Ezekiel 24:19

19 The people asked me, "Tell us, what do these things that you are doing mean to us?"

Ezekiel 24:19 Meaning and Commentary

Ezekiel 24:19

And the people said unto me
Either seriously, as being desirous of knowing what was meant by all this; since they had reason to believe that it was not out of want of affection in Ezekiel to his wife that he so behaved; and therefore there must be some hidden meaning in it, which they should be glad to be informed of: or in a ludicrous manner, deriding the prophet for his conduct, and despising what he meant to instruct them in hereby: wilt thou not tell us what these things are to us, that thou doest so?
for they suspected it vas not on his own account, but to signify something to them, that these things were done; and laughing at him, they say, to what purpose are these things done? if you do not tell us for what reason they are done, instruct us by words, and not by actions; these were his fellow captives in Babylon.

Ezekiel 24:19 In-Context

17 Groan silently. Don't grieve for the person who dies. Tie on your turban, and put on your sandals. Don't cover your face or eat the food that mourners eat."

18 So I spoke to the people in the morning, and in the evening my wife died. The next morning I did as I was ordered.

19 The people asked me, "Tell us, what do these things that you are doing mean to us?"

20 I told them, "The LORD spoke his word to me. He said,

21 'Tell the nation of Israel, "This is what the Almighty LORD says: I'm going to dishonor my holy place. You brag that my holy place gives you strength. It's the thing you love the most. It's your hearts' desire. So the sons and daughters that you left behind will die in battle.