Ezekiel 12:1

King James Version:

(The Lord speaking is red text)

¶ The word of the LORD also came unto me, saying,

Complete Jewish Bible:

The word of ADONAI came to me:

Berean Standard Bible:

Then the word of the LORD came to me, saying,

American Standard Version:

The word of Jehovah also came unto me, saying,

KJV with Strong’s Numbers:

The word^{H1697} of the LORD^{H3068} also came unto me, saying^{H559},

Cross-References (KJV):

Explore This Verse Across Other Resources:

BibleHub.com BibleRef.com

Commentary for Ezekiel 12:1

1. **Themes:**
- **Divine Communication:** Ezekiel 12:1 opens with "The word of the LORD also came unto me," which is a common formula in the prophetic books indicating a direct revelation from God to the prophet Ezekiel. This underscores the theme of divine communication, where God is actively speaking to His people through chosen individuals.
- **Authority and Authenticity:** The phrase asserts the authority of Ezekiel's message, emphasizing that what follows is not of human origin but is a divinely inspired communication. This lends authenticity to Ezekiel's prophetic role and the importance of his message to the people.

2. **Historical Context:**
- **Exile in Babylon:** Ezekiel was a prophet among the exiles in Babylon after the fall of Jerusalem in 586 BCE. His prophetic ministry began around 593 BCE, and his messages were primarily directed to the exiled Jews. Ezekiel's role was to explain the reasons for the exile, to call the people to repentance, and to offer hope of restoration.
- **Crisis of Faith:** The historical context of Ezekiel 12:1 is a period of deep spiritual crisis for the Israelites. The destruction of the Temple and the city of Jerusalem, along with their deportation to a foreign land, challenged the Israelites' understanding of God's promises and their identity as God's chosen people.

3. **Verse Text:**
- **Preparation for Judgment:** Although the verse itself is brief and primarily serves as an introduction to a longer discourse, the subsequent verses (Ezekiel 12:2-28) detail the coming judgment on Jerusalem and the false prophets who were misleading the people with promises of imminent peace. Ezekiel 12:1 sets the stage for a series of prophetic actions and parables that Ezekiel is instructed to perform to convey the certainty of the coming judgment.

In summary, Ezekiel 12:1 introduces a new divine message within the broader context of the Babylonian exile, where the prophet Ezekiel is tasked with communicating God's words to a people in crisis. The verse emphasizes the theme of divine communication and the authority of the prophetic word, while also preparing the reader for a message of judgment against the complacency and false hopes of the exiled community.

*This commentary is produced by Microsoft/WizardLM-2-8x22B AI model

Strong's Numbers and Definitions:

Note: H = Hebrew (OT), G = Greek (NT)

1. Strong's Number: H1697
   There are 1290 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: דָּבָר
   Transliteration: dâbâr
   Pronunciation: daw-baw'
   Description: from דָבַר; a word; by implication, a matter (as spoken of) or thing; adverbially, a cause; act, advice, affair, answer, [idiom] any such (thing), because of, book, business, care, case, cause, certain rate, [phrase] chronicles, commandment, [idiom] commune(-ication), [phrase] concern(-ing), [phrase] confer, counsel, [phrase] dearth, decree, deed, [idiom] disease, due, duty, effect, [phrase] eloquent, errand, (evil favoured-) ness, [phrase] glory, [phrase] harm, hurt, [phrase] iniquity, [phrase] judgment, language, [phrase] lying, manner, matter, message, (no) thing, oracle, [idiom] ought, [idiom] parts, [phrase] pertaining, [phrase] please, portion, [phrase] power, promise, provision, purpose, question, rate, reason, report, request, [idiom] (as hast) said, sake, saying, sentence, [phrase] sign, [phrase] so, some (uncleanness), somewhat to say, [phrase] song, speech, [idiom] spoken, talk, task, [phrase] that, [idiom] there done, thing (concerning), thought, [phrase] thus, tidings, what(-soever), [phrase] wherewith, which, word, work.
   
2. Strong's Number: H3068
   There are 5521 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: יְהֹוָה
   Transliteration: Yᵉhôvâh
   Pronunciation: yeh-ho-vaw'
   Description: from הָיָה; (the) self-Existent or Eternal; Jehovah, Jewish national name of God; Jehovah, the Lord. Compare יָהּ, יְהֹוִה.
   
3. Strong's Number: H559
   There are 4434 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: אָמַר
   Transliteration: ʼâmar
   Pronunciation: aw-mar'
   Description: a primitive root; to say (used with great latitude); answer, appoint, avouch, bid, boast self, call, certify, challenge, charge, [phrase] (at the, give) command(-ment), commune, consider, declare, demand, [idiom] desire, determine, [idiom] expressly, [idiom] indeed, [idiom] intend, name, [idiom] plainly, promise, publish, report, require, say, speak (against, of), [idiom] still, [idiom] suppose, talk, tell, term, [idiom] that is, [idiom] think, use (speech), utter, [idiom] verily, [idiom] yet.