Ezekiel 1:2

In the fifth [day] of the month, which [was] the fifth year of king Jehoiachin's captivity,

In the fifth {H2568} day of the month {H2320}, which was the fifth {H2549} year {H8141} of king {H4428} Jehoiachin's {H3112} captivity {H1546},

On the fifth day of the month, which was during the fifth year of King Y'hoyakhin's exile,

On the fifth day of the month—it was the fifth year of the exile of King Jehoiachin—

In the fifthdayof the month, which was the fifth year of king Jehoiachin’s captivity,

Ezekiel 1:2 KJV provides a precise historical anchor for the prophet Ezekiel's ministry, setting the stage for the profound visions and messages that follow. This verse dates the commencement of Ezekiel's prophetic call to a specific moment within the Babylonian exile.

Context of Ezekiel 1:2

This verse specifies the exact timing of Ezekiel's encounter with the Lord: "In the fifth [day] of the month, which [was] the fifth year of king Jehoiachin's captivity." This precise dating is crucial for understanding the historical backdrop of Ezekiel's prophecies. King Jehoiachin was deported from Jerusalem to Babylon by King Nebuchadnezzar in 597 BC, along with many of the leading citizens of Judah, including Ezekiel himself. This event marked the first major wave of the Babylonian exile, a period of immense national crisis and spiritual questioning for the Israelites.

Ezekiel, a priest, was among these captives. His ministry, unlike that of prophets who remained in Jerusalem (like Jeremiah), was directed toward the exiled community living by the Chebar Canal in Babylonia. This verse immediately grounds the supernatural visions in a tangible, historical reality, emphasizing that God's revelation is not detached from human experience, even in times of profound displacement and suffering.

Key Themes and Messages

  • Divine Precision and Timing: The exact dating underscores God's meticulous involvement in history and His sovereign control over events. It highlights that Ezekiel's call was not random but part of God's deliberate plan for His people, even in their darkest hour.
  • God's Presence in Exile: A significant message of Ezekiel's book, hinted at from the very beginning, is that God is not confined to the temple in Jerusalem but is present with His people even in a foreign land. This challenged the traditional belief that God could only be worshipped or encountered in the Promised Land, offering hope and spiritual guidance to the exiles far from home. This theme resonates with the idea that God's Spirit cannot be escaped.
  • Authenticity of Prophecy: The specific chronological details lend credibility and historical weight to Ezekiel's prophetic messages, assuring his audience that these were real, divinely initiated encounters, not mere human imaginings.

Linguistic Insights

The KJV's addition of "[day]" in brackets indicates that this word is implied in the original Hebrew text for clarity. The Hebrew phrase literally translates to "in the fifth of the month," which, in ancient Near Eastern dating, would naturally refer to the fifth day of that month. This subtle nuance showcases the KJV translators' effort to make the text more immediately comprehensible to English readers.

Practical Application

Ezekiel 1:2 offers comfort and challenge to believers today. It reminds us that even in periods of great uncertainty, loss, or "exile" from what is familiar, God is present and active. His plans unfold with perfect timing, and He continues to speak to His people, providing direction and hope. This verse encourages us to look for God's hand and voice even when circumstances seem bleak, trusting in His sovereignty and His enduring faithfulness, much like the exiles were called to trust in God's unfailing mercies.

Note: Commentary was generated by an advanced AI, utilizing a prompt that emphasized Biblical fidelity over bias. We've found these insights to be consistently reliable, yet we always encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

  • 2 Kings 24:12

    And Jehoiachin the king of Judah went out to the king of Babylon, he, and his mother, and his servants, and his princes, and his officers: and the king of Babylon took him in the eighth year of his reign.

  • 2 Kings 24:15

    And he carried away Jehoiachin to Babylon, and the king's mother, and the king's wives, and his officers, and the mighty of the land, [those] carried he into captivity from Jerusalem to Babylon.

  • Ezekiel 20:1

    ¶ And it came to pass in the seventh year, in the fifth [month], the tenth [day] of the month, [that] certain of the elders of Israel came to enquire of the LORD, and sat before me.

  • Ezekiel 40:1

    ¶ In the five and twentieth year of our captivity, in the beginning of the year, in the tenth [day] of the month, in the fourteenth year after that the city was smitten, in the selfsame day the hand of the LORD was upon me, and brought me thither.

  • Ezekiel 8:1

    ¶ And it came to pass in the sixth year, in the sixth [month], in the fifth [day] of the month, [as] I sat in mine house, and the elders of Judah sat before me, that the hand of the Lord GOD fell there upon me.

  • Ezekiel 29:17

    ¶ And it came to pass in the seven and twentieth year, in the first [month], in the first [day] of the month, the word of the LORD came unto me, saying,

  • Ezekiel 31:1

    ¶ And it came to pass in the eleventh year, in the third [month], in the first [day] of the month, [that] the word of the LORD came unto me, saying,

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