Ezekiel 6:3 Meaning and Explanation
“And say, Ye mountains of Israel, hear the word of the Lord GOD; Thus saith the Lord GOD to the mountains, and to the hills, to the rivers, and to the valleys; Behold, I, even I, will bring a sword upon you, and I will destroy your high places.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →God announces through the prophet that He will destroy Israel's centers of idolatrous worship with military force.
The Context of Ezekiel 6:3
God declares judgment upon Israel's geography and the idolatrous high places constructed on it.
What Does Ezekiel 6:3 Mean?
The command to hear emphasizes Israel's need to attend to God's message. The parallelism—mountains, hills, rivers, valleys—encompasses all the land, signifying that the entire geography will experience divine judgment and no refuge remains.
The sword represents the instruments of war and conquest. God's destruction specifically targets the high places (bamot), structures built on elevated locations for worship that had become centers of idolatry and spiritual unfaithfulness.
Ezekiel 6:3 in the Original Language
bamah (בָּמָה), 'high place' — elevated worship sites that became focal points of Israel's departure from exclusive devotion to the LORD.
Frequently Asked Questions About Ezekiel 6:3
What does Ezekiel 6:3 mean?
God announces through the prophet that He will destroy Israel's centers of idolatrous worship with military force.
What is the context of Ezekiel 6:3?
God declares judgment upon Israel's geography and the idolatrous high places constructed on it.