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All of Ezekiel

Bible Chapter Summary

Ezekiel 5 Summary

The Hair Divided and Jerusalem's Judgment

Ezekiel shaves his head and beard with a razor, dividing the hair into thirds: one third he burns in the city, one third he smites with a knife, and one third he scatters to the wind, with a sword drawn after them. He binds a few hairs in his skirts and casts them into the fire. The burnt hair signifies Jerusalem, set in the midst of nations, which hath changed God's judgments into wickedness and refused His statutes. God declares He will execute judgments through pestilence, famine, and sword, scattering the remnant to all winds.

Key themes

Symbolic judgmentJerusalem's wickednessDivine justiceScattered remnant

Key verses

Ezekiel 5:1-2

And 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.

Ezekiel 5:5-8

Thus saith the Lord GOD; This is Jerusalem: I have set it in the midst of the nations and countries that are round about her.

Ezekiel 5:12

A 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.

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