Ezekiel 20:45

¶ Moreover the word of the LORD came unto me, saying,

Moreover the word ^{H1697} of the LORD ^{H3068} came unto me, saying ^{H559},

The word of ADONAI came to me:

Now the word of the LORD came to me, saying,

And the word of Jehovah came unto me, saying,

Ezekiel 20:45 KJV serves as a pivotal introductory phrase, signaling a new prophetic utterance from God to the prophet Ezekiel. This verse acts as a bridge, introducing the detailed prophecy that follows concerning the "forest of the south field," which is widely interpreted as a metaphor for Jerusalem or the land of Judah.

Context

Chapter 20 of Ezekiel is a profound historical review, where the LORD recounts Israel's long history of rebellion and idolatry, from their time in Egypt through their wilderness wanderings and into the promised land. Despite their repeated unfaithfulness, God reiterates His covenant faithfulness and promise of future restoration. Verse 45 specifically transitions from this historical overview to a new, more immediate prophetic word concerning judgment on the land, setting the stage for the subsequent verses (Ezekiel 20:46-49).

Key Themes

Divine Revelation: The phrase "the word of the LORD came unto me" underscores that the message is not Ezekiel's personal opinion but a direct, authoritative revelation from God Himself. This highlights the divine origin of biblical prophecy.
Prophetic Authority: It establishes Ezekiel's role as a genuine spokesman for God, reinforcing the weight and truthfulness of the message he is about to deliver. This is a common formula used to validate the prophet's words.
Transition and New Focus: This verse marks a clear division within the larger prophetic discourse of Ezekiel 20, signaling a shift from a broad historical overview to a more specific, impending judgment.

Linguistic Insights

The phrase "the word of the LORD came unto me" is a common prophetic formula in the Old Testament. In Hebrew, it is often davar Adonai hayah elai (דְּבַר יְהוָה הָיָה אֵלַי). The term davar Adonai (דְּבַר יְהוָה) emphasizes the divine origin and authority of the message. It signifies that God is actively communicating His will and purpose to humanity through His chosen messenger. This formula asserts the absolute truth and reliability of the ensuing prophecy.

Practical Application

Ezekiel 20:45, though brief, reminds us of the consistent and direct communication of God to His people throughout history. For believers today, it reinforces the conviction that the Bible is indeed the inspired Word of God, not merely human writings. It encourages us to approach Scripture with reverence, recognizing its divine authority and seeking to understand and apply its timeless truths to our lives. Just as God spoke clearly to Ezekiel, He continues to speak through His written Word, guiding, correcting, and comforting us.

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.

No cross-references found for this verse.