Ezekiel 4
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Commentaries
Excerpts gathered from published commentaries to ground the reading.
Take thee a tile - A tile, such as we use in covering houses, will give us but a very inadequate notion of those used anciently; and also appear very insufficient for the figures which the prophet was commanded to pourtray on it. A brick is most undoubtedly meant; yet, even the larger dimensions here, as to thickness, will not help us through the difficulty, unless we have recourse to the ancients, who have spoken of the dimensions of the bricks commonly used in building. Palladius, De Re Rustica, lib. 6 c. 12, is very particular on this subject: - Sint vero lateres longitudine pedum duorum, latitudine unius, altitudine quatuor unciarum. "Let the bricks be two feet long, one foot broad, and four inches thick." Edit. Gesner, vol. 3 p. 144. On such a surface as this the whole siege might be easily pourtrayed. There are some brick-bats before me which were brought from the ruins of ancient Babylon, which have been made of clay and straw kneaded together and baked in the sun; one has been more than four inches thick, and on one side it is deeply impressed with characters; others are smaller, well made, and finely impressed on one side with Persepolitan characters. These have been for inside or ornamental work; to such bricks the prophet most probably alludes. But the tempered clay out of which the bricks were made might be meant here; of this substance he might spread out a sufficient quantity to receive all his figures. The figures were 1. Jerusalem. 2. A fort. 3. A mount. 4. The camp of the enemy. 5. Battering rams, and such like engines, round about. 6. A wall round about the city, between it and the besieging army.
Open source ↗SYMBOLICAL VISION OF THE SIEGE AND THE INIQUITY-BEARING. (Eze. 4:1-17) tile--a sun-dried brick, such as are found in Babylon, covered with cuneiform inscriptions, often two feet long and one foot broad.
Open source ↗Thou also, son of man, take thee a tile,.... Or "brick" (z). The Targum renders it, a "stone"; but a tile or brick, especially one that is not dried and burned, but green, is more fit to cut in it the figure of a city. Some think that this was ordered because cities are built of brick; or to show the weakness of the city of Jerusalem, how easily it might be demolished; and Jerom thinks there was some design to lead the Jews to reflect upon their making bricks in Egypt, and their hard service there; though perhaps the truer reason may be, because the Babylonians had been used to write upon tiles. Epigenes (a) says they had celestial observations of a long course of years, written on tiles; hence the prophet is bid to describe Jerusalem on one, which was to be destroyed by the king of Babylon; and lay it before thee: as persons do, who are about to draw a picture, make a portrait, or engrave the form of anything they intend: and portray upon it the city; even Jerusalem; or engrave upon it, by making incisions on it, and so describing the form and figure of the city of Jerusalem. (z) "laterem", V. L. Pagninus, Montanus, Junius & Tremellius, Polanus. Piscator. (a) Apud Plin. Nat. Hist. l. 7. c. 56.
Open source ↗The prophet is here ordered to represent to himself and others by signs which would be proper and powerful to strike the fancy and to affect the mind, the siege of Jerusalem; and this amounted to a prediction. I. He was ordered to engrave a draught of Jerusalem upon a tile, Eze 4:1. It was Jerusalem's honour that while she kept her integrity God had graven her upon the palms of his hands (Isa 49:16), and the names of the tribes were engraven in precious stones on the breast-plate of the high priest; but, now that the faithful city has become a harlot, a worthless brittle tile or brick is thought good enough to portray it upon. This the prophet must lay before him, that the eye may affect the heart. II. He was ordered to build little forts against this portraiture of the city, resembling the batteries raised by the besiegers, Eze 4:2. Between the city that was besieged and himself that was the besieger he was to set up an iron pan, as an iron wall, Eze 4:3. This represented the inflexible resolution of both sides; the Chaldeans resolved, whatever it cost them, that they would make themselves masters of the city and would never quit it till they had conquered it; on the other side, the Jews resolved never to capitulate, but to hold out to the last extremity. III. He was ordered to lie upon his side before it, as it were to surround it, representing the Chaldean army lying before it to block it up, to keep the meat from going in and the mouths from going out. He was to lie on his left side 390 days (Eze 4:5), about thirteen months; the siege of Jerusalem is computed to last eighteen months (Jer 52:4-6), but if we deduct from that five months' interval, when the besiegers withdrew upon the approach of Pharaoh's army (Jer 37:5-8), the number of the days of the close siege wi…
Open source ↗4:1–24:27 In words and in mimed actions, the prophet Ezekiel declared the certainty of impending judgment on Jerusalem. God’s people, having broken the terms of the Lord’s covenant with them at Mount Sinai, now faced the curses of death and destruction that were attached to that covenant. Only after these curses had taken effect could there be any hope for the future. 4:1–7:27 These chapters focus on words and actions that proclaimed doom to the city of Jerusalem (chs 4–5) and to the surrounding land of Judah (chs 6–7). 4:1-2 The first of Ezekiel’s sign acts (see “Prophetic Sign Acts” Theme Note) was to create a detailed tableau depicting Jerusalem . . . under siege.
Open source ↗Original language
The Hebrew and Greek words behind this passage, with Strong's numbers — from openscriptures (CC BY-SA).
בֵּן (bên, H1121) — a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative… אָדָם (ʼâdâm, H120) — ruddy i.e. a human being (an individual or the species, mankind, etc.) לָקַח (lâqach, H3947) — to take (in the widest variety of applications) לְבֵנָה (lᵉbênâh, H3843) — a brick (from the whiteness of the clay) נָתַן (nâthan, H5414) — to give, used with greatest latitude of application (put, make, etc.) פָּנִים (pânîym, H6440) — the face (as the part that turns); used in a great variety of applications (literally and… חָקַק (châqaq, H2710) — properly, to hack, i.e. engrave (Judges 5:14, to be a scribe simply); by implication, to… עִיר (ʻîyr, H5892) — a city (a place guarded by waking or a watch) in the widest sense (even of a mere… יְרוּשָׁלַ͏ִם (Yᵉrûwshâlaim, H3389) — Jerushalaim or Jerushalem, the capital city of Palestine
Open source ↗נָתַן (nâthan, H5414) — to give, used with greatest latitude of application (put, make, etc.) מָצוֹר (mâtsôwr, H4692) — something hemming in, i.e. (objectively) a mound (of besiegers), (abstractly) a siege,… בָּנָה (bânâh, H1129) — to build (literally and figuratively) דָּיֵק (dâyêq, H1785) — a battering-tower שָׁפַךְ (shâphak, H8210) — to spill forth (blood, a libation, liquid metal; or even a solid, i.e. to mound up); also… סֹלְלָה (çôlᵉlâh, H5550) — a military mound, i.e. rampart of besiegers מַחֲנֶה (machăneh, H4264) — an encampment (of travellers or troops); hence, an army, whether literal (of soldiers) or… שׂוּם (sûwm, H7760) — to put (used in a great variety of applications, literal, figurative, inferentially, and… כַּר (kar, H3733) — a ram (as full-grown and fat), including a battering-ram (as butting); hence, a meadow… סָבִיב (çâbîyb, H5439) — (as noun) a circle, neighbour, or environs; but chiefly (as adverb, with or without…
Open source ↗לָקַח (lâqach, H3947) — to take (in the widest variety of applications) בַּרְזֶל (barzel, H1270) — iron (as cutting); by extension, an iron implement מַחֲבַת (machăbath, H4227) — a pan for baking in נָתַן (nâthan, H5414) — to give, used with greatest latitude of application (put, make, etc.) קִיר (qîyr, H7023) — a wall (as built in a trench) עִיר (ʻîyr, H5892) — a city (a place guarded by waking or a watch) in the widest sense (even of a mere… כּוּן (kûwn, H3559) — properly, to be erect (i.e. stand perpendicular); hence (causatively) to set up, in a… פָּנִים (pânîym, H6440) — the face (as the part that turns); used in a great variety of applications (literally and… מָצוֹר (mâtsôwr, H4692) — something hemming in, i.e. (objectively) a mound (of besiegers), (abstractly) a siege,… צוּר (tsûwr, H6696) — to cramp, i.e. confine (in many applications, literally and figuratively, formative or… אוֹת (ʼôwth, H226) — a signal (literally or figuratively), as aflag, beacon, monument, omen, prodigy,… בַּיִת (bayith, H1004) — a house (in the greatest variation of applications, especially family, etc.) יִשְׂרָאֵל (Yisrâʼêl, H3478) — Jisrael, a symbolical name of Jacob; also (typically) of his posterity
Open source ↗שָׁכַב (shâkab, H7901) — to lie down (for rest, sexual connection, decease or any other purpose) שְׂמָאלִי (sᵉmâʼlîy, H8042) — situated on the left side צַד (tsad, H6654) — a side; figuratively, an adversary שׂוּם (sûwm, H7760) — to put (used in a great variety of applications, literal, figurative, inferentially, and… עָוֺן (ʻâvôn, H5771) — perversity, i.e. (moral) evil בַּיִת (bayith, H1004) — a house (in the greatest variation of applications, especially family, etc.) יִשְׂרָאֵל (Yisrâʼêl, H3478) — Jisrael, a symbolical name of Jacob; also (typically) of his posterity מִסְפָּר (miçpâr, H4557) — a number, definite (arithmetical) or indefinite (large, innumerable; small, a few); also… יוֹם (yôwm, H3117) — a day (as the warm hours), whether literal (from sunrise to sunset, or from one sunset to… נָשָׂא (nâsâʼ, H5375) — to lift, in a great variety of applications, literal and figurative, absolute and relative
Open source ↗נָתַן (nâthan, H5414) — to give, used with greatest latitude of application (put, make, etc.) שָׁנֶה (shâneh, H8141) — a year (as a revolution of time) עָוֺן (ʻâvôn, H5771) — perversity, i.e. (moral) evil מִסְפָּר (miçpâr, H4557) — a number, definite (arithmetical) or indefinite (large, innumerable; small, a few); also… יוֹם (yôwm, H3117) — a day (as the warm hours), whether literal (from sunrise to sunset, or from one sunset to… שָׁלוֹשׁ (shâlôwsh, H7969) — three; occasionally (ordinal) third, or (multiple) thrice מֵאָה (mêʼâh, H3967) — a hundred; also as a multiplicative and a fraction תִּשְׁעִים (tishʻîym, H8673) — ninety נָשָׂא (nâsâʼ, H5375) — to lift, in a great variety of applications, literal and figurative, absolute and relative בַּיִת (bayith, H1004) — a house (in the greatest variation of applications, especially family, etc.) יִשְׂרָאֵל (Yisrâʼêl, H3478) — Jisrael, a symbolical name of Jacob; also (typically) of his posterity
Open source ↗כָּלָה (kâlâh, H3615) — to end, whether intransitive (to cease, be finished, perish) or transitived (to complete,… אֵלֶּה (ʼêl-leh, H428) — these or those שָׁכַב (shâkab, H7901) — to lie down (for rest, sexual connection, decease or any other purpose) שֵׁנִי (shênîy, H8145) — properly, double, i.e. second; also adverbially, again יְמָנִי (yᵉmânîy, H3233) — right (i.e. at the right hand) יְמִינִי (yᵉmîynîy, H3227) — right צַד (tsad, H6654) — a side; figuratively, an adversary נָשָׂא (nâsâʼ, H5375) — to lift, in a great variety of applications, literal and figurative, absolute and relative עָוֺן (ʻâvôn, H5771) — perversity, i.e. (moral) evil בַּיִת (bayith, H1004) — a house (in the greatest variation of applications, especially family, etc.) יְהוּדָה (Yᵉhûwdâh, H3063) — Jehudah (or Judah), the name of five Israelites; also of the tribe descended from the… אַרְבָּעִים (ʼarbâʻîym, H705) — forty יוֹם (yôwm, H3117) — a day (as the warm hours), whether literal (from sunrise to sunset, or from one sunset to… נָתַן (nâthan, H5414) — to give, used with greatest latitude of application (put, make, etc.)
Open source ↗כּוּן (kûwn, H3559) — properly, to be erect (i.e. stand perpendicular); hence (causatively) to set up, in a… פָּנִים (pânîym, H6440) — the face (as the part that turns); used in a great variety of applications (literally and… מָצוֹר (mâtsôwr, H4692) — something hemming in, i.e. (objectively) a mound (of besiegers), (abstractly) a siege,… יְרוּשָׁלַ͏ִם (Yᵉrûwshâlaim, H3389) — Jerushalaim or Jerushalem, the capital city of Palestine זְרוֹעַ (zᵉrôwaʻ, H2220) — the arm (as stretched out), or (of animals) the foreleg; figuratively, force חָשַׂף (châsaph, H2834) — to strip off, i.e. generally to make naked (for exertion or in disgrace), to drain away… נָבָא (nâbâʼ, H5012) — to prophesy, i.e. speak (or sing) by inspiration (in prediction or simple discourse)
Open source ↗נָתַן (nâthan, H5414) — to give, used with greatest latitude of application (put, make, etc.) עֲבֹת (ʻăbôth, H5688) — something intwined, i.e. a string, wreath or foliage הָפַךְ (hâphak, H2015) — to turn about or over; by implication, to change, overturn, return, pervert צַד (tsad, H6654) — a side; figuratively, an adversary כָּלָה (kâlâh, H3615) — to end, whether intransitive (to cease, be finished, perish) or transitived (to complete,… יוֹם (yôwm, H3117) — a day (as the warm hours), whether literal (from sunrise to sunset, or from one sunset to… מָצוֹר (mâtsôwr, H4692) — something hemming in, i.e. (objectively) a mound (of besiegers), (abstractly) a siege,…
Open source ↗לָקַח (lâqach, H3947) — to take (in the widest variety of applications) חִטָּה (chiṭṭâh, H2406) — wheat, whether the grain or the plant שְׂעֹרָה (sᵉʻôrâh, H8184) — barley (as villose) פּוֹל (pôwl, H6321) — a bean (as plump) עָדָשׁ (ʻâdâsh, H5742) — a lentil דֹּחַן (dôchan, H1764) — millet כֻּסֶּמֶת (kuççemeth, H3698) — spelt (from its bristliness as if just shorn) נָתַן (nâthan, H5414) — to give, used with greatest latitude of application (put, make, etc.) אֶחָד (ʼechâd, H259) — properly, united, i.e. one; or (as an ordinal) first כְּלִי (kᵉlîy, H3627) — something prepared, i.e. any apparatus (as an implement, utensil, dress, vessel or weapon) עָשָׂה (ʻâsâh, H6213) — to do or make, in the broadest sense and widest application לֶחֶם (lechem, H3899) — food (for man or beast), especially bread, or grain (for making it) מִסְפָּר (miçpâr, H4557) — a number, definite (arithmetical) or indefinite (large, innumerable; small, a few); also… יוֹם (yôwm, H3117) — a day (as the warm hours), whether literal (from sunrise to sunset, or from one sunset to…
Open source ↗מַאֲכָל (maʼăkâl, H3978) — an eatable (includ. provender, flesh and fruit) אָכַל (ʼâkal, H398) — to eat (literally or figuratively) מִשְׁקוֹל (mishqôwl, H4946) — weight עֶשְׂרִים (ʻesrîym, H6242) — twenty; also (ordinal) twentieth שֶׁקֶל (sheqel, H8255) — probably a weight; used as a commercial standard יוֹם (yôwm, H3117) — a day (as the warm hours), whether literal (from sunrise to sunset, or from one sunset to… עֵת (ʻêth, H6256) — time, especially (adverb with preposition) now, when, etc.
Open source ↗שָׁתָה (shâthâh, H8354) — to imbibe (literally or figuratively) מַיִם (mayim, H4325) — water; figuratively, juice; by euphemism, urine, semen מְשׂוּרָה (mᵉsûwrâh, H4884) — a measure (for liquids) שִׁשִּׁי (shishshîy, H8345) — sixth, ord. or (feminine) fractional הִין (hîyn, H1969) — a hin or liquid measure עֵת (ʻêth, H6256) — time, especially (adverb with preposition) now, when, etc.
Open source ↗אָכַל (ʼâkal, H398) — to eat (literally or figuratively) שְׂעֹרָה (sᵉʻôrâh, H8184) — barley (as villose) עֻגָּה (ʻuggâh, H5692) — an ash-cake (as round) עוּג (ʻûwg, H5746) — to bake (round cakes on the hearth) גֵּלֶל (gêlel, H1561) — dung (plural balls of dung) צָאָה (tsâʼâh, H6627) — issue, i.e. (human) excrement אָדָם (ʼâdâm, H120) — ruddy i.e. a human being (an individual or the species, mankind, etc.) עַיִן (ʻayin, H5869) — an eye (literally or figuratively); by analogy, a fountain (as the eye of the landscape)
Open source ↗יְהֹוָה (Yᵉhôvâh, H3068) — Jehovah, Jewish national name of God אָמַר (ʼâmar, H559) — to say (used with great latitude) בֵּן (bên, H1121) — a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative… יִשְׂרָאֵל (Yisrâʼêl, H3478) — Jisrael, a symbolical name of Jacob; also (typically) of his posterity אָכַל (ʼâkal, H398) — to eat (literally or figuratively) טָמֵא (ṭâmêʼ, H2931) — foul in a religious sense לֶחֶם (lechem, H3899) — food (for man or beast), especially bread, or grain (for making it) גּוֹי (gôwy, H1471) — a foreign nation; hence, a Gentile; also (figuratively) a troop of animals, or a flight… נָדַח (nâdach, H5080) — to push off; used in a great variety of applications, literally and figuratively (to…
Open source ↗אָמַר (ʼâmar, H559) — to say (used with great latitude) אֲהָהּ (ʼăhâhh, H162) — Oh! אֲדֹנָי (ʼĂdônây, H136) — the Lord (used as a proper name of God only) יְהֹוִה (Yᵉhôvih, H3069) — {YHWH} נֶפֶשׁ (nephesh, H5315) — properly, a breathing creature, i.e. animal of (abstractly) vitality; used very widely in… טָמֵא (ṭâmêʼ, H2930) — to be foul, especially in a ceremial or moral sense (contaminated) נָעוּר (nâʻûwr, H5271) — (only in plural collectively or emphatic form) youth, the state (juvenility) or the… אָכַל (ʼâkal, H398) — to eat (literally or figuratively) נְבֵלָה (nᵉbêlâh, H5038) — a flabby thing, i.e. a carcase or carrion (human or bestial, often collectively);… טְרֵפָה (ṭᵉrêphâh, H2966) — prey, i.e. flocks devoured by animals בּוֹא (bôwʼ, H935) — to go or come (in a wide variety of applications) פִּגּוּל (piggûwl, H6292) — properly, fetid, i.e. (figuratively) unclean (ceremonially) בָּשָׂר (bâsâr, H1320) — flesh (from its freshness); by extension, body, person; also (by euphemistically) the… פֶּה (peh, H6310) — the mouth (as the means of blowing), whether literal or figurative (particularly speech);…
Open source ↗Cross-references
Other passages the community most often connects to this one. Tap to read.
For this is what the LORD of Hosts says: “Cut down the trees and raise a siege ramp against Jerusalem. This city must be punished; there is nothing but oppression in her midst.
For this city has aroused My wrath and fury from the day it was built until now. Therefore I will remove it from My presence
“Only you have I known from all the families of the earth; therefore I will punish you for all your iniquities.”
I spoke through the prophets and multiplied their visions; I gave parables through the prophets.