Ezekiel 12:23

23 "Tell them, 'God, the Master, says, This proverb's going to have a short life!'

Ezekiel 12:23 Meaning and Commentary

Ezekiel 12:23

Tell them therefore
Plainly and boldly, with the greatest assurance and confidence, as from God himself: thus saith the Lord God, I will make this proverb to cease;
by quickly accomplishing the things which they, by this proverb, represented as at a great distance, and what would never be brought about: and they shall no more use it as a proverb in Israel;
when the things predicted shall take place: but say unto them, the days are at hand, and the effect of every
vision;
the time is hastening on, and will quickly come, when every prophecy shall be fulfilled: it was in the sixth year of Jehoiachin's captivity that these prophecies were delivered out; and in the ninth year Nebuchadnezzar came with his army, and besieged Jerusalem; so that the days were at hand; in three years' time there began an accomplishment of the above predictions, which were scoffed at in the proverb used.

Ezekiel 12:23 In-Context

21 God's Message came to me:
22 "Son of man, what's this proverb making the rounds in the land of Israel that says, 'Everything goes on the same as ever; all the prophetic warnings are false alarms'?
23 "Tell them, 'God, the Master, says, This proverb's going to have a short life!'
24 False alarms and easygoing preaching are a thing of the past in the life of Israel.
25 I, God, am doing the speaking. What I say happens. None of what I say is on hold. What I say, I'll do - and soon, you rebels!' Decree of God the Master."
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.