Ezekiel 24:4-14

4 Put in the best pieces of meat - the shoulders and the legs - fill it with choice bony pieces too.

5 Use the meat of the finest sheep; pile the wood under the pot. Let the water boil; boil the bones and the meat."

6 This is what the Sovereign Lord is saying: "The city of murderers is doomed! It is like a corroded pot that is never cleaned. Piece after piece of meat is taken out, and not one is left.

7 There was murder in the city, but the blood was not spilled on the ground where the dust could hide it; it was spilled on a bare rock.

8 I have left the blood there, where it cannot be hidden, where it demands angry revenge."

9 This is what the Sovereign Lord is saying: "The city of murderers is doomed! I myself will pile up the firewood.

10 Bring more wood! Fan the flames! Cook the meat! Boil away the broth! Burn up the bones!

11 Now set the empty bronze pot on the coals and let it get red-hot. Then the pot will be ritually pure again after the corrosion is burned off,

12 although all that corrosion will not disappear in the flames.

13 Jerusalem, your immoral actions have defiled you. Although I tried to purify you, you remained defiled. You will not be pure again until you have felt the full force of my anger.

14 I, the Lord, have spoken. The time has come for me to act. I will not ignore your sins or show pity or be merciful. You will be punished for what you have done." The Sovereign Lord has spoken.

Ezekiel 24:4-14 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.

Footnotes

• [a]. [Probable text] wood; [Hebrew] bones.
• [b]. [Some ancient translations] Boil away the broth!; [Hebrew unclear.]
• [c]. [Verse 12 in Hebrew begins with two words, the meaning of which is unclear.]