Ezekiel 3:15-25

15 And I came to the passing over, to the heap of new fruits, to them that dwelled beside the flood Chebar. And I sat where they sat, and I dwelled there seven days, wailing, in the midst of them. (And I came to the exiles, or to the captives, at Telabib, to those who lived by the Chebar River. And I sat where they sat, and I stayed there seven days, wailing, in the midst of them.)

16 Forsooth when seven days were passed, the word of the Lord was made to me, and said,

17 Son of man, I gave thee to be an espyer, or a beholder, to the house of Israel. And thou shalt hear of my mouth a word, and thou shalt tell [it] to them of me. (Son of man, I gave thee to be a lookout, or a watchman, to the house of Israel. And thou shalt hear a word from my mouth, and thou shalt tell it to them for me.)

18 If when I say to the wicked man, Thou shalt die by death, (and) thou tellest it not to him, and speakest not to him, that he be turned from his wicked way, and live; that wicked man shall die in his wickedness, but I shall seek his blood of thine hand. (If when I say to the wicked person, Thou shalt die, and thou tellest it not to him, and speakest not to him, so that he is turned from his wicked ways, and live; that wicked person shall die in his wickedness, but I shall seek payment for his blood from thee.)

19 Forsooth if thou tellest to the wicked man, and he is not converted from his wickedness, and from his wicked way; soothly he shall die in his wickedness, but thou hast delivered thy soul. (But if thou tellest to the wicked person, and he is not turned from his wickedness, and from his wicked ways; truly he shall die in his wickedness, but thou hast saved thy own soul/but thou hast saved thy own life.)

20 But also if a just man is turned from his rightfulness, and doeth wickedness, I shall set an hurting before him; he shall die, for thou toldest not to him; he shall die in his sin, and his rightfulnesses, which he did, shall not be in mind, but I shall seek his blood of thine hand. (And also if a just, or a righteous, person is turned from his righteousness, and doeth wickedness, I shall set a cause of stumbling before him; and he shall die, for thou hast not told him; he shall die in his sin, and his righteousnesses, which he did, shall not be remembered, but I shall seek payment for his blood from thee.)

21 Forsooth if thou tellest to a just man, that a just man do not sin, and he sin not, he living shall live, for thou toldest to him, and thou hast delivered thy soul. (But if thou tellest to a just, or a righteous, person, that a just person should not sin, and in deed he sin not, he shall live, for thou hast told him, and thou hast delivered thy own soul/and thou hast saved thy own life.)

22 And the hand of the Lord was made [up]on me, and he said to me, Rise thou (up), and go out into the field, and there I shall speak with thee.

23 And I rose (up), and went out into the field. And lo! the glory of the Lord stood there, as the glory which I saw beside the flood Chebar (And lo! the glory of the Lord stood there, like the glory which I saw by the Chebar River); and I fell down on my face.

24 And the spirit entered into me, and setted me on my feet. And he spake to me, and said to me, Enter thou, and be thou (en)closed in the midst of thine house.

25 And thou, son of man, lo! bonds be given on thee (And thou, son of man, lo! bonds be put upon thee), and they shall bind thee with those, and thou shalt not go out in(to) the midst of them.

Ezekiel 3:15-25 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO EZEKIEL 3

This chapter contains a further account of the prophet's call and mission; of his preparation of him for is work; of, the persons to whom he was sent; of what happened to him upon this; of the nature of his office, and the work of it; and of what followed upon the renewal of his call. His further preparation for prophesying is in Eze 3:1-3; where he is bid to eat the roll showed him, which he did, and found it in his mouth as honey for sweetness; and then he receives fresh orders to go to the people of Israel, and prophesy to them, Eze 3:4; and, that he might not be discouraged, an account is given beforehand of the people to whom he was sent; of their language, behaviour, and disposition; by which he could not expect success, Eze 3:5-7; and, for his further encouragement, strength, boldness, resolution, firmness, and presence of mind, are promised him, Eze 3:8,9; also a revelation of mere things to him; all which he should hear, receive, and speak, whether the people would attend to them or not; which ought to be no discouragement to him, since it was not regarded by the Lord, Eze 3:10,11; then follows an account of his being lifted up by the Spirit from the earth, when he heard a voice, which is described by the manner and matter of it; and a noise, both of the living creature's wings, and of the wheels he had seen in a former vision, Eze 3:12,13; and next of his being carried away by the same Spirit; and of the condition he was in, in his own spirit, as he went; and of the strength he received from the Lord; and of the place to which he, was carried; and his state and circumstances, and time of continuance there, Eze 3:14,15; where, after a time mentioned, he has a fresh call to his office, under the character of a watchman, whose business was to hear Christ's words, and warn the house of Israel from him; and who are distinguished into wicked and righteous; and whom the prophet was to warn at his own peril, Eze 3:16-21; and the chapter is concluded with a narration of various events which befell the prophet; he is bid by the Lord to go into the plain, which he did, and there saw the glory of the Lord, as he had before seen it at the river Chebar; which so affected him, that he fell upon his face, Eze 3:22,23; the spirit entered into him, let him on his feet, and spake with him; ordered him what he should do himself, that he should shut himself up in his house, Eze 3:24; informed him what the people would do to him; bind him with bands, that he should not come forth, Eze 3:25; and what Christ would do to him; strike him dumb in judgment to the people, that he might not be a reprover of them, Eze 3:26; but he is told that, when the Lord spoke to him; his mouth should be opened, and he should declare what was said to him, Eze 3:27.