Ezekiel24
New American Standard
1Now the word of the Lord came to me in the ninth year, in the tenth month, on the tenth of the month, saying,
2“Son of man, write the name of the day, this very day. The king of Babylon has laid siege to Jerusalem this very day.
3Present a parable to the rebellious house and say to them, ‘This is what the Lord God says: “Put on the pot, put it on and also pour water into it;
4Put in it the pieces of meat, Every good piece, the thigh and the shoulder; Fill it with choice bones.
5Take the choicest of the flock, And also stack wood under the pot. Make it boil vigorously. Also boil its bones in it.”
6‘Therefore, this is what the Lord God says: “Woe to the bloody city, To the pot in which there is rust And whose rust has not gone out of it! Take out of it piece after piece, Without making a choice.
7For her blood is in her midst; She placed it on the bare rock; She did not pour it on the ground To cover it with dust.
8So that it may cause wrath to come up to take vengeance, I have put her blood on the bare rock, So that it will not be covered.”
9Therefore, this is what the Lord God says: “Woe to the bloody city! I also will make the wood pile great.
10Heap on the wood, kindle the fire, Cook the meat thoroughly And mix in the spices, And let the bones be burned up.
11Then set it empty on its burning coals So that it may be hot And its bronze may glow, And its filthiness may be melted in it, Its rust eliminated.
12She has wearied Me with work, Yet her great rust has not gone from her; Let her rust be in the fire!
13In your filthiness is outrageous sin. Because I would have cleansed you, Yet you are not clean, You will not be cleansed from your filthiness again Until I have expended My wrath on you.
14I, the Lord, have spoken; it is coming and I will act. I will not overlook, I will not pity, and I will not be sorry; according to your ways and according to your deeds I will judge you,” declares the Lord God.’”
15And the word of the Lord came to me, saying,
16“Son of man, behold, I am about to take from you what is precious to your eyes with a fatal blow; but you shall not mourn and you shall not weep, and your tears shall not come.
17Groan silently; do no mourning for the dead. Bind on your turban and put your sandals on your feet, and do not cover your mustache, and do not eat the bread of other people.”
18So I spoke to the people in the morning, and in the evening my wife died. And in the morning I did as I was commanded.
19And the people said to me, “Will you not tell us what these things mean for us, that you are doing?”
20Then I said to them, “The word of the Lord came to me, saying,
21‘Speak to the house of Israel, “This is what the Lord God says: ‘Behold, I am about to profane My sanctuary, the pride of your power, that which is precious in your eyes and the longing of your soul; and your sons and your daughters whom you have left behind will fall by the sword.
22And you will do just as I have done; you will not cover your mustache, and you will not eat the bread of other people.
23Your turbans will be on your heads, and your sandals on your feet. You will not mourn and you will not weep; but you will rot away in your guilty deeds, and you will groan to one another.
24So Ezekiel will be a sign to you; according to all that he has done, you will do. When it comes, then you will know that I am the Lord God.’”
25‘As for you, son of man, will it not be on the day when I take from them their stronghold, the joy of their splendor, that which is precious in their eyes and their heart’s longing, their sons and their daughters,
26that on that day the one who escapes will come to you with information for your ears?
27On that day your mouth will be opened to him who escaped, and you will speak and no longer be silenced. So you will be a sign to them, and they will know that I am the Lord.’”
Study Guide
Public-domain commentary and original-language notes for Ezekiel 24.
Chapter Summary
In this chapter: The fate of Jerusalem. (1-14). The extent of the sufferings of the Jews. (15-27).
vv1-14
The pot on the fire represented Jerusalem besieged by the Chaldeans: all orders and ranks were within the walls, prepared as a prey for the enemy. They ought to have put away their transgressions, as the scum, which rises by the heat of the fire, is taken from the top of the pot. But they grew worse, and their miseries increased. Jerusalem was to be levelled with the ground. The time appointed for the punishment of wicked men may seem to come slowly, but it will come surely. It is sad to think how many there are, on whom ordinances and providences are all lost.
vv15-27
Though mourning for the dead is a duty, yet it must be kept under by religion and right reason: we must not sorrow as men that have no hope. Believers must not copy the language and expressions of those who know not God. The people asked the meaning of the sign. God takes from them all that was dearest to them. And as Ezekiel wept not for his affliction, so neither should they weep for theirs. Blessed be God, we need not pine away under our afflictions; for should all comforts fail, and all sorrows be united, yet the broken heart and the mourner's prayer are always acceptable before God.
Key Words
תְּשִׁיעִי: ninth
שָׁנֶה: a year (as a revolution of time)
עֲשִׂירִי: tenth; by abbreviation, tenth month or (feminine) part
חֹדֶשׁ: the new moon; by implication, a month
עָשׂוֹר: ten; by abbreviated form ten strings, and so a decachord
דָּבָר: a word; by implication, a matter (as spoken of) or thing; adverbially, a cause
אָמַר: to say (used with great latitude)
בֵּן: a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative relationship, including grandson, subject, nation, quality or condition, etc., (like father or brother), etc.)
אָדָם: ruddy i.e. a human being (an individual or the species, mankind, etc.)
כָּתַב: to grave, by implication, to write (describe, inscribe, prescribe, subscribe)
Cross References
Ezekiel 24Provides exact historical confirmation of the start of the Babylonian siege on this precise day.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Directly links the pot/caldron imagery to the cynical proverb previously spoken by Jerusalem's leaders.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Parallels Jeremiah's earlier vision of the seething pot facing away from the north.
Supported by JFB
Contrasts the law to cover animal blood with Jerusalem's blatant, uncovered exposure of human blood.
Supported by JFB
Interprets Ezekiel's personal loss ('desire of your eyes') as a sign of the sanctuary's destruction.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Highlights the unusual nature of the command: high priests were normally forbidden standard mourning practices.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Verifies the fulfillment of God opening Ezekiel's mouth when the escaped messenger arrives.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Jeremiah's historical record matching the ninth year, tenth month, and tenth day.
Supported by JFB
Parallels blood calling for vengeance from the ground, exposed on the bare rock.
Supported by JFB
Underscores the absolute certainty and irreversibility of God's declared judgment.
Supported by Matthew Poole
The empty pot heated to consume filthiness typifies destroying a house infected with leprosy.
Supported by JFB
Illuminates Jerusalem wearying herself with vain labors and false assurances instead of repentance.
Supported by JFB
Contrasts the standard mourning and leper ritual of covering the lips with Ezekiel's prohibition.
Supported by Matthew Poole
David walked barefoot with covered head in deep grief; Ezekiel is commanded the exact opposite.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Fulfills the Leviticus covenant curse that they would pine away for their iniquities.
Supported by Matthew Poole