Ezekiel 24:19

19 Then the people asked me, “Won’t you tell us what these things have to do with us? Why are you acting like this?”

Ezekiel 24:19 in Other Translations

19 And the people said unto me, Wilt thou not tell us what these things are to us, that thou doest so?

19 And the people said to me, "Will you not tell us what these things mean for us, that you are acting thus?"

19 Then the people asked, “What does all this mean? What are you trying to tell us?”

19 The people came to me, saying, "Tell us why you're acting like this. What does it mean, anyway?"

19 Then the people asked me, "Won't you tell us what these things you are doing mean for 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 quietly; do not mourn for the dead. Keep your turban fastened and your sandals on your feet; do not cover your mustache and beard or eat the customary food of mourners.”

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

19 Then the people asked me, “Won’t you tell us what these things have to do with us? Why are you acting like this?”

20 So I said to them, “The word of the LORD came to me:

21 Say to the people of Israel, ‘This is what the Sovereign LORD says: I am about to desecrate my sanctuary—the stronghold in which you take pride, the delight of your eyes, the object of your affection. The sons and daughters you left behind will fall by the sword.

Cross References

• 1. Ezekiel 12:9; Ezekiel 37:18