Ezekiel 12:27

KJV

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.

KJV (with Strong's)

Son {H1121} of man {H120}, behold, they of the house {H1004} of Israel {H3478} say {H559}, The vision {H2377} that he seeth {H2372} is for many {H7227} days {H3117} to come, and he prophesieth {H5012} of the times {H6256} that are far {H7350} off.

Complete Jewish Bible

"Human being, look! People from the house of Isra'el are saying, 'The vision he sees concerns the distant future; he is prophesying about a time far off.'

Berean Standard Bible

“Son of man, take note that the house of Israel is saying, ‘The vision that he sees is for many years from now; he prophesies about the distant future.’

American Standard Version

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 times that are far off.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Ezekiel 12:27 powerfully encapsulates the deep-seated spiritual apathy and dangerous skepticism prevalent among the exiled Israelites in Babylon. Despite the prophet Ezekiel's urgent and vivid warnings of impending judgment on Jerusalem, the people dismissively rationalized that his divinely given visions and inspired prophecies pertained to a distant future rather than their immediate reality. This verse starkly reveals their profound resistance to God's word, highlighting a common human tendency to procrastinate repentance and deny the imminence of divine accountability, thereby setting the stage for God's forceful and immediate rebuttal of their dangerous complacency.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Ezekiel 12:27 is strategically positioned within a critical section of the book (chapters 12-19) where Ezekiel directly confronts the false hopes and spiritual delusions of the exiles concerning Jerusalem's fate. Prior to this verse, Ezekiel has performed a series of dramatic, symbolic actions, such as [packing an exile's bag and digging through a wall](/ezekiel/12-1-7 "Ezekiel 12:1-7 - Symbolic Actions of Exile") and [trembling while eating and drinking](/ezekiel/12-18-20 "Ezekiel 12:18-20 - Symbolic Trembling and Desolation"), all designed to vividly portray the imminent siege, famine, and utter destruction of Jerusalem, as well as King Zedekiah's attempted escape and capture. These were not mere words but undeniable visual prophecies, acted out with divine instruction. However, the people's cynical response, articulated in verse 27, views these urgent divine messages as pertaining to a far-off, irrelevant future. This verse thus serves as the direct catalyst for God's immediate and unequivocal response in [Ezekiel 12:28](/ezekiel/12-28 "Ezekiel 12:28 - God's Immediate Fulfillment"), where He declares that His word will no longer be delayed, but will be fulfilled swiftly.

* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The setting for Ezekiel 12:27 is Babylon, where a significant portion of the Judean population, including the prophet Ezekiel, had been exiled following Nebuchadnezzar's first siege of Jerusalem in 597 BC. Although weakened, Jerusalem itself still stood, and many within the city and among the exiles clung to a false sense of security, believing that God would never allow His temple or chosen city to be utterly destroyed. This false hope was often reinforced by numerous false prophets who proclaimed messages of peace and a swift return from exile, directly contradicting Ezekiel's warnings of further judgment and destruction (cf. [Jeremiah 28](/jeremiah/28 "Jeremiah 28 - Hananiah's False Prophecy")). The people's dismissive attitude in Ezekiel 12:27 reflects this widespread cultural and spiritual delusion, a deep-seated resistance to acknowledging their sin and the impending consequences. They preferred to believe in a distant, non-threatening future rather than confront their present reality and the urgent call to repentance.

* **Key Themes:** This verse powerfully highlights several overarching themes within Ezekiel and broader prophetic literature. Firstly, it underscores the theme of **Skepticism and Disbelief** in the face of divine revelation, a recurring human failing throughout biblical history. The exiles' dismissal of Ezekiel's prophecies as "far off" exemplifies their spiritual blindness and unwillingness to repent. Secondly, it speaks to the theme of **Procrastination of Judgment**, a dangerous human tendency to delay or deny inconvenient truths, especially those concerning divine accountability. They hoped to postpone the day of reckoning indefinitely, mirroring a common human desire to escape immediate consequences. Finally, the verse implicitly sets up the theme of the **Imminence of God's Word**, which is immediately and forcefully affirmed in the subsequent verses. Despite the people's perception, God's word through Ezekiel was not distant but poised for immediate and certain fulfillment, emphasizing the unwavering nature of God's prophetic declarations, a truth powerfully echoed in passages like [Isaiah 55:11](/isaiah/55-11 "Isaiah 55:11 - God's Word Accomplishes Its Purpose").

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS

#### Key Word Analysis
* **Son of man (Hebrew, _bên ʼâdâm'_):** This recurring address (H1121, H120) for Ezekiel throughout the book emphasizes his humanity and solidarity with the people he prophesies to. The term _bên_ (H1121) signifies "a son" or "child," often denoting a member of a group or one characterized by a certain quality, while _ʼâdâm_ (H120) refers to "a human being" or "mankind." Thus, "Son of man" highlights Ezekiel's mortal nature, a human being through whom the infinite God chooses to communicate. This underscores the vast chasm between the finite prophet and the infinite God, making the divine word even more profound as it passes through human lips.

* **vision (Hebrew, _châzôwn'_):** Derived from the root _châzâh_ (H2372), meaning "to gaze at" or "to see," _châzôwn_ (H2377) refers to a "sight (mentally), i.e., a dream, revelation, or oracle." In this context, it signifies a divinely given perception or prophetic sight, emphasizing the supernatural origin and authoritative nature of Ezekiel's messages. The people's dismissal of the "vision" is thus a direct dismissal of God's direct communication, not merely a human opinion or observation.

* **prophesieth (Hebrew, _nâbâʼ'_):** This primitive root (H5012) means "to prophesy, i.e., speak (or sing) by inspiration (in prediction or simple discourse)." It denotes the act of conveying God's message, whether foretelling future events or declaring present truths. The people's cynical assessment that Ezekiel "prophesieth of the times that are far off" directly challenges the divine authority and immediate relevance of his inspired utterance, implying it is merely human speculation about a distant future.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"Son of man, behold, [they of] the house of Israel say,"**: This opening clause establishes the divine address to Ezekiel, reinforcing his prophetic office and the direct source of the message he is to hear and convey. "The house of Israel" refers specifically to the exiled community in Babylon, who are the immediate audience and the subject of God's concern. Their "saying" is not a question but a statement of their collective, dismissive opinion, revealing a widespread attitude of spiritual apathy and resistance to the prophetic word. The phrase "behold" draws Ezekiel's attention to their specific, problematic statement.

* **"The vision that he seeth [is] for many days [to come],"**: This part articulates the exiles' primary rationalization for their complacency. They acknowledge that Ezekiel sees visions, implying some recognition of his prophetic function, but they immediately relegate the fulfillment of these visions to a distant, unspecified future. The phrase "many days to come" (Hebrew: _rab yôwm_, H7227, H3117) implies a prolonged, indefinite period, effectively neutralizing the urgency and immediate relevance of Ezekiel's warnings. This reflects a dangerous self-deception, allowing them to avoid confronting their sin and the impending judgment by mentally postponing it.

* **"and he prophesieth of the times [that are] far off."**: This second part of their statement reinforces the first, using a synonymous phrase to emphasize their belief that the prophecies are not for their generation. "Far off" (Hebrew: _râchôwq_, H7350) further distances the prophetic word from their present reality, suggesting irrelevance and a lack of immediate consequence. This cynical dismissal of the prophet's message as pertaining to "times that are far off" (Hebrew: _ʻêth râchôwq_, H6256, H7350) reveals a profound spiritual blindness and a deliberate refusal to heed God's urgent call to repentance, preferring to live in a state of comfortable delusion.

#### Literary Devices
Ezekiel 12:27 employs several significant literary devices to underscore the people's spiritual condition and God's response. The most prominent is **Irony**, as the people's assertion that the prophecies are "for many days to come" is immediately and dramatically contradicted by God's declaration in the very next verse that His word will be fulfilled without delay. This creates a stark contrast between human delusion and divine reality, highlighting the futility of their skepticism. There is also a strong element of **Reported Speech** (or indirect dialogue), as the verse directly quotes the dismissive words of the "house of Israel," giving voice to their collective skepticism and unbelief. Furthermore, the repeated phrase "Son of man" serves as a **Formulaic Address**, consistently reminding the reader of Ezekiel's unique role as God's human messenger, a figure both distinct from and intimately connected to the people he addresses, reinforcing the divine authority behind the message they are dismissing.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Ezekiel 12:27 serves as a poignant theological statement about the perennial human tendency to resist uncomfortable divine truths by deferring their relevance. This resistance stems from a deep-seated desire to avoid accountability and maintain a false sense of security, often fueled by a misunderstanding of God's timing and the certainty of His word. The exiles' dismissive attitude towards Ezekiel's prophecies as "far off" is a classic example of spiritual procrastination, where the urgency of God's call to repentance is ignored in favor of a comfortable, yet ultimately destructive, delusion. This passage underscores the critical importance of heeding God's word with immediate faith and obedience, recognizing that His pronouncements, whether of judgment or blessing, are always certain and fulfilled in His sovereign timing. It highlights the danger of a hardened heart that refuses to acknowledge the present reality of God's active involvement in human affairs.

* [Ezekiel 12:28](/ezekiel/12-28 "Ezekiel 12:28 - God's Immediate Fulfillment of His Word")
* [2 Peter 3:3-4](/2_peter/3-3-4 "2 Peter 3:3-4 - Scoffers in the Last Days")
* [Hebrews 3:7-8](/hebrews/3-7-8 "Hebrews 3:7-8 - Do Not Harden Your Hearts Today")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Ezekiel 12:27 stands as a timeless warning against spiritual complacency and the perilous habit of deferring God's word. It challenges us to examine our own hearts: do we truly believe that God's warnings and promises are for us, today, or do we subtly push them into a distant, abstract future, much like the exiles? The Israelites' error was not merely skepticism, but a willful blindness that prevented them from responding to an urgent divine call. For us, this means recognizing that God's word, as revealed in Scripture and through the Holy Spirit, is always living and active, piercing through our rationalizations and demanding a present-day response. We are called to live with a sense of divine urgency, understanding that spiritual realities—whether personal accountability for sin, the call to evangelism, the pursuit of holiness, or the anticipation of Christ's return—are not "far off" but profoundly relevant to our daily lives. Procrastination in matters of faith is a dangerous deception that can lead to missed opportunities for repentance, growth, and experiencing God's full purposes. It is a call to immediate, faithful obedience.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **In what areas of my life might I be dismissing God's commands or warnings as "not for now" or "for a distant future"?**
* **How does a belief in the imminence and certainty of God's word impact my daily decisions and spiritual disciplines?**
* **What false securities or rationalizations might I be clinging to that prevent me from fully embracing God's present truth and acting upon it?**
* **How can I cultivate a greater sense of urgency and responsiveness to the Holy Spirit's promptings and the clear teachings of Scripture in my life?**

### FAQ
**Why did the house of Israel dismiss Ezekiel's prophecies as "far off"?**

Answer: The house of Israel, particularly the exiles in Babylon, dismissed Ezekiel's prophecies as "far off" primarily due to a complex interplay of spiritual complacency, false hope, and a deep-seated resistance to acknowledging their sin and the impending judgment. They clung to the comforting, yet erroneous, belief that Jerusalem, as the city of God and the site of the Temple, would not be utterly destroyed. This belief was often reinforced by the pronouncements of false prophets who contradicted Ezekiel, promising peace and a swift return from exile (cf. [Jeremiah 28](/jeremiah/28 "Jeremiah 28 - Hananiah's False Prophecy")). By relegating Ezekiel's urgent warnings to a distant future, they could avoid the immediate discomfort of repentance, the dismantling of their comforting worldview, and the painful reality of God's righteous judgment. This tendency to procrastinate or deny inconvenient truths is a common human failing, seen throughout Scripture whenever people are confronted with divine accountability and the call to change.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Ezekiel 12:27, with its portrayal of a people dismissing God's urgent prophetic word as "far off," finds profound Christ-centered fulfillment in the New Testament's revelation of Jesus Christ as the ultimate embodiment of God's immediate and decisive action in history. While the Israelites mentally delayed judgment, Christ's first coming inaugurated the "fullness of time" ([Galatians 4:4](/galatians/4-4 "Galatians 4:4 - The Fullness of Time")), bringing God's kingdom near and demanding an immediate response. Jesus himself often spoke of the kingdom of God being "at hand" ([Mark 1:15](/mark/1-15 "Mark 1:15 - Repent and Believe the Gospel")), directly contrasting the "far off" mentality of Ezekiel's audience. His crucifixion and resurrection, far from being distant events, were the decisive, immediate acts of God to deal with sin and offer salvation, fulfilling the prophetic promises of old. Furthermore, the New Testament warns against a similar skepticism regarding Christ's second coming, with "scoffers" asking, "Where is the promise of his coming?" ([2 Peter 3:3-4](/2_peter/3-3-4 "2 Peter 3:3-4 - Scoffers in the Last Days")). Yet, just as God's word through Ezekiel was not prolonged, so too will Christ's return be sudden and certain, coming "like a thief in the night" ([1 Thessalonians 5:2](/1_thessalonians/5-2 "1 Thessalonians 5:2 - The Day of the Lord")). Thus, Ezekiel 12:27 serves as a powerful Old Testament shadow, highlighting humanity's perennial resistance to God's immediate truth, a resistance overcome and ultimately judged by the decisive, present-day reality of Christ's saving work and His promised return.

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

Daniel 10:14

Now I am come to make thee understand what shall befall thy people in the latter days: for yet the vision [is] for [many] days.

Ezekiel 12:22

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

2 Peter 3:4

And saying, Where is the promise of his coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as [they were] from the beginning of the creation.

Isaiah 28:14

¶ Wherefore hear the word of the LORD, ye scornful men, that rule this people which [is] in Jerusalem.

Isaiah 28:15

Because ye have said, We have made a covenant with death, and with hell are we at agreement; when the overflowing scourge shall pass through, it shall not come unto us: for we have made lies our refuge, and under falsehood have we hid ourselves: