Ezekiel 12:27

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.

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.

"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.'

“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.’

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.

Ezekiel 12:27 KJV captures the dismissive attitude of the exiled Israelites towards the prophet Ezekiel's urgent messages. This verse reveals their dangerous complacency, as they rationalized that God's pronouncements of judgment were distant, rather than immediate, reflecting a profound skepticism.

Context

The prophet Ezekiel was ministering among the Jewish exiles in Babylon, a period marked by profound spiritual and political unrest leading up to the final destruction of Jerusalem. Throughout Ezekiel chapter 12, the prophet performs dramatic symbolic actions, such as packing a refugee's bag and digging through a wall, to illustrate the imminent siege of Jerusalem and King Zedekiah's attempt to flee, followed by his capture. Despite these vivid and direct warnings, the people clung to a false sense of security, believing that the fulfillment of these prophecies was "for many days to come." This verse articulates their widespread skepticism, setting the stage for God's forceful and immediate rebuttal in the subsequent verse.

Key Themes

  • Skepticism and Disbelief: The core of this verse is the people's refusal to accept the urgency of God's word through Ezekiel. They actively dismiss the prophecies as pertaining to a far-off future, negating any immediate call to repentance or change.
  • Procrastination of Judgment: This passage highlights a common human tendency to delay or dismiss inconvenient truths, particularly concerning divine accountability. The Israelites hoped to postpone the day of reckoning indefinitely.
  • Imminence of God's Word: Although the people perceived the prophecies as distant, the very context of Ezekiel's ministry underscored their near and certain fulfillment. This creates a stark contrast between human delusion and divine reality.

Linguistic Insights

The recurring address "Son of man" (Hebrew: ben adam) is God's consistent way of referring to Ezekiel throughout the book, emphasizing his humanity and solidarity with the people he prophesies to, while simultaneously affirming his divine commission. The Israelites' retort, "The vision that he seeth is for many days to come, and he prophesieth of the times that are far off," is not merely a question but a statement of cynical dismissal, indicating a deliberate spiritual blindness to the urgency of God's message.

Related Scriptures

This verse receives its direct and powerful answer in Ezekiel 12:28, where the Lord God declares, "There shall none of my words be prolonged any more, but the word which I have spoken shall be done, saith the Lord GOD." This theme of human skepticism regarding God's timing is echoed throughout Scripture. For instance, in the New Testament, 2 Peter 3:3-4 speaks of "scoffers" who will appear in the last days, doubting the promise of Christ's return by 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." This highlights a timeless human struggle with embracing the immediacy and certainty of God's prophetic word.

Practical Application

Ezekiel 12:27 serves as a vital caution against spiritual complacency and the danger of delaying obedience to God's commands. It reminds us that:

  • God's timing is sovereign: We must never dismiss divine warnings or promises as irrelevant or "far off" to our current lives. God's word is living, active, and always fulfilled in His perfect timing.
  • Urgency in spiritual matters: Just as Jerusalem's judgment was imminent, so too are the spiritual realities that demand our attention today. We are called to respond to God's truth with faith and urgency, not procrastination.
  • Beware of self-deception: There is a significant danger in rationalizing away clear biblical truths or prophetic warnings, whether about personal accountability, future events, or the second coming of Christ. God's word stands true and will always be accomplished.
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.

  • 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:

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