Ezekiel 12:11

Say, I [am] your sign: like as I have done, so shall it be done unto them: they shall remove [and] go into captivity.

Say {H559}, I am your sign {H4159}: like as I have done {H6213}, so shall it be done {H6213} unto them: they shall remove {H1473} and go {H3212} into captivity {H7628}.

Say: 'I am a sign for you. As I have done, so will it be done to them - they will go into exile, into captivity.

You are to say, β€˜I am a sign to you.’ Just as it happened here, so will it be done to them; they will go into exile as captives.

Say, I am your sign: like as I have done, so shall it be done unto them; they shall go into exile, into captivity.

Commentary

Ezekiel 12:11 serves as the divine interpretation of a dramatic symbolic act performed by the prophet Ezekiel. Earlier in the chapter, God commanded Ezekiel to pack his belongings as if for exile, dig through a wall, and leave his house in broad daylight, covering his face. This verse reveals the profound meaning behind that performance.

Context

The prophet Ezekiel was ministering to the Jewish exiles in Babylon, specifically by the Chebar River, around 593 BC. His ministry began during the first deportation of Judah, which included King Jehoiachin and many prominent citizens. However, Jerusalem itself had not yet fallen, and many people, both in exile and still in Jerusalem, held onto false hopes of a quick return or that Jerusalem would never be conquered. God used Ezekiel's life and actions as a living parable to powerfully convey the message that the final destruction of Jerusalem and the subsequent exile of its inhabitants, including King Zedekiah, were absolutely certain and imminent. This particular "sign-act" directly foretold the manner of Jerusalem's final fall and the flight of its king.

Key Themes

  • Prophetic Certainty: The phrase "like as I have done, so shall it be done unto them" underscores the absolute certainty of God's word. What Ezekiel physically demonstrated would literally come to pass for the people of Jerusalem and their king.
  • Ezekiel as a Sign: The Lord declares, "I am your sign." Ezekiel himself, through his actions and even his personal suffering, became a living, visible prophetic message, acting out the future judgment. This highlights the immersive and often challenging nature of a prophet's calling. You can see a similar concept in Isaiah 8:18, where Isaiah and his children are also called signs.
  • Impending Judgment and Captivity: The core message is clear: "they shall remove and go into captivity." This was a direct warning of the coming fall of Jerusalem and the Babylonian exile, which would culminate in the final destruction of the city in 586 BC. This prophecy was fulfilled when King Zedekiah was captured, his eyes put out, and he was led away in chains to Babylon, much like Ezekiel's symbolic departure (see Jeremiah 52:11).

Linguistic Insights

The Hebrew word for "sign" here is mopheth (מֹ׀֡Χͺ). While often used for miraculous wonders, in this context, it refers to a symbolic act or a portent that serves as a powerful, undeniable confirmation of a prophetic message. It emphasizes that Ezekiel's performance was not merely a theatrical display, but a divinely ordained and potent visual prophecy that would soon be fulfilled.

Practical Application

Ezekiel 12:11 reminds us of several timeless truths:

  1. God Communicates Clearly: The Lord goes to great lengths to communicate His will and warnings, even through unconventional means like prophetic sign-acts. He desires for people to understand and respond.
  2. Consequences of Disobedience: The verse vividly portrays the severe consequences of persistent rebellion against God's commands. Judah's idolatry and unfaithfulness led directly to their promised judgment and exile.
  3. The Certainty of God's Word: Whether promises or warnings, God's word is always fulfilled. This gives believers assurance in His promises (e.g., John 3:16) and a sober understanding of His warnings.
  4. Heeding Warnings: Just as the people of Jerusalem were given ample warning, we too are called to pay attention to God's instructions and warnings found in Scripture, lest we face unwelcome consequences.
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Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated β€” the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • Jeremiah 52:15 (4 votes)

    Then Nebuzaradan the captain of the guard carried away captive [certain] of the poor of the people, and the residue of the people that remained in the city, and those that fell away, that fell to the king of Babylon, and the rest of the multitude.

  • Jeremiah 15:2 (4 votes)

    And it shall come to pass, if they say unto thee, Whither shall we go forth? then thou shalt tell them, Thus saith the LORD; Such as [are] for death, to death; and such as [are] for the sword, to the sword; and such as [are] for the famine, to the famine; and such as [are] for the captivity, to the captivity.

  • Jeremiah 52:28 (3 votes)

    This [is] the people whom Nebuchadrezzar carried away captive: in the seventh year three thousand Jews and three and twenty:

  • Jeremiah 52:30 (3 votes)

    In the three and twentieth year of Nebuchadrezzar Nebuzaradan the captain of the guard carried away captive of the Jews seven hundred forty and five persons: all the persons [were] four thousand and six hundred.

  • Ezekiel 12:6 (2 votes)

    In their sight shalt thou bear [it] upon [thy] shoulders, [and] carry [it] forth in the twilight: thou shalt cover thy face, that thou see not the ground: for I have set thee [for] a sign unto the house of Israel.