Ezekiel 24:5

5 take the pick of the flock. Pile wood beneath it for the bones; bring it to a boil and cook the bones in it.

Ezekiel 24:5 in Other Translations

KJV
5 Take the choice of the flock, and burn also the bones under it, and make it boil well, and let them seethe the bones of it therein.
ESV
5 Take the choicest one of the flock; pile the logs under it; boil it well; seethe also its bones in it.
NLT
5 Use only the best sheep from the flock, and heap fuel on the fire beneath the pot. Bring the pot to a boil, and cook the bones along with the meat.
MSG
5 from the best of the sheep in the flock. Pile wood beneath the pot. Bring it to a boil and cook the soup.
CSB
5 Take the choicest of the flock and also pile up the fuel under it. Bring it to a boil and cook the bones in it."

Ezekiel 24:5 Meaning and Commentary

Ezekiel 24:5

Take the choice of the flock
King, princes, nobles, magistrates, priests and rulers of the people: and burn also the bones under it:
or, "put a pile of bones under it" {u}; the bones of them that are slain in it; denoting the great slaughter of them; or the bones of the innocent that had been murdered in it; which were the cause of these judgments coming upon them; and caused the wrath of God to burn the more hotly against them; or the bones of the wicked: and make it boil well;
the pot; that the water may be very hot and boiling; denoting the severity of the judgments of God in the city, to the destruction of many by sword, famine, and pestilence: and let them seethe the bones of it therein;
that the strongest among them may be weakened and destroyed by the length and severity of the siege, and the judgments attending it. The Targum is,

``bring near the kings of the people, and even join auxiliaries with them; hasten the time of it yea, let her slain be cast in the midst of her.''

FOOTNOTES:

F21 (hytxt Mymueh rwd) "pyram ossium sub ipsa", Junius & Tremellius, Piscator, Starckius. (rwd) "rogus, strues materiae combustibililis rotunda", Stockius, p. 223.

Ezekiel 24:5 In-Context

3 Tell this rebellious people a parable and say to them: ‘This is what the Sovereign LORD says: “ ‘Put on the cooking pot; put it on and pour water into it.
4 Put into it the pieces of meat, all the choice pieces—the leg and the shoulder. Fill it with the best of these bones;
5 take the pick of the flock. Pile wood beneath it for the bones; bring it to a boil and cook the bones in it.
6 “ ‘For this is what the Sovereign LORD says: “ ‘Woe to the city of bloodshed, to the pot now encrusted, whose deposit will not go away! Take the meat out piece by piece in whatever order it comes.
7 “ ‘For the blood she shed is in her midst: She poured it on the bare rock; she did not pour it on the ground, where the dust would cover it.

Cross References 2

  • 1. S Isaiah 34:12; Jeremiah 52:10
  • 2. Jeremiah 52:24-27; Micah 3:2-3
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