Ezekiel 24:11-21

11 Then set it empty upon the coals, that it may become hot, and its copper may burn, 1that its uncleanness may be melted in it, its corrosion consumed.
12 2She has wearied herself with toil;[a] its abundant corrosion does not go out of it. Into the fire with its corrosion!
13 On account of your unclean lewdness, because I would have cleansed you and you were not cleansed from your uncleanness, 3you shall not be cleansed anymore till 4I have satisfied my fury upon you.
14 5I am the LORD. I have spoken; it shall come to pass; I will do it. I will not go back; 6I will not spare; 7I will not relent; 8according to your ways and your deeds you will be judged, declares the Lord GOD."

Ezekiel's Wife Dies

15 The word of the LORD came to me:
16 9"Son of man, behold, I am about to take the delight of your eyes away from you at a stroke; yet you shall not mourn or weep, nor shall your tears run down.
17 Sigh, but not aloud; make no mourning for the dead. 10Bind on your turban, and 11put your shoes on your feet; do not cover your lips, 12nor eat the bread of men."
18 So I spoke to the people in the morning, and 13at evening my wife died. And on the next morning I did 14as I was commanded.
19 And 15the people said to me, "Will you not tell us what these things mean for us, that you are acting thus?"
20 Then I said to them, "The word of the LORD came to me:
21 'Say to the house of Israel, Thus says the Lord GOD: 16Behold, I will profane my sanctuary, the pride of your power, the delight of your eyes, and the yearning of your soul, and 17your sons and your daughters whom you left behind shall fall by the sword.

Ezekiel 24:11-21 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO EZEKIEL 24

Is this chapter the destruction of the city and temple of Jerusalem is prophesied of; the former under the parable of a boiling pot; the latter is represented by the sudden death of Ezekiel's wife. The time of this prophecy was that very day the king of Babylon began the siege of Jerusalem, Eze 24:1,2, the parable of the boiling pot, Eze 24:3-5, the explanation and application of it to the city of Jerusalem, Eze 24:6-14, the prophet is told of the death of his wife, and bid not to mourn on that account, which accordingly came to pass, Eze 24:15-18, upon the people's inquiring what these things meant, he informs them that hereby was signified the profanation of the temple; and that their distress should be so great, that they should not use any set forms of mourning, but pine away and die, Eze 24:19-24, and the chapter is closed with assuring the prophet, that the day these things should come to pass, a messenger should be sent him, to whom he should open his mouth, and be no more dumb, Eze 24:25-27.

Cross References 17

  • 1. Ezekiel 22:15
  • 2. [Jeremiah 2:22]
  • 3. Isaiah 22:14
  • 4. See Ezekiel 5:13
  • 5. See Ezekiel 17:24
  • 6. See Ezekiel 5:11
  • 7. [Numbers 23:19; 1 Samuel 15:29]
  • 8. [Ezekiel 20:43; Ezekiel 23:45]
  • 9. See Ezekiel 2:1
  • 10. See Leviticus 10:6
  • 11. [2 Samuel 15:30; Isaiah 20:2]
  • 12. Hosea 9:4; See Jeremiah 16:5-7
  • 13. [ver. 16]
  • 14. Ezekiel 12:7; Ezekiel 37:7
  • 15. See Ezekiel 12:9
  • 16. [Jeremiah 7:14]; See Ezekiel 7:21
  • 17. Ezekiel 23:47; See 2 Chronicles 36:17

Footnotes 1

  • [a]. The meaning of the Hebrew is uncertain
The English Standard Version is published with the permission of Good News Publishers.