The Death of Ezekiel’s Wife: A Sign

15 Then the word of the Lord came to me: 16 “Son of man, I am about to take the delight of your eyes(A) away from you with a fatal blow. But you must not lament or weep or let your tears flow.(B) 17 Groan quietly; do not observe mourning rites for the dead.(C) Put on your turban and strap your sandals on your feet; do not cover your mustache or eat the bread of mourners.”[a](D)

18 I spoke to the people in the morning, and my wife died in the evening. The next morning I did just as I was commanded. 19 Then the people asked me, “Won’t you tell us what these things you are doing mean for us?”

20 So I answered them: “The word of the Lord came to me: 21 ‘Say to the house of Israel: This is what the Lord God says: I am about to desecrate My sanctuary, the pride of your power, the delight of your eyes, and the desire of your heart. Also, the sons and daughters you left behind will fall by the sword.(E) 22 Then you will do just as I have done: You will not cover your mustache or eat the bread of mourners.[b] 23 Your turbans will remain on your heads and your sandals on your feet. You will not lament or weep(F) but will waste away(G) because of your sins and will groan to one another. 24 Now Ezekiel will be a sign for you.(H) You will do everything that he has done. When this happens, you will know that I am the Lord Yahweh.

25 “‘Son of man, know that on the day I take their stronghold from them, their pride and joy, the delight of their eyes and the longing of their hearts, as well as their sons and daughters, 26 on that day a fugitive will come to you and report the news.(I) 27 On that day your mouth will be opened to talk with him; you will speak and no longer be mute.(J) So you will be a sign for them, and they will know that I am Yahweh.’”

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Footnotes

  1. Ezekiel 24:17 Lit men
  2. Ezekiel 24:22 Lit men

Ezekiel’s Wife Dies

15 The word of the Lord came to me: 16 “Son of man, with one blow(A) I am about to take away from you the delight of your eyes.(B) Yet do not lament or weep or shed any tears.(C) 17 Groan quietly;(D) do not mourn for the dead. Keep your turban(E) fastened and your sandals(F) on your feet; do not cover your mustache and beard(G) or eat the customary food of mourners.(H)

18 So I spoke to the people in the morning, and in the evening my wife died. The next morning I did as I had been commanded.(I)

19 Then the people asked me, “Won’t you tell us what these things have to do with us?(J) Why are you acting like this?”

20 So I said to them, “The word of the Lord came to me: 21 Say to the people of Israel, ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: I am about to desecrate my sanctuary(K)—the stronghold in which you take pride,(L) the delight of your eyes,(M) the object of your affection. The sons and daughters(N) you left behind will fall by the sword.(O) 22 And you will do as I have done. You will not cover your mustache and beard(P) or eat the customary food of mourners.(Q) 23 You will keep your turbans(R) on your heads and your sandals(S) on your feet. You will not mourn(T) or weep but will waste away(U) because of[a] your sins and groan among yourselves.(V) 24 Ezekiel(W) will be a sign(X) to you; you will do just as he has done. When this happens, you will know that I am the Sovereign Lord.’

25 “And you, son of man, on the day I take away their stronghold, their joy and glory, the delight of their eyes,(Y) their heart’s desire,(Z) and their sons and daughters(AA) as well— 26 on that day a fugitive will come to tell you(AB) the news. 27 At that time your mouth will be opened; you will speak with him and will no longer be silent.(AC) So you will be a sign to them, and they will know that I am the Lord.(AD)

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Footnotes

  1. Ezekiel 24:23 Or away in

15 Also the word of the Lord came unto me, saying,

16 Son of man, behold, I take away from thee the desire of thine eyes with a stroke: yet neither shalt thou mourn nor weep, neither shall thy tears run down.

17 Forbear to cry, make no mourning for the dead, bind the tire of thine head upon thee, and put on thy shoes upon thy feet, and cover not thy lips, and eat not the bread of men.

18 So I spake unto the people in the morning: and at even my wife died; and I did in the morning as I was commanded.

19 And the people said unto me, Wilt thou not tell us what these things are to us, that thou doest so?

20 Then I answered them, The word of the Lord came unto me, saying,

21 Speak unto the house of Israel, Thus saith the Lord God; Behold, I will profane my sanctuary, the excellency of your strength, the desire of your eyes, and that which your soul pitieth; and your sons and your daughters whom ye have left shall fall by the sword.

22 And ye shall do as I have done: ye shall not cover your lips, nor eat the bread of men.

23 And your tires shall be upon your heads, and your shoes upon your feet: ye shall not mourn nor weep; but ye shall pine away for your iniquities, and mourn one toward another.

24 Thus Ezekiel is unto you a sign: according to all that he hath done shall ye do: and when this cometh, ye shall know that I am the Lord God.

25 Also, thou son of man, shall it not be in the day when I take from them their strength, the joy of their glory, the desire of their eyes, and that whereupon they set their minds, their sons and their daughters,

26 That he that escapeth in that day shall come unto thee, to cause thee to hear it with thine ears?

27 In that day shall thy mouth be opened to him which is escaped, and thou shalt speak, and be no more dumb: and thou shalt be a sign unto them; and they shall know that I am the Lord.

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