Ezekiel 3:22

ยถ And the hand of the LORD was there upon me; and he said unto me, Arise, go forth into the plain, and I will there talk with thee.

And the hand {H3027} of the LORD {H3068} was there upon me; and he said {H559} unto me, Arise {H6965}, go forth {H3318} into the plain {H1237}, and I will there talk {H1696} with thee.

The hand of ADONAI came on me there, and he said to me, "Get up, go out to the valley, and I will speak with you there."

And there the hand of the LORD was upon me, and He said to me, โ€œGet up, go out to the plain, and there I will speak with you.โ€

And the hand of Jehovah was there upon me; and he said unto me, Arise, go forth into the plain, and I will there talk with thee.

Commentary

Context

Ezekiel 3:22 marks a pivotal moment in the prophet Ezekiel's early ministry, occurring shortly after his initial, overwhelming call and commission from God. Ezekiel, a priest by lineage, was among the Jewish exiles by the Chebar river in Babylon (Ezekiel 1:1). Having just received a direct command to speak God's word to a "rebellious house" (Ezekiel 2:3) and having symbolically eaten the scroll of God's message (Ezekiel 3:3), he was now instructed to go forth into a specific, solitary location for further divine instruction.

Key Themes

  • Divine Presence and Empowerment: The phrase "the hand of the LORD was there upon me" signifies the direct, tangible presence and empowering influence of God upon Ezekiel. This is a recurring motif in Ezekiel, highlighting his unique prophetic anointing and the source of his authority. It speaks to the direct power and influence of God, much like how it rested upon Elijah to outrun Ahab's chariot.
  • Divine Initiative and Communication: God initiates the interaction, commanding Ezekiel to "Arise, go forth... and I will there talk with thee." This underscores that prophetic revelation is not sought by human will but given by divine grace.
  • Seclusion for Revelation: The instruction to go "into the plain" suggests a need for solitude and a quiet space away from the exiles. This setting allows for undistracted, intimate communication between God and His prophet, emphasizing the importance of removing distractions for receiving divine messages.
  • Purposeful Dialogue: The explicit statement "I will there talk with thee" indicates that the purpose of this encounter is for God to convey further messages, instructions, or revelations to Ezekiel, equipping him for the challenging ministry ahead.

Linguistic Insights

The phrase "the hand of the LORD" is a common biblical idiom, translated from the Hebrew yad Yahweh (ื™ึทื“ ื™ึฐื”ื•ึธื”). It consistently denotes God's active power, sovereign authority, and direct intervention, particularly in empowering prophets for their ministry or executing His will. It signifies divine enablement and inspiration for prophetic ministry, as seen also in Isaiah 8:11.

The word "plain" (Hebrew: biq'ah) refers to a broad, flat valley or expanse. For Ezekiel, living among the exiles by the Chebar River, this likely refers to the plain surrounding their settlement, offering a desolate or open space suitable for private communion with God.

Practical Application

Ezekiel 3:22 offers timeless insights for believers today:

  • Seeking God's Presence: Just as God's hand was upon Ezekiel, believers can seek the empowering presence of the Holy Spirit for their daily lives and ministries.
  • Valuing Solitude: The call to the "plain" highlights the importance of setting aside time and finding quiet spaces for prayer, meditation, and listening to God's voice, free from the noise of the world. This call to solitude for divine communication echoes other biblical instances, such as Moses' encounter at the burning bush.
  • Readiness to Obey: Ezekiel's immediate response to "Arise, go forth" demonstrates a readiness to obey God's directives, even when they lead to unexpected or solitary places.
  • Anticipating Divine Communication: We can approach our time with God with the expectation that He desires to "talk with" us, offering guidance, comfort, and revelation through His Word and Spirit.
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Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated โ€” the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • Acts 9:6

    And he trembling and astonished said, Lord, what wilt thou have me to do? And the Lord [said] unto him, Arise, and go into the city, and it shall be told thee what thou must do.

  • Ezekiel 1:3

    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.

  • Ezekiel 8:4

    And, behold, the glory of the God of Israel [was] there, according to the vision that I saw in the plain.

  • Ezekiel 37:1

    ยถ 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,

  • 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.