New International Version When the days of your siege come to an end, burn a third of the hair inside the city. Take a third and strike it with the sword all around the city. And scatter a third to the wind. For I will pursue them with drawn sword. New Living Translation Place a third of it at the center of your map of Jerusalem. After acting out the siege, burn it there. Scatter another third across your map and chop it with a sword. Scatter the last third to the wind, for I will scatter my people with the sword. English Standard Version A third part you shall burn in the fire in the midst of the city, when the days of the siege are completed. And a third part you shall take and strike with the sword all around the city. And a third part you shall scatter to the wind, and I will unsheathe the sword after them. Berean Standard Bible When the days of the siege have ended, you are to burn up a third of the hair inside the city; you are also to take a third and slash it with the sword all around the city; and you are to scatter a third to the wind. For I will unleash a sword behind them. Berean Literal Bible A third with fire you shall burn in the midst of the city at the completion of the days of the siege; and you shall take a third and strike it with the sword around it; and a third you shall scatter to the wind; and I will unsheathe a sword after them. King James Bible Thou shalt burn with fire a third part in the midst of the city, when the days of the siege are fulfilled: and thou shalt take a third part, and smite about it with a knife: and a third part thou shalt scatter in the wind; and I will draw out a sword after them. New King James Version You shall burn with fire one-third in the midst of the city, when the days of the siege are finished; then you shall take one-third and strike around it with the sword, and one-third you shall scatter in the wind: I will draw out a sword after them. New American Standard Bible A third you shall burn in the fire at the center of the city, when the days of the siege are completed. Then you shall take a third and strike it with the sword all around the city, and a third you shall scatter to the wind; for I will unsheathe a sword behind them. NASB 1995 “One third you shall burn in the fire at the center of the city, when the days of the siege are completed. Then you shall take one third and strike it with the sword all around the city, and one third you shall scatter to the wind; and I will unsheathe a sword behind them. NASB 1977 “One third you shall burn in the fire at the center of the city, when the days of the siege are completed. Then you shall take one third and strike it with the sword all around the city, and one third you shall scatter to the wind; and I will unsheathe a sword behind them. Legacy Standard Bible One-third you shall burn in the fire at the center of the city when the days of the siege are fulfilled. Then you shall take one-third and strike it with the sword all around the city, and one-third you shall scatter to the wind; and I will unsheathe a sword behind them. Amplified Bible You shall burn one third with fire in the center of the city, when the days of the siege are completed. Then you shall take one third and strike it with the sword all around the city, and one third you shall scatter to the wind; and I will unsheathe a sword behind them. Berean Annotated Bible When the days of the siege have ended, you are to burn up a third of the hair inside the city; you are also to take a third and slash it with the sword all around the city; and you are to scatter a third to the wind {ruach}. For I will unleash a sword behind them. Christian Standard Bible You are to burn a third of it in the city when the days of the siege have ended; you are to take a third and slash it with the sword all around the city; and you are to scatter a third to the wind, for I will draw a sword to chase after them. Holman Christian Standard Bible You are to burn up a third of it in the city when the days of the siege have ended; you are to take a third and slash it with the sword all around the city; and you are to scatter a third to the wind, for I will draw a sword to chase after them. American Standard Version A third part shalt thou burn in the fire in the midst of the city, when the days of the siege are fulfilled; and thou shalt take a third part, and smite with the sword round about it; and a third part thou shalt scatter to the wind, and I will draw out a sword after them. Contemporary English Version After you attack the brick that stands for Jerusalem, burn one pile of your hair on the brick. Chop up the second pile and let the small pieces of hair fall around the brick. Throw the third pile into the wind, and I will strike it with my own sword. English Revised Version A third part shalt thou burn in the fire in the midst of the city, when the days of the siege are fulfilled; and thou shalt take a third part, and smite with the sword round about it; and a third part thou shalt scatter to the wind, and I will draw out a sword after them. GOD'S WORD® Translation When the blockade is over, burn one-third of your hair in a fire in the middle of the city. Take another third, and cut it up with a blade around the city. Then scatter the remaining third to the wind, and I will draw a sword and go after it. Good News Translation Burn up a third of it in the city when the siege is over. Take another third and chop it up with your sword as you move around outside the city. Scatter the remaining third to the winds, and I will pursue it with my sword. International Standard Version You are to burn a third of it in the middle of the city when you've finished your siege. Next, you are to take another third of it and beat it with your sword. Last, you are to scatter the remaining third to the wind, after which I'll unsheathe my sword and pursue them. NET Bible Burn a third of it in the fire inside the city when the days of your siege are completed. Take a third and slash it with a sword all around the city. Scatter a third to the wind, and I will unleash a sword behind them. New Heart English Bible A third part you shall burn in the fire in the midst of the city, when the days of the siege are fulfilled; and you shall take a third part, and strike with the sword around it; and a third part you shall scatter to the wind, and I will draw out a sword after them. Webster's Bible Translation Thou shalt burn with fire a third part in the midst of the city, when the days of the siege are fulfilled: and thou shalt take a third part, and smite about it with a knife: and a third part thou shalt scatter in the wind; and I will draw out a sword after them. Majority Text Translations Majority Standard BibleWhen the days of the siege have ended, you are to burn up a third of the hair inside the city; you are also to take a third and slash it with the sword all around the city; and you are to scatter a third to the wind. For I will unleash a sword behind them. World English Bible A third part you shall burn in the fire in the middle of the city, when the days of the siege are fulfilled. You shall take a third part, and strike with the sword around it. A third part you shall scatter to the wind, and I will draw out a sword after them. Literal Translations Literal Standard VersionYou burn a third part with fire in the midst of the city, at the fullness of the days of the siege; and you have taken the third part, you strike with a weapon around it; and the third part you scatter to the wind, and I draw out a weapon after them. Berean Literal Bible A third with fire you shall burn in the midst of the city at the completion of the days of the siege; and you shall take a third and strike it with the sword around it; and a third you shall scatter to the wind; and I will unsheathe a sword after them. Young's Literal Translation A third part with fire thou dost burn in the midst of the city, at the fulness of the days of the siege; and thou hast taken the third part, thou dost smite with a weapon round about it; and the third part thou dost scatter to the wind, and a weapon I draw out after them. Smith's Literal Translation Thou shalt burn the third in fire in the midst of the city, according to the filling up of the days of the siege: and taking the third thou shalt strike it with the sword round about it; and the third thou shalt scatter to the wind; and I will draw out the sword after them. Catholic Translations Douay-Rheims BibleA third part thou shalt burn with fire in the midst of the city, according to the fulfilling of the days of the siege: and thou shalt take a third part, and cut it in pieces with the knife all round about: and the other third part thou shalt scatter in the wind, and I will draw out the sword after them. Catholic Public Domain Version A third part you shall burn with fire in the midst of the city, according to the completion of the days of the siege. And you shall take a third part, and you shall cut it with the knife all around. Yet truly, the other third, you shall scatter to the wind, for I will unsheathe the sword after them. New American Bible Set a third on fire within the city, when the days of your siege are completed; place another third around the city and strike it with the sword; the final third scatter to the wind and then unsheathe the sword after it. New Revised Standard Version One third of the hair you shall burn in the fire inside the city, when the days of the siege are completed; one third you shall take and strike with the sword all around the city; and one third you shall scatter to the wind, and I will unsheathe the sword after them. Translations from Aramaic Lamsa BibleA third part you shall burn with fire in the midst of the city, when the days of your siege are fulfilled; and you shall take a third part, and cut it with the sword, going round about the city; and a third part you shall scatter to the wind; and I will draw out a sword, after Israel. Peshitta Holy Bible Translated And one of three parts burn in fire within the city, when the days of your siege have ended, and take a another part and cut by the sword around the city, and a third of the hair you shall scatter into the wind, and a sword shall destroy after them OT Translations JPS Tanakh 1917A third part shalt thou burn in the fire in the midst of the city, when the days of the siege are fulfilled; and thou shalt take a third part, and smite it with the sword round about her; and a third part thou shalt scatter to the wind, and I will draw out a sword after them. Brenton Septuagint Translation A fourth part thou shalt burn in the fire in the midst of the city, at the fulfillment of the days of the siege: and thou shalt take a fourth part, and burn it up in the midst of it: and a fourth part thou shalt cut with a sword round about it: and a fourth part thou shalt scatter to the wind; and I will draw out a sword after them. Additional Translations ... Audio Bible (Voice ▾ Musical ▾) Context Judgment Against Jerusalem1“As for you, son of man, take a sharp sword, use it as a barber’s razor, and shave your head and beard. Then take a set of scales and divide the hair. 2When the days of the siege have ended, you are to burn up a third of the hair inside the city; you are also to take a third and slash it with the sword all around the city; and you are to scatter a third to the wind. For I will unleash a sword behind them. 3But you are to take a few strands of hair and secure them in the folds of your garment.… Cross References When the days of the siege have ended, Ezekiel 4:8 Now behold, I will tie you up with ropes so you cannot turn from side to side until you have finished the days of your siege. 2 Kings 25:1-4 So in the ninth year of Zedekiah’s reign, on the tenth day of the tenth month, Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon marched against Jerusalem with his entire army. They encamped outside the city and built a siege wall all around it. / And the city was kept under siege until King Zedekiah’s eleventh year. / By the ninth day of the fourth month, the famine in the city was so severe that the people of the land had no food. … Jeremiah 39:1-2 In the ninth year of Zedekiah king of Judah, in the tenth month, Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon marched against Jerusalem with his entire army and laid siege to the city. / And on the ninth day of the fourth month of Zedekiah’s eleventh year, the city was breached. you are to burn up a third of the hair inside the city; Jeremiah 21:10 For I have set My face against this city to bring disaster and not good, declares the LORD. It will be delivered into the hand of the king of Babylon, who will destroy it with fire.’ Jeremiah 34:22 Behold, I am going to give the command, declares the LORD, and I will bring them back to this city. They will fight against it, capture it, and burn it down. And I will make the cities of Judah a desolation, without inhabitant.” Jeremiah 17:27 But if you do not listen to Me to keep the Sabbath day holy by not carrying a load while entering the gates of Jerusalem on the Sabbath day, then I will kindle an unquenchable fire in its gates to consume the citadels of Jerusalem.’” you are also to take a third and slash it with the sword all around the city; Jeremiah 38:2 “This is what the LORD says: Whoever stays in this city will die by sword and famine and plague, but whoever surrenders to the Chaldeans will live; he will retain his life like a spoil of war, and he will live. Jeremiah 21:9 Whoever stays in this city will die by sword and famine and plague, but whoever goes out and surrenders to the Chaldeans who besiege you will live; he will retain his life like a spoil of war. Ezekiel 21:3-5 and tell her that this is what the LORD says: ‘I am against you, and I will draw My sword from its sheath and cut off from you both the righteous and the wicked. / Because I will cut off both the righteous and the wicked, My sword will be unsheathed against everyone from south to north. / Then all flesh will know that I, the LORD, have taken My sword from its sheath, not to return it again.’ and you are to scatter a third to the wind. Jeremiah 49:36 I will bring the four winds against Elam from the four corners of the heavens, and I will scatter them to all these winds. There will not be a nation to which Elam’s exiles will not go. Zechariah 2:6 “Get up! Get up! Flee from the land of the north,” declares the LORD, “for I have scattered you like the four winds of heaven,” declares the LORD. Deuteronomy 28:64 Then the LORD will scatter you among all the nations, from one end of the earth to the other, and there you will worship other gods, gods of wood and stone, which neither you nor your fathers have known. For I will unleash a sword behind them. Ezekiel 12:14 And I will scatter to every wind all the attendants around him and all his troops, and I will draw a sword to chase after them. Leviticus 26:33 But I will scatter you among the nations and will draw out a sword after you as your land becomes desolate and your cities are laid waste. Jeremiah 49:37 So I will shatter Elam before their foes, before those who seek their lives. I will bring disaster upon them, even My fierce anger,” declares the LORD. “I will send out the sword after them until I finish them off. Jeremiah 25:9-11 behold, I will summon all the families of the north, declares the LORD, and I will send for My servant Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, whom I will bring against this land, against its residents, and against all the surrounding nations. So I will devote them to destruction and make them an object of horror and contempt, an everlasting desolation. / Moreover, I will banish from them the sounds of joy and gladness, the voices of the bride and bridegroom, the sound of the millstones, and the light of the lamp. / And this whole land will become a desolate wasteland, and these nations will serve the king of Babylon for seventy years. Treasury of Scripture You shall burn with fire a third part in the middle of the city, when the days of the siege are fulfilled: and you shall take a third part, and smite about it with a knife: and a third part you shall scatter in the wind; and I will draw out a sword after them. shalt burn 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. Jeremiah 9:21,22 For death is come up into our windows, and is entered into our palaces, to cut off the children from without, and the young men from the streets… Jeremiah 15:2 And it shall come to pass, if they say unto thee, Whither shall we go forth? then thou shalt tell them, Thus saith the LORD; Such as are for death, to death; and such as are for the sword, to the sword; and such as are for the famine, to the famine; and such as are for the captivity, to the captivity. the city Ezekiel 4:1-8 Thou also, son of man, take thee a tile, and lay it before thee, and pourtray upon it the city, even Jerusalem: … I will draw 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. Ezekiel 12:14 And I will scatter toward every wind all that are about him to help him, and all his bands; and I will draw out the sword after them. Leviticus 26:33 And I will scatter you among the heathen, and will draw out a sword after you: and your land shall be desolate, and your cities waste. Jump to Previous Burn City Completed Draw Fire Fulfilled Knife Midst Part Round Scatter Siege Smite Strike Sword Third Unsheathe WindJump to Next Burn City Completed Draw Fire Fulfilled Knife Midst Part Round Scatter Siege Smite Strike Sword Third Unsheathe WindEzekiel 5 1. Under the type of hair5. is shown the judgment of Jerusalem for their rebellion 12. by famine, sword, and dispersion When the days of the siege have ended, Ezekiel was to complete the enacted siege of Jerusalem before dividing his shaved hair. The sign portrayed the judgment that came upon Jerusalem during Babylon’s siege from 588 to 586 BC, when famine, disease, terror, and violence consumed the population. Ezk 4:8 Now behold, I will tie you up with ropes… you are to burn up a third of the hair inside the city; The hair represented Jerusalem’s inhabitants, and the fire pictured those who would perish within the city through famine, pestilence, and the consuming judgment of God. Babylon later burned Jerusalem, including the temple, but the judgment had already devastated its people from within. Jer 21:10 For I have set My face against this city… you are also to take a third and slash it with the sword all around the city; Those slain by the sword would include defenders and fugitives overtaken outside Jerusalem as Babylon’s army broke through the city. The sword of Babylon was the instrument God used to execute the covenant warnings Israel had persistently ignored. Jer 38:2 This is what the LORD says: Whoever stays in this city… and you are to scatter a third to the wind. Many survivors would be driven from their land and dispersed among foreign nations. Exile fulfilled the warnings of Deuteronomy 28:64 and exposed the seriousness of covenant rebellion, yet God would preserve a small remnant, as Ezekiel was commanded to keep a few hairs afterward. Jer 49:36 I will bring the four winds against Elam… For I will unleash a sword behind them. Flight into exile would not itself remove the guilty from God’s discipline. Warfare, persecution, and insecurity would continue to pursue many of the scattered people, showing that Jerusalem’s fall was not merely a political disaster but the righteous judgment of the Lord. Ezk 12:14 And I will scatter to every wind all the attendants… Persons / Places / Events 1. EzekielA prophet of God, called to deliver messages of judgment and hope to the Israelites during their exile in Babylon. 2. Jerusalem The city under siege, representing the center of Jewish life and worship, which is facing divine judgment due to the people's disobedience. 3. The Siege A symbolic act commanded by God to Ezekiel, representing the impending destruction and judgment upon Jerusalem. 4. The Hair Represents the people of Jerusalem, divided into thirds to symbolize different fates for the inhabitants. 5. The Sword Symbolizes God's judgment and the means by which He will execute His justice upon the people. Teaching Points The Seriousness of SinThe division of the hair and the subsequent actions illustrate the severe consequences of sin and disobedience to God. We must take sin seriously in our own lives and seek repentance. God's Sovereignty in Judgment The passage highlights God's control over the events of history, including judgment. We can trust in His sovereignty even when facing difficult circumstances. The Call to Repentance The symbolic acts serve as a warning and a call to repentance. We should examine our lives and turn back to God, seeking His mercy and forgiveness. The Role of the Prophet Ezekiel's obedience in performing these symbolic acts reminds us of the importance of faithfully delivering God's message, even when it is difficult or unpopular. Hope Beyond Judgment While the passage focuses on judgment, it also points to the possibility of restoration for those who turn back to God. We can find hope in God's promises of redemption. Bible Study Questions and Answers 1. What is the meaning of Ezekiel 5:2?2. How does Ezekiel 5:2 illustrate God's judgment on Jerusalem's disobedience? 3. What does dividing hair into thirds symbolize in Ezekiel 5:2? 4. How can Ezekiel 5:2 deepen our understanding of God's justice today? 5. What other scriptures emphasize consequences for disobedience like Ezekiel 5:2? 6. How can we apply the lessons from Ezekiel 5:2 in our lives? 7. What is the significance of dividing hair in Ezekiel 5:2? 8. How does Ezekiel 5:2 reflect God's judgment on Jerusalem? 9. Why does God instruct Ezekiel to use hair as a symbol in Ezekiel 5:2? 10. What are the top 10 Lessons from Ezekiel 5? What Does Ezekiel 5:2 Mean When the days of the siege have endedEzekiel is acting out what will soon hit Jerusalem: the Babylonian siege (cf. Ezekiel 4:2; 2 Kings 25:1-2). God times judgment precisely. The “days” are set by Him; when they conclude, the consequences begin to unfold—showing that history obeys His calendar, not human schedules (Daniel 2:21). Burn up a third of the hair inside the city • Hair represents the inhabitants (Ezekiel 5:4-5). • Fire inside the model city pictures plague, famine, and internal strife consuming people trapped within the walls: “A third of your people will die by plague or perish in famine inside you” (Ezekiel 5:12; cp. Lamentations 4:10). • The burning also mirrors the literal torching of Jerusalem eleven years later (2 Chronicles 36:19). God keeps His word exactly. Take a third and slash it with the sword all around the city • The second third stands for those who rush out in desperation during the final assault—only to meet the Babylonian sword (Jeremiah 38:2; Ezekiel 6:11-12). • “They will fall by the sword all around you” (Ezekiel 5:12). • This fulfills covenant warnings: if Israel rebelled, “I will bring a sword upon you” (Leviticus 26:25). Ezekiel’s public cutting dramatizes how methodically that sword will fall. Scatter a third to the wind • The last portion of hair is tossed into the air, signaling exile. God declares, “I will scatter to every wind all who are around him” (Ezekiel 12:14; cp. Deuteronomy 28:64). • The scattering includes every social layer; no one escapes God’s discipline merely by distance. • Yet even in dispersion there is purpose: later, the scattered remnant becomes the seed of restoration (Jeremiah 29:11-14). For I will unleash a sword behind them • Flight does not cancel accountability. As God earlier warned, “I will scatter you among the nations and will draw out a sword after you” (Leviticus 26:33). • Babylon’s reach will hunt the refugees, and subsequent empires will keep the pressure on (cf. Ezekiel 21:3-5). • The image underscores divine sovereignty: the same Lord who permits scattering also directs history’s sword until His people repent. summary Ezekiel’s shaved hair becomes a living chart of Jerusalem’s fate: • One third consumed inside the city—famine, disease, and fire. • One third slain by the sword in direct combat. • One third driven into exile, still shadowed by God’s pursuing judgment. The verse teaches that God’s warnings are literal, His timing exact, and His purposes redemptive—pressing His people toward repentance and ultimately toward the hope of restoration promised later in the book. (2) Burn with fire a third art in the midst of the city.—It is better to suppose this done only in description than to imagine that the prophet carried it out in act upon the tile on which the city (Jerusalem) was portrayed. The meaning of this verse is explained in Ezekiel 5:12, and is made plainer by translating the same word uniformly “sword,” instead of changing to “knife.” The third, which is scattered, plainly signifies the small part of the people who, escaping destruction, shall be scattered among the heathen. A similar prophecy, referring however to a later time, may be found in Zechariah 13:8-9. The expression, “when the days of the siege are fulfilled,” of course refers to the symbolic siege of the prophet. The words, “I will draw out a sword after them,” are taken from Leviticus 26:33, and are repeated in Ezekiel 5:12, and again in Ezekiel 12:14. The suffering from the Divine judgments should still follow them in their exile. Plain prophecy is here mixed with the symbolism.Verse 2. - Thou shalt burn with fire, etc. The symbolism receives its interpretation in ver. 12. A third part of the people (we need not expect numerical exactness) was to perish in the city of pestilence and famine, another to fall by the sword in their attempts to escape, yet another third was to be scattered to the far off land of their exile, and even there the sword was to follow them. The words, in the midst of the city, and the days of the siege, find their most natural explanation in Ezekiel 4:1, 5, 6.Parallel Commentaries ... Hebrew When the daysיְמֵ֣י (yə·mê) Noun - masculine plural construct Strong's 3117: A day of the siege הַמָּצ֑וֹר (ham·mā·ṣō·wr) Article | Noun - masculine singular Strong's 4692: Something hemming in, a mound, a siege, distress, a fastness have ended, כִּמְלֹ֖את (kim·lōṯ) Preposition-k | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct Strong's 4390: To fill, be full of you are to burn up תַּבְעִיר֙ (taḇ·‘îr) Verb - Hifil - Imperfect - second person masculine singular Strong's 1197: To kindle, consume, to be, brutish a third [of the hair] שְׁלִשִׁ֗ית (šə·li·šîṯ) Number - ordinal feminine singular Strong's 7992: Third, feminine a, third, a third, a third-story cell) inside בְּת֣וֹךְ (bə·ṯō·wḵ) Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular construct Strong's 8432: A bisection, the centre the city; הָעִ֔יר (hā·‘îr) Article | Noun - feminine singular Strong's 5892: Excitement you are also to take וְלָֽקַחְתָּ֣ (wə·lā·qaḥ·tā) Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - second person masculine singular Strong's 3947: To take a third הַשְּׁלִשִׁ֗ית (haš·šə·li·šîṯ) Article | Number - ordinal feminine singular Strong's 7992: Third, feminine a, third, a third, a third-story cell) and slash תַּכֶּ֤ה (tak·keh) Verb - Hifil - Imperfect - second person masculine singular Strong's 5221: To strike it with the sword בַחֶ֙רֶב֙ (ḇa·ḥe·reḇ) Preposition-b, Article | Noun - feminine singular Strong's 2719: Drought, a cutting instrument, as a, knife, sword all around the city; סְבִ֣יבוֹתֶ֔יהָ (sə·ḇî·ḇō·w·ṯe·hā) Adverb | third person feminine singular Strong's 5439: A circle, neighbour, environs, around and you are to scatter תִּזְרֶ֣ה (tiz·reh) Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine singular Strong's 2219: To toss about, to diffuse, winnow a third וְהַשְּׁלִשִׁית֙ (wə·haš·šə·li·šîṯ) Conjunctive waw, Article | Number - ordinal feminine singular Strong's 7992: Third, feminine a, third, a third, a third-story cell) to the wind. לָר֔וּחַ (lā·rū·aḥ) Preposition-l, Article | Noun - common singular Strong's 7307: Wind, breath, exhalation, life, anger, unsubstantiality, a region of the sky, spirit For I will unleash אָרִ֥יק (’ā·rîq) Verb - Hifil - Imperfect - first person common singular Strong's 7324: Arm, cast out, draw out, make empty, pour forth out a sword וְחֶ֖רֶב (wə·ḥe·reḇ) Conjunctive waw | Noun - feminine singular Strong's 2719: Drought, a cutting instrument, as a, knife, sword behind them. אַחֲרֵיהֶֽם׃ (’a·ḥă·rê·hem) Preposition | third person masculine plural Strong's 310: The hind or following part Additonal Resources Ezekiel 5:2 Blue Letter BibleEzekiel 5:2 Bible Gateway Ezekiel 5:2 Bible.com Ezekiel 5:2 NIV |
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