Ezekiel 24:7-17

7 For the blood she has shed is in her midst; she put it on 1the bare rock; 2she did not pour it out on the ground to cover it with dust.
8 To rouse my wrath, to take vengeance, I have set on the bare rock the blood she has shed, that it may not be covered.
9 Therefore thus says the Lord GOD: Woe to the bloody city! 3I also will make the pile great.
10 Heap on the logs, kindle the fire, boil the meat well, mix in the spices,[a] and let the bones be burned up.
11 Then set it empty upon the coals, that it may become hot, and its copper may burn, 4that its uncleanness may be melted in it, its corrosion consumed.
12 5She has wearied herself with toil;[b] 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, 6you shall not be cleansed anymore till 7I have satisfied my fury upon you.
14 8I am the LORD. I have spoken; it shall come to pass; I will do it. I will not go back; 9I will not spare; 10I will not relent; 11according 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 12"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. 13Bind on your turban, and 14put your shoes on your feet; do not cover your lips, 15nor eat the bread of men."

Ezekiel 24:7-17 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 15

  • 1. Ezekiel 26:4, 14
  • 2. [Leviticus 17:13; Deuteronomy 12:16, 24]
  • 3. Isaiah 30:33
  • 4. Ezekiel 22:15
  • 5. [Jeremiah 2:22]
  • 6. Isaiah 22:14
  • 7. See Ezekiel 5:13
  • 8. See Ezekiel 17:24
  • 9. See Ezekiel 5:11
  • 10. [Numbers 23:19; 1 Samuel 15:29]
  • 11. [Ezekiel 20:43; Ezekiel 23:45]
  • 12. See Ezekiel 2:1
  • 13. See Leviticus 10:6
  • 14. [2 Samuel 15:30; Isaiah 20:2]
  • 15. Hosea 9:4; See Jeremiah 16:5-7

Footnotes 2

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