Ezekiel 24:15-27
Holman Christian Standard Bible
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.’”
Read full chapterFootnotes
- Ezekiel 24:17 Lit men
- Ezekiel 24:22 Lit men
Ezekiel 24:15-27
Common English Bible
Ezekiel’s wife dies
15 The Lord’s word came to me: 16 Human one, I am about to take the delight of your eyes away from you in a single stroke. Don’t mourn or weep. Don’t even let your tears well up. 17 Sigh inwardly; be deathly still. Don’t perform mourning rites, but bind on your turban and put your shoes on your feet. And don’t cover your upper lip or eat in human company.
18 I spoke with the people in the morning, and by evening my wife was dead. The next morning I did as I was commanded. 19 The people asked, “Won’t you tell us what your actions mean for us?”
20 So I said to them, The Lord’s word came to me: 21 Say to the house of Israel, the Lord God proclaims: I’m about to make my sanctuary impure, the pride of your strength, the delight of your eyes. Your heart’s desire, the sons and daughters you left behind, will fall by the sword. 22 You will do as I have done. You will neither cover your upper lip nor eat in human company. 23 Your turbans will be on your heads, your sandals on your feet. You won’t mourn or weep. You will waste away in your guilt, all of you groaning to each other. 24 Ezekiel is your sign. You will do everything that he has done. When this happens, you will know that I am the Lord God.
25 And you, human one: On the day that I take from them their proud stronghold—their crowning joy, the delight of their eyes—and their sons and daughters, whose fate weighs on them, 26 on that day, a refugee will come to you so that you yourself will hear the news. 27 On that day your mouth will be opened to the refugee, and you will speak and no longer be silent. You will be their sign, and they will know that I am the Lord.
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