Ezekiel11
New Living Translation
1Then the Spirit lifted me and brought me to the east gateway of the Lord’s Temple, where I saw twenty-five prominent men of the city. Among them were Jaazaniah son of Azzur and Pelatiah son of Benaiah, who were leaders among the people.
2The Spirit said to me, “Son of man, these are the men who are planning evil and giving wicked counsel in this city.
3They say to the people, ‘Is it not a good time to build houses? This city is like an iron pot. We are safe inside it like meat in a pot.’
4Therefore, son of man, prophesy against them loudly and clearly.”
5Then the Spirit of the Lord came upon me, and he told me to say, “This is what the Lord says to the people of Israel: I know what you are saying, for I know every thought that comes into your minds.
6You have murdered many in this city and filled its streets with the dead.
7“Therefore, this is what the Sovereign Lord says: This city is an iron pot all right, but the pieces of meat are the victims of your injustice. As for you, I will soon drag you from this pot.
8I will bring on you the sword of war you so greatly fear, says the Sovereign Lord.
9I will drive you out of Jerusalem and hand you over to foreigners, who will carry out my judgments against you.
10You will be slaughtered all the way to the borders of Israel. I will execute judgment on you, and you will know that I am the Lord.
11No, this city will not be an iron pot for you, and you will not be like meat safe inside it. I will judge you even to the borders of Israel,
12and you will know that I am the Lord. For you have refused to obey my decrees and regulations; instead, you have copied the standards of the nations around you.”
13While I was still prophesying, Pelatiah son of Benaiah suddenly died. Then I fell face down on the ground and cried out, “O Sovereign Lord, are you going to kill everyone in Israel?”
14Then this message came to me from the Lord:
15“Son of man, the people still left in Jerusalem are talking about you and your relatives and all the people of Israel who are in exile. They are saying, ‘Those people are far away from the Lord, so now he has given their land to us!’
16“Therefore, tell the exiles, ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: Although I have scattered you in the countries of the world, I will be a sanctuary to you during your time in exile.
17I, the Sovereign Lord, will gather you back from the nations where you have been scattered, and I will give you the land of Israel once again.’
18“When the people return to their homeland, they will remove every trace of their vile images and detestable idols.
19And I will give them singleness of heart and put a new spirit within them. I will take away their stony, stubborn heart and give them a tender, responsive heart,
20so they will obey my decrees and regulations. Then they will truly be my people, and I will be their God.
21But as for those who long for vile images and detestable idols, I will repay them fully for their sins. I, the Sovereign Lord, have spoken!”
22Then the cherubim lifted their wings and rose into the air with their wheels beside them, and the glory of the God of Israel hovered above them.
23Then the glory of the Lord went up from the city and stopped above the mountain to the east.
24Afterward the Spirit of God carried me back again to Babylonia, to the people in exile there. And so ended the vision of my visit to Jerusalem.
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