Ezekiel 9:3-6

9:3 Then the glory of the God of Israel went up from the cherub where it had rested to the threshold of the temple. ¹  He called to the man dressed in linen who had the writing kit at his side. 9:4 The Lord said to him, “Go through the city of Jerusalem ²  and put a mark ³  on the foreheads of the people who moan and groan over all the abominations practiced in it.”

9:5 While I listened, he said to the others, ⁴  “Go through the city after him and strike people down; do no let your eye pity nor spare ⁵  anyone! 9:6 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.

[9:3]  ¹ tn Heb “house.”

[9:4]  ² tn Heb “through the midst of the city, through the midst of Jerusalem.”

[9:4]  ³ tn The word translated “mark” is in Hebrew the letter ת (tav). Outside this context the only other occurrence of the word is in Job 31:35. In ancient Hebrew script this letter was written like the letter X.

[9:5]  ³ tn Heb “to these he said in my ears.”

[9:5]  ⁴ tn The meaning of the Hebrew term is primarily emotional: “to pity,” which in context implies an action, as in being moved by pity in order to spare them from the horror of their punishment.