Ezekiel 11:3

Which say, [It is] not near; let us build houses: this [city is] the caldron, and we [be] the flesh.

Which say {H559}, It is not near {H7138}; let us build {H1129} houses {H1004}: this city is the caldron {H5518}, and we be the flesh {H1320}.

They say, 'The time hasn't come to build houses. This city is the cooking pot, and we're the meat!'

They are saying, โ€˜Is not the time near to build houses? The city is the cooking pot, and we are the meat.โ€™

that say, The time is not near to build houses: this city is the caldron, and we are the flesh.

Commentary

Ezekiel 11:3 captures the defiant and deluded mindset of the leaders and inhabitants of Jerusalem just before its catastrophic fall to the Babylonians. This verse reveals their dangerous spiritual complacency and false sense of security, even as divine judgment loomed.

Context of Ezekiel 11:3

At this point in Ezekiel's prophecy, the prophet is in Babylonian exile, but he is given visions that transport him spiritually to Jerusalem. He witnesses the idolatry and spiritual corruption within the city, particularly among its leaders. The people, despite numerous warnings from prophets like Jeremiah, refused to believe that God's judgment was imminent or that Jerusalem, the holy city, could truly be destroyed. They dismissed the warnings as distant threats, opting instead to focus on settling in and building their lives as if peace would continue indefinitely. This verse directly reflects their attitude, contrasting sharply with the reality of the impending Babylonian captivity and destruction that God had decreed.

Key Themes and Messages

  • Denial and False Security: The phrase "It is not near; let us build houses" perfectly encapsulates the spiritual blindness and overconfidence of Jerusalem's inhabitants. They believed themselves immune to the consequences of their sin, choosing to invest in earthly comforts rather than heed divine warnings. This highlights the danger of ignoring God's truth, even when delivered by His prophets.
  • The "Caldron and Flesh" Proverb: This vivid metaphor was a cynical boast by the leaders. They saw Jerusalem ("the caldron") as an impenetrable fortress, protecting them ("the flesh") from any external threat, particularly the Babylonian army. They believed they were safe within its walls, much like meat is safe within a cooking pot. However, as Ezekiel later reveals in Ezekiel 11:7 and Ezekiel 11:11, God would reinterpret this proverb for them: the "caldron" would become a pot for their judgment and destruction, and the "flesh" would be consumed or scattered.
  • Rejection of Prophetic Warning: The people's attitude here is a direct rejection of the calls to repentance and warnings of judgment issued by God through His messengers. Their insistence on "building houses" symbolized a commitment to their current sinful way of life, despite the clear signs of impending doom.

Linguistic Insights

The Hebrew word for "caldron" (ืกึดื™ืจ, sir) or "pot" refers to a cooking vessel. The imagery is powerful, suggesting a vessel designed for containment and cooking. The leaders used it to imply security and comfort, but its true prophetic meaning was one of judgment and consumption. The phrase "not near" (ืœึนืึพืงึธืจึฃื•ึนื‘, lo-qarov) emphasizes their denial of the immediate threat.

Practical Application

Ezekiel 11:3 serves as a timeless warning against spiritual complacency and ignoring God's warnings. Just as the people of Jerusalem were deceived by a false sense of security, believers today can fall into the trap of thinking "peace and safety" when judgment may be near. This verse encourages us to:

  • Heed Divine Warnings: Be attentive to God's word and the promptings of the Holy Spirit, recognizing that spiritual blindness can lead to devastating consequences.
  • Avoid False Security: Do not place ultimate trust in worldly defenses, material possessions, or human ingenuity, but rather in God alone.
  • Live in Spiritual Preparedness: Maintain a posture of readiness and obedience, understanding that God's justice and faithfulness are certain, and He will hold all accountable.
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Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated โ€” the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • Ezekiel 12:27 (3 votes)

    Son of man, behold, [they of] the house of Israel say, The vision that he seeth [is] for many days [to come], and he prophesieth of the times [that are] far off.

  • Ezekiel 12:22 (3 votes)

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

  • Isaiah 5:19 (2 votes)

    That say, Let him make speed, [and] hasten his work, that we may see [it]: and let the counsel of the Holy One of Israel draw nigh and come, that we may know [it]!

  • Amos 6:5 (2 votes)

    That chant to the sound of the viol, [and] invent to themselves instruments of musick, like David;

  • Ezekiel 24:3 (2 votes)

    And utter a parable unto the rebellious house, and say unto them, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Set on a pot, set [it] on, and also pour water into it:

  • Ezekiel 24:14 (2 votes)

    I the LORD have spoken [it]: it shall come to pass, and I will do [it]; I will not go back, neither will I spare, neither will I repent; according to thy ways, and according to thy doings, shall they judge thee, saith the Lord GOD.

  • Jeremiah 1:11 (2 votes)

    ยถ Moreover the word of the LORD came unto me, saying, Jeremiah, what seest thou? And I said, I see a rod of an almond tree.