Ezekiel11
New International Version
1Then the Spirit lifted me up and brought me to the gate of the house of the Lord that faces east. There at the entrance of the gate were twenty-five men, and I saw among them Jaazaniah son of Azzur and Pelatiah son of Benaiah, leaders of the people.
2The Lord said to me, “Son of man, these are the men who are plotting evil and giving wicked advice in this city.
3They say, ‘Haven’t our houses been recently rebuilt? This city is a pot, and we are the meat in it.’
4Therefore prophesy against them; prophesy, son of man.”
5Then the Spirit of the Lord came on me, and he told me to say: “This is what the Lord says: That is what you are saying, you leaders in Israel, but I know what is going through your mind.
6You have killed many people in this city and filled its streets with the dead.
7“Therefore this is what the Sovereign Lord says: The bodies you have thrown there are the meat and this city is the pot, but I will drive you out of it.
8You fear the sword, and the sword is what I will bring against you, declares the Sovereign Lord.
9I will drive you out of the city and deliver you into the hands of foreigners and inflict punishment on you.
10You will fall by the sword, and I will execute judgment on you at the borders of Israel. Then you will know that I am the Lord.
11This city will not be a pot for you, nor will you be the meat in it; I will execute judgment on you at the borders of Israel.
12And you will know that I am the Lord, for you have not followed my decrees or kept my laws but have conformed to the standards of the nations around you.”
13Now as I was prophesying, Pelatiah son of Benaiah died. Then I fell facedown and cried out in a loud voice, “Alas, Sovereign Lord! Will you completely destroy the remnant of Israel?”
14The word of the Lord came to me:
15“Son of man, the people of Jerusalem have said of your fellow exiles and all the other Israelites, ‘They are far away from the Lord; this land was given to us as our possession.’
16“Therefore say: ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: Although I sent them far away among the nations and scattered them among the countries, yet for a little while I have been a sanctuary for them in the countries where they have gone.’
17“Therefore say: ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: I will gather you from the nations and bring you back from the countries where you have been scattered, and I will give you back the land of Israel again.’
18“They will return to it and remove all its vile images and detestable idols.
19I will give them an undivided heart and put a new spirit in them; I will remove from them their heart of stone and give them a heart of flesh.
20Then they will follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws. They will be my people, and I will be their God.
21But as for those whose hearts are devoted to their vile images and detestable idols, I will bring down on their own heads what they have done, declares the Sovereign Lord.”
22Then the cherubim, with the wheels beside them, spread their wings, and the glory of the God of Israel was above them.
23The glory of the Lord went up from within the city and stopped above the mountain east of it.
24The Spirit lifted me up and brought me to the exiles in Babylonia in the vision given by the Spirit of God. Then the vision I had seen went up from me,
25and I told the exiles everything the Lord had shown me.
Study Guide
Public-domain commentary and original-language notes for Ezekiel 11.
Chapter Summary
In this chapter: Divine judgments against the wicked at Jerusalem. (1-13). Divine favour towards those in captivity. (14-21). The Divine presence forsakes the city. (22-25).
vv1-13
Where Satan cannot persuade men to look upon the judgment to come as uncertain, he gains his point by persuading them to look upon it as at a distance. These wretched rulers dare to say, We are as safe in this city as flesh in a boiling pot; the walls of the city shall be to us as walls of brass, we shall receive no more damage from the besiegers than the caldron does from the fire. When sinners flatter themselves to their own ruin, it is time to tell them they shall have no peace if they go on. None shall remain in possession of the city but those who are buried in it. Those are least safe who are most secure. God is often pleased to single out some sinners for warning to others. Whether Pelatiah died at that time in Jerusalem, or when the fulfilment of the prophecy drew near, is uncertain. Like Ezekiel, we ought to be much affected with the sudden death of others, and we should still plead with the Lord to have mercy on those who remain.
vv14-21
The pious captives in Babylon were insulted by the Jews who continued in Jerusalem; but God made gracious promises to them. It is promised, that God will give them one heart; a heart firmly fixed for God, and not wavering. All who are made holy have a new spirit, a new temper and dispositions; they act from new principles, walk by new rules, and aim at new ends. A new name, or a new face, will not serve without a new spirit. If any man be in Christ, he is a new creature. The carnal heart, like a stone, cannot be made to feel. Men live among the dead and dying, and are neither concerned nor humbled. He will make their hearts tender and fit to receive impressions: this is God's work, it is his gift by promise; and a wonderful and happy change is wrought by it, from death to life. Their practices shall be agreeable to those principles. These two must and will go together. When the sinner feels his need of these blessings, let him present the promises as prayers in the name of Christ, they will be performed.
vv22-25
Here is the departure of God's presence from the city and temple. It was from the Mount of Olives that the vision went up, typifying the ascension of Christ to heaven from that very mountain. Though the Lord will not forsake his people, yet he may be driven away from any part of his visible church by their sins, and woe will be upon them when He withdraws his presence, glory, and protection.
Key Words
רוּחַ: wind; by resemblance breath, i.e. a sensible (or even violent) exhalation; figuratively, life, anger, unsubstantiality; by extension, a region of the sky; by resemblance spirit, but only of a rational being (including its expression and functions)
נָשָׂא: to lift, in a great variety of applications, literal and figurative, absolute and relative
בּוֹא: to go or come (in a wide variety of applications)
קַדְמוֹנִי: (of time) anterior or (of place) oriental
שַׁעַר: an opening, i.e. door or gate
בַּיִת: a house (in the greatest variation of applications, especially family, etc.)
פָּנָה: to turn; by implication, to face, i.e. appear, look, etc.
קָדִים: the fore or front part; hence (by orientation) the East (often adverbially, eastward, for brevity the east wind)
הִנֵּה: lo!
פֶּתַח: an opening (literally), i.e. door (gate) or entrance way
Cross References
Ezekiel 11The leaders scoffingly twist Jeremiah's vision of the boiling caldron facing away from the north.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Direct parallel in Ezekiel's later restoration oracle, reiterating the promise of a heart of flesh.
Supported by Matthew Henry
The historical fulfillment of judgment on the border of Israel at Riblah.
Supported by JFB
God promises to give the returnees 'one heart' to fear Him forever.
Supported by Matthew Henry
The glory of the Lord was last seen departing to this same east gate.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Identifies the twenty-five men in the same location previously seen practicing sun-worship.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Ezekiel's subsequent detailed parable of the boiling caldron representing Jerusalem's fiery siege.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
The scoffing leaders twist Jeremiah's letter to captives advising them to build houses in Babylon.
Supported by JFB
Confirms God's absolute sovereignty and knowledge over the immediate thoughts of their hearts.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Parallels the condemnation of wicked rulers who flay and chop up God's people like meat.
Supported by JFB
Ezekiel repeats his intercessory cry, falling on his face, when a representative leader falls dead.
Supported by JFB
Traces the progressive departure of the divine glory from the temple prior to leaving the city.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Ezekiel is transported in the visions of God by the Spirit between Chaldea and Jerusalem.
Supported by Matthew Poole
God reverses their confident proverb; they will be brought out of their defensive caldron.
Supported by JFB
Contrasts those who follow detestable things with those who keep God's statutes.
Supported by John Calvin