Ezekiel 12:22

King James Version:

(The Lord speaking is red text)

Son of man, what [is] that proverb [that] ye have in the land of Israel, saying, The days are prolonged, and every vision faileth?

Complete Jewish Bible:

"Human being, don't you have this proverb in the land of Isra'el, 'Time keeps passing, and none of the visions are fulfilled'?

Berean Standard Bible:

“Son of man, what is this proverb that you have in the land of Israel: ‘The days go by, and every vision fails’?

American Standard Version:

Son of man, what is this proverb that ye have in the land of Israel, saying, The days are prolonged, and every vision faileth?

KJV with Strong’s Numbers:

Son^{H1121} of man^{H120}, what is that proverb^{H4912} that ye have in the land^{H127} of Israel^{H3478}, saying^{H559}, The days^{H3117} are prolonged^{H748}, and every vision^{H2377} faileth^{H6}?

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Commentary for Ezekiel 12:22

Ezekiel 12:22 is a verse that addresses a specific proverb popular in Israel during the time of the prophet Ezekiel. This proverb reflects a sense of skepticism and impatience among the people, who were questioning the validity and delay of prophetic visions. The phrase "The days are prolonged, and every vision faileth" suggests that the people had been waiting for a long time for the fulfillment of prophecies, particularly those concerning deliverance or change, and had begun to doubt their eventual realization.

The historical context of this verse is set during the Babylonian exile, a period when many Israelites were taken captive and lived in Babylon following the conquest of Jerusalem in 586 BCE. Ezekiel, who was among those exiled, served as a prophet during this tumultuous time, and his message was often one of judgment but also of hope and restoration for Israel.

In this verse, Ezekiel is called by God, referred to as "Son of man," to confront this cynical saying head-on. The verse reflects a broader theme in the book of Ezekiel, where the prophet challenges the false sense of security and the complacency of the people who had lost faith in the prophetic word because of the apparent delay in its fulfillment. Ezekiel's mission was to remind the people that God's plans would come to pass in His own time, and that every vision from God would indeed be fulfilled, despite appearances to the contrary. This verse serves as a call to repentance and a reassurance of God's sovereignty over time and history.

*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: H1121
   There are 3654 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: בֵּן
   Transliteration: bên
   Pronunciation: bane
   Description: from בָּנָה; a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative relationship, including grandson, subject, nation, quality or condition, etc., (like father or brother), etc.); [phrase] afflicted, age, (Ahoh-) (Ammon-) (Hachmon-) (Lev-) ite, (anoint-) ed one, appointed to, ([phrase]) arrow, (Assyr-) (Babylon-) (Egypt-) (Grec-) ian, one born, bough, branch, breed, [phrase] (young) bullock, [phrase] (young) calf, [idiom] came up in, child, colt, [idiom] common, [idiom] corn, daughter, [idiom] of first, [phrase] firstborn, foal, [phrase] very fruitful, [phrase] postage, [idiom] in, [phrase] kid, [phrase] lamb, ([phrase]) man, meet, [phrase] mighty, [phrase] nephew, old, ([phrase]) people, [phrase] rebel, [phrase] robber, [idiom] servant born, [idiom] soldier, son, [phrase] spark, [phrase] steward, [phrase] stranger, [idiom] surely, them of, [phrase] tumultuous one, [phrase] valiant(-est), whelp, worthy, young (one), youth.
   
2. Strong's Number: H120
   There are 581 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: אָדָם
   Transliteration: ʼâdâm
   Pronunciation: aw-dawm'
   Description: from אָדַם; ruddy i.e. a human being (an individual or the species, mankind, etc.); [idiom] another, [phrase] hypocrite, [phrase] common sort, [idiom] low, man (mean, of low degree), person.
   
3. Strong's Number: H4912
   There are 39 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: מָשָׁל
   Transliteration: mâshâl
   Pronunciation: maw-shawl'
   Description: apparently from מָשַׁל in some original sense of superiority in mental action; properly, a pithy maxim, usually of metaphorical nature; hence, a simile (as an adage, poem, discourse); byword, like, parable, proverb.
   
4. Strong's Number: H127
   There are 372 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: אֲדָמָה
   Transliteration: ʼădâmâh
   Pronunciation: ad-aw-maw'
   Description: from אָדַם; soil (from its general redness); country, earth, ground, husband(-man) (-ry), land.
   
5. Strong's Number: H3478
   There are 2229 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: יִשְׂרָאֵל
   Transliteration: Yisrâʼêl
   Pronunciation: yis-raw-ale'
   Description: from שָׂרָה and אֵל; he will rule as God; Jisrael, a symbolical name of Jacob; also (typically) of his posterity; Israel.
   
6. 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.
   
7. Strong's Number: H3117
   There are 1931 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: יוֹם
   Transliteration: yôwm
   Pronunciation: yome
   Description: from an unused root meaning to be hot; a day (as the warm hours), whether literal (from sunrise to sunset, or from one sunset to the next), or figurative (a space of time defined by an associated term), (often used adverb); age, [phrase] always, [phrase] chronicals, continually(-ance), daily, ((birth-), each, to) day, (now a, two) days (agone), [phrase] elder, [idiom] end, [phrase] evening, [phrase] (for) ever(-lasting, -more), [idiom] full, life, as (so) long as (... live), (even) now, [phrase] old, [phrase] outlived, [phrase] perpetually, presently, [phrase] remaineth, [idiom] required, season, [idiom] since, space, then, (process of) time, [phrase] as at other times, [phrase] in trouble, weather, (as) when, (a, the, within a) while (that), [idiom] whole ([phrase] age), (full) year(-ly), [phrase] younger.
   
8. Strong's Number: H748
   There are 164 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: אָרַךְ
   Transliteration: ʼârak
   Pronunciation: aw-rak'
   Description: a primitive root; to be (causative, make) long (literally or figuratively); defer, draw out, lengthen, (be, become, make, pro-) long, [phrase] (out-, over-) live, tarry (long).
   
9. Strong's Number: H2377
   There are 34 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: חָזוֹן
   Transliteration: châzôwn
   Pronunciation: khaw-zone'
   Description: from חָזָה; a sight (mentally), i.e. a dream, revelation, or oracle; vision.
   
10. Strong's Number: H6
    There are 14291 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: אָבַד
    Transliteration: ʼâbad
    Pronunciation: aw-bad'
    Description: a primitive root; properly, to wander away, i.e. lose oneself; by implication to perish (causative, destroy); break, destroy(-uction), [phrase] not escape, fail, lose, (cause to, make) perish, spend, [idiom] and surely, take, be undone, [idiom] utterly, be void of, have no way to flee.