Ezekiel 11:15

Son of man, thy brethren, [even] thy brethren, the men of thy kindred, and all the house of Israel wholly, [are] they unto whom the inhabitants of Jerusalem have said, Get you far from the LORD: unto us is this land given in possession.

Son {H1121} of man {H120}, thy brethren {H251}, even thy brethren {H251}, the men {H582} of thy kindred {H1353}, and all the house {H1004} of Israel {H3478} wholly, are they unto whom the inhabitants {H3427} of Jerusalem {H3389} have said {H559}, Get you far {H7368} from the LORD {H3068}: unto us is this land {H776} given {H5414} in possession {H4181}.

"Human being, it is to your kinsmen - your brothers, your relatives and the whole house of Isra'el - that the people living in Yerushalayim have said, 'Get away from ADONAI! This land has been given to us to possess!'

“Son of man, your brothers—your relatives, your fellow exiles, and the whole house of Israel—are those of whom the people of Jerusalem have said, ‘They are far away from the LORD; this land has been given to us as a possession.’

Son of man, thy brethren, even thy brethren, the men of thy kindred, and all the house of Israel, all of them, are they unto whom the inhabitants of Jerusalem have said, Get you far from Jehovah; unto us is this land given for a possession.

Ezekiel 11:15 (KJV) presents a poignant scene of division and spiritual arrogance during the period of the Babylonian exile. The prophet Ezekiel, often addressed as "Son of man" (Hebrew: ben-adam), hears the words of the LORD concerning his fellow exiles.

Context

This verse is set against the backdrop of the early stages of the Babylonian captivity, specifically after the first major deportation of Judahites to Babylon in 597 BC. Ezekiel himself was among these exiles. The inhabitants still remaining in Jerusalem, who had not yet been taken captive, held a deep-seated belief that they were the true, righteous remnant of Israel. They viewed those who had been exiled as having been cast off by God, unworthy of the land. This verse captures their contemptuous attitude and their claim to exclusive divine favor, asserting that the land of Israel was "given in possession" only to them.

Key Themes

  • Spiritual Arrogance: The Jerusalemites demonstrate a dangerous form of pride, believing their presence in the city signifies their righteousness and God's exclusive blessing, while disdaining their exiled brethren.
  • Misunderstanding of God's Judgment: They failed to grasp that their own sins were leading Jerusalem towards imminent destruction, and that the exiles, though suffering, were not necessarily abandoned by God.
  • The True Remnant: Ironically, those whom the Jerusalemites scorned—Ezekiel's "brethren" in exile—were in fact the group through whom God intended to preserve a faithful remnant and ultimately bring about future restoration. This sets the stage for God's promises of a new heart and spirit for His people.

Linguistic Insights

The repeated phrase "thy brethren, [even] thy brethren, the men of thy kindred" emphasizes the close familial and national ties between Ezekiel and the exiles, underscoring the cruelty of the Jerusalemites' taunts. The declaration "Get you far from the LORD" suggests a spiritual expulsion, implying the exiles were considered defiled or rejected by God. The phrase "unto us is this land given in possession" highlights their legalistic and self-righteous claim to the promised land, dismissing any share for those in Babylon.

Practical Application

Ezekiel 11:15 serves as a powerful reminder against spiritual pride and judging others. It warns against the danger of assuming God's favor based on outward circumstances or location, rather than on a true heart of repentance and faith. The verse encourages humility and compassion, urging believers to identify with those who suffer or are marginalized, remembering that God's ways are often contrary to human expectations. Just as God promised to be a "little sanctuary" to the exiles (Ezekiel 11:16), He remains faithful to His people even in their darkest moments, often working through those whom the world dismisses.

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 33:24

    Son of man, they that inhabit those wastes of the land of Israel speak, saying, Abraham was one, and he inherited the land: but we [are] many; the land is given us for inheritance.

  • John 16:2

    They shall put you out of the synagogues: yea, the time cometh, that whosoever killeth you will think that he doeth God service.

  • Isaiah 66:5

    ¶ Hear the word of the LORD, ye that tremble at his word; Your brethren that hated you, that cast you out for my name's sake, said, Let the LORD be glorified: but he shall appear to your joy, and they shall be ashamed.

  • Isaiah 65:5

    Which say, Stand by thyself, come not near to me; for I am holier than thou. These [are] a smoke in my nose, a fire that burneth all the day.

  • Jeremiah 24:1

    ¶ The LORD shewed me, and, behold, two baskets of figs [were] set before the temple of the LORD, after that Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon had carried away captive Jeconiah the son of Jehoiakim king of Judah, and the princes of Judah, with the carpenters and smiths, from Jerusalem, and had brought them to Babylon.

  • Jeremiah 24:5

    Thus saith the LORD, the God of Israel; Like these good figs, so will I acknowledge them that are carried away captive of Judah, whom I have sent out of this place into the land of the Chaldeans for [their] good.

Add TrulyRandomVerse to your Home Screen for quick access!

← Back