Ezekiel 12:1-16
Expanded Bible
Ezekiel Moves Out
12 Again the ·Lord spoke his word [L word of the Lord came] to me, saying: 2 “·Human [T Son of man; 2:1], you are living among a ·people who refuse to obey [L rebellious house]. They have eyes to see, but they do not see, and they have ears to hear, but they do not hear [Is. 42:18; Matt. 13:13], because they are a ·people who refuse to obey [L rebellious house].
3 “So, ·human [T son of man; 2:1], ·pack your things as if you will be taken away captive [L make yourself bags of exile], and ·walk away like a captive [go into exile] in the daytime with the people watching. Move from your place to another with the people watching. Maybe they will understand, even though they are a ·people who refuse to obey [L rebellious house]. 4 During the day when the people are watching, bring out ·the things you would pack as captive [your bags of exile]. At evening, with the people watching, leave your place like those ·who are taken away as captives from their country [going out as exiles]. 5 Dig a hole through the wall while they watch, and bring your things out through it. 6 Lift them onto your shoulders with the people watching, and carry them out in the dark. Cover your face so you cannot see the ·ground [or land], because I have made you a sign to the ·people [L house] of Israel.”
7 I did these things as I was commanded. In the daytime I brought what I had packed as ·if I were being taken away captive [bags of exile]. Then in the evening I dug through the wall with my hands. I brought my things out in the dark and carried them on my shoulders as the people watched.
8 Then in the morning the ·Lord spoke his word [L word of the Lord came] to me, saying: 9 “·Human [T Son of man; 2:1], didn’t [L the house of] Israel, ·who refuses to obey [L the rebellious house], ask you, ‘What are you doing?’
10 “Say to them, ‘This is what the Lord God says: This ·message [oracle; burden] is about the ·king [prince; ruler; C referring to King Zedekiah] in Jerusalem and all the ·people [L house] of Israel who live there.’ 11 Say, ‘I am a sign to you.’
“The same things I have done will be done to the people in Jerusalem. They will be taken ·away from their country [into exile] as captives. 12 The ·king [prince; ruler] among them will put his things on his shoulder in the dark and will leave. ·The people[a] [L They] will dig a hole through the wall to bring him out. He will cover his face so he cannot see the ·ground [land] with his eyes. 13 But I will spread my net over him, and he will be caught in my ·trap [snare]. Then I will bring him to Babylon in the land of the ·Babylonians [L Chaldeans]. He will not see that land, but he will die there. 14 All who are around the king—his ·helpers [attendants] and all his ·army [troops]—I will scatter ·in every direction [L to every wind], and I will ·chase them with a sword [L draw/unsheathe a sword after them].
15 “They will know that I am the Lord when I ·scatter [disperse] them among the nations and ·spread [scatter] them among the countries. 16 But I will save a few of them from the sword and from ·hunger [famine] and ·disease [plague; pestilence]. Then they can tell about their ·hateful [detestable; abominable] actions among the nations where they go. Then they will know that I am the Lord.”
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- Ezekiel 12:12 The people Hebrew copies read, “They.” Greek and Syriac copies read “He.”
Ezekiel 12:1-16
Amplified Bible
Ezekiel Prepares for Exile
12 The word of the Lord also came to me, saying, 2 “Son of man, you live among a rebellious house, who have eyes to see but do not see, who have ears to hear but do not hear; for they are a rebellious people.(A) 3 Therefore, son of man, prepare your belongings for exile, and move into exile during the day when they will see you; even go into exile from your place to another place as they watch. Perhaps they will understand even though they are a rebellious people. 4 Bring your [a]provisions and supplies out during the day as they watch, as provisions and supplies for [going into] exile. Then you shall go out at evening as they watch, as those going into exile. 5 Dig through the wall as they watch and go out through the hole. 6 As they look on, load the provisions and supplies on your shoulder and carry it out in the dark. You shall cover your face so that you cannot see the land, for I have set you as a sign to the house of Israel.”
7 I did as I had been commanded. I brought out my provisions and supplies during the day, like the provisions and supplies of an exile, and in the evening I dug through the wall with my hands. I brought out my provisions and supplies in the dark, carrying it on my shoulder as they watched.
8 In the morning the word of the Lord came to me, saying, 9 “Son of man, has not the house of Israel, the rebellious house, asked you, ‘What you are doing?’ 10 Say to them, ‘Thus says the Lord God, “This [b]oracle (a burden to be carried) concerns the prince (Zedekiah) in Jerusalem as well as all the house of Israel who are there.”’ 11 Say, ‘I am a sign to you. As I have done, so it will be done to them; they will go into exile, into captivity.’ 12 The prince who is among them will load his provisions and supplies on his shoulder in the dark and go out. They will dig a hole through the wall to go out. He will cover his face so that he cannot see the land with his eyes. 13 I will also spread My net over him, and he will be caught in My snare. And I will bring him to Babylon, to the land of the [c]Chaldeans; yet he will [d]not see it, though he will die there.(B) 14 I will scatter to every wind all who are around him, his helpers and all his troops; and I will draw out a sword after them. 15 So they will know and understand fully that I am the Lord when I scatter them among the nations and disperse them among the [pagan] countries. 16 But I will leave a few [survivors] who will escape the sword, the famine, and the virulent disease, that they may confess all their repulsive (idolatrous) acts among the nations where they go, and may know [without any doubt] that I am the Lord.”
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- Ezekiel 12:4 Lit baggage.
- Ezekiel 12:10 I.e. an urgent message the prophet is under compulsion to proclaim.
- Ezekiel 12:13 The Chaldeans became the dominant people in Babylonia when Merodach-baladan declared himself king of Babylon. The words “Chaldean” and “Babylonian” are used interchangeably.
- Ezekiel 12:13 This prophecy was fulfilled as recorded in several Old Testament passages, especially note Jer 52:7-11. King Zedekiah’s eyes were blinded in Riblah before he was taken to Babylon, where he died. Therefore he did “not see it,” even though he died there.
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