And you, O profane wicked one, prince of Israel, whose day has come, the time of your final punishment,
English Standard Version (ESV)
The word translated "profane" here actually carries a sense of being "deadly wounded" or "overthrown." This isn't just about Zedekiah's moral corruption, but a prophetic declaration that his reign and his life are already marked for destruction, even before the final blow falls. It highlights God's perspective, seeing the end result of iniquity as a done deal.
And you, O profane wicked one, prince of Israel, whose day has come, the time of your final punishment,
English Standard Version (ESV)
The prophet shifts from a general judgment on the people to a direct address to Zedekiah, the king of Judah, calling him a wicked and profane ruler. This declaration comes as Ezekiel proclaims the imminent arrival of Zedekiah's "day"—the time of his final punishment and the end of his iniquity, which will culminate in the downfall of his kingdom and his own ruin.
Ezekiel doesn't mince words, calling the prince 'profane' and 'wicked.' What does this really mean, and why is it so serious?
The Hebrew word translated as 'profane' here carries a powerful sense of desecration and corruption. It’s not just about general wickedness, but a deep betrayal of sacred trust.
A King's Sacred Duty
Zedekiah, as the prince of Israel, was anointed and set apart. He represented God's rule on earth. His 'profanity' stemmed from breaking his oath to Babylon – an oath sworn in God's name. This wasn't just a political failure; it was a spiritual one, bringing disgrace upon God Himself before the nations.
More Than Just Breaking a Promise
This breaking of oaths and covenants was seen as a profound disrespect, a 'profaning' of God's name and authority. His actions showed a contempt for the divine order and had reached a point where God could no longer overlook it.
The verse speaks of a 'day' that has come and a time when 'iniquity shall have an end.' What does this 'end' signify?
This phrase, 'the time of the iniquity of the end,' is a profound way of describing a point of no return. It's not that sin itself ceases to exist, but that a specific course of sin reaches its culmination, triggering inevitable judgment.
Culmination and Consequence
Scripture often depicts God's patience, allowing nations and individuals to reach a fullness of their sin. When this 'iniquity' reaches its peak, its 'end' comes not in its disappearance, but in its decisive punishment. Zedekiah's reign, characterized by deceit and broken vows, had reached this terminal stage.
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Judgment as a Divine Stop Sign
God's judgment, in this context, acts as the final stop to a destructive path. The 'end' of iniquity here means the cessation of its destructive opportunity and the commencement of its deserved recompense. For Zedekiah, this meant the end of his rule, his freedom, and his nation's sovereignty.
Understand the original words
chalal · Hebrew Adjective
Describes something common, polluted, or ritually impure. In a theological sense, it often characterizes those who act without regard for God's holiness or those who have polluted what God has set apart.
rasha‘ · Hebrew Adjective
Describes one who acts with conscious evil or malice. It denotes a person whose lifestyle or actions are in total opposition to God's moral law.
nasi’ · Hebrew Noun
A designated title for the ruler of Israel; in this context, it is used ironically or as an indictment against the leader who has failed his responsibility to lead the people in righteousness.
This prophecy addresses King Zedekiah directly, calling him 'profane' and 'wicked' for breaking his oath to Babylon and leading his people into final ruin. The timing is critical: Jerusalem is under siege, the culmination of Judah's rebellion and iniquity, bringing an end to its independent kingdom.
c. 605 BC
First Deportation to Babylon
Nebuchadnezzar deports many Judean nobles and skilled workers, including Daniel, to Babylon. This marks the beginning of Babylonian dominance and foreshadows future judgment.
c. 597 BC
Second Deportation and Jehoiachin's Exile
Nebuchadnezzar deports King Jehoiachin and more Judeans to Babylon after a brief rebellion. Zedekiah, Jehoiachin's uncle, is installed as the new king of Judah.
c. 593 BC
Ezekiel's Ministry Begins
The prophet Ezekiel begins his public ministry in exile among the Judean captives in Babylon, delivering messages of judgment and future hope.
c. 589 BC— this verse
Siege of Jerusalem Begins
King Zedekiah, despite Ezekiel's warnings, breaks his treaty with Babylon and allies with Egypt, leading Nebuchadnezzar to lay siege to Jerusalem.
c. 587-586 BC
Fall of Jerusalem and Third Deportation
After a prolonged siege, Babylonian forces breach Jerusalem's walls, executing Zedekiah's sons before his eyes, blinding him, and deporting him and the remaining population to Babylon.
This passage speaks to God's patience with iniquity, allowing it to reach its fullness before judgment, mirroring the concept in Ezekiel that judgment falls when iniquity has reached its 'end.'
Jeremiah 52:10-11This directly describes the fate of Zedekiah, the 'profane wicked prince' of Ezekiel 21:25, showing his sons being killed before his eyes and then his own eyes being blinded and being taken to Babylon, fulfilling the prophecy.
Daniel 9:24This verse speaks of 'an end to sin' and 'atonement for wickedness,' offering a theological perspective on the ultimate conclusion of sin and judgment that resonates with Ezekiel's pronouncement.
Matthew 23:35-36Jesus speaks of the full measure of judgment falling upon the wicked generation, illustrating the principle that iniquity, when it reaches its peak, incurs God's final retribution, much like the 'day' of judgment for the prince of Israel.
gillEzekiel 21:25: "And thou, profane wicked prince of Israel, whose day is come, when iniquity shall have an end,"
And thou, profane wicked prince of Israel,.... Meaning Zedekiah, the then reigning prince; who is so called, because he had profaned or violated the oath and covenant he made with the king of Babylon, as well as because of other sins he was guilty of; and his being a prince of Israel was an aggravation of his crimes: now, though it is "not fit" in common, or for ordinary persons, "to…
ellicottEzekiel 21:25: "And thou, profane wicked prince of Israel, whose day is come, when iniquity shall have an end,"
(25) Profane.— The prophet now turns from the people as a whole to the individual prince at their head. The word for “ profane” is the same as is translated “slain” in Ezekiel 21:14 ; it would be better rendered here, as there, overthrown. What is close at hand is described as accomplished. When iniquity shall have an end.—Literally, at the time of the iniquity of the end. The same ex…
The word translated "profane" here actually carries a sense of being "deadly wounded" or "overthrown." This isn't just about Zedekiah's moral corruption, but a prophetic declaration that his reign and his life are already marked for destruction, even before the final blow falls. It highlights God's perspective, seeing the end result of iniquity as a done deal.
The prophet shifts from a general judgment on the people to a direct address to Zedekiah, the king of Judah, calling him a wicked and profane ruler. This declaration comes as Ezekiel proclaims the imminent arrival of Zedekiah's "day"—the time of his final punishment and the end of his iniquity, which will culminate in the downfall of his kingdom and his own ruin.
The prophet shifts from a general judgment on the people to a direct address to Zedekiah, the king of Judah, calling him a wicked and profane ruler. This declaration comes as Ezekiel proclaims the imminent arrival of Zedekiah's "day"—the time of his final punishment and the end of his iniquity, which will culminate in the downfall of his kingdom and his own ruin.
"And you, O profane wicked one, prince of Israel, whose day has come, the time of your final punishment," — The word translated "profane" here actually carries a sense of being "deadly wounded" or "overthrown." This isn't just about Zedekiah's moral corruption, but a prophetic declaration that his reign an…
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Last reviewed October 2026