Discovery BoxEzekiel 2:4 
Context2:4 The people 1 to whom I am sending you are obstinate and hard-hearted, 2 and you must say to them, ‘This is what the sovereign Lord says.’ 3
Ezekiel 3:11
Context3:11 Go to the exiles, to your fellow countrymen, 4 and speak to them – say to them, ‘This is what the sovereign Lord says,’ whether they pay attention or not.”
Ezekiel 5:5
Context5:5 “This is what the sovereign Lord says: This is Jerusalem; I placed her in the center of the nations with countries all around her.
Ezekiel 5:8
Context5:8 “Therefore this is what the sovereign Lord says: I – even I – am against you, 5 and I will execute judgment 6 among you while the nations watch. 7
Ezekiel 7:2
Context7:2 “You, son of man – this is what the sovereign Lord says to the land of Israel: An end! The end is coming on the four corners of the land! 8
Ezekiel 11:21
Context11:21 But those whose hearts are devoted to detestable things and abominations, I hereby repay them for what they have done, 9 says the sovereign Lord.”
Ezekiel 12:10
Context12:10 Say to them, ‘This is what the sovereign Lord says: The prince will raise this burden in Jerusalem, 10 and all the house of Israel within it.’ 11
Ezekiel 13:3
Context13:3 This is what the sovereign Lord says: Woe to the foolish prophets who follow their own spirit but have seen nothing!
Ezekiel 13:16
Context13:16 those prophets of Israel who would prophesy about Jerusalem 12 and would see visions of peace for it, when there was no peace,” declares the sovereign Lord.’
Ezekiel 14:14
Context14:14 Even if these three men, Noah, Daniel, 13 and Job, were in it, they would save only their own lives by their righteousness, declares the sovereign Lord.
Ezekiel 14:18
Context14:18 Even if these three men were in it, as surely as I live, declares the sovereign Lord, they could not save their own sons or daughters – they would save only their own lives.
Ezekiel 14:23
Context14:23 They will console you when you see their behavior and their deeds, because you will know that it was not without reason that I have done everything which I have done in it, declares the sovereign Lord.”
Ezekiel 15:6
Context15:6 “Therefore, this is what the sovereign Lord says: Like the wood of the vine is among the trees of the forest which I have provided as fuel for the fire – so I will provide the residents of Jerusalem 14 as fuel. 15
Ezekiel 16:3
Context16:3 and say, ‘This is what the sovereign Lord says to Jerusalem: Your origin and your birth were in the land of the Canaanites; your father was an Amorite and your mother a Hittite.
Ezekiel 16:14
Context16:14 Your fame 16 spread among the nations because of your beauty; your beauty was perfect because of the splendor which I bestowed on you, declares the sovereign Lord. 17
Ezekiel 16:59
Context16:59 “‘For this is what the sovereign Lord says: I will deal with you according to what you have done when you despised your oath by breaking your covenant.
Ezekiel 18:9
Context18:9 and follows my statutes and observes my regulations by carrying them out. 18 That man 19 is righteous; he will certainly live, 20 declares the sovereign Lord.
Ezekiel 20:27
Context20:27 “Therefore, speak to the house of Israel, son of man, and tell them, ‘This is what the sovereign Lord says: In this way too your fathers blasphemed me when they were unfaithful to me.
Ezekiel 20:30
Context20:30 “Therefore say to the house of Israel, ‘This is what the sovereign Lord says: Will you defile yourselves like your fathers 21 and engage in prostitution with detestable idols?
Ezekiel 21:13
Context21:13 “‘For testing will come, and what will happen when the scepter, which the sword despises, is no more? 22 declares the sovereign Lord.’
Ezekiel 21:26
Context21:26 this is what the sovereign Lord says:
Tear off the turban, 23
take off the crown!
Things must change! 24
Exalt the lowly,
bring down the proud! 25
Ezekiel 22:19
Context22:19 Therefore this is what the sovereign Lord says: ‘Because all of you 26 have become slag, look out! – I am about to gather you in the middle of Jerusalem. 27
Ezekiel 23:28
Context23:28 “For this is what the sovereign Lord says: Look here, 28 I am about to deliver you over to 29 those whom you hate, to those with whom you were disgusted.
Ezekiel 23:34
Context23:34 You will drain it dry, 30 gnaw its pieces, 31 and tear out your breasts, 32 for I have spoken, declares the sovereign Lord.
Ezekiel 23:46
Context23:46 “For this is what the sovereign Lord says: Bring up an army 33 against them and subject them 34 to terror and plunder.
Ezekiel 23:49
Context23:49 They will repay you for your obscene conduct, and you will be punished for idol worship. 35 Then you will know that I am the sovereign Lord.”
Ezekiel 24:24
Context24:24 Ezekiel will be an object lesson for you; you will do all that he has done. When it happens, then you will know that I am the sovereign Lord.’
Ezekiel 25:6
Context25:6 For this is what the sovereign Lord says: Because you clapped your hands, stamped your feet, and rejoiced with intense scorn 36 over the land of Israel,
Ezekiel 25:8
Context25:8 “This is what the sovereign Lord says: ‘Moab 37 and Seir say, “Look, the house of Judah is like all the other nations.”
Ezekiel 25:12
Context25:12 “This is what the sovereign Lord says: ‘Edom 38 has taken vengeance against the house of Judah; they have made themselves fully culpable 39 by taking vengeance 40 on them. 41
Ezekiel 25:15-16
Context25:15 “This is what the sovereign Lord says: ‘The Philistines 42 have exacted merciless revenge, 43 showing intense scorn 44 in their effort to destroy Judah 45 with unrelenting hostility. 46 25:16 So this is what the sovereign Lord says: Take note, I am about to stretch out my hand against the Philistines. I will kill 47 the Cherethites 48 and destroy those who remain on the seacoast.
Ezekiel 26:5
Context26:5 She will be a place where fishing nets are spread, surrounded by the sea. For I have spoken, declares the sovereign Lord. She will become plunder for the nations,
Ezekiel 26:7
Context26:7 “For this is what the sovereign Lord says: Take note that 49 I am about to bring King Nebuchadrezzar 50 of Babylon, king of kings, against Tyre from the north, with horses, chariots, and horsemen, an army and hordes of people.
Ezekiel 26:15
Context26:15 “This is what the sovereign Lord says to Tyre: Oh, how the coastlands will shake at the sound of your fall, when the wounded groan, at the massive slaughter in your midst!
Ezekiel 26:19
Context26:19 “For this is what the sovereign Lord says: When I make you desolate like the uninhabited cities, when I bring up the deep over you and the surging 51 waters overwhelm you,
Ezekiel 26:21
Context26:21 I will bring terrors on you, and you will be no more! Though you are sought after, you will never be found again, declares the sovereign Lord.”
Ezekiel 28:12
Context28:12 “Son of man, sing 52 a lament for the king of Tyre, and say to him, ‘This is what the sovereign Lord says:
“‘You were the sealer 53 of perfection,
full of wisdom, and perfect in beauty.
Ezekiel 28:24
Context28:24 “‘No longer will Israel suffer from the sharp briers 54 or painful thorns of all who surround and scorn them. 55 Then they will know that I am the sovereign Lord.
Ezekiel 29:8
Context29:8 “‘Therefore, this is what the sovereign Lord says: Look, I am about to bring a sword against you, and I will kill 56 every person and every animal.
Ezekiel 29:13
Context29:13 “‘For this is what the sovereign Lord says: At the end of forty years 57 I will gather Egypt from the peoples where they were scattered.
Ezekiel 29:16
Context29:16 It will never again be Israel’s source of confidence, but a reminder of how they sinned by turning to Egypt for help. 58 Then they will know that I am the sovereign Lord.’”
Ezekiel 29:20
Context29:20 I have given him the land of Egypt as his compensation for attacking Tyre 59 , because they did it for me, declares the sovereign Lord.
Ezekiel 30:10
Context30:10 “‘This is what the sovereign Lord says:
I will put an end to the hordes of Egypt,
by the hand of King Nebuchadrezzar 60 of Babylon.
Ezekiel 31:10
Context31:10 “‘Therefore this is what the sovereign Lord says: Because it was tall in stature, and its top reached into the clouds, and it was proud of its height,
Ezekiel 32:3
Context32:3 “‘This is what the sovereign Lord says:
“‘I will throw my net over you 61 in the assembly of many peoples;
and they will haul you up in my dragnet.
Ezekiel 32:8
Context32:8 I will darken all the lights in the sky over you,
and I will darken your land,
declares the sovereign Lord.
Ezekiel 32:16
Context32:16 This is a lament; they will chant it.
The daughters of the nations will chant it.
They will chant it over Egypt and over all her hordes,
declares the sovereign Lord.”
Ezekiel 32:31
Context32:31 “Pharaoh will see them and be consoled over all his hordes who were killed by the sword, Pharaoh and all his army, declares the sovereign Lord.
Ezekiel 34:20
Context34:20 “‘Therefore, this is what the sovereign Lord says to them: Look, I myself will judge between the fat sheep and the lean sheep.
Ezekiel 36:2
Context36:2 This is what the sovereign Lord says: The enemy has spoken against you, saying “Aha!” and, “The ancient heights 62 have become our property!”’
Ezekiel 36:7
Context36:7 So this is what the sovereign Lord says: I vow 63 that the nations around you will endure insults as well.
Ezekiel 36:13-14
Context36:13 “‘This is what the sovereign Lord says: Because they are saying to you, “You are a devourer of men, and bereave your nation of children,” 36:14 therefore you will no longer devour people and no longer bereave your nation of children, declares the sovereign Lord.
Ezekiel 36:33
Context36:33 “‘This is what the sovereign Lord says: In the day I cleanse you from all your sins, I will populate the cities and the ruins will be rebuilt.
Ezekiel 36:37
Context36:37 “This is what the sovereign Lord says: I will allow the house of Israel to ask me to do this for them: 64 I will multiply their people like sheep. 65
Ezekiel 37:3
Context37:3 He said to me, “Son of man, can these bones live?” I said to him, “Sovereign Lord, you know.”
Ezekiel 38:3
Context38:3 and say: ‘This is what the sovereign Lord says: Look, 66 I am against you, Gog, chief prince of Meshech and Tubal.
Ezekiel 38:10
Context38:10 “‘This is what the sovereign Lord says: On that day thoughts will come into your mind, 67 and you will devise an evil plan.
Ezekiel 38:14
Context38:14 “Therefore, prophesy, son of man, and say to Gog: ‘This is what the sovereign Lord says: On that day when my people Israel are living securely, you will take notice 68
Ezekiel 38:18
Context38:18 On that day, when Gog invades 69 the land of Israel, declares the sovereign Lord, my rage will mount up in my anger.
Ezekiel 38:21
Context38:21 I will call for a sword to attack 70 Gog 71 on all my mountains, declares the sovereign Lord; every man’s sword will be against his brother.
Ezekiel 39:1
Context39:1 “As for you, son of man, prophesy against Gog, and say: ‘This is what the sovereign Lord says: Look, I am against you, O Gog, chief prince of Meshech and Tubal!
Ezekiel 39:20
Context39:20 You will fill up at my table with horses and charioteers, 72 with warriors and all the soldiers,’ declares the sovereign Lord.
Ezekiel 39:29
Context39:29 I will no longer hide my face from them, when I pour out my Spirit on the house of Israel, 73 declares the sovereign Lord.”
Ezekiel 43:19
Context43:19 you will give a young bull for a sin offering to the Levitical priests who are descended from Zadok, who approach me to minister to me, declares the sovereign Lord.
Ezekiel 44:6
Context44:6 Say to the rebellious, 74 to the house of Israel, ‘This is what the sovereign Lord says: Enough of all your abominable practices, O house of Israel!
Ezekiel 44:27
Context44:27 On the day he enters the sanctuary, into the inner court to serve in the sanctuary, he must offer his sin offering, declares the sovereign Lord.
Ezekiel 45:18
Context45:18 “‘This is what the sovereign Lord says: In the first month, on the first day of the month, you must take an unblemished young bull and purify the sanctuary.
Ezekiel 46:16
Context46:16 “‘This is what the sovereign Lord says: If the prince should give a gift to one of his sons as 75 his inheritance, it will belong to his sons, it is their property by inheritance.
Ezekiel 47:13
Context47:13 This is what the sovereign Lord says: “Here 76 are the borders 77 you will observe as you allot the land to the twelve tribes of Israel. (Joseph will have two portions.) 78
Ezekiel 47:23
Context47:23 In whatever tribe the foreigner resides, there you will give him his inheritance,” declares the sovereign Lord.
Ezekiel 48:29
Context48:29 This is the land which you will allot to the tribes of Israel, and these are their portions, declares the sovereign Lord.
1 tn Heb “sons.” The word choice may reflect treaty idiom, where the relationship between an overlord and his subjects can be described as that of father and son.
2 tc Heb “stern of face and hard of heart.” The phrases “stern of face” and “hard of heart” are lacking in the LXX.
3 tn The phrase “thus says [the
4 tn Heb “to the sons of your people.”
5 tn Or “I challenge you.” The phrase “I am against you” may be a formula for challenging someone to combat or a duel. See D. I. Block, Ezekiel (NICOT), 1:201-2, and P. Humbert, “Die Herausforderungsformel ‘h!nn#n' ?l?K>,’” ZAW 45 (1933): 101-8. The Hebrew text switches to a second feminine singular form here, indicating that personified Jerusalem is addressed (see vv. 5-6a). The address to Jerusalem continues through v. 15. In vv. 16-17 the second masculine plural is used, as the people are addressed.
6 tn The Hebrew text uses wordplay here to bring out the appropriate nature of God’s judgment. “Execute” translates the same Hebrew verb translated “carried out” (literally meaning “do”) in v. 7, while “judgment” in v. 8 and “regulations” in v. 7 translate the same Hebrew noun (meaning “regulations” or in some cases “judgments” executed on those who break laws). The point seems to be this: God would “carry out judgments” against those who refused to “carry out” his “laws.”
7 tn Heb “in the sight of the nations.”
sn This is one of the ironies of the passage. The Lord set Israel among the nations for honor and praise as they would be holy and obey God’s law as told in Ezek 5:5 and Deut 26:16-19. The practice of these laws and statutes would make the peoples consider Israel wise. (See Deut 4:5-8, where the words for laws and statutes are the same as those used here). Since Israel did not obey, they are made a different kind of object lesson to the nations, not by their obedience but in their punishment as told in Ezek 5:8 and Deut 29:24-29. Yet Deut 30 goes on to say that when they remember the cursings and blessings of the covenant and repent, God will restore them from the nations to which they have been scattered.
8 tn Or “earth.” Elsewhere the expression “four corners of the earth” figuratively refers to the whole earth (Isa 11:12).
9 tn Heb “their way on their head I have placed.”
10 tc The nearly incoherent Hebrew reads “The prince is this burden (prophetic oracle?) in Jerusalem.” The Targum, which may only be trying to make sense of a very difficult text, says “Concerning the prince is this oracle,” assuming the addition of a preposition. This would be the only case where Ezekiel uses this term for a prophetic oracle. The LXX reads the word for “burden” as a synonym for leader, as both words are built on the same root (נָשִׂיא, nasi’), but the verse is still incoherent because it is only a phrase with no verb. The current translation assumes that the verb יִשָּׂא (yisa’) from the root נָשִׂיא has dropped out due to homoioteleuton. If indeed the verb has dropped out (the syntax of the verbless clause being the problem), then context clearly suggests that it be a form of נָשִׂיא (see vv. 7 and 12). Placing the verb between the subject and object would result in three consecutive words based on the root נָשִׂיא and an environment conducive to an omission in copying: הַנָּשִׂיא יִשָּׁא הַמַּשָּׂא הַזֶּה (hannasi’ yisha’ hammasa’ hazzeh, “the Prince will raise this burden”).
sn The prince in Jerusalem refers to King Zedekiah.
map For location see Map5 B1; Map6 F3; Map7 E2; Map8 F2; Map10 B3; JP1 F4; JP2 F4; JP3 F4; JP4 F4.
11 tc The MT reads “within them.” Possibly a scribe copied this form from the following verse “among them,” but only “within it” makes sense in this context.
12 map For location see Map5 B1; Map6 F3; Map7 E2; Map8 F2; Map10 B3; JP1 F4; JP2 F4; JP3 F4; JP4 F4.
13 sn Traditionally this has been understood as a reference to the biblical Daniel, though he was still quite young when Ezekiel prophesied. One wonders if he had developed a reputation as an intercessor by this point. For this reason some prefer to see a reference to a ruler named Danel, known in Canaanite legend for his justice and wisdom. In this case all three of the individuals named would be non-Israelites, however the Ugaritic Danel is not known to have qualities of faith in the Lord that would place him in the company of the other men. See D. I. Block, Ezekiel (NICOT), 1:447-50.
14 map For location see Map5 B1; Map6 F3; Map7 E2; Map8 F2; Map10 B3; JP1 F4; JP2 F4; JP3 F4; JP4 F4.
15 tn The words “as fuel” are not in the Hebrew text, but are implied.
16 tn Heb “name.”
17 sn The description of the nation Israel in vv. 10-14 recalls the splendor of the nation’s golden age under King Solomon.
18 tc The MT reads לַעֲשׂוֹת אֱמֶת (la’asot ’emet, “to do with integrity”), while the LXX reads “to do them,” presupposing לַעֲשׂוֹת אֹתָם (la’asot ’otam). The ם (mem) and ת (tav) have been reversed in the MT. The LXX refelcts the original, supported by similar phrasing in Ezekiel 11:20; 20:19.
19 tn Heb “he.”
20 tn Heb “living, he will live.” The infinitive absolute precedes the finite verb for emphasis.
21 tn Heb “in the way of your fathers.”
22 tn Heb “For testing (will come) and what if also a scepter, it despises, will not be?” The translation understands the subject of the verb “despises,” which is a feminine form in the Hebrew text, to be the sword (which is a feminine noun) mentioned in the previous verses. The text is very difficult and any rendering is uncertain.
23 tn Elsewhere in the Bible the turban is worn by priests (Exod 28:4, 37, 39; 29:6; 39:28, 31; Lev 8:9; 16:4), but here a royal crown is in view.
24 tn Heb “This not this.”
25 tn Heb “the high one.”
26 tn The Hebrew second person pronoun is masculine plural here and in vv. 19b-21, indicating that the people are being addressed.
27 map For location see Map5 B1; Map6 F3; Map7 E2; Map8 F2; Map10 B3; JP1 F4; JP2 F4; JP3 F4; JP4 F4.
28 tn The word הִנֵּה (hinneh, traditionally “behold”) indicates becoming aware of something and has been translated here as a verb.
29 tn Heb “I am giving you into the hand of.”
30 tn Heb “You will drink it and drain (it).”
31 tn D. I. Block compares this to the idiom of “licking the plate” (Ezekiel [NICOT], 1:754, n. 137). The text is difficult as the word translated “gnaw” is rare. The noun is used of the shattered pieces of pottery and so could envision a broken cup. But the Piel verb form is used in only one other place (Num 24:8), where it is a denominative from the noun “bone” and seems to mean to “break (bones).” Why it would be collocated with “sherds” is not clear. For this reason some emend the phrase to read “consume its dregs” (see L. C. Allen, Ezekiel [WBC], 2:44) or emend the verb to read “swallow,” as if the intoxicated Oholibah breaks the cup and then eats the very sherds in an effort to get every last drop of the beverage that dampens them.
32 sn The severe action is more extreme than beating the breasts in anguish (Isa 32:12; Nah 2:7). It is also ironic for these are the very breasts she so blatantly offered to her lovers (vv. 3, 21).
33 tn Heb “assembly.”
34 tn Heb “give them to.”
35 tn Heb “and the sins of your idols you will bear.” By extension it can mean the punishment for the sins.
36 tn Heb “with all your scorn in (the) soul.”
37 sn Moab was located immediately south of Ammon.
38 sn Edom was located south of Moab.
39 tn Heb “and they have become guilty, becoming guilty.” The infinitive absolute following the finite verb makes the statement emphatic and draws attention to the degree of guilt incurred by Edom due to its actions.
40 tn Heb “and they have taken vengeance.”
41 sn Edom apparently in some way assisted in the destruction of Jerusalem in 587/6
42 sn The Philistines inhabited the coastal plain by the Mediterranean Sea, west of Judah.
43 tn Heb “have acted with vengeance and taken vengeance with vengeance.” The repetition emphasizes the degree of vengeance which they exhibited, presumably toward Judah.
44 tn Heb “with scorn in (the) soul.”
45 tn The object is not specified in the Hebrew text, but has been clarified as “Judah” in the translation.
46 tn Heb “to destroy (with) perpetual hostility.” Joel 3:4-8 also speaks of the Philistines taking advantage of the fall of Judah.
47 tn In Hebrew the verb “and I will cut off” sounds like its object, “the Cherethites,” and draws attention to the statement.
48 sn This is a name for the Philistines, many of whom migrated to Palestine from Crete.
49 tn The word הִנֵּה (hinneh, traditionally “behold”) draws attention to something.
50 tn Heb “Nebuchadrezzar” is a variant and more correct spelling of Nebuchadnezzar, as the Babylonian name Nabu-kudurri-usur has an an “r” rather than an “n.”
51 tn Heb “many.”
52 tn Heb “lift up.”
53 tn For a discussion of possible nuances of this phrase, see M. Greenberg, Ezekiel (AB), 2:580-81.
54 sn Similar language is used in reference to Israel’s adversaries in Num 33:55; Josh 23:13.
55 tn Heb “and there will not be for the house of Israel a brier that pricks and a thorn that inflicts pain from all the ones who surround them, the ones who scorn them.”
56 tn Heb “I will cut off from you.”
57 sn In Ezek 4:4-8 it was said that the house of Judah would suffer forty years.
58 tn Heb “reminding of iniquity when they turned after them.”
59 tn Heb “for which he worked,” referring to the assault on Tyre (v. 18).
60 tn Heb “Nebuchadrezzar” is a variant and more correct spelling of Nebuchadnezzar, as the Babylonian name Nabu-kudurri-usur has an “r” rather than an “n.”
61 tn The expression “throw my net” is common in Ezekiel (12:13; 17:20; 19:8).
62 tn Or “high places.”
63 tn Heb “I lifted up my hand.”
64 tn The Niphal verb may have a tolerative function here, “Again (for) this I will allow myself to be sought by the house of Israel to act for them.” Or it may be reflexive: “I will reveal myself to the house of Israel by doing this also.”
65 sn Heb “I will multiply them like sheep, human(s).”
66 tn Or “I challenge you.” The phrase “I am against you” may be a formula for challenging someone to combat or a duel. See D. I. Block, Ezekiel (NICOT), 1:201-2, and P. Humbert, “Die Herausforderungsformel ‘h!nn#n' ?l?K>,’” ZAW 45 (1933): 101-8.
67 tn Heb “words will go up upon your heart.”
68 tn The Hebrew text is framed as a rhetorical question: “will you not take notice?”
69 tn Heb “goes up against.”
70 tn Heb “against.”
71 tn Heb “him”; the referent (Gog, cf. v. 18) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
72 tn Heb “chariots.”
73 sn See Ezek 11:19; 37:14.
74 tc The LXX reads “house of rebellion.”
75 tn The Hebrew text has no preposition; the LXX reads “from” (see v. 17).
76 tc This translation follows the reading זֶה (zeh) instead of גֵּה (geh), a nonexistent word, as supported by the LXX.
77 tn Or “territory”; see D. I. Block, Ezekiel (NICOT), 2:715.
78 tc The grammar is awkward, though the presence of these words is supported by the versions. L. C. Allen (Ezekiel [WBC], 2:274) suggests that it is an explanatory gloss.
sn One portion for Ephraim, the other for Manasseh (Gen 48:17-20).
