Ezekiel 24:15-18

Ezekiel’s Wife Dies

15 The word of the LORD came to me:
16 “Son of man, with one blow I am about to take away from you the delight of your eyes. Yet do not lament or weep or shed any tears.
17 Groan quietly; do not mourn for the dead. Keep your turban fastened and your sandals on your feet; do not cover your mustache and beard or eat the customary food of mourners.”
18 So I spoke to the people in the morning, and in the evening my wife died. The next morning I did as I had been commanded.

Ezekiel 24:15-18 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 9

  • 1. S Psalms 39:10
  • 2. ver 21; Psalms 84:1; S Lamentations 2:4
  • 3. Jeremiah 13:17; Jeremiah 16:5; S Jeremiah 22:10
  • 4. Psalms 39:9
  • 5. S Exodus 28:39; S Isaiah 3:20
  • 6. S Isaiah 20:2
  • 7. S Leviticus 13:45
  • 8. ver 22; S Jeremiah 16:7
  • 9. S Ezekiel 12:7
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