And the people said unto me, Wilt thou not tell us what these [things are] to us, that thou doest [so]?
And the people {H5971} said {H559} unto me, Wilt thou not tell {H5046} us what these things are to us, that thou doest {H6213} so?
The people asked me, "Won't you tell us what these actions of yours mean for us?"
Then the people asked me, “Won’t you tell us what these things you are doing mean to us?”
And the people said unto me, Wilt thou not tell us what these things are to us, that thou doest so?
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Ezekiel 12:9
Son of man, hath not the house of Israel, the rebellious house, said unto thee, What doest thou? -
Ezekiel 37:18
And when the children of thy people shall speak unto thee, saying, Wilt thou not shew us what thou [meanest] by these? -
Ezekiel 17:12
Say now to the rebellious house, Know ye not what these [things mean]? tell [them], Behold, the king of Babylon is come to Jerusalem, and hath taken the king thereof, and the princes thereof, and led them with him to Babylon; -
Malachi 3:13
¶ Your words have been stout against me, saith the LORD. Yet ye say, What have we spoken [so much] against thee? -
Malachi 3:7
¶ Even from the days of your fathers ye are gone away from mine ordinances, and have not kept [them]. Return unto me, and I will return unto you, saith the LORD of hosts. But ye said, Wherein shall we return? -
Malachi 3:8
Will a man rob God? Yet ye have robbed me. But ye say, Wherein have we robbed thee? In tithes and offerings. -
Ezekiel 21:7
And it shall be, when they say unto thee, Wherefore sighest thou? that thou shalt answer, For the tidings; because it cometh: and every heart shall melt, and all hands shall be feeble, and every spirit shall faint, and all knees shall be weak [as] water: behold, it cometh, and shall be brought to pass, saith the Lord GOD.
Ezekiel 24:19 captures a pivotal moment in the prophet Ezekiel's ministry, highlighting the bewilderment of the exiled Israelites in Babylon. After witnessing Ezekiel's unusual and profoundly sorrowful actions—specifically, his abstinence from public mourning following the sudden death of his wife—the people are compelled to seek an explanation. Their question, "Wilt thou not tell us what these [things are] to us, that thou doest [so]?", reflects their confusion and their understanding that Ezekiel's peculiar behavior was not random, but a symbolic act with significant meaning for them.
Context
This verse immediately follows a dramatic and deeply personal divine command given to Ezekiel. In Ezekiel 24:15-18, God informs Ezekiel that his wife, "the delight of thine eyes," would die suddenly, and Ezekiel was forbidden to mourn publicly, shed tears, or observe customary funeral rites. This was an unprecedented and painful prophetic sign. The people, observing Ezekiel's lack of outward grief, despite the tragedy, recognized it as a divinely orchestrated message. They correctly surmised that his actions were a living parable, demanding an interpretation relevant to their own lives and circumstances as exiles awaiting news from Jerusalem. This foreshadows the profound and unmourned loss they would soon experience with the destruction of the Temple and their city.
Key Themes
Linguistic Insights
The phrase "Wilt thou not tell us what these [things are] to us, that thou doest [so]?" reveals the people's immediate recognition that Ezekiel's actions were symbolic. The emphasis on "to us" indicates their desire to understand the personal implications and relevance of the sign for their own lives and future. It's a plea for clarity amidst confusion, acknowledging the divine hand behind the prophet's seemingly bizarre behavior.
Practical Application
Ezekiel 24:19 reminds us that God often communicates profound truths through unexpected or even distressing circumstances. Just as the Israelites sought understanding from Ezekiel, we too should seek to discern God's message when confronted with difficult or perplexing situations in our lives or in the world. It underscores the importance of: