Ezekiel 12:6

In their sight shalt thou bear [it] upon [thy] shoulders, [and] carry [it] forth in the twilight: thou shalt cover thy face, that thou see not the ground: for I have set thee [for] a sign unto the house of Israel.

In their sight {H5869} shalt thou bear {H5375} it upon thy shoulders {H3802}, and carry it forth {H3318} in the twilight {H5939}: thou shalt cover {H3680} thy face {H6440}, that thou see {H7200} not the ground {H776}: for I have set {H5414} thee for a sign {H4159} unto the house {H1004} of Israel {H3478}.

While they watch, you are to shoulder your pack and carry it out into the dark, with your face covered, so that you can't see the ground; for I am making you a sign for the house of Isra'el."

And as they watch, lift your bags to your shoulder and take them out at dusk; cover your face so that you cannot see the land. For I have made you a sign to the house of Israel.”

In their sight shalt thou bear it upon thy shoulder, and carry it forth in the dark; thou shalt cover thy face, that thou see not the land: for I have set thee for a sign unto the house of Israel.

Ezekiel 12:6 (KJV) is a pivotal verse within a series of dramatic symbolic actions commanded by God to the prophet Ezekiel. In this specific instruction, Ezekiel is told to perform a public, visual prophecy intended to convey the impending judgment and exile upon the house of Israel, particularly King Zedekiah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem.

Context

This verse is part of a detailed command given to Ezekiel in Ezekiel 12:3-5, where God instructs him to prepare "stuff for removing" and to go forth by day "in their sight." The actions described – bearing baggage on his shoulders, carrying it forth in the twilight, and covering his face – are not random. They are a precise, divinely orchestrated mime designed to capture the attention of a rebellious and complacent people who were resistant to God's verbal warnings. The overall context is God's unwavering resolve to bring judgment upon Jerusalem due to its idolatry and disobedience, leading to the Babylonian captivity.

Key Themes

  • Prophetic Symbolism and Divine Communication: God often uses His prophets as living parables. Ezekiel's actions serve as a vivid, tangible representation of future events, making the abstract concept of exile concrete and inescapable for his audience.
  • Impending Judgment and Exile: The core message is the certainty of Jerusalem's fall and the forced removal of its inhabitants. The imagery of carrying baggage, moving in twilight, and a covered face powerfully depicts the hurried, shameful, and desperate nature of the impending exile.
  • Divine Sovereignty and Purpose: God explicitly states, "for I have set thee [for] a sign unto the house of Israel." This highlights God's active involvement and control over historical events, using Ezekiel as a direct instrument of His will and a clear warning to His people.
  • Humiliation and Desperation: The act of covering one's face ("that thou see not the ground") can signify deep shame, distress, or perhaps the disorientation of an exile who cannot see where they are going, emphasizing the profound humiliation and despair that would accompany their forced departure.

Linguistic Insights

The Hebrew word translated as "sign" in "I have set thee [for] a sign" is môp̄ēt (מופֵת). This term often denotes a miraculous or extraordinary sign, an omen, or a wonder. It's not merely an example but a divine pointer to future events, frequently carrying a sense of awe, dread, or divine intervention. This same word is used for the signs and wonders God performed in Egypt. The use of môp̄ēt here underscores the divine origin and profound significance of Ezekiel's prophetic act.

The term "twilight" (Hebrew: nesheph, נֶשֶׁף) suggests a time of hurried, secretive movement, often associated with flight or clandestine operations. This adds to the sense of urgency and desperation surrounding the symbolic exile.

Practical Application

Ezekiel 12:6 reminds us that God communicates His truth in various ways, sometimes through dramatic or unconventional means, to ensure His message is heard. For ancient Israel, it was a stark warning to repent and heed God's commands. For us today, it underscores the seriousness of God's warnings and the consequences of persistent disobedience. We are called to be attentive to how God speaks and to respond in faith. Furthermore, like Ezekiel, believers can be called to be "signs" or living testimonies of God's truth to a world that often ignores spiritual realities, embodying Christian principles and pointing others to God's word, as seen in Ezekiel 24:24 where the prophet is again called a "sign" to the people.

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 4:3

    Moreover take thou unto thee an iron pan, and set it [for] a wall of iron between thee and the city: and set thy face against it, and it shall be besieged, and thou shalt lay siege against it. This [shall be] a sign to the house of Israel.

  • Isaiah 8:18

    Behold, I and the children whom the LORD hath given me [are] for signs and for wonders in Israel from the LORD of hosts, which dwelleth in mount Zion.

  • Ezekiel 24:24

    Thus Ezekiel is unto you a sign: according to all that he hath done shall ye do: and when this cometh, ye shall know that I [am] the Lord GOD.

  • 1 Samuel 28:8

    And Saul disguised himself, and put on other raiment, and he went, and two men with him, and they came to the woman by night: and he said, I pray thee, divine unto me by the familiar spirit, and bring me [him] up, whom I shall name unto thee.

  • Ezekiel 12:11

    Say, I [am] your sign: like as I have done, so shall it be done unto them: they shall remove [and] go into captivity.

  • Ezekiel 12:12

    And the prince that [is] among them shall bear upon [his] shoulder in the twilight, and shall go forth: they shall dig through the wall to carry out thereby: he shall cover his face, that he see not the ground with [his] eyes.

  • 2 Samuel 15:30

    And David went up by the ascent of [mount] Olivet, and wept as he went up, and had his head covered, and he went barefoot: and all the people that [was] with him covered every man his head, and they went up, weeping as they went up.

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