Ezekiel 2:9

9 And when I looked, behold, 1a hand was stretched out to me, and behold, 2a scroll of a book was in it.

Ezekiel 2:9 Meaning and Commentary

Ezekiel 2:9

And when I looked, behold, an hand [was] sent unto me
Not of an angel, but of Christ himself, in a visionary way; for this was not a real hand, but the likeness of one, as in ( Ezekiel 8:3 ) ; and so the Targum here,

``and I saw, and behold, the likeness of a hand stretched out on the side to me.''
This symbol was to show that his prophecy, that he was sent to deliver, was from heaven and came from Christ; and that hand that delivered it to him would protect and defend him: and, lo a roll of a book [was] therein;
held in it, and held forth by it, to the prophet. Books were frequently written on parchment or vellum, and rolled about a stick, in form of a cylinder; and hence they were called volumes or rolls, ( Psalms 40:7 ) . This roll was a symbol of the prophecy of this book.

Ezekiel 2:9 In-Context

7 And you shall speak my words to them, whether they hear or refuse to hear, for they are a rebellious house.
8 "But you, son of man, hear what I say to you. Be not rebellious like that rebellious house; open your mouth and eat what I give you."
9 And when I looked, behold, a hand was stretched out to me, and behold, a scroll of a book was in it.
10 And he spread it before me. And it had writing on the front and on the back, and there were written on it words of lamentation and mourning and woe.

Cross References 2

  • 1. Ezekiel 8:3; Daniel 10:10; Revelation 10:2
  • 2. Jeremiah 36:2
The English Standard Version is published with the permission of Good News Publishers.