Ezekiel 24:15-27

International Children’s Bible

The Death of Ezekiel’s Wife

¹⁵ Then the Lord spoke his word to me. He said: ¹⁶ “Human being, I am going to take your wife from you. She is the desire of your eyes. She will die suddenly. But you must not be sad or cry loudly for her. You must not shed any tears. ¹⁷ Groan silently. Do not cry loudly for the dead. Tie on your turban, and put your sandals on your feet. Do not cover your face. And do not eat the food people eat when they are sad about a death.”

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

¹⁹ Then the people asked me, “Tell us, what do the things you are doing mean for us?”

²⁰ Then I said to them, “The Lord spoke his word to me. He said, ²¹ ‘Say to the people of Israel, This is what the Lord God says: I am going to dishonor my Temple. You think it gives you strength. You are proud of it. You love to look at it. It makes you happy. But your sons and daughters that you left behind in Jerusalem will fall dead by the sword. ²² And you will do as I have done. You will not cover your face. You will not eat the food people eat when they are sad about a death. ²³ Your turbans will be on your heads. And your sandals will be on your feet. You will not cry loudly. But you will rot away in your sins. You will groan to each other. ²⁴ So Ezekiel will be a sign for you. You will do all the same things he did. When it happens, you will know that I am the Lord God.’

²⁵ “And as for you, human being, this is how it will be. I will take away the Temple that gives them strength. It makes them happy and proud. They love to look at it. It makes them happy. And I will take away their sons and daughters also. ²⁶ At that time the person who escapes will come to you. He will have information for you to hear. ²⁷ At that time your mouth will be opened. You will speak and be silent no more. So you will be a sign for them. Then they will know that I am the Lord.”