Ezekiel 24:16

KJV

Son of man, behold, I take away from thee the desire of thine eyes with a stroke: yet neither shalt thou mourn nor weep, neither shall thy tears run down.

KJV (with Strong's)

Son {H1121} of man {H120}, behold, I take away {H3947} from thee the desire {H4261} of thine eyes {H5869} with a stroke {H4046}: yet neither shalt thou mourn {H5594} nor weep {H1058}, neither shall thy tears {H1832} run down {H935}.

Complete Jewish Bible

"Human being, with a single blow I am about to deprive you of the delight of your eyes. But you are not to lament, weep or let your tears run down.

Berean Standard Bible

“Son of man, behold, I am about to take away the desire of your eyes with a fatal blow. But you must not mourn or weep or let your tears flow.

American Standard Version

Son of man, behold, I take away from thee the desire of thine eyes with a stroke: yet thou shalt neither mourn nor weep, neither shall thy tears run down.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Ezekiel 24:16 delivers a profoundly personal and shocking divine mandate to the prophet Ezekiel. God announces His immediate intention to remove Ezekiel's most cherished possession—his wife, tenderly described as "the desire of thine eyes"—through a sudden, fatal "stroke." Crucially, this divine act is accompanied by an explicit prohibition: Ezekiel is forbidden from engaging in any conventional mourning rituals, weeping, or shedding tears. This deeply poignant and counter-cultural instruction transforms Ezekiel's personal tragedy into a powerful, living parable, a prophetic sign-act designed to convey the overwhelming, unprecedented, and numbing nature of the impending judgment upon Jerusalem and its inhabitants.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse is strategically placed within a series of divine oracles concerning Jerusalem's final, devastating judgment, specifically forming the personal culmination of the "Parable of the Boiling Pot" in [Ezekiel 24](/ezekiel/24 "Ezekiel 24 - The Parable of the Boiling Pot and Ezekiel's Sign-Act"). The chapter commences with God revealing to Ezekiel the precise day the siege of Jerusalem began, underscoring divine foreknowledge and sovereign control over historical events, even those of immense tragedy. Ezekiel's profound personal loss, detailed in verses 15-18, immediately follows the pot parable, which graphically portrays Jerusalem's deep-seated corruption and the fiery, consuming judgment awaiting it. The extraordinary command not to mourn (verses 16-17) is then explicitly explained as a sign for the exiles (verses 19-24), revealing that their grief over Jerusalem's catastrophic fall will be so profound and shocking that conventional expressions of sorrow will be rendered impossible. The chapter concludes with a promise of a messenger bringing definitive news of the city's destruction, at which point Ezekiel's long-silenced mouth will be opened to speak freely to the exiles again ([Ezekiel 24:26-27](/ezekiel/24-26-27 "Ezekiel 24:26-27 - The Messenger and Ezekiel's Speech")).
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The prophetic word in [Ezekiel 24](/ezekiel/24 "Ezekiel 24 - The Siege of Jerusalem and Ezekiel's Sign-Act") is precisely dated to the tenth day of the tenth month in the ninth year of King Jehoiachin's exile (approximately January 15, 588 BC). This date is critically significant as it marks the exact commencement of Nebuchadnezzar's final siege of Jerusalem, a historical detail corroborated by independent biblical accounts such as [2 Kings 25:1](/2_kings/25-1 "2 Kings 25:1 - The Siege of Jerusalem Begins") and [Jeremiah 52:4](/jeremiah/52-4 "Jeremiah 52:4 - Jeremiah's Account of the Siege"). In ancient Near Eastern cultures, and particularly within Israelite society, mourning rituals were highly elaborate, deeply ingrained, and publicly performed. These traditions typically involved public lamentation, tearing clothes, shaving heads, wearing sackcloth, abstaining from food, and often hiring professional mourners. The divine prohibition against such mourning for Ezekiel, therefore, would have been utterly shocking and profoundly counter-cultural, serving to underscore the unprecedented and catastrophic nature of the impending national disaster. It conveyed a message of grief so overwhelming that it transcended normal human expression, leaving people stunned, numb, and incapable of traditional lament.
* **Key Themes:** This verse powerfully contributes to several overarching themes within the book of Ezekiel and broader biblical theology. Firstly, it highlights **Divine Sovereignty and Judgment**, demonstrating God's absolute control over all circumstances, even the most intimate personal tragedies, to achieve His righteous judgmental and redemptive purposes. The severe judgment on Jerusalem is presented as a direct, inevitable consequence of Judah's persistent idolatry, covenant unfaithfulness, and rebellion. Secondly, it exemplifies the **Prophetic Sign-Act**, a recurring motif in prophetic literature where the prophet's very life, actions, or personal circumstances become a living sermon. Much like Isaiah's symbolic nakedness ([Isaiah 20:3](/isaiah/20-3 "Isaiah 20:3 - Isaiah's Sign Against Egypt and Cush")) or Hosea's marriage to an unfaithful woman ([Hosea 1:2](/hosea/1-2 "Hosea 1:2 - Hosea's Marriage as a Sign")), Ezekiel's profound personal sorrow and the extraordinary command regarding his grief serve as a visceral, emotional aid to convey God's message of impending national desolation. Thirdly, the theme of **Profound Loss and Suppressed Grief** is central. The command not to mourn underscores the unparalleled nature of the disaster awaiting Judah. The shock and desolation of Jerusalem's fall, particularly the destruction of the Temple—"the desire of their eyes" ([Ezekiel 24:21](/ezekiel/24-21 "Ezekiel 24:21 - The Desecration of the Sanctuary"))—will be so immense that traditional mourning rituals will be rendered inadequate or even impossible. The people will be "astonied" ([Ezekiel 24:23](/ezekiel/24-23 "Ezekiel 24:23 - The Astonishment of the Exiles")) rather than openly grieving, reflecting a state of numb despair. Finally, it serves as an immediate and tangible **Warning and Foreshadowing** to the exiles already in Babylon, preparing them for the devastating reality that is simultaneously unfolding back in Jerusalem.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **desire (Hebrew, _machmâd'_):** This term (H4261), derived from a root meaning "to desire" or "to covet," denotes something highly delightful, precious, or an object of deep affection. In this deeply personal context, it tenderly and intimately refers to Ezekiel's wife, emphasizing the profound love, value, and emotional attachment he placed upon her. Its use here highlights the immense depth of the personal loss God is inflicting upon His prophet, making the subsequent prohibition on mourning even more impactful and unnatural.
* **stroke (Hebrew, _maggêphâh'_):** This word (H4046) signifies a sudden, often divinely inflicted blow, a plague, or a fatal calamity. Its inclusion underscores that the death of Ezekiel's wife is not a natural occurrence or an accident but a direct, sovereign act of God, a judgment or a sign-act meticulously orchestrated by Him. It conveys the swiftness, unexpectedness, and devastating finality of the event, mirroring the sudden and catastrophic fall of Jerusalem.
* **weep (Hebrew, _bâkâh'_):** A primitive root (H1058) meaning "to weep" or "to bemoan," this word captures the outward and often public expression of grief through tears and lamentation. The emphatic triple negation in the verse ("neither shalt thou mourn nor weep, neither shall thy tears run down") strictly forbids any conventional display of sorrow. This prohibition is central to the sign-act, demonstrating that the national grief for Jerusalem will be so overwhelming and shocking that it will transcend normal expressions of mourning, leaving the people stunned, silent, and numb.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"Son of man, behold, I take away from thee":** This opening clause immediately establishes the divine initiative and absolute sovereignty. God, the active and sovereign agent, directly addresses Ezekiel, underscoring the intensely personal and immediate nature of the command. The address "Son of man" (Hebrew: _ben-'adam'_) is God's frequent designation for Ezekiel, highlighting his human frailty and mortality in stark contrast to the omnipotent divine power at work.
* **"the desire of thine eyes":** This profoundly poignant and intimate phrase refers specifically to Ezekiel's wife, indicating that she was deeply cherished, beloved, and the object of his deepest affection. It signifies her as the most precious and delightful person in his life, making her sudden removal an immense personal sacrifice and a powerful, relatable symbol of what Judah was about to lose—their beloved city and Temple.
* **"with a stroke":** This specifies the sudden and decisive manner of her death—it is not a lingering illness but a swift, unexpected, and divinely ordained event. It implies a direct, fatal blow, a "plague" or "calamity" sent from God, reinforcing that this tragic event is not accidental but an integral part of God's deliberate and sovereign plan to convey His message.
* **"yet neither shalt thou mourn nor weep, neither shall thy tears run down.":** This striking triple negative constitutes an emphatic and extraordinary prohibition against any traditional or outward form of mourning. Ezekiel is commanded to suppress all conventional expressions of grief—no formal lamentation (_çâphad_), no shedding of tears (_bâkâh_), and no flowing of tears (_dimʻâh_). This unnatural suppression of grief is the core of the prophetic sign-act, designed to shock the exiles into comprehension and to convey the unprecedented nature of the impending national catastrophe, which will leave them too stunned and overwhelmed for conventional mourning.

#### Literary Devices
Ezekiel 24:16 is profoundly rich in literary devices that amplify its devastating message and underscore its prophetic significance. The most prominent is **Symbolism**, where Ezekiel's intensely personal tragedy—the sudden death of his beloved wife—serves as a potent and visceral symbol for the impending national catastrophe: the destruction of Jerusalem and its cherished Temple. Just as Ezekiel's wife was the "desire of his eyes," so Jerusalem and its sacred sanctuary were the "desire of their eyes" for the Judean exiles ([Ezekiel 24:21](/ezekiel/24-21 "Ezekiel 24:21 - The Desecration of the Sanctuary")). This personal loss becomes a microcosm of the national devastation. Closely related is the **Prophetic Sign-Act**, a common and powerful feature in prophetic literature where the prophet's actions, personal circumstances, or even suffering embody the divine message. Ezekiel's enforced stoicism and suppressed grief is not merely a personal trial but a performative act, a living parable designed to convey the depth of shock and despair that will prevent the exiles from engaging in conventional mourning. Furthermore, the verse employs **Repetition and Triple Negation** ("neither shalt thou mourn nor weep, neither shall thy tears run down") to emphasize the absolute, extraordinary, and unnatural nature of the divine command. This rhetorical device intensifies the sense of divine imperative and highlights the unparalleled grief that will follow Jerusalem's fall, a grief so profound it will paralyze traditional expressions of sorrow.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Ezekiel 24:16 powerfully illustrates the mysterious, often painful, and profoundly sovereign ways in which God communicates His will and executes His righteous judgment. It underscores God's absolute control, demonstrating that even the most intimate aspects of human life, including personal love, profound loss, and deep grief, can be orchestrated by Him to serve a larger redemptive and revelatory purpose. The passage reveals the gravity of persistent rebellion against God, where divine patience eventually gives way to severe, yet just, discipline. It also highlights the nature of true prophecy, where the prophet is not merely a speaker of words but often a living embodiment of the message, bearing the weight of God's truth in his own life. This sign-act prepares the exiles for a grief so overwhelming that it will transcend typical human expressions, forcing them to confront the devastating reality of their sin and its dire consequences.

* [Jeremiah 52:4](/jeremiah/52-4 "Jeremiah 52:4 - The Beginning of Jerusalem's Siege")
* [Ezekiel 24:21](/ezekiel/24-21 "Ezekiel 24:21 - The Desecration of the Sanctuary")
* [Hebrews 12:6](/hebrews/12-6 "Hebrews 12:6 - God Disciplines Those He Loves")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Ezekiel 24:16 presents a challenging yet profoundly illuminating truth about God's character and His interaction with humanity. It compels us to consider how God, in His infinite wisdom and sovereignty, might use our personal circumstances—even those involving deep loss, suffering, or profound sacrifice—as instruments to convey His truth to others or to deepen our own understanding of His mysterious ways. While we are not typically called to such extreme prophetic sign-acts, our lives, with all their joys and sorrows, can still bear powerful witness to God's sovereignty, faithfulness, and justice. This passage serves as a stark reminder of the gravity of persistent disobedience against a holy God, illustrating that divine judgment, though painful and severe, is a just and necessary consequence for rebellion and unfaithfulness. Yet, even in judgment, there is an implicit call to reflection, repentance, and ultimately, to restoration. For those experiencing overwhelming grief, this passage offers a unique form of empathy, acknowledging that some losses are so profound they can stun one into a silence beyond tears, a state of numb despair. It challenges us to cultivate a deeper trust in God's mysterious purposes even when His actions seem incomprehensible or harsh, recognizing that His ultimate aim is always the purification, redemption, and restoration of His people.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How does Ezekiel's personal sacrifice challenge my understanding of what it means to be used by God, even through suffering?**
* **In what ways might God be using my current circumstances, whether joyful or difficult, to communicate a message to me or to those around me?**
* **How can I cultivate a deeper trust in God's sovereignty and wisdom, even when His plans involve pain or loss that I don't immediately understand?**
* **What does this passage teach me about the nature of profound grief, and how might it inform my empathy and ministry to those experiencing overwhelming sorrow?**

### FAQ
**Why would God forbid Ezekiel from mourning his wife?**

Answer: God forbade Ezekiel from mourning his wife not out of cruelty, but as a powerful, shocking, and deeply symbolic prophetic sign-act. In ancient Israel, elaborate and public mourning rituals were customary and expected. By commanding Ezekiel to suppress all outward expressions of grief—no lamentation, no tears, no traditional rites—God was demonstrating to the exiles in Babylon the utterly unprecedented and overwhelming nature of the impending destruction of Jerusalem and its beloved Temple. The shock and desolation of this national catastrophe would be so immense that the people would be stunned into silence, unable to perform traditional mourning, their grief too profound for conventional expression ([Ezekiel 24:23](/ezekiel/24-23 "Ezekiel 24:23 - The Astonishment of the Exiles")). Ezekiel's personal, unnatural suppression of grief mirrored the nation's future state of numb despair and astonishment.

**What was the significance of Ezekiel's wife being called "the desire of thine eyes"?**

Answer: The phrase "the desire of thine eyes" (Hebrew: _machmad eynekha_) is a tender, intimate, and deeply affectionate description, indicating that Ezekiel's wife was profoundly cherished, beloved, and the object of his deepest affection. Her designation as "the desire of his eyes" highlights her preciousness and the immense value he placed upon her. This makes her sudden removal an immense personal sacrifice for Ezekiel, designed to powerfully symbolize what the exiles were about to lose: Jerusalem and the Temple, which God Himself refers to as "the desire of your eyes" and "that which your soul pitieth" ([Ezekiel 24:21](/ezekiel/24-21 "Ezekiel 24:21 - The Desecration of the Sanctuary")). The personal, irreplaceable loss experienced by Ezekiel was a direct, relatable parallel to the national catastrophe that would soon befall Judah.

**How does this seemingly harsh command align with God's loving character?**

Answer: While the command appears harsh from a human perspective, it aligns perfectly with God's character as a righteous, just, and ultimately loving sovereign who seeks the repentance and restoration of His people. God's ultimate purpose was not to inflict needless pain but to break through the spiritual apathy and stubbornness of His rebellious people and bring them to a place of profound realization and repentance. The severity of the sign-act underscored the gravity of Judah's persistent idolatry and covenant unfaithfulness. Just as a loving parent disciplines a wayward child for their ultimate good ([Hebrews 12:6](/hebrews/12-6 "Hebrews 12:6 - God Disciplines Those He Loves")), God's judgment, though painful, was intended to purify His people, expose the depth of their sin, and ultimately lead them back to Him. The shocking nature of Ezekiel's experience was a necessary, divine intervention to prepare the exiles for the devastating news that would soon arrive and to instill in them a proper fear and understanding of God's holiness and justice.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Ezekiel 24:16, with its profound themes of immense personal loss, divine judgment, and a prophet's suffering serving as a sign, finds its ultimate and most glorious fulfillment in the person and redemptive work of Jesus Christ. Just as Ezekiel’s "desire of his eyes" was taken away by a divine stroke, foreshadowing the destruction of Jerusalem as a consequence of sin, so too was the ultimate "desire of God's eyes"—His only begotten Son, Jesus Christ—given up to death for the sins of the world. Christ, the perfect Prophet, did not merely perform symbolic sign-acts; His entire life, His obedient suffering, His sacrificial death, and His glorious resurrection constitute the ultimate divine sign for humanity. He was the [Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world](/john/1-29 "John 1:29 - Jesus, the Lamb of God"), bearing the full stroke of divine judgment that we, in our sin, justly deserved. The profound grief and "suppressed mourning" of the exiles over Jerusalem's fall, a grief too deep for tears, points to the unimaginable sorrow of God the Father as His Son was forsaken on the cross, crying out, "[My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?](/matthew/27-46 "Matthew 27:46 - Jesus Cries Out")" Yet, through this ultimate suffering and sacrifice, Christ secured not just a temporary reprieve from judgment, but eternal salvation, reconciliation, and the promise of new life. His death was the final, decisive stroke against sin and death, allowing those who believe in Him to mourn with hope ([1_thessalonians/4-13](/1_thessalonians/4-13 "1 Thessalonians 4:13 - Grieving with Hope")) and to experience a restoration far greater than any earthly temple or city. In Christ, the judgment symbolized by Ezekiel's loss is fully satisfied, and the way to true life and eternal fellowship with God is opened, fulfilling the deepest desire of all who put their faith in Him ([John 3:16](/john/3-16 "John 3:16 - God's Love for the World")).

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

Jeremiah 22:10

¶ Weep ye not for the dead, neither bemoan him: [but] weep sore for him that goeth away: for he shall return no more, nor see his native country.

Jeremiah 13:17

But if ye will not hear it, my soul shall weep in secret places for [your] pride; and mine eye shall weep sore, and run down with tears, because the LORD'S flock is carried away captive.

1 Thessalonians 4:13

¶ But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope.

Ezekiel 24:18

So I spake unto the people in the morning: and at even my wife died; and I did in the morning as I was commanded.

Song Of Solomon 7:10

¶ I [am] my beloved's, and his desire [is] toward me.

Leviticus 10:2

And there went out fire from the LORD, and devoured them, and they died before the LORD.

Leviticus 10:3

¶ Then Moses said unto Aaron, This [is it] that the LORD spake, saying, I will be sanctified in them that come nigh me, and before all the people I will be glorified. And Aaron held his peace.