The Marking and the Slaughter
Ezekiel 9
A man clothed in linen marks the foreheads of those in Jerusalem who grieve over the city's abominations, while six men with weapons are sent to slay without pity all who lack the mark, beginning at the sanctuary. Ezekiel cries out asking whether the Lord will destroy the whole remnant of Israel, and is told that the iniquity of the land is exceedingly great.
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
ThomsonTHEN in my hearing He cried with a loud voice and said, The punishment of this city is at hand, and every one hath in his hand the instruments of the destruction.
BrentonAnd he cried in mine ears with a loud voice, saying, The judgment of the city has drawn nigh; and each had the weapons of destruction in his hand.
GreekΚαὶ ἀνέκραγεν εἰς τὰ ὦτά μου φωνῇ μεγάλῃ, λέγων, ἤγγικεν ἡ ἐκδίκησις τῆς πόλεως· καὶ ἕκαστος εἶχε τὰ σκεύη τῆς ἐξολοθρεύσεως ἐν χειρὶ αὐτοῦ.
KJVHe cried also in mine ears with a loud voice, saying, Cause them that have charge over the city to draw near, even every man with his destroying weapon in his hand.
JPSThen he called in mine ears with a loud voice, saying: ‘Cause ye them that have charge over the city to draw near, every man with his destroying weapon in his hand.’
2
ThomsonThereupon behold there came from the way of the high gate, which faceth the north, six men, every one with his battle axe in his hand; and in the midst of them a man clothed in a long robe and a girdle of sapphire about his loins. And when they came close to the brazen altar,
BrentonAnd, behold, six men came from the way of the high gate that looks toward the north, and each one's axe was in his hand; and there was one man in the midst of them clothed with a long robe down to the feet, and a sapphire girdle was on his loins: and they came in and stood near the brazen altar.
GreekΚαὶ ἰδοὺ ἓξ ἄνδρες ἤρχοντο ἀπὸ τῆς ὁδοῦ τῆς πύλης τῆς ὑψηλῆς τῆς βλεπούσης πρὸς Βοῤῥᾶν, καὶ ἑκάστου πέλυξ ἐν τῇ χειρὶ αὐτοῦ· καὶ εἷς ἀνὴρ ἐν μέσῳ αὐτῶν ἐνδεδυκὼς ποδήρη, καὶ ζώνη σαπφείρου ἐπὶ τῆς ὀσφύος αὐτοῦ, καὶ εἰσήλθοσαν καὶ ἔστησαν ἐχόμενοι τοῦ θυσιαστηρίου τοῦ χαλκοῦ.
KJVAnd, behold, six men came from the way of the higher gate, which lieth toward the north, and every man a slaughter weapon in his hand; and one man among them was clothed with linen, with a writer’s inkhorn by his side: and they went in, and stood beside the brasen altar.
JPSAnd, behold, six men came from the way of the upper gate, which lieth toward the north, every man with his weapon of destruction in his hand; and one man in the midst of them clothed in linen, with a writer’s inkhorn on his side. And they went in, and stood beside the brazen altar.
3
Thomsonthe glory of the God of Israel which was upon the cherubims ascended from them and came to the open part of the house and called the man who was clothed with the long robe and who had a girdle about his loins,
BrentonAnd the glory of the God of Israel, that was upon them, went up from the cherubs to the porch of the house. And he called the man that was clothed with the long robe, who had the girdle on his loins;
GreekΚαὶ δόξα Θεοῦ τοῦ Ἰσραὴλ ἀνέβη ἀπὸ τῶν χερουβὶμ, ἡ οὖσα ἐπʼ αὐτῶν, εἰς τὸ αἴθριον τοῦ οἴκου·
KJVAnd 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;
JPSAnd the glory of the God of Israel was gone up from the cherub, whereupon it was, to the threshold of the house; and He called to the man clothed in linen, who had the writer’s inkhorn on his side.
4
Thomsonand said to him, Go through the midst of Jerusalem and put a mark on the forehead of those men who are sighing and sorrowing for all the transgressions which are committed among them;
Brentonand said to him, Go through the midst of Jerusalem, and set a mark on the foreheads of the men that groan and that grieve for all the iniquities that are done in the midst of them.
GreekΚαὶ ἐκάλεσε τὸν ἄνδρα τὸν ἐνδεδυκότα τὸν ποδήρη, ὃς εἶχεν ἐπὶ τῆς ὀσφύος αὐτοῦ τὴν ζώνην, καὶ εἶπε πρὸς αὐτὸν, δίελθε μέσην Ἱερουσαλὴμ, καὶ δὸς σημεῖον ἐπὶ τὰ μέτωπα τῶν ἀνδρῶν τῶν καταστεναζόντων καὶ τῶν κατοδυνωμένων ἐπὶ πάσαις ταῖς ἀνομίαις ταῖς γινομέναις ἐν μέσῳ αὐτῶν.
KJVAnd 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.
JPSAnd 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 are done in the midst thereof.’
5
Thomsonand to the others He said in my hearing, Go ye after him into the city and smite and spare not with your eyes nor shew compassion.
BrentonAnd he said to the first in my hearing, Go after him into the city, and smite: and let not your eyes spare, and have no mercy.
GreekΚαὶ τούτοις εἶπεν ἀκούοντός μου, πορεύεσθε ὀπίσω αὐτοῦ εἰς τὴν πόλιν, καὶ κόπτετε, καὶ μὴ φείδεσθε τοῖς ὀφθαλμοῖς ὑμῶν, καὶ μὴ ἐλεήσητε.
KJVAnd 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:
JPSAnd to the others He said in my hearing: ‘Go ye through the city after him, and smite; let not your eye spare, neither have ye pity;
6
ThomsonDestroy utterly old men and young, virgins and infants and married women; but go not near any of those who have the mark on them. Begin at My sanctuary. So they began with the men the elders who were in the house.
BrentonSlay utterly old man and youth, and virgin, and infants, and women: but go ye not nigh any on whom is the mark: begin at my sanctuary. So they began with the elder men who were within in the house.
GreekΠρεσβύτερον καὶ νεανίσκον καὶ παρθένον καὶ νήπια καὶ γυναῖκας ἀποκτείνατε εἰς ἐξάλειψιν· ἐπὶ δὲ πάντας ἐφʼ οὕς ἐστι τὸ σημεῖον, μὴ ἐγγίσητε· ἀπὸ τῶν ἁγίων μου ἄρξασθε. Καὶ ἤρξαντο ἀπὸ τῶν ἀνδρῶν τῶν πρεσβυτέρων οἳ ἦσαν ἔσω ἐν τῷ οἴκῳ.
KJVSlay utterly old and young, both maids, and little children, and women: but come not near any man upon whom is the mark; and begin at my sanctuary. Then they began at the ancient men which were before the house.
JPSslay utterly the old man, the young man and the maiden, and little children and women; but come not near any man upon whom is the mark; and begin at My sanctuary.’ Then they began at the elders that were before the house.
7
ThomsonAnd He said to them, Defile this house and fill the ways with dead as you are going out and continue the slaughter.
BrentonAnd he said to them, Defile the house, and go out and fill the ways with dead bodies, and smite.
GreekΚαὶ εἶπε πρὸς αὐτούς, μιάνατε τὸν οἶκον, καὶ πλήσατε τὰς ὁδοὺς νεκρῶν ἐκπορευόμενοι, καὶ κόπτετε.
KJVAnd he said unto them, Defile the house, and fill the courts with the slain: go ye forth. And they went forth, and slew in the city.
JPSAnd He said unto them: ‘Defile the house, and fill the courts with the slain; go ye forth.’ And they went forth, and smote in the city.
8
ThomsonAnd while they were slaying them I fell on my face and cried aloud and said, Ah! Lord! art Thou utterly destroying the remnant of Israel by pouring out Thy wrath on Jerusalem?
BrentonAnd it came to pass as they were smiting, that I fell upon my face, and cried out, and said, Alas, O Lord! wilt thou destroy the remnant of Israel, in pouring out thy wrath upon Jerusalem?
GreekΚαὶ ἐγένετο ἐν τῷ κόπτειν αὐτοὺς, καὶ πίπτω ἐπὶ πρόσωπόν μου, καὶ ἀνεβόησα, καὶ εἶπα, οἴμοι Κύριε, ἐξαλείφεις σὺ τοὺς καταλοίπους τοῦ Ἰσραὴλ, ἐν τῷ ἐκχέαι σε τὸν θυμόν σου ἐπὶ Ἱερουσαλήμ;
KJVAnd it came to pass, while they were slaying them, and I was left, that I fell upon my face, and cried, and said, Ah Lord GOD! wilt thou destroy all the residue of Israel in thy pouring out of thy fury upon Jerusalem?
JPSAnd it came to pass, while they were smiting, and I was left, that I fell upon my face, and cried, and said: ‘Ah Lord GOD! wilt Thou destroy all the residue of Israel in Thy pouring out of Thy fury upon Jerusalem?’
9
ThomsonWhereupon He said to me, The iniquity of the house of Israel and Juda is exceeding great. Because the land is filled with many peoples and the city is filled with iniquity and impurity-and because they said, the Lord hath forsaken this land; the Lord doth not see;
BrentonThen said he to me, The iniquity of the house of Israel and Juda is become very exceedingly great: for the land is filled with many nations, and the city is filled with iniquity and uncleanness: because they have said, The Lord has forsaken the earth, The Lord looks not upon it.
GreekΚαὶ εἶπε πρὸς μὲ, ἀδικία τοῦ οἴκου Ἰσραὴλ καὶ Ἰούδα μεμεγάλυνται σφόδρα σφόδρα, ὅτι ἐπλήσθη ἡ γῆ λαῶν πολλῶν, καὶ ἡ πόλις ἐπλήσθη ἀδικίας καὶ ἀκαθαρσίας, ὅτι εἶπαν, ἐγκατέλιπε Κύριος τὴν γῆν, οὐκ ἐφορᾷ ὁ Κύριος.
KJVThen said he unto me, The iniquity of the house of Israel and Judah is exceeding great, and the land is full of blood, and the city full of perverseness: for they say, The LORD hath forsaken the earth, and the LORD seeth not.
JPSThen said He unto me: ‘The iniquity of the house of Israel and Judah is exceeding great, and the land is full of blood, and the city full of wresting of judgment; for they say: The LORD hath forsaken the land, and the LORD seeth not.
10
Thomsontherefore Mine eye shall not spare nor will I have compassion. I have requited their ways upon their heads.
BrentonTherefore mine eye shall not spare, neither will I have any mercy: I have recompensed their ways upon their heads.
GreekΚαὶ οὐ φείσεταί μου ὁ ὀφθαλμὸς, οὐδὲ μὴ ἐλεήσω, τὰς ὁδοὺς αὐτῶν εἰς κεφαλὰς αὐτῶν δέδωκα.
KJVAnd as for me also, mine eye shall not spare, neither will I have pity, but I will recompense their way upon their head.
JPSAnd as for Me also, Mine eye shall not spare, neither will I have pity, but I will bring their way upon their head.’
11
ThomsonThen, lo! the man who was clothed with the long robe and girded about the loins with the girdle came and made report, saying, I have done as Thou orderedst me.
BrentonAnd, behold, the man clothed with the long robe, and girt with the girdle about his loins, answered and said, I have done as thou didst command me.
GreekΚαὶ ἰδοὺ ὁ ἀνὴρ ὁ ἐνδεδυκὼς τὸν ποδήρη, καὶ ἐζωσμένος τῇ ζώνῃ τὴν ὀσφὺν αὐτοῦ, καὶ ἀπεκρίνατο λέγων, πεποίηκα καθὼς ἐνετείλω μοι.
KJVAnd, behold, the man clothed with linen, which had the inkhorn by his side, reported the matter, saying, I have done as thou hast commanded me.
JPSAnd, behold, the man clothed in linen, who had the inkhorn on his side, reported, saying: ‘I have done according to all that Thou hast commanded me.’