Definition: 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.

Explanation: Okay, let’s break down this verse from Ezekiel 6:3. It’s a pretty intense and dramatic passage about God's plan for Israel. Here’s what it means in simpler terms: The Basic Idea: God is going to actively attack and destroy the strongholds of Israel – essentially, its high places, mountains, and settlements. He’s using a powerful weapon against them. Let’s unpack each part: “Ezekiel 6:3” : This tells us this verse comes from a specific book in the Bible called Ezekiel. It's a message from God to him. “And say, Ye mountains of Israel, hear the word of the Lord GOD…” - God is speaking directly to the people of Israel. He’s giving them a command and a warning. “…Thus saith the Lord GOD to the mountains, and to the hills, to the rivers, and to the valleys;” – God is using His power and authority to address all of creation – the mountains, hills, rivers, and valleys. He’s not just talking to them individually; he's speaking to everything connected to Israel. “Behold, I, even I, will bring a sword upon you…” - This is the core of the verse. God intends to actively strike down these high places with a weapon – a sword. It’s not just about a general threat; it's a deliberate and forceful attack. “and I will destroy your high places.” - This means God is going to obliterate or ruin the strongholds, fortified areas, and important structures that Israel has built up. What’s the Big Picture? This verse paints a picture of judgment and punishment for Israel's disobedience and idolatry (worshiping other gods). It suggests that God is serious about his commitment to his people and will not tolerate them straying from His path. Important Note: This passage isn’t necessarily about physical destruction in the way we usually think of it. It's a symbolic representation of God’s judgment against those who reject Him and His word. In short, this verse describes a severe threat from God to Israel – a complete destruction of their strongholds and fortified areas. --- Do you want me to: Explain another part of the passage? Discuss what this verse might symbolize in a broader context of biblical history? Give an example of how this message might have been received by the Israelites at the time?