Ezekiel 28:23For I will send pestilence into her, and blood into her streets; and the wounded shall fall in the midst of her, with the sword on her on every side; and they shall know that I am Yahweh.
The setting
Babylon, ~587 BC. Ezekiel describes specific judgments coming on Sidon — disease, violence, and warfare surrounding the city in modern-day Lebanon...
The emotion here: heavy-hearted delivering devastating news
The original word
deber (דֶּבֶר) — pestilence, the kind of plague that devastates populations
Why it matters
Sidon was eventually conquered by Nebuchadnezzar in 587 BC, the same year Jerusalem fell
Read with care
What most readers miss in Ezekiel 28:23
This judgment came exactly when Ezekiel prophesied — Sidon fell the same year as Jerusalem
Common misconceptionPeople think this is cruel bloodthirst from God, but the Hebrew shows measured justice. Each judgment (pestilence, blood, sword) corresponds to specific crimes Sidon committed against Israel.
The thread continues
Verses that echo Ezekiel 28:23
Bible Genome reading
Ezekiel 28:23 — Bible Genome reading
Emotional genome
Ezekiel 28:23 comes from the book of Ezekiel, written during the Exile period. These words are attributed to God. The dominant emotion in this verse is angry, with a comfort power of 10% and a tone that is commanding. It belongs to the prophecy genre of biblical literature. Key themes include divine judgment, warfare imagery. Notable phrases: pestilence; blood into her streets; wounded shall fall. This verse contains a promise of God. This verse contains prophecy.
Emotionally similar
Verses that meet the same angry
“Beat your plowshares into swords, and your pruning hooks into spears. Let the weak say, 'I am strong.'”
— Joel 3:10
“You blind guides, who strain out a gnat, and swallow a camel!”
— Matthew 23:24
“Listen to this word, you cows of Bashan, who are on the mountain of Samaria, who oppress the poor, who crush the needy, who tell their husba…”
— Amos 4:1
“I hate, I despise your feasts, and I can't stand your solemn assemblies.”
— Amos 5:21
“Your eyes shall not pity; life shall go for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot.”
— Deuteronomy 19:21
Your reflection
What does Ezekiel 28:23 mean to you, today?
A short note. A question. A prayer. Saved privately to your Soul Garden, dated, and tied to this verse forever.
Speak your heart →Get 3 verses for "angry"
Delivered to your inbox right now. Free.