Ezekiel 5:1

KJV

¶ And thou, son of man, take thee a sharp knife, take thee a barber's razor, and cause [it] to pass upon thine head and upon thy beard: then take thee balances to weigh, and divide the [hair].

KJV (with Strong's)

And thou, son {H1121} of man {H120}, take {H3947} thee a sharp {H2299} knife {H2719}, take {H3947} thee a barber's {H1532} razor {H8593}, and cause it to pass {H5674} upon thine head {H7218} and upon thy beard {H2206}: then take {H3947} thee balances {H3976} to weigh {H4948}, and divide {H2505} the hair.

Complete Jewish Bible

"Now you, human being, take a sharp sword; and use it like a barber's razor to shave your head and beard. Then weigh the hair on a balance-scale, and divide it up.

Berean Standard Bible

“As for you, son of man, take a sharp sword, use it as a barber’s razor, and shave your head and beard. Then take a set of scales and divide the hair.

American Standard Version

And thou, son of man, take thee a sharp sword; as a barber’s razor shalt thou take it unto thee, and shalt cause it to pass upon thy head and upon thy beard: then take thee balances to weigh, and divide the hair.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Ezekiel 5:1 initiates a profoundly symbolic prophetic act, commanded by God to the prophet Ezekiel, illustrating the impending and severe judgment upon Jerusalem. God instructs Ezekiel, addressed as "son of man," to shave his head and beard with a barber's razor, then to weigh and divide the hair. This vivid, physical demonstration served as a powerful visual sermon for the exiled Israelites, communicating the certainty and nature of Jerusalem's destruction and the varied fates of its inhabitants.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Ezekiel 5:1 continues a series of dramatic symbolic actions that commenced in [Ezekiel 4](/ezekiel/4 "Ezekiel 4 - Symbolic Siege of Jerusalem"). Prior to this verse, Ezekiel had already portrayed the siege of Jerusalem by drawing it on a brick ([Ezekiel 4:1-3](/ezekiel/4-1 "Ezekiel 4:1-3 - The Brick and the Siege")), and endured periods of lying on his side to symbolize the years of Israel's and Judah's punishment ([Ezekiel 4:4-8](/ezekiel/4-4 "Ezekiel 4:4-8 - Lying on His Side for Israel and Judah")). He also consumed meager rations cooked over dung, signifying the famine and defilement Jerusalem would experience ([Ezekiel 4:9-17](/ezekiel/4-9 "Ezekiel 4:9-17 - The Defiled Bread")). The shaving of the head and beard in chapter 5 is the next, equally unsettling, visual parable, directly preceding God's detailed explanation of the judgment's specifics and severity in the subsequent verses of [Ezekiel 5](/ezekiel/5 "Ezekiel 5 - The Hair and the Judgment"). These acts were designed to break through the exiles' denial and false hope regarding Jerusalem's imminent doom.

* **Historical & Cultural Context:** Ezekiel prophesied during the Babylonian exile (c. 597-571 BC), a period of immense national trauma for the Israelites. Many had already been deported to Babylon, while Jerusalem still stood, albeit under Babylonian suzerainty. Culturally, the beard and hair were significant symbols of honor, dignity, and strength for men in ancient Near Eastern societies. Shaving them, especially in a public and forced manner, was a sign of deep humiliation, mourning, or disgrace, often associated with captivity or severe judgment. Priests were forbidden to shave their heads or beards ([Leviticus 21:5](/leviticus/21-5 "Leviticus 21:5 - Priestly Regulations")), and a Nazarite's strength was tied to his unshorn hair ([Numbers 6:5](/numbers/6-5 "Numbers 6:5 - The Nazarite Vow and Hair")). Thus, Ezekiel's act of shaving, particularly with a barber's razor (a common, everyday tool), would have immediately conveyed a sense of profound shame, loss, and the stripping away of identity and protection, making the impending judgment relatable and starkly real to his audience in Babylon.

* **Key Themes:** The central theme underscored by this symbolic act is **Divine Judgment** upon Jerusalem and Judah for their persistent idolatry and covenant unfaithfulness. The shaving of the hair vividly portrays the stripping away of honor, protection, and the very identity of the people. This act also highlights **Symbolic Prophecy**, a hallmark of Ezekiel's ministry, where God uses the prophet's body and actions as living parables to communicate truths that words alone might not convey to a hardened people. Furthermore, the command to divide the hair foreshadows the varied and devastating **Consequences of Disobedience**, a theme that runs throughout the book. The subsequent verses in [Ezekiel 5](/ezekiel/5 "Ezekiel 5 - The Hair and the Judgment") will explain how the divided hair represents different fates for Jerusalem's inhabitants: death by plague or famine, death by sword, and scattering among the nations, with only a small remnant preserved, as seen in [Ezekiel 5:12](/ezekiel/5-12 "Ezekiel 5:12 - The Threefold Judgment").

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS

#### Key Word Analysis
* **son (Hebrew, _bên'_):** H1121, derived from a root meaning "to build," signifies a son as a builder of the family name. In the phrase "son of man," it emphasizes Ezekiel's human nature and frailty, contrasting with the divine authority of the one addressing him. This consistent address throughout the book highlights the vast chasm between the human prophet and the sovereign God, underscoring that Ezekiel's message originates from a transcendent source, not his own wisdom.
* **razor (Hebrew, _taʻar'_):** H8593, from a root meaning "to make bare," refers to a knife or razor. The specification of a "barber's razor" (H1532, _gallâb_) further emphasizes the common, everyday nature of the tool. This choice of instrument suggests that the impending judgment is not an abstract, distant event, but a precise and thorough act that will affect every individual, much like a barber's razor meticulously shaves every hair, leaving nothing untouched.
* **divide (Hebrew, _châlaq'_):** H2505, a primitive root meaning "to be smooth," and by implication "to apportion or separate." This word is crucial as it points to the subsequent, detailed instructions in [Ezekiel 5:2](/ezekiel/5-2 "Ezekiel 5:2 - Dividing the Hair") regarding the precise distribution of the shorn hair. The act of dividing signifies a precise, calculated, and unavoidable judgment, where God Himself determines the fate of each segment of the population, demonstrating His meticulous justice and sovereignty over their destiny.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"And thou, son of man,"**: This opening phrase is God's direct address to Ezekiel, used over ninety times throughout the book. It serves to remind Ezekiel of his humanity and dependence on divine revelation, setting him apart as God's chosen messenger, yet firmly rooted in the human sphere. It underscores that the command comes from God, not from Ezekiel's own initiative.
* **"take thee a sharp knife, take thee a barber's razor,"**: God commands Ezekiel to acquire specific tools for this symbolic act. The mention of a "sharp knife" (Hebrew, _chereb_, also meaning "sword") alongside a "barber's razor" highlights the dual nature of the impending judgment – both the swift, decisive cut of war and the methodical, humiliating process of depopulation. The razor, a common tool, signifies that the judgment will be precise and affect all, much like a barber's work.
* **"and cause [it] to pass upon thine head and upon thy beard:"**: This is the core action of the prophecy. Shaving the head and beard, which were symbols of honor, dignity, and strength in ancient Israel, represents the stripping away of Jerusalem's glory, its identity, and its protection. It signifies profound humiliation, mourning, and the loss of national pride, foreshadowing the city's utter devastation and the disgrace of its inhabitants.
* **"then take thee balances to weigh, and divide the [hair]."**: After shaving, Ezekiel is instructed to collect the hair and use balances to weigh it, then divide it into specific portions. The use of "balances" (scales) emphasizes the precision and justice of God's judgment; it is not arbitrary but measured and exact. The act of "dividing the hair" sets the stage for the detailed explanation in the following verses, where each portion of hair will represent a different segment of Jerusalem's population and their respective fates under God's judgment.

#### Literary Devices
Ezekiel 5:1 is rich in literary devices, primarily functioning as a **Prophetic Sign-Act**. This is a form of non-verbal communication where the prophet's physical actions serve as a living parable, embodying the divine message. The entire scene is a vivid **Symbolism**: the shaving of the head and beard symbolizes the humiliation, disgrace, and stripping away of honor and protection from Jerusalem and its inhabitants. The hair itself is a **Metaphor** for the people of Jerusalem. The "barber's razor" is a **Symbol** of the precise and inescapable judgment of God, affecting every individual. The "balances" are a **Symbol** of divine justice and the measured, exact nature of God's judgment. The **Direct Address** "son of man" is a recurring literary motif in Ezekiel, emphasizing the prophet's humanity and the divine origin of the message. The stark, almost visceral imagery employed creates a powerful and unforgettable visual sermon designed to impress upon a hardened audience the gravity and certainty of God's impending judgment.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Ezekiel 5:1 powerfully articulates God's unwavering commitment to His covenant, which includes both blessings for obedience and severe consequences for disobedience. The stripping away of Ezekiel's hair and beard, symbols of honor, foreshadows the profound humiliation and loss of identity that Jerusalem would experience due to its persistent idolatry and rebellion against God. This passage underscores the truth that God's justice is not arbitrary but measured and precise, a theme that runs throughout the prophetic literature. It reminds us that God takes sin seriously and that His patience, while vast, is not infinite. The judgment, though severe, is ultimately aimed at vindicating God's holiness and demonstrating His sovereignty to both His people and the nations.

* [Leviticus 26:33](/leviticus/26-33 "Leviticus 26:33 - Scattering Among the Nations"): Foreshadows the scattering of Israel among the nations, a direct consequence of disobedience, paralleling the division of the hair.
* [Jeremiah 13:1-11](/jeremiah/13-1 "Jeremiah 13:1-11 - The Linen Belt"): Another example of a prophetic sign-act where Jeremiah uses a rotting linen belt to symbolize Judah's corruption and ruin, similar to Ezekiel's hair-shaving.
* [Numbers 6:5](/numbers/6-5 "Numbers 6:5 - The Nazarite Vow and Hair"): Illustrates the cultural significance of hair as a symbol of dedication, strength, and holiness, making its removal in Ezekiel 5:1 a potent symbol of desecration and loss.

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Ezekiel's dramatic act serves as a profound reminder that God's word is not merely abstract theology but often demands a tangible, even uncomfortable, response from His messengers. For us today, this passage challenges our complacency regarding sin and its consequences. It calls us to consider the seriousness with which God views disobedience and idolatry, whether personal or corporate. Just as Ezekiel faithfully performed a difficult and humiliating task, we are called to embody and communicate God's truth, even when it is unpopular or requires personal sacrifice. This passage also invites us to reflect on areas in our lives where we might be clinging to false securities or cultural "honors" that God may need to strip away for our purification and ultimate good. It prompts us to examine our hearts for any idols that have taken God's rightful place, and to repent and return to Him in full obedience, trusting in His just and merciful character.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **What "honors" or "securities" in my life might God be calling me to lay down or have stripped away for His purposes?**
* **How does Ezekiel's willingness to perform such a humiliating act challenge my own readiness to obey God, especially when it's uncomfortable or unpopular?**
* **In what ways do I, or my community, need to take God's warnings about sin and judgment more seriously?**
* **What idols, subtle or overt, might be present in my life that need to be "shaved off" by God's truth?**

### FAQ
**Why did God command Ezekiel to do such a strange and humiliating thing?**

Answer: God commanded Ezekiel to perform this strange and humiliating act not for personal punishment, but as a powerful **symbolic prophecy** or "sign-act." In ancient Israel, prophets often engaged in physical demonstrations to convey divine messages more effectively than words alone. Shaving the head and beard was a deeply humiliating act, symbolizing disgrace, mourning, and the stripping away of honor and protection. By making Ezekiel, God's chosen messenger, undergo this public degradation, God vividly communicated the impending and unavoidable humiliation, destruction, and scattering that Jerusalem and its inhabitants would suffer due to their persistent idolatry and rebellion. It was a visual sermon designed to shock the exiled Israelites into understanding the severity and certainty of God's judgment, as further elaborated in [Ezekiel 5:12](/ezekiel/5-12 "Ezekiel 5:12 - The Threefold Judgment").

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Ezekiel's prophetic act of shaving his head and beard, symbolizing the humiliation and judgment of Jerusalem, finds its ultimate fulfillment and transformation in the person and work of Jesus Christ. While Ezekiel's act foreshadowed a judgment on a rebellious people, Christ Himself became the ultimate recipient of shame and humiliation, not for His own sin, but for ours. Just as Ezekiel bore the disgrace of the people, Jesus, the true [Son of Man](/mark/10-45 "Mark 10:45 - The Son of Man Came to Serve"), took upon Himself the shame and curse of sin on the cross ([Galatians 3:13](/galatians/3-13 "Galatians 3:13 - Christ Redeemed Us from the Curse")). The judgment that fell upon Jerusalem for its unfaithfulness ultimately points to the greater judgment for sin that Christ bore, allowing those who believe in Him to escape the just wrath of God. Moreover, Jesus is the true and perfect Prophet, who not only spoke God's word but perfectly embodied it, fulfilling all prophetic types ([Hebrews 1:1-2](/hebrews/1-1 "Hebrews 1:1-2 - God's Final Word in His Son")). His suffering and death, though seemingly a stripping away of honor, were the means by which He secured eternal honor and salvation for His people, transforming the symbol of judgment into the reality of redemption and new life ([Isaiah 53:5](/isaiah/53-5 "Isaiah 53:5 - The Suffering Servant")).

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

Ezekiel 44:20

Neither shall they shave their heads, nor suffer their locks to grow long; they shall only poll their heads.

Leviticus 21:5

They shall not make baldness upon their head, neither shall they shave off the corner of their beard, nor make any cuttings in their flesh.

Isaiah 7:20

In the same day shall the Lord shave with a razor that is hired, [namely], by them beyond the river, by the king of Assyria, the head, and the hair of the feet: and it shall also consume the beard.

Daniel 5:27

TEKEL; Thou art weighed in the balances, and art found wanting.