Ezekiel 3:14

So the spirit lifted me up, and took me away, and I went in bitterness, in the heat of my spirit; but the hand of the LORD was strong upon me.

So the spirit {H7307} lifted me up {H5375}, and took me away {H3947}, and I went {H3212} in bitterness {H4751}, in the heat {H2534} of my spirit {H7307}; but the hand {H3027} of the LORD {H3068} was strong {H2388} upon me.

So a spirit lifted me up and took me away. I went in bitterness and the heat of my spirit, with the hand of ADONAI strong on me.

So the Spirit lifted me up and took me away, and I went in bitterness and in the anger of my spirit, with the strong hand of the LORD upon me.

So the Spirit lifted me up, and took me away; and I went in bitterness, in the heat of my spirit; and the hand of Jehovah was strong upon me.

Commentary

Ezekiel 3:14 describes a pivotal moment in the prophet Ezekiel's divine commission, illustrating the powerful and sometimes overwhelming nature of God's call.

Context

This verse follows Ezekiel's initial encounter with God's glory, his receiving of the prophetic scroll to eat, and his instruction to speak to the rebellious house of Israel. Having been prepared for his challenging mission, the Spirit now physically transports him from the Chebar canal to his brethren in Tel-abib. The passage captures Ezekiel's complex emotional state as he begins to grasp the weight of his prophetic burden, knowing the stubbornness of the people he is sent to address (Ezekiel 2:3).

Key Themes

  • Divine Compulsion and Sovereignty: The phrase "the spirit lifted me up, and took me away" clearly indicates God's irresistible power and sovereign will in directing Ezekiel. This was not a voluntary journey initiated by the prophet, but a divine act to place him precisely where God intended him to be for his mission.
  • Prophetic Burden and Human Reluctance: Ezekiel's admission, "I went in bitterness, in the heat of my spirit," reveals his deep emotional turmoil. This isn't joy or eagerness, but a sense of grief, indignation, or heavy burden—perhaps at the message he had to deliver, the impending judgment, or the stubbornness of the people he was called to confront. It highlights the often-difficult nature of a prophetic calling.
  • God's Overpowering Presence and Empowerment: Crucially, "but the hand of the LORD was strong upon me" demonstrates that despite Ezekiel's internal struggle, God's power was actively at work within him. This phrase signifies divine enablement, compulsion, and sustained prophetic inspiration, ensuring that he would fulfill his task regardless of his personal feelings. It underscores that God's strength perfects itself in human weakness.

Linguistic Insights

  • The Hebrew word for "spirit" (רוּחַ - ruach) here refers to the divine Spirit, the active power of God.
  • "Bitterness" (מַר - mar) conveys a sense of deep distress, sorrow, or indignation, reflecting Ezekiel's inner anguish over his daunting assignment.
  • "Heat of my spirit" (חֲמַת רוּחִי - chemath ruchi) implies intense emotion, possibly anger or fierce indignation, suggesting a profound internal conflict or a strong reaction to the difficult reality of his calling.
  • "Hand of the LORD" (יַד יְהוָה - yad Yahweh) is a common biblical idiom representing God's power, authority, and direct intervention, particularly in empowering prophets or executing judgment.

Practical Application

Ezekiel's experience in this verse offers profound insights for believers today. We too may feel a sense of "bitterness" or "heat" in our spirit when called to difficult tasks, whether in ministry, personal relationships, or facing challenging circumstances. This verse reminds us that:

  1. God's call is often accompanied by divine compulsion, overriding our personal preferences or fears.
  2. It is normal to experience human emotions, even reluctance or distress, when facing overwhelming spiritual assignments.
  3. Despite our internal struggles, the "hand of the LORD" remains strong upon us, providing the necessary strength, guidance, and empowerment to fulfill His will. We are enabled by His grace, not our own comfort or enthusiasm.

This passage encourages us to submit to God's leading, trusting that His powerful presence will sustain us through even the most challenging assignments, just as it did for the prophet Ezekiel.

Note: If the commentary doesn’t appear instantly, please allow 2–5 seconds for it to load. It is generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash using a prompt focused on Biblical fidelity over bias. While the insights have been consistently reliable, we encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit.

Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated — the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • Ezekiel 37:1 (8 votes)

    ¶ The hand of the LORD was upon me, and carried me out in the spirit of the LORD, and set me down in the midst of the valley which [was] full of bones,

  • 2 Kings 3:15 (8 votes)

    But now bring me a minstrel. And it came to pass, when the minstrel played, that the hand of the LORD came upon him.

  • Jeremiah 20:7 (7 votes)

    ¶ O LORD, thou hast deceived me, and I was deceived: thou art stronger than I, and hast prevailed: I am in derision daily, every one mocketh me.

  • Jeremiah 20:9 (7 votes)

    Then I said, I will not make mention of him, nor speak any more in his name. But [his word] was in mine heart as a burning fire shut up in my bones, and I was weary with forbearing, and I could not [stay].

  • Ezekiel 8:3 (5 votes)

    And he put forth the form of an hand, and took me by a lock of mine head; and the spirit lifted me up between the earth and the heaven, and brought me in the visions of God to Jerusalem, to the door of the inner gate that looketh toward the north; where [was] the seat of the image of jealousy, which provoketh to jealousy.

  • Ezekiel 1:3 (4 votes)

    The word of the LORD came expressly unto Ezekiel the priest, the son of Buzi, in the land of the Chaldeans by the river Chebar; and the hand of the LORD was there upon him.

  • 2 Kings 2:16 (4 votes)

    And they said unto him, Behold now, there be with thy servants fifty strong men; let them go, we pray thee, and seek thy master: lest peradventure the Spirit of the LORD hath taken him up, and cast him upon some mountain, or into some valley. And he said, Ye shall not send.