them up in thy mantle.
BrentonAnd thou shalt take thence a few in number, and shalt wrap them in the fold of thy garment.
GreekΚαὶ λήψῃ ἐκεῖθεν ὀλίγους ἐν ἀριθμῷ, καὶ συμπεριλήψῃ αὐτοὺς τῇ ἀναβολῇ σου.
KJVThou shalt also take thereof a few in number, and bind them in thy skirts.
JPSThou shalt also take thereof a few by number, and bind them in thy skirts.
4
ThomsonYet even of these thou shalt take some and cast them into the midst of the fire and burn them with fire which shall come out of the city. And thou shalt say to all the house of Israel,
BrentonAnd thou shalt take of these again, and cast them into the midst of the fire, and burn them up with fire: from thence shall come forth fire; and thou shalt say to the whole house of Israel,
GreekΚαὶ ἐκ τούτων λήψῃ ἔτι, καὶ ῥίψεις αὐτοὺς εἰς μέσον τοῦ πυρὸς, καὶ κατακαύσεις αὐτοὺς ἐν πυρί· ἐξ αὐτῆς ἐξελεύσεται πῦρ· καὶ ἐρεῖς παντὶ οἴκῳ Ἰσραὴλ,
KJVThen take of them again, and cast them into the midst of the fire, and burn them in the fire; for thereof shall a fire come forth into all the house of Israel.
JPSAnd of them again shalt thou take, and cast them into the midst of the fire, and burn them in the fire; therefrom shall a fire come forth into all the house of Israel.
5
ThomsonThus saith the Lord: This is Jerusalem. I placed her in the midst of nations and the countries around her,
BrentonThus saith the Lord; This is Jerusalem: I have set her and the countries round about her in the midst of the nations.
GreekΤάδε λέγει Κύριος, αὕτη ἡ Ἱερουσαλὴμ, ἐν μέσῳ τῶν ἐθνῶν τέθεικα αὐτὴν, καὶ τὰς κύκλῳ αὐτῆς χώρας.
KJVThus saith the Lord GOD; This is Jerusalem: I have set it in the midst of the nations and countries that are round about her.
JPSThus saith the Lord GOD: This is Jerusalem! I have set her in the midst of the nations, and countries are round about her.
6
Thomsonthat thou shouldst tell My rules of rectitude to such of the nations as are without law; and that Mine ordinances might be the ordinances of the countries around her. Because they rejected My rules of rectitude and did not walk by Mine ordinances;
BrentonAnd thou shalt declare mine ordinances to the lawless one from out of the nations; and my statutes to the sinful one of the countries round about her: because they have rejected mine ordinances, and have not walked in my statutes.
GreekΚαὶ ἐρεῖς τὰ δικαιώματά μου τῇ ἀνόμῳ ἐκ τῶν ἐθνῶν, καὶ τὰ νόμιμά μου τῶν χωρῶν τῶν κύκλῳ αὐτῆς· διότι τὰ δικαιώματά μου ἀπώσαντο, καὶ ἐν τοῖς νομίμοις μου οὐκ ἐπορεύθησαν ἐν αὐτοῖς.
KJVAnd she hath changed my judgments into wickedness more than the nations, and my statutes more than the countries that are round about her: for they have refused my judgments and my statutes, they have not walked in them.
JPSAnd she hath rebelled against Mine ordinances in doing wickedness more than the nations, and against My statutes more than the countries that are round about her; for they have rejected Mine ordinances, and as for My statutes, they have not walked in them.
7
Thomsontherefore thus saith the Lord: Because you have taken your bent from the nations around you, and have not walked in My statutes, nor practised My rules of rectitude, nor acted even conformably to the moral precepts of the nations around you; therefore thus saith the Lord:
BrentonTherefore thus saith the Lord, Because your occasion for sin has been taken from the nations round about you, and ye have not walked in my statutes, nor kept mine ordinances, nay, ye have not even done according to the ordinances of the nations round about you; therefore thus saith the Lord;
GreekΔιατοῦτο τάδε λέγει Κύριος, ἀνθʼ ὧν ἡ ἀφορμὴ ὑμῶν ἐκ τῶν ἐθνῶν τῶν κύκλῳ ὑμῶν, καὶ ἐν τοῖς νομίμοις μου οὐκ ἐπορεύθητε, καὶ τὰ δικαιώματά μου οὐκ ἐποιήσατε, ἀλλʼ οὐδὲ κατὰ τὰ δικαιώματα τῶν ἐθνῶν τῶν κύκλῳ ὑμῶν οὐ πεποιήκατε,
KJVTherefore thus saith the Lord GOD; Because ye multiplied more than the nations that are round about you, and have not walked in my statutes, neither have kept my judgments, neither have done according to the judgments of the nations that are round about you;
JPSTherefore thus saith the Lord GOD: Because ye have outdone the nations that are round about you, in that ye have not walked in My statutes, neither have kept Mine ordinances, neither have done after the ordinances of the nations that are round about you;
8
ThomsonBehold I am against thee; and in the midst of thee I will execute judgment in the sight of the nations,
BrentonBehold, I am against thee, and I will execute judgment in the midst of thee in the sight of the nations.
Greekδιατοῦτο τάδε λέγει Κύριος, ἰδοὺ ἐγὼ ἐπὶ σὲ, καὶ ποιήσω ἐν μέσῳ σου κρίμα ἐνώπιον τῶν ἐθνῶν.
KJVTherefore thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I, even I, am against thee, and will execute judgments in the midst of thee in the sight of the nations.
JPStherefore thus saith the Lord GOD: Behold, I, even I, am against thee, and I will execute judgments in the midst of thee in the sight of the nations.
9
Thomsonand do to thee according to all thine abomina tions, what I have not done, and the like of which I will not do anymore.
BrentonAnd I will do in thee things which I have not done, and the like of which I will not do again, for all thine abominations.
GreekΚαὶ ποιήσω ἐν σοὶ ἃ οὐ πεποίηκα, καὶ ἃ οὐ ποιήσω ὅμοια αὐτοῖς ἔτι κατὰ πάντα τὰ βδελύγματά σου.
KJVAnd I will do in thee that which I have not done, and whereunto I will not do any more the like, because of all thine abominations.
JPSAnd I will do in thee that which I have not done, and whereunto I will not do any more the like, because of all thine abominations.
10
ThomsonFor this cause fathers shall eat children in the midst of thee; and children shall eat fathers. And I will execute judgment upon thee, and scatter all the remnant of thee to every wind.
BrentonTherefore the fathers shall eat their children in the midst of thee, and children shall eat their fathers; and I will execute judgments in thee, and I will scatter all that are left of thee to every wind.
GreekΔιατοῦτο πατέρες φάγονται τέκνα ἐν μέσῳ σου, καὶ τέκνα φάγονται πατέρας· καὶ ποιήσω ἐν σοὶ κρίματα, καὶ διασκορπιῶ πάντας τοὺς καταλοίπους σου εἰς πάντα ἄνεμον.
KJVTherefore the fathers shall eat the sons in the midst of thee, and the sons shall eat their fathers; and I will execute judgments in thee, and the whole remnant of thee will I scatter into all the winds.
JPSTherefore the fathers shall eat the sons in the midst of thee, and the sons shall eat their fathers; and I will execute judgments in thee, and the whole remnant of thee will I scatter unto all the winds.
11
ThomsonFor this cause, as I live, saith the Lord, Because thou hast polluted My holy things with all thine abominations; therefore I will cast thee off; Mine eye shall not spare nor will I have compassion.
BrentonTherefore, as I live, saith the Lord; surely, because thou hast defiled my holy things with all thine abominations, I also will reject thee; mine eye shall not spare, and I will have no mercy.
GreekΔιατοῦτο, ζῶ ἐγὼ, λέγει Κύριος, ἦ μὴν ἀνθʼ ὧν τὰ ἅγιά μου ἐμίανας ἐν πᾶσι τοῖς βδελύγμασί σου, κᾀγὼ ἀπώσομαί σε, οὐ φείσεταί μου ὁ ὀφθαλμὸς, κᾀγὼ οὐκ ἐλεήσω.
KJVWherefore, as I live, saith the Lord GOD; Surely, because thou hast defiled my sanctuary with all thy detestable things, and with all thine abominations, therefore will I also diminish thee; neither shall mine eye spare, neither will I have any pity.
JPSWherefore, as I live, saith the Lord GOD, surely, because thou hast defiled My sanctuary with all thy detestable things, and with all thine abominations, therefore will I also diminish thee; neither shall Mine eye spare, and I also will have no pity.
12
ThomsonThe fourth part of thee shall be consumed with pestilence; and the fourth part of thee shall perish by famine in the midst of thee; and the fourth part of thee shall fall by the sword around thee; and I will make bare a sword to pursue them.
BrentonA fourth part of thee shall be cut off by pestilence, and a fourth part of thee shall be consumed in the midst of thee with famine: and as for another fourth part of thee, I will scatter them to every wind; and a fourth part of thee shall fall by the sword round about thee, and I will draw out a sword after them.
GreekΤὸ τέταρτόν σου ἐν θανάτῳ ἀναλωθήσεται, καὶ τὸ τέταρτόν σου ἐν λιμῷ συντελεσθήσεται ἐν μέσῳ σου, καὶ τὸ τέταρτόν σου εἰς πάντα ἄνεμον σκορπιῶ αὐτοὺς, καὶ τὸ τέταρτόν σου ἐν ῥομφαίᾳ πεσοῦνται κύκλῳ σου, καὶ μάχαιραν ἐκκενώσω ὀπίσω αὐτῶν.
KJVA third part of thee shall die with the pestilence, and with famine shall they be consumed in the midst of thee: and a third part shall fall by the sword round about thee; and I will scatter a third part into all the winds, and I will draw out a sword after them.
JPSA third part of thee shall die with the pestilence, and with famine shall they be consumed in the midst of thee; and a third part shall fall by the sword round about thee; and a third part I will scatter unto all the winds, and will draw out a sword after them.
13
ThomsonAnd My wrath shall be spent, and Mine indignation, on them; and thou shalt know why I the Lord have spoken in My zeal, when I have executed Mine indignation on them.
BrentonAnd my wrath and mine anger shall be accomplished upon them: and thou shalt know that I the Lord have spoken in my jealousy, when I have accomplished mine anger upon them.
GreekΚαὶ συντελεσθήσεται ὁ θυμός μου, καὶ ἡ ὀργή μου ἐπʼ αὐτοὺς, καὶ ἐπιγνώσῃ, διότι ἐγὼ Κύριος λελάληκα ἐν ζήλῳ μου, ἐν τῷ συντελέσαι με τὴν ὀργήν μου ἐπʼ αὐτούς.
KJVThus shall mine anger be accomplished, and I will cause my fury to rest upon them, and I will be comforted: and they shall know that I the LORD have spoken it in my zeal, when I have accomplished my fury in them.
JPSThus shall Mine anger spend itself, and I will satisfy My fury upon them, and I will be eased; and they shall know that I the LORD have spoken in My zeal, when I have spent My fury upon them.
14
ThomsonAnd I will make thee and thy daughters around thee, a desolation, in the sight of every one who passeth by.
BrentonAnd I will make thee desolate, and thy daughters round about thee, in the sight of every one that passes through.
GreekΚαὶ θήσομαί σε εἰς ἔρημον, καὶ τὰς θυγατέρας σου κύκλῳ σου ἐνώπιον παντὸς διοδεύοντος.
KJVMoreover I will make thee waste, and a reproach among the nations that are round about thee, in the sight of all that pass by.
JPSMoreover I will make thee an amazement and a reproach, among the nations that are round about thee, in the sight of all that pass by.
15
ThomsonAnd thou shalt be an object of lamentation and horror to the nations around thee, when I have executed judgment on thee with Mine avenging wrath: I the Lord have spoken.
BrentonAnd thou shalt be mourned over and miserable among the nations round about thee, when I have executed judgments in thee in the vengeance of my wrath. I the Lord have spoken.
GreekΚαὶ ἔσῃ στενακτὴ καὶ δηλαϊστὴ ἐν τοῖς ἔθνεσι τοῖς κύκλῳ σου, ἐν τῷ ποιῆσαί με ἐν σοὶ κρίματα ἐν ἐκδικήσει θυμοῦ μου· ἐγὼ Κύριος λελάληκα.
KJVSo it shall be a reproach and a taunt, an instruction and an astonishment unto the nations that are round about thee, when I shall execute judgments in thee in anger and in fury and in furious rebukes. I the LORD have spoken it.
JPSSo it shall be a reproach and a taunt, an instruction and an astonishment, unto the nations that are round about thee, when I shall execute judgments in thee in anger and in fury, and in furious rebukes; I the LORD have spoken it;
16
ThomsonFor when I have sent against them My shafts of famine and they shall be for destruction
BrentonAnd when I have sent against them shafts of famine, then they shall be consumed, and I will break the strength of thy bread.
GreekΚαὶ ἐν τῷ ἀποστεῖλαί με βολίδας τοῦ λιμοῦ ἐπʼ αὐτούς, καὶ ἔσονται εἰς ἔκλειψιν, καὶ συντρίψω στήριγμα ἄρτου σου.
KJVWhen I shall send upon them the evil arrows of famine, which shall be for their destruction, and which I will send to destroy you: and I will increase the famine upon you, and will break your staff of bread:
JPSwhen I shall send upon them the evil arrows of famine, that are for destruction, which I will send to destroy you; and I will increase the famine upon you, and will break your staff of bread;
17
ThomsonI will break thy staff of bread and send against thee famine and wild beasts; and punish thee; and death and blood shall pass through upon thee: and I will bring a sword against thee from all around; I the Lord have spoken
BrentonSo I will send forth against thee famine and evil beasts, and I will take vengeance upon thee; and pestilence and blood shall pass through upon thee; and I will bring a sword upon thee round about. I the Lord have spoken.
GreekΚαὶ ἐξαποστελῶ ἐπὶ σὲ λιμὸν καὶ θηρία πονηρὰ, καὶ τιμωρήσομαί σε, καὶ θάνατος καὶ αἷμα διελεύσονται ἐπὶ σὲ, καὶ ῥομφαίαν ἐπάξω ἐπὶ σὲ κυκλόθεν· ἐγὼ Κύριος λελάληκα.
KJVSo will I send upon you famine and evil beasts, and they shall bereave thee; and pestilence and blood shall pass through thee; and I will bring the sword upon thee. I the LORD have spoken it.
JPSand I will send upon you famine and evil beasts, and they shall bereave thee; and pestilence and blood shall pass through thee; and I will bring the sword upon thee. I the LORD have spoken it.’