Beginning
An Introduction to Ezekiel’s Visions
1 On the fifth day of the fourth month of the thirtieth year of the exile to Babylon,[a] while I was among the captives on the bank of[b] the Chebar River, heaven opened up and I saw visions from God.
The Vision of the Fire Cloud
2 On the fifth day[c] of the month in the fifth year of King Jehoiachin’s imprisonment in exile, 3 a message from[d] the Lord came directly to Buzi’s son Ezekiel,[e] the priest, by the Chebar River in the land of the Chaldeans.[f] The hand of the Lord rested upon him there.
4 I was amazed to see a wind storm blow[g] in from the north, consisting of[h] a massive cloud and fire that was flashing back and forth, surrounded by bright light. From deep within the cloud,[i] something was shining that appeared to have a color like bronze that had been placed in fire until it glowed.
The Vision of the Four Beings
5 Deep inside it, the likenesses of four living beings were visible. Their appearances were similar to human forms, 6 except that they each had four faces, four pairs of wings,[j] 7 and straight legs. Their feet resembled calves’ hooves, but they gleamed like polished bronze. 8 From under their wings there were human hands on their four sides.
Now as to their four faces and four pairs of wings, 9 their pairs of wings overlapped each other. They moved in straight directions without turning their faces around as they moved. 10 The form of their faces was human, but each of the four also had the face of a lion to the right, the face of an ox to the left, and the face of an eagle behind them.[k] 11 That’s what their faces were like. Their wings spread out above and around them, one pair overlapping another, with one pair covering themselves. 12 Each moved in straight directions. Wherever they decided[l] to go, they went without turning themselves.
13 Now, in the midst of the living beings there was something that[m] appeared to glow like coals kindled by a fire,[n] like torches that moved back and forth between the living beings. The fire was dazzling, and lightning flashed from the fire. 14 The living beings moved around, in appearance resembling lightning.
The Vision of the Wheels
15 As I observed the living beings, I noticed one wheel on the earth beside each being—that is, for the four of them.[o] 16 Their wheels and their construction details looked like gold-colored beryl.[p] Each wheel was identical in form to the others,[q] and they appeared to have been constructed and designed as if one wheel were within another. 17 Whenever the four moved, no matter which of four directions, they moved without turning around.
18 Their wheel rims were ornate[r] and terrifying. They were full of eyes that surrounded the four of them. 19 Whenever the living beings moved, the wheels moved, too. Whenever the living beings rose from the earth, the wheels rose also. 20 Whatever direction these spirits went, the wheels would be lifted up along with them, because the wheels were alive.[s] 21 They moved around whenever they wanted to move around,[t] and they stood still whenever they wanted to stand still;[u] and whenever they rose from the earth, the wheels remained close beside them, because the wheels were also alive.[v]
The Vision of the Wings
22 There was spread out over the heads of the living beings what looked like a canopy,[w] in outward appearance resembling ice, 23 and underneath the canopy, their wings spread out straight over their heads toward each other. They each also had two wings with which they covered themselves, one wing covering its body on one side and one wing covering itself on the other side.
24 I also heard the sound of their wings, like the sound of roaring[x] water, like the voice of the Almighty, or like a boisterous crowd within an army camp. Whenever they stopped flying, they lowered their wings. 25 A sound came from above the canopy that was spread out over their heads. Whenever they stood still, they lowered their wings. 26 From above the canopy that was spread out over their heads, there appeared to be something reminiscent of a throne, resembling sapphire[y] in form.
The Vision of the Glory of God
There was the likeness of the appearance of a human being seated on the likeness of the throne high above. 27 I noticed that from what appeared to look like his waist upward there was something that looked like metal that glowed as if it were immersed in fire. Below this there was something resembling fire, with a radiant light surrounding him. 28 The appearance of the radiant light resembled that of a rainbow shining in a cloud on a rainy day. This was what the appearance of the form of the glory of the Lord resembled. When I saw all of this,[z] I fell flat on my face. Then I heard a voice speaking.
Ezekiel’s Commission to Prophesy
2 “Son of Man,” the Lord said,[aa] “get up on your feet. I want to talk to you.” 2 Even while he was speaking to me, the Spirit entered me, set me on my feet, and I listened to the voice that had been speaking to me.
3 “Son of Man, I’m sending you to that rebellious people, the Israelis, who have rebelled against me the same way their ancestors did. And they’re still rebels[ab] to this very day! 4 They’re stubborn[ac] and strong willed. I’m sending you to them to tell them what the Lord says. 5 Whether this rebellious group[ad] listens to you or not, at least[ae] they’ll realize that a prophet had appeared in their midst!
6 “Now as for you, Son of Man, never be afraid of them or of anything they have to say, because being with them will be like settling down to live among briers, thorn bushes, and scorpions! Don’t be afraid of anything they have to say, and don’t be awed by their appearance, since they are a rebellious group.[af] 7 You are to tell them whatever I have to say to them, whether they listen or not, since they are rebellious.”
The Vision of the Edible Scroll
8 “Son of Man, you are to listen to what I tell you. You are never to be rebellious like they are: a rebellious group.[ag] Now, open your mouth and eat what I’m giving you…”
9 As I watched, all of a sudden there was a hand being stretched out in my direction! And there was a scroll 10 being unrolled right in front of me! Written on both sides were lamentations, mourning, and cries of grief.[ah]
Ezekiel’s Commission to Prophesy
3 Then he told me, “Son of Man, eat! Eat what you see[ai]—this scroll—and then go talk to the house of Israel.” 2 So I opened my mouth and he fed me[aj] the scroll.
3 Then he told me, “Son of Man, fill your stomach and digest this scroll that I’m giving you.” So I ate it, and it was like sweet honey in my mouth.
4 Then he told me, “Son of Man, go to the house of Israel and tell them what I have to say to them, 5 because you’re not going to a people whose speech you cannot understand or whose language is difficult to speak. Instead, you’re going to the house of Israel. 6 This isn’t a large group of people whose speech is unintelligible to you or whose language is difficult for you to comprehend. Frankly, if I had sent you to that kind of people,[ak] they would certainly have listened to you! 7 But the house of Israel won’t listen to you, since they weren’t willing to listen to me. That’s because the entire house of Israel is hard-headed and hard-hearted. 8 So pay attention! I’m going to make you just as obstinate[al] and unyielding as they are.[am] 9 I’m making you harder than flint—like diamond! So you are not to fear them or be intimidated by how they look at you,[an] since they’re a rebellious group.”
Ezekiel is Commissioned to Speak
10 Next, he told me, “Son of Man, take to heart every word that I’m telling you. Listen carefully, 11 then go immediately[ao] to the exiles; that is, to your people’s descendants, and tell them, ‘This is what the Lord God says…’ whether they listen or not.”[ap]
12 Then the Spirit lifted me up and I heard a great earthquake behind me and the glory of the Lord arose from his place, 13 accompanied by the sound of the wings of the living creatures gently touching each other and with the sound of the wheels emanating from the front, accompanied by a great earthquake.
Ezekiel Addresses the Israelis
14 Then the Spirit lifted me up and carried me away. I went bitterly with an angry attitude as the hand of the Lord rested on me. 15 I came to the exiles at Tel-abib by the Chebar River and sat down among them for seven days, appalled. 16 At the end of the seven days, this message from the Lord came to me: 17 “Son of Man,” he said,[aq] “I’ve appointed you to be a watchman[ar] over the house of Israel. Therefore when you hear a message that comes from me, you are to warn them for me.
18 “So when I say to a wicked person, ‘You’re about to die,’ if you don’t warn or instruct that wicked person that his behavior[as] is wicked so he can live, that wicked person will die in his sin, but I’ll hold you responsible for his death.[at] 19 If you warn the wicked person, and he doesn’t repent of his wickedness or of his wicked behavior,[au] he’ll die in his sin, but you will have saved your own life.
20 “When a righteous man abandons his righteousness to practice unrighteousness, I’ll set a stumbling block before him. He’ll die. If you don’t warn him, he’ll die in his sin and the righteous deeds that he had practiced won’t be remembered, but you’ll be held responsible for his death.[av] 21 If you warn the righteous person, so that he[aw] doesn’t commit sin, then he’ll live, since he had been warned. And you will have saved your life.”
Ezekiel Sees God in the Valley
22 The hand of the Lord was upon me, and he told me, “Get up! Go to the valley, and I’ll speak with you there.” 23 So I got up, went to the valley, and there was the glory of the Lord, standing there just like[ax] I had seen at the Chebar River. So I fell on my face.
24 The Spirit entered me, rested on me, caused me to stand on my feet, and then he spoke to me. This is what he had to say: “Go barricade yourself in your house. 25 Now pay attention! They’re going to bind you with ropes, tying you up right in their midst, so you won’t be able to circulate freely among them. 26 Meanwhile, I’ll make your tongue stick to the roof of your mouth so that you’ll be mute and unable to reprove them, since they’re a rebellious group.[ay] 27 But when I speak with you, I’ll open your mouth so you can say to them, ‘This is what the Lord God says:
“As for those who will listen,
‘Let them listen,’
but as for those who refuse,
‘Let them refuse,’
since they’re a rebellious group.”’”[az]
The Vision of the Brick
4 “And now Son of Man, you are to take a brick,[ba] set it in front of you, and inscribe on it the outline of[bb] the city—that is, Jerusalem.[bc] 2 You are to lay siege against it, build a rampart around it, set a bulwark against it, encircle it with a berm, set up camps against it, and place battering rams around it. 3 Then you are to take a flat, iron plate and set it up as an iron wall between you and the city.
“Next, you are to turn toward it, oppose[bd] it, and place it under siege, because you are to lay siege to it. All of this will serve as a sign to the house of Israel.
4 “Now as for you, you are to sleep[be] on your left side, symbolically[bf] bearing the punishment[bg] of the house of Israel while you’re counting the days you’ll be sleeping on your left side[bh] to bear symbolically[bi] the punishment for[bj] their sin. 5 I’ve assigned you to sleep this way for 390 days, representing the years they’ve been sinning,[bk] as you bear symbolically[bl] the punishment of the house of Israel. 6 When you have completed this, you are to sleep[bm] on your right side, symbolically[bn] bearing the iniquity of Judah for 40 days. Each day that I’ve assigned to you represents one year. 7 After this, you are to turn toward the rampart of Jerusalem and oppose[bo] it with your bare arms, because I’m going to prophesy about it. 8 Look! I’ll tie you up[bp] so that you’re unable to turn from one side to the other until you’ve completed your siege.”
Ezekiel’s Menu
9 “Furthermore, you are to take some wheat, barley, beans, lentils, millet, and spelt, and mix them together in one container. Then you are to make bread from these grains sufficient to supply you through the time during which you’ll be sleeping on your side. You are to eat it for 390 days. 10 The food that you’ll be eating is to consist of portions weighing 20 shekels,[bq] to be consumed daily at regular intervals.[br] 11 You are to measure one sixth of one hin[bs] of water each time you drink it. 12 You are to eat it as barley cakes and bake it right in front of them, using dried human dung for cooking fuel.”[bt]
13 Then the Lord said, “This is how the Israelis will be eating unclean food among the nations, where I’ll be sending them.”
14 “Now, Lord God,” I replied, “I’ve never been defiled, ever since I was young until now. I haven’t eaten an animal that died on its own or was torn by beasts, and no unclean meat has ever entered my mouth!”
15 “Very well,” he responded. “I’ll allow you to substitute cow’s dung for human dung. Cook your food[bu] over that.”
16 He also told me, “Son of Man, look! I’m about to disrupt the source[bv] of bread in Jerusalem. As a result, they’ll ration bread by weight while their terror continues to grow and they’ll ration drinking water while their horror continues to mount! 17 Indeed, they’ll need bread and water, but everyone will be panic-stricken as they waste away in their iniquity.”
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