Wherefore means the same as “Therefore,” but it is not clear exactly what this connector links to. Most likely it links back to the sins and disobedience of the people of Jerusalem and Judah recorded in verses 6-7. But God focuses on a specific sin in this verse, which is, their defilement of the Temple. Because of all their sins, God swears an oath to punish the people without pity.
As I live … surely: The Hebrew expression here introduces an oath. In the Bible swearing an oath does not mean cursing or using bad language. People swore oaths when they made a strong promise, and to make sure that others believed them, they called their gods or powerful people as witnesses who would punish them if they did not keep their promise. For the ancient Jewish people, the strongest oath was to swear by the living God. In this verse it is God himself who makes a very strong promise, and to make sure that the people believe him, he uses the strongest oath that the people knew, that is, he swears by himself, or by his own life. “Just as I am the living God” and “Just as I am living” are possible ways to introduce the oath here. Some languages may have local forms for oaths. If so, it is good to use such a form here. But some of these forms may not be appropriate when used of words coming from God. In that case an alternative must be found, such as “I am the living and powerful God. I will certainly do what I promise.” For those languages in which it is not possible to speak of God as “living,” it is acceptable to say “the true God.”
Says the Lord GOD: The usual Hebrew word for speaking is not used here; instead says renders a noun meaning “utterance,” “declaration,” or “statement.” The formula here introduces a formal declaration, or pronouncement, from God, emphasizing that it is an authoritative and important message. For the Lord GOD, which is literally “my Lord Yahweh,” see 5.5. This clause may be rendered “This is the very word of the Lord Yahweh.”
Because you have defiled my sanctuary with all your detestable things and with all your abominations: You have defiled my sanctuary means the people of Judah made God’s Temple unclean, that is, “unfit as a place to worship” (Contemporary English Version). The Hebrew word rendered detestable things can refer to anything filthy and disgusting. For abominations see Ezek 5.9. Detestable things and abominations are the “evil, disgusting things” (Good News Translation) the people did in the Temple. As in verse 9, these things refer to worshiping idols and the wicked practices of the people and their leaders. Ezekiel gives more detail of these things in chapter 8. This clause begins with the logical connector because, which may be kept by saying “Because you have defiled my Temple with all your evil, disgusting things.” However, in many languages it is more natural to state the things they did and then begin a new sentence with “Because of this” (see the model below).
Therefore I will cut you down is literally “and I too will shave you.” There is some uncertainty about the meaning of the Hebrew verb here, as the different translations show. But since this verse looks back to verse 1, where Ezekiel is told to shave his head and beard with a sword, one possible model for this clause is “I am going to use my razor [or, sword] on you,” which means God will destroy the people of Judah. Although the text says that God will do it himself, it means that he will allow their enemies to defeat them and humiliate them completely by cutting off their hair and beards, as was the practice in those days. The Revised Standard Version footnote on this clause, which is a guess based on the Septuagint, should be ignored since the meaning “I will shave you” fits so well.
My eye will not spare is a figurative expression that means God will not have mercy on the people of Judah. I will have no pity repeats the same idea. These two clauses emphasize that God will cut them down “without mercy” (Good News Translation). No one will escape the punishment.
A model for this verse is:
• You have done evil things that I hate in my Temple and made it a place that is unfit for worshiping me. Because of this, I, the Lord Yahweh, say this. Just as I am the living God, I am going to cut you down. I will not have pity on anyone or spare them the punishment.
Quoted with permission from Gross, Carl & Stine, Philip C. A Handbook on Ezekiel. (UBS Helps for Translators). Miami: UBS, 2016. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .