# Ezekiel 09 📖: The Mark on the Faithful [[📚 Explore the Bible Books]] [[-Ezekiel Overview]] | [[Ezekiel 08]] | [[Ezekiel 10]] > [!info] Table of Contents > [[#📜 Scripture Text (NET)]] > [[#📖 Verse-by-Verse Commentary]] > [[#🤔 Interesting Facts / Historical and Cultural Insights]] > [[#🧠 Chapter Summary]] > [[#✝️ Christ in This Chapter]] > [[#🔎 Key Principles / 🛟 Life Application]] > [[#💬 Discussion Questions]] > [[#✍️ Key Verses to Remember]] > [[#🔗 Related Passages/Cross Reference]] > [[#🙏 Devotional Reflection]] > [[#📂 Internal Notes]] ## 📜 Scripture Text (NET) (The NET Bible: New English Translation. Biblical Studies Press, 2005) ### The Execution of Idolaters [[#Verse 01.]]Then he shouted in my ears, “Approach, you who are to visit destruction on the city, each with his destructive weapon in his hand!”  [[#Verse 02.]] Next I noticed six men coming from the direction of the upper gate that faces north, each with his war club in his hand. Among them was a man dressed in linen with a writing kit at his side. They came and stood beside the bronze altar. [[#Verse 03.]] Then the glory of the God of Israel went up from the cherub where it had rested to the threshold of the temple. He called to the man dressed in linen who had the writing kit at his side.  [[#Verse 04.]] The Lord said to him, “Go through the city of Jerusalem and put a mark on the foreheads of the people who moan and groan over all the abominations practiced in it.” [[#Verse 05.]] While I listened, he said to the others, “Go through the city after him and strike people down; do not let your eye pity nor spare anyone!  [[#Verse 06.]] Old men, young men, young women, little children, and women—wipe them out! But do not touch anyone who has the mark. Begin at my sanctuary!” So they began with the elders who were at the front of the temple. [[#Verse 07.]] He said to them, “Defile the temple and fill the courtyards with corpses. Go!” So they went out and struck people down throughout the city.  [[#Verse 08.]] While they were striking them down, I was left alone, and I threw myself face down and cried out, “Ah, Sovereign Lord! Will you destroy the entire remnant of Israel when you pour out your fury on Jerusalem?” [[#Verse 09.]] He said to me, “The sin of the house of Israel and Judah is extremely great; the land is full of murder, and the city is full of corruption, for they say, ‘The Lord has abandoned the land, and the Lord does not see!’  [[#Verse 10.]] But as for me, my eye will not pity them nor will I spare them; I hereby repay them for what they have done.” [[#Verse 11.]] Next I noticed the man dressed in linen with the writing kit at his side bringing back word: “I have done just as you commanded me.” ## 📖 Verse-by-Verse Commentary ###### Overall. ###### Verse 01. ###### Verse 02. ###### Verse 03. ###### Verse 04. ###### Verse 05. ###### Verse 06. ###### Verse 07. ###### Verse 08. ###### Verse 09. ###### Verse 10. ###### Verse 11. ## 🤔 Interesting Facts / Historical and Cultural Insights 1. Six men came with weapons, and a seventh man clothed in linen carried a writing kit (9:2). 2. Linen was the clothing of priests, and angels are described in linen elsewhere (Daniel 10:5). 3. The "mark" (9:4) is the Hebrew word *taw*, the name of the last letter of the Hebrew alphabet. 4. In the older Hebrew script, the letter *taw* was written like an X or a cross. Early Christian writers noticed this. 5. The glory of God moved from the cherub to the threshold of the temple (9:3), the first step of its departure. 6. Judgment began with the elders in front of the temple (9:6), the same leaders who were worshiping idols in chapter 8. 7. Peter echoes this idea when he writes that judgment begins with the household of God (1 Peter 4:17). 8. The mark recalls the blood on the doorposts at Passover that spared Israel's homes (Exodus 12:13). 9. Revelation describes God's servants sealed on their foreheads (Revelation 7:3; 14:1). 10. The chapter ends with the man in linen reporting, "I have done just as you commanded me" (9:11). ## 🧠 Chapter Summary > [!note] 🌱 Still growing. This section is on its way. ## ✝️ Christ in This Chapter Christ is the One who marks and protects those who belong to Him. A mark was placed on the foreheads of those who grieved over sin (9:4), and in Christ believers are sealed with the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 1:13; Revelation 7:3). ## 🔎 Key Principles / 🛟 Life Application > [!note] 🌱 Still growing. This section is on its way. ## 💬 Discussion Questions 1. Those who were marked sighed and groaned over the sin around them (9:4). Does the sin of our culture grieve you or just annoy you? 2. Judgment began at God's own sanctuary (9:6). Why does God hold His people to a higher standard? 3. Ezekiel fell on his face and pleaded for the remnant (9:8). How can you grow in praying for others when you see evil? ## ✍️ Key Verses to Remember - 📖 verse 4: A mark is placed on the foreheads of those who grieve over the abominations. - 📖 verse 6: Judgment begins at God's sanctuary. - 📖 verse 8: Ezekiel falls on his face and cries out for the remnant. ## 🔗 Related Passages/Cross Reference - 🔗 [[Revelation 07#Verse 02.|Revelation 7:2-3]] - God's servants sealed on their foreheads. - 🔗 [[Exodus 12#Verse 13.|Exodus 12:13]] - The blood will be a sign for you. - 🔗 [[1 Peter 04#Verse 17.|1 Peter 4:17]] - Judgment begins with the household of God. - 🔗 [[Ephesians 01#Verse 13.|Ephesians 1:13]] - Sealed with the promised Holy Spirit. - 🔗 [[Genesis 18#Verse 23.|Genesis 18:23-25]] - Abraham pleads for Sodom. ## 🙏 Devotional Reflection 📝 SOAP: [[Ezekiel 09 - SOAP|How Do You Respond to Evil?]] ## 📂 Internal Notes