Ezekiel 12:6

6 Lift them onto your shoulders with the people watching, and carry them out in the dark. Cover your face so you cannot see the ground, because I have made you a sign to the people 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 During the day when the people are watching, bring out the things you would pack as captive. At evening, with the people watching, leave your place like those who are taken away as captives from their country.
5 Dig a hole through the wall while they watch, and bring your things out through it.
6 Lift them onto your shoulders with the people watching, and carry them out in the dark. Cover your face so you cannot see the ground, because I have made you a sign to the people of Israel."
7 I did these things as I was commanded. In the daytime I brought what I had packed as if I were being taken away captive. Then in the evening I dug through the wall with my hands. I brought my things out in the dark and carried them on my shoulders as the people watched.
8 Then in the morning the Lord spoke his word to me, saying:
Scripture taken from the New Century Version. Copyright © 1987, 1988, 1991 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.