Ezekiel 12:6

6 In full sight of the people, put the bundle on your shoulder and walk out into the night. Cover your face so you won't have to look at what you'll never see again. I'm using you as a sign for the family of Israel."

Ezekiel 12:6 Meaning and Commentary

Ezekiel 12:6

In their sight shall thou bear [it] upon [thy] shoulders
The bundle, packed up for his use and service, carried out through the wall dug by him. The Septuagint and Vulgate Latin versions render it, as if he himself was to be carried out upon the shoulders of another, thus: "in their sight, upon the shoulders, thou shall be carried"; but the former sense is best: [and] carry [it] forth in the twilight;
signifying the same as before: thou shall cover thy face, that thou see not the ground;
or "land"; not the land of Israel, but the land of Chaldea, where the prophet was: this shows that great shame and confusion which should attend the king of Judah when he fled, and great fear and terror also; and likewise his regard to his eyes being put out by the king of Babylon; so that he saw not the land into which he was carried captive, ( Jeremiah 52:11 ) ; for I have set thee [for] a sign unto the house of Israel;
to show unto them by deeds, as well as by words, what should befall them; see ( Isaiah 8:18 ) ( 20:2-4 ) .

Ezekiel 12:6 In-Context

4 You'll take up your baggage while they watch, a bundle of the bare necessities of someone going into exile, and toward evening leave, just like a person going off into exile.
5 As they watch, dig through the wall of the house and carry your bundle through it.
6 In full sight of the people, put the bundle on your shoulder and walk out into the night. Cover your face so you won't have to look at what you'll never see again. I'm using you as a sign for the family of Israel."
7 I did exactly as he commanded me. I got my stuff together and brought it out in the street where everyone could see me, bundled it up the way someone being taken off into exile would, and then, as the sun went down, made a hole in the wall of the house with my hands. As it grew dark and as they watched, I left, throwing my bundle across my shoulders.
8 The next morning God spoke to me:
Published by permission. Originally published by NavPress in English as THE MESSAGE: The Bible in Contemporary Language copyright 2002 by Eugene Peterson. All rights reserved.