Ezekiel 23:47The company shall stone them with stones, and dispatch them with their swords; they shall kill their sons and their daughters, and burn up their houses with fire.
The setting
Babylon, ~590 BC. Jewish exiles hear their prophet describe the brutal end awaiting their beloved city...
The emotion here: weeping while pronouncing death sentence on his own people
The original word
sagal (סָגַל) — to stone, but specifically the covenant punishment for adultery in Leviticus 20:10
Why it matters
Archaeological evidence shows Babylonian siege tactics included systematic destruction of houses by fire to prevent rebellion
Read with care
What most readers miss in Ezekiel 23:47
This isn't random violence — it's the specific Torah punishment for adultery being applied to covenant unfaithfulness
Common misconceptionThis seems like excessive violence, but Ezekiel is using the exact legal language from Leviticus for covenant adultery. He's saying spiritual unfaithfulness has the same consequences as physical adultery — it destroys families and communities.
The thread continues
Verses that echo Ezekiel 23:47
Bible Genome reading
Ezekiel 23:47 — Bible Genome reading
Emotional genome
Ezekiel 23:47 comes from the book of Ezekiel, written during the Exile period. These words are attributed to God. The dominant emotion in this verse is deciding, with a comfort power of 10% and a tone that is commanding. It belongs to the prophecy genre of biblical literature. Key themes include total destruction, generational judgment. Notable phrases: stone them with stones; kill their sons and daughters; burn up their houses. This verse contains a promise of God. This verse contains prophecy.
Emotionally similar
Verses that meet the same deciding
“"You shall have no other gods before me.”
— Deuteronomy 5:7
“"You shall not murder.”
— Exodus 20:13
“Whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.”
— Matthew 23:12
“For God didn't give us a spirit of fear, but of power, love, and self-control.”
— 2 Timothy 1:7
“But Peter said, "Silver and gold have I none, but what I have, that I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, get up and walk!"”
— Acts 3:6
Your reflection
What does Ezekiel 23:47 mean to you, today?
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