¶ 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].
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.
"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.
“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.
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.
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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.
Ezekiel 5:1 introduces one of the most vivid and dramatic symbolic actions performed by the prophet Ezekiel, a powerful visual sermon delivered to the exiled Israelites in Babylon. God commands Ezekiel, addressed as "son of man," to take a barber's razor and shave his head and beard. This seemingly mundane act was, in fact, a profound prophetic sign illustrating the impending judgment upon Jerusalem and its inhabitants.
Context
Ezekiel was called by God to prophesy to a people in exile, those who had already been carried away to Babylon, and those still clinging to false hope in Jerusalem. Chapters 4 and 5 describe a series of symbolic acts designed to impress upon the exiles the severity and certainty of Jerusalem's destruction, a message many found hard to accept. Prior to this, Ezekiel had already depicted the siege of Jerusalem by drawing it on a brick and lying on his side for extended periods. This act of shaving his hair and beard serves as the next stage in this unfolding prophetic drama, directly preceding God's detailed explanation of the judgment in the verses that follow.
Key Themes
Linguistic Insights
The phrase "son of man" (Hebrew: ben adam) is God's consistent address for Ezekiel throughout the book, emphasizing his human frailty and dependence on God's divine revelation, contrasting with the divine majesty of the one giving the command. The "barber's razor" (Hebrew: ta'ar ha-gallab) highlights the mundane tool used for a profoundly symbolic and unsettling act, underscoring the commonness of the coming destruction that would affect every person, much like a barber's razor affects every hair.
Practical Application
While specific to ancient Israel, Ezekiel's prophetic act reminds us that God takes sin seriously. It underscores the principle that disobedience has consequences, and God's justice will ultimately prevail. For believers today, it serves as a sober reminder to live in obedience to God's will and to understand that spiritual rebellion can lead to severe spiritual or natural consequences. It also highlights the importance of God's messengers (whether prophets or teachers) clearly communicating uncomfortable truths, even when unpopular, just as Ezekiel faithfully did, demonstrating courage and faithfulness in proclaiming God's word.