Ezekiel 24:3-11

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.
8 To stir up wrath and take revenge I put her blood on the bare rock, so that it would not be covered.
9 “ ‘Therefore this is what the Sovereign LORD says: “ ‘Woe to the city of bloodshed! I, too, will pile the wood high.
10 So heap on the wood and kindle the fire. Cook the meat well, mixing in the spices; and let the bones be charred.
11 Then set the empty pot on the coals till it becomes hot and its copper glows, so that its impurities may be melted and its deposit burned away.

Ezekiel 24:3-11 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO EZEKIEL 24

Is this chapter the destruction of the city and temple of Jerusalem is prophesied of; the former under the parable of a boiling pot; the latter is represented by the sudden death of Ezekiel's wife. The time of this prophecy was that very day the king of Babylon began the siege of Jerusalem, Eze 24:1,2, the parable of the boiling pot, Eze 24:3-5, the explanation and application of it to the city of Jerusalem, Eze 24:6-14, the prophet is told of the death of his wife, and bid not to mourn on that account, which accordingly came to pass, Eze 24:15-18, upon the people's inquiring what these things meant, he informs them that hereby was signified the profanation of the temple; and that their distress should be so great, that they should not use any set forms of mourning, but pine away and die, Eze 24:19-24, and the chapter is closed with assuring the prophet, that the day these things should come to pass, a messenger should be sent him, to whom he should open his mouth, and be no more dumb, Eze 24:25-27.

Cross References 12

  • 1. S Isaiah 1:2; S Ezekiel 2:3,6
  • 2. S Ezekiel 17:2; Ezekiel 20:49
  • 3. Jeremiah 1:13; S Ezekiel 11:3
  • 4. S Ezekiel 11:7
  • 5. S Isaiah 34:12; Jeremiah 52:10
  • 6. Jeremiah 52:24-27; Micah 3:2-3
  • 7. S Ezekiel 16:23
  • 8. S Ezekiel 22:2
  • 9. S Job 6:27; Joel 3:3; Obadiah 1:11; Nahum 3:10
  • 10. S Ezekiel 11:11
  • 11. S Leviticus 17:13
  • 12. Jeremiah 21:10; Ezekiel 22:15
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