As for me also, my eye won’t spare, neither will I have pity, but I will bring their way on their head.”
Parallel translations
- KJV And as for me also, mine eye shall not spare, neither will I have pity, but I will recompense their way upon their head.
- BSB But as for Me, I will not look on them with pity, nor will I spare them. I will bring their deeds down upon their own heads.”
- NKJV And as for Me also, My eye will neither spare, nor will I have pity, but I will recompense their deeds on their own head.”
- NASB But as for Me, My eye will have no pity nor will I spare, but I will bring their conduct upon their heads.”
- NLT So I will not spare them or have any pity on them. I will fully repay them for all they have done.”
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
God declares He will not spare but will bring their conduct back on their own heads. It affirms the justice of repaying sin with its due consequences.
Overview
The principle that God will "bring their way on their head" expresses retributive justice, sin reaping its proper harvest. The refusal to pity matches the refusal of the people to repent. God's judgment is measured and deserved, not arbitrary. This same justice was poured out on Christ in the sinner's place, so that those in Him are spared the judgment their deeds deserved.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 14
- Ezek 7:4My eye will not spare you, neither will I have pity; but I will bring your ways on you, and your abominations will be among you. Then you will know that I am Yahweh.’
- Isa 65:6“Behold, it is written before me: I will not keep silence, but will repay, yes, I will repay into their bosom,
- Ezek 11:21But as for them whose heart walks after the heart of their detestable things and their abominations, I will bring their way on their own heads,’ says the Lord Yahweh.”
- Ezek 8:18Therefore will I also deal in wrath. My eye won’t spare, neither will I have pity. Though they cry in my ears with a loud voice, yet I will not hear them.”
- Hos 9:7The days of visitation have come. The days of reckoning have come. Israel will consider the prophet to be a fool, and the man who is inspired to be insane, because of the abundance of your sins, and because your hostility is great.
- Ezek 5:11Therefore as I live,’ says the Lord Yahweh, ‘surely, because you have defiled my sanctuary with all your detestable things, and with all your abominations, therefore I will also diminish you. My eye won’t spare, and I will have no pity.
- Ezek 9:5To the others he said in my hearing, “Go through the city after him, and strike. Don’t let your eye spare, neither have pity.
- Ezek 7:8–9Now I will shortly pour out my wrath on you, and accomplish my anger against you, and will judge you according to your ways. I will bring on you all your abominations.
- Ezek 22:31Therefore I have poured out my indignation on them. I have consumed them with the fire of my wrath. I have brought their own way on their heads,” says the Lord Yahweh.
- Heb 10:30For we know him who said, “Vengeance belongs to me,” says the Lord, “I will repay.” Again, “The Lord will judge his people.”
- Deut 32:41if I sharpen my glittering sword, my hand grasps it in judgment; I will take vengeance on my adversaries, and will repay those who hate me.
- Ezek 21:31–32I will pour out my indignation on you; I will blow on you with the fire of my wrath; and I will deliver you into the hand of brutish men, skillful to destroy.
- Joel 3:4“Yes, and what are you to me, Tyre, and Sidon, and all the regions of Philistia? Will you repay me? And if you repay me, I will swiftly and speedily return your repayment on your own head.
- 2 Chr 6:23then hear from heaven, act, and judge your servants, bringing retribution to the wicked, to bring his way on his own head; and justifying the righteous, to give him according to his righteousness.
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Christ at the center
The promise of one Shepherd-King David, a new heart and new Spirit, and the river of life flowing from the temple all stream toward Christ, the good Shepherd who gives the Spirit.
How Ezekiel 9:10 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Hebrew word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.