Verse (Click for Chapter) New International Version A third of your people will die of the plague or perish by famine inside you; a third will fall by the sword outside your walls; and a third I will scatter to the winds and pursue with drawn sword. New Living Translation A third of your people will die in the city from disease and famine. A third of them will be slaughtered by the enemy outside the city walls. And I will scatter a third to the winds, chasing them with my sword. English Standard Version A third part of you shall die of pestilence and be consumed with famine in your midst; a third part shall fall by the sword all around you; and a third part I will scatter to all the winds and will unsheathe the sword after them. Berean Standard Bible A third of your people will die by plague or be consumed by famine within you, a third will fall by the sword outside your walls, and a third I will scatter to every wind and unleash a sword behind them. Berean Literal Bible A third of you—they will die by pestilence and they will be consumed by famine in your midst; and a third will fall by the sword all around you; and a third I will scatter to all the winds and I will unsheath a sword after them! King James Bible 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. New King James Version One-third of you shall die of the pestilence, and be consumed with famine in your midst; and one-third shall fall by the sword all around you; and I will scatter another third to all the winds, and I will draw out a sword after them. New American Standard Bible A third of you will die by plague or perish by famine among you, a third will fall by the sword around you, and a third I will scatter to every wind, and I will unsheathe a sword behind them. NASB 1995 ‘One third of you will die by plague or be consumed by famine among you, one third will fall by the sword around you, and one third I will scatter to every wind, and I will unsheathe a sword behind them. NASB 1977 ‘One third of you will die by plague or be consumed by famine among you, one third will fall by the sword around you, and one third I will scatter to every wind, and I will unsheathe a sword behind them. Legacy Standard Bible One-third of you will die by the plague or be consumed by the famine among you, one-third will fall by the sword around you, and one-third I will scatter to every wind, and I will unsheathe a sword behind them. Amplified Bible One third of you will die of virulent disease or be consumed by famine among you; one third will fall by the sword around you; and one third I will scatter to all the winds, and I will unsheathe a sword behind them. Berean Annotated Bible A third of your people will die by plague or be consumed by famine within you, a third will fall by the sword outside your walls, and a third I will scatter to every wind {ruach} and unleash a sword behind them. Christian Standard Bible A third of your people will die by plague and be consumed by famine within you; a third will fall by the sword all around you; and I will scatter a third to every direction of the wind, and I will draw a sword to chase after them. Holman Christian Standard Bible A third of your people will die by plague and be consumed by famine within you; a third will fall by the sword all around you; and I will scatter a third to every direction of the wind, and I will draw a sword to chase after them. American Standard Version 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 a third part I will scatter unto all the winds, and will draw out a sword after them. Contemporary English Version A third of you will die here in Jerusalem from disease or starvation. Another third will be killed in war. And I will scatter the last third of you in every direction, then track you down and kill you. English Revised Version 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 a third part I will scatter unto all the winds, and will draw out a sword after them. GOD'S WORD® Translation One-third of you will die in plagues and be devoured in famines. Another third will die in battles against those around you. I will scatter the remaining third to the wind, and I will pursue them with a sword. Good News Translation A third of your people will die from sickness and hunger in the city; a third will be cut down by swords outside the city; and I will scatter the last third to the winds and pursue them with a sword. International Standard Version A third of you will die by pestilence, starving because of the famine in your midst. Another third will die violently by the violence of war around you. The final third I'll scatter to the wind as I unsheathe my sword to pursue them. NET Bible A third of your people will die of plague or be overcome by the famine within you. A third of your people will fall by the sword surrounding you, and a third I will scatter to the winds. I will unleash a sword behind them. New Heart English Bible A third part of you shall die with the pestilence, and with famine shall they be consumed in the midst of you; and a third part shall fall by the sword around you; and a third part I will scatter to all the winds, and will draw out a sword after them. Webster's Bible Translation 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 around thee; and I will scatter a third part into all the winds, and I will draw out a sword after them. Majority Text Translations Majority Standard BibleA third of your people will die by plague or be consumed by famine within you, a third will fall by the sword outside your walls, and a third I will scatter to every wind and unleash a sword behind them. World English Bible A third part of you will die with the pestilence, and they will be consumed with famine within you. A third part will fall by the sword around you. A third part I will scatter to all the winds, and will draw out a sword after them. Literal Translations Literal Standard VersionYour third part dies by pestilence, "" And are consumed by famine in your midst, "" And the third part fall by sword around you, "" And the third part I scatter to every wind, "" And I draw out a sword after them. Berean Literal Bible A third of you—they will die by pestilence and they will be consumed by famine in your midst; and a third will fall by the sword all around you; and a third I will scatter to all the winds and I will unsheath a sword after them! Young's Literal Translation Thy third part -- by pestilence they die, And by famine are consumed in thy midst, And the third part, by sword they fall round about thee, And the third part, to every wind I scatter, And a sword I draw out after them. Smith's Literal Translation A third of thee in death shall die, and with famine shall they be consumed in the midst of thee: and a third shall fall by the sword round about thee; and the third I will scatter to every wind, and I will draw out the sword after them. Catholic Translations Douay-Rheims BibleA third part of thee shall die with the pestilence, and shall be consumed with famine in the midst of thee: and a third part of thee shall fall by the sword round about thee: and a third part of thee will I scatter into every wind, and I will draw out a sword after them. Catholic Public Domain Version One third part of you will die by pestilence or be consumed by famine in your midst. And one third part of you will fall by the sword all around you. Yet truly, one third part of you I will scatter to every wind, and I will unsheathe the sword after them. New American Bible A third of your people shall die of disease or starve to death within you; another third shall fall by the sword all around you; a third I will scatter to the winds and pursue them with the sword. New Revised Standard Version One third of you shall die of pestilence or be consumed by famine among you; one third shall fall by the sword around you; and one third I will scatter to every wind and will unsheathe the sword after them. Translations from Aramaic Lamsa BibleA third part of you shall die with the pestilence, and with famine shall they be consumed in the midst of you; and a third part shall fall by the sword round about you; and a third part I will scatter to all the winds, and I will draw out a sword after them. Peshitta Holy Bible Translated One part of you will die by death and they shall be consumed with starvation within you, and the other by the sword shall fall around you, and a third I shall scatter to every wind and the sword shall slaughter after them OT Translations JPS Tanakh 1917A 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 a third part I will scatter unto all the winds, and will draw out a sword after them. Brenton Septuagint Translation A fourth part of thee shall be cut off by pestilence, and a fourth part of thee shall be consumed in the midst of thee with famine: and as for another fourth part of thee, I will scatter them to every wind; and a fourth part of thee shall fall by sword round about thee, and I will draw out a sword after them. Additional Translations ... Audio Bible Context Famine, Sword, and Dispersion11Therefore as surely as I live, declares the Lord GOD, because you have defiled My sanctuary with all your detestable idols and abominations, I Myself will withdraw My favor; I will not look upon you with pity, nor will I spare you. 12A third of your people will die by plague or be consumed by famine within you, a third will fall by the sword outside your walls, and a third I will scatter to every wind and unleash a sword behind them. 13And when My anger is spent and I have vented My wrath against them, I will be appeased. And when I have spent My wrath on them, they will know that I, the LORD, in My zeal have spoken.… Cross References A third of your people will die by plague or be consumed by famine within you, Leviticus 26:25 And I will bring a sword against you to execute the vengeance of the covenant. Though you withdraw into your cities, I will send a plague among you, and you will be delivered into the hand of the enemy. Jeremiah 14:12 Although they may fast, I will not listen to their cry; although they may offer burnt offerings and grain offerings, I will not accept them. Instead, I will finish them off by sword and famine and plague.” Deuteronomy 28:53-57 Then you will eat the fruit of your womb, the flesh of the sons and daughters whom the LORD your God has given you, in the siege and distress that your enemy will inflict on you. / The most gentle and refined man among you will begrudge his brother, the wife he embraces, and the rest of his children who have survived, / refusing to share with any of them the flesh of his children he will eat because he has nothing left in the siege and distress that your enemy will inflict on you within all your gates. … a third will fall by the sword outside your walls, Deuteronomy 32:25 Outside, the sword will take their children, and inside, terror will strike the young man and the young woman, the infant and the gray-haired man. Lamentations 1:20 See, O LORD, how distressed I am! I am churning within; my heart is pounding within me, for I have been most rebellious. Outside, the sword bereaves; inside, there is death. 2 Kings 25:4-5 Then the city was breached; and though the Chaldeans had surrounded the city, all the men of war fled by night by way of the gate between the two walls near the king’s garden. They headed toward the Arabah, / but the army of the Chaldeans pursued the king and overtook him in the plains of Jericho, and his whole army deserted him. and a third I will scatter to every wind and 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. 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. 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. 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. Jeremiah 15:2 If they ask you, ‘Where shall we go?’ you are to tell them that this is what the LORD says: ‘Those destined for death, to death; those destined for the sword, to the sword; those destined for famine, to famine; and those destined for captivity, to captivity.’ Jeremiah 24:10 And I will send against them sword and famine and plague, until they have perished from the land that I gave to them and their fathers.’” Jeremiah 29:17-18 this is what the LORD of Hosts says: “I will send against them sword and famine and plague, and I will make them like rotten figs, so bad they cannot be eaten. / I will pursue them with sword and famine and plague. I will make them a horror to all the kingdoms of the earth—a curse, a desolation, and an object of scorn and reproach among all the nations to which I banish them. Jeremiah 34:17 Therefore this is what the LORD says: You have not obeyed Me; you have not proclaimed freedom, each man for his brother and for his neighbor. So now I proclaim freedom for you, declares the LORD—freedom to fall by sword, by plague, and by famine! I will make you a horror to all the kingdoms of the earth. Lamentations 4:9 Those slain by the sword are better off than those who die of hunger, who waste away, pierced with pain because the fields lack produce. Zechariah 13:8-9 And in all the land, declares the LORD, two-thirds will be cut off and perish, but a third will be left in it. / This third I will bring through the fire; I will refine them like silver and test them like gold. They will call on My name, and I will answer them. I will say, ‘They are My people,’ and they will say, ‘The LORD is our God.’” Treasury of Scripture A third part of you shall die with the pestilence, and with famine shall they be consumed in the middle of you: and a third part shall fall by the sword round about you; and I will scatter a third part into all the winds, and I will draw out a sword after them. third part of Ezekiel 5:2 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. Ezekiel 6:12 He that is far off shall die of the pestilence; and he that is near shall fall by the sword; and he that remaineth and is besieged shall die by the famine: thus will I accomplish my fury upon them. 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. and I will scatter Ezekiel 5:2,10 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… Ezekiel 6:8 Yet will I leave a remnant, that ye may have some that shall escape the sword among the nations, when ye shall be scattered through the countries. Jeremiah 9:16 I will scatter them also among the heathen, whom neither they nor their fathers have known: and I will send a sword after them, till I have consumed them. and I will draw. Ezekiel 5:2 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. 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 Consumed Die Draw Fall Famine Inside Midst Outside Part Perish Pestilence Plague Round Scatter Sword Third Unsheathe Walls Wind WindsJump to Next Consumed Die Draw Fall Famine Inside Midst Outside Part Perish Pestilence Plague Round Scatter Sword Third Unsheathe Walls Wind WindsEzekiel 5 1. Under the type of hair5. is shown the judgment of Jerusalem for their rebellion 12. by famine, sword, and dispersion A third of your people will die by plague or be consumed by famine within you This phrase reflects the severe judgment God pronounces on Jerusalem due to their persistent idolatry and rebellion. The division into thirds symbolizes a complete and thorough judgment. Plague and famine were common consequences of siege warfare in the ancient Near East, as seen in the Babylonian siege of Jerusalem. This judgment echoes the curses outlined in Leviticus 26:25-26 and Deuteronomy 28:21-24, where disobedience to God's covenant results in such calamities. The use of "within you" indicates that these events will occur inside the city, emphasizing the inescapability of God's judgment. a third will fall by the sword outside your walls and a third I will scatter to every wind and unleash a sword behind them Persons / Places / Events 1. EzekielA prophet of God, called to deliver messages of judgment and hope to the Israelites during their Babylonian exile. 2. Jerusalem The city under judgment, representing the center of Israel's spiritual and political life. 3. The Israelites The people of God who are facing divine judgment due to their disobedience and idolatry. 4. Plague, Famine, and Sword Instruments of God's judgment, symbolizing the comprehensive nature of the punishment. 5. Scattering The dispersion of the Israelites among the nations, indicating both punishment and the potential for future restoration. Teaching Points The Seriousness of SinSin has severe consequences, and God's judgment is a response to persistent disobedience. We must take sin seriously in our own lives. God's Sovereignty in Judgment God is in control, even in judgment. He uses various means to accomplish His purposes, reminding us of His ultimate authority. Hope in Restoration Even in judgment, there is a promise of restoration. God's discipline is meant to bring His people back to Him. The Call to Repentance The warning of judgment is also a call to repentance. We are invited to turn back to God and seek His mercy. The Role of the Prophet Ezekiel's role as a prophet is to speak truth, even when it is difficult. We are called to be faithful in sharing God's message. Bible Study Questions and Answers 1. What is the meaning of Ezekiel 5:12?2. How does Ezekiel 5:12 illustrate God's judgment on disobedience and rebellion? 3. What lessons can we learn about God's justice from Ezekiel 5:12? 4. How does Ezekiel 5:12 connect with other biblical warnings of divine judgment? 5. How can we apply the warnings in Ezekiel 5:12 to our spiritual lives today? 6. What actions can we take to avoid the consequences described in Ezekiel 5:12? 7. What does Ezekiel 5:12 reveal about God's judgment and justice? 8. How does Ezekiel 5:12 reflect the consequences of disobedience to God? 9. Why does God use such severe measures in Ezekiel 5:12? 10. What are the top 10 Lessons from Ezekiel 5? 11. Are there any archaeological findings that confirm the severe judgments (famine, wild beasts, sword, plague) predicted in Ezekiel 14:13-21? 12. In Ezekiel 5:11-12, how can we reconcile the promised devastating punishment (famine, sword, and scattering) with accounts from other biblical or secular sources? 13. Zechariah 13:8-9 - Has any known historical disaster or event clearly matched the prophecy of two-thirds being cut off and one-third preserved, or is this prophecy purely symbolic? 14. Who are the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse? What Does Ezekiel 5:12 Mean A third consumed by plague and famine within“‘A third of your people will die by plague or be consumed by famine within you’ ” • This first third faces judgment right where they live. Disease and starvation strike inside Jerusalem’s walls, fulfilling covenant warnings like Deuteronomy 28:21, 53 and Leviticus 26:29. • God’s word through Ezekiel is literal: the coming siege (2 Kings 25:1-3) would cut supplies, and pestilence always stalks a starving populace (Lamentations 4:9-10). • The Lord is not arbitrary; these are the very penalties Israel had agreed to at Sinai if they abandoned Him (Leviticus 26:14-17). A third falling by the sword outside “‘A third will fall by the sword outside your walls’ ” • Those attempting escape meet Babylonian blades (Jeremiah 39:4-6). • The “outside” contrasts safety once offered inside God’s covenant city (Psalm 46:4-5) with the peril of rebellion. • This portion recalls Deuteronomy 28:25—“You will be defeated before your enemies”—and underscores that human defense collapses when God withdraws protection (Jeremiah 21:5-10). A third scattered to every wind—with a sword behind “‘And a third I will scatter to every wind and unleash a sword behind them’ ” • Exile answers the curse clauses of Leviticus 26:33 and Deuteronomy 28:64—dispersion among the nations. • “A sword behind them” means flight offers no ultimate refuge; judgment pursues (Amos 9:1-4). • History validates this prophecy: multitudes were dragged to Babylon (2 Kings 25:11), while others fled to Egypt only to face further violence (Jeremiah 42–44). • Yet even scattering carries a redemptive thread; God promises to gather a remnant (Ezekiel 11:16-17, Jeremiah 29:14). summary Ezekiel 5:12 divides impending judgment into three equal parts—plague and famine inside, slaughter outside, and dispersion to the nations—demonstrating God’s precise, covenant-based justice. Each calamity literally occurred during Babylon’s conquest, proving the reliability of Scripture and underscoring that sin’s wages are real. Yet within the very sentences of discipline lies hope: God preserves a remnant and ultimately uses even exile to steer His people back to Himself. Verse 12. - A third part of thee, etc. (see note on ver. 2). The strange symbolic act is now interpreted. I will draw out a sword, etc. The phrase recurs in Ezekiel 12:14, and is found in Leviticus 26:33 - an echo, like so many other passages in Ezekiel, from what seems to have been his favourite storehouse of thought and language (Leviticus 17-26.).Parallel Commentaries ... Hebrew A thirdשְׁלִשִׁתֵ֞יךְ (šə·li·ši·ṯêḵ) Number - ordinal feminine singular construct | second person feminine singular Strong's 7992: Third, feminine a, third, a third, a third-story cell) of your people will die יָמ֗וּתוּ (yā·mū·ṯū) Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine plural Strong's 4191: To die, to kill by plague בַּדֶּ֣בֶר (bad·de·ḇer) Preposition-b, Article | Noun - masculine singular Strong's 1698: A pestilence or be consumed יִכְל֣וּ (yiḵ·lū) Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine plural Strong's 3615: To be complete, at an end, finished, accomplished, or spent by famine וּבָֽרָעָב֙ (ū·ḇā·rā·‘āḇ) Conjunctive waw, Preposition-b, Article | Noun - masculine singular Strong's 7458: Famine, hunger within you, בְתוֹכֵ֔ךְ (ḇə·ṯō·w·ḵêḵ) Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular construct | second person feminine singular Strong's 8432: A bisection, the centre a third וְהַ֨שְּׁלִשִׁ֔ית (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) will fall יִפְּל֣וּ (yip·pə·lū) Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine plural Strong's 5307: To fall, lie by the sword בַּחֶ֖רֶב (ba·ḥe·reḇ) Preposition-b, Article | Noun - feminine singular Strong's 2719: Drought, a cutting instrument, as a, knife, sword outside [your walls], סְבִיבוֹתָ֑יִךְ (sə·ḇî·ḇō·w·ṯā·yiḵ) Adverb | second person feminine singular Strong's 5439: A circle, neighbour, environs, around and a third וְהַשְּׁלִישִׁית֙ (wə·haš·šə·lî·šîṯ) Conjunctive waw, Article | Number - ordinal feminine singular Strong's 7992: Third, feminine a, third, a third, a third-story cell) I will scatter אֱזָרֶ֔ה (’ĕ·zā·reh) Verb - Piel - Imperfect - first person common singular Strong's 2219: To toss about, to diffuse, winnow to every לְכָל־ (lə·ḵāl) Preposition-l | Noun - masculine singular construct Strong's 3605: The whole, all, any, every wind ר֣וּחַ (rū·aḥ) Noun - common singular Strong's 7307: Wind, breath, exhalation, life, anger, unsubstantiality, a region of the sky, spirit and 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 Links Ezekiel 5:12 NIVEzekiel 5:12 NLT Ezekiel 5:12 ESV Ezekiel 5:12 NASB Ezekiel 5:12 KJV Ezekiel 5:12 BibleApps.com Ezekiel 5:12 Biblia Paralela Ezekiel 5:12 Chinese Bible Ezekiel 5:12 French Bible Ezekiel 5:12 Catholic Bible OT Prophets: Ezekiel 5:12 A third part of you shall die (Ezek. 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