Ezekiel 11:1

¶ Moreover the spirit lifted me up, and brought me unto the east gate of the LORD'S house, which looketh eastward: and behold at the door of the gate five and twenty men; among whom I saw Jaazaniah the son of Azur, and Pelatiah the son of Benaiah, princes of the people.

Moreover the spirit {H7307} lifted me up {H5375}, and brought {H935} me unto the east {H6931} gate {H8179} of the LORD'S {H3068} house {H1004}, which looketh {H6437} eastward {H6921}: and behold at the door {H6607} of the gate {H8179} five {H2568} and twenty {H6242} men {H376}; among {H8432} whom I saw {H7200} Jaazaniah {H2970} the son {H1121} of Azur {H5809}, and Pelatiah {H6410} the son {H1121} of Benaiah {H1141}, princes {H8269} of the people {H5971}.

Then a spirit lifted me up and brought me to the east gate of ADONAI's house, the gate that faces eastward. At the entrance of the gate I saw twenty-five men; among them were Ya'azanyah the son of 'Azur and P'latyahu the son of B'nayahu, leaders of the people.

Then the Spirit lifted me up and brought me to the gate of the house of the LORD that faces east. And there at the entrance of the gate were twenty-five men. Among them I saw Jaazaniah son of Azzur and Pelatiah son of Benaiah, who were leaders of the people.

Moreover the Spirit lifted me up, and brought me unto the east gate of Jehovah’s house, which looketh eastward: and behold, at the door of the gate five and twenty men; and I saw in the midst of them Jaazaniah the son of Azzur, and Pelatiah the son of Benaiah, princes of the people.

Ezekiel 11:1 opens a new segment of prophetic vision for Ezekiel, a priest in exile in Babylon. This verse describes a supernatural transport by the Spirit of God, bringing the prophet to a critical location in Jerusalem to witness the spiritual state and impending judgment upon the city's leadership.

Context

This verse continues Ezekiel's series of visions, which began in Ezekiel chapter 8, where he was spiritually transported from Babylon to Jerusalem. The preceding chapters detail the abominations being committed within the Temple precincts, leading to the gradual departure of God's glory. Here, Ezekiel is placed at the east gate of the LORD'S house, a significant location from which God's glory had just departed. The focus shifts from the general idolatry to specific individuals: five and twenty men, identified as princes of the people, including Jaazaniah and Pelatiah. These are not priests, but civic and political leaders, highlighting the pervasive corruption from the top down in Judah.

Key Themes

  • Divine Revelation and Prophetic Transport: The phrase "the spirit lifted me up" emphasizes the supernatural nature of Ezekiel's experience, signifying direct divine communication and insight into hidden realities. It underscores God's active involvement in revealing His will and judgment.
  • Corrupt Leadership: The specific naming of Jaazaniah and Pelatiah, alongside the twenty-five men, immediately draws attention to the moral and spiritual decay among Jerusalem's ruling elite. These leaders were responsible for guiding the people but instead led them further into sin and rebellion against God.
  • Imminent Judgment: This vision sets the stage for the pronouncements of judgment that follow in Ezekiel 11, particularly against these very leaders who were misleading the remnant in Jerusalem.
  • God's Omniscience: God sees and knows the hearts and actions of all, even those in positions of power, holding them accountable for their influence and decisions.

Linguistic Insights

The Hebrew word for "spirit" is ruach (רוּחַ), which can mean wind, breath, or spirit. In the context of "the spirit lifted me up," it signifies the divine Spirit of God, empowering Ezekiel and granting him supernatural perception and mobility for the purpose of receiving revelation. This motif of the Spirit's direct intervention is central to Ezekiel's prophetic ministry.

Practical Application

Ezekiel 11:1 serves as a stark reminder of the accountability of leadership, whether in civil government, religious institutions, or any sphere of influence. God observes and judges those who lead His people astray through corruption, self-interest, or disregard for divine commands. The specific naming of the "princes" indicates that God holds individuals responsible for their actions and their impact on society. This passage encourages us to pray for leaders and to hold them to a high standard of integrity, knowing that God sees all and will ultimately bring justice, as seen in the subsequent judgment on these very leaders, such as Pelatiah's death in Ezekiel 11:13.

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.

  • Ezekiel 3:12

    Then the spirit took me up, and I heard behind me a voice of a great rushing, [saying], Blessed [be] the glory of the LORD from his place.

  • Ezekiel 11:24

    Afterwards the spirit took me up, and brought me in a vision by the Spirit of God into Chaldea, to them of the captivity. So the vision that I had seen went up from me.

  • Ezekiel 3:14

    So the spirit lifted me up, and took me away, and I went in bitterness, in the heat of my spirit; but the hand of the LORD was strong upon me.

  • Ezekiel 8:16

    And he brought me into the inner court of the LORD'S house, and, behold, at the door of the temple of the LORD, between the porch and the altar, [were] about five and twenty men, with their backs toward the temple of the LORD, and their faces toward the east; and they worshipped the sun toward the east.

  • Ezekiel 11:13

    And it came to pass, when I prophesied, that Pelatiah the son of Benaiah died. Then fell I down upon my face, and cried with a loud voice, and said, Ah Lord GOD! wilt thou make a full end of the remnant of Israel?

  • Ezekiel 8:3

    And he put forth the form of an hand, and took me by a lock of mine head; and the spirit lifted me up between the earth and the heaven, and brought me in the visions of God to Jerusalem, to the door of the inner gate that looketh toward the north; where [was] the seat of the image of jealousy, which provoketh to jealousy.

  • Ezekiel 37:1

    ¶ The hand of the LORD was upon me, and carried me out in the spirit of the LORD, and set me down in the midst of the valley which [was] full of bones,

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