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Ezekiel 3:25

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But thou, O son of man, behold, they shall put bands upon thee, and shall bind thee with them, and thou shalt not go out among them:

But thou, O son {H1121} of man {H120}, behold, they shall put {H5414} bands {H5688} upon thee, and shall bind {H631} thee with them, and thou shalt not go out {H3318} among {H8432} them:

Human being, you are going to be bound with ropes, unable to go out among the people.

And you, son of man, they will tie with ropes, and you will be bound so that you cannot go out among the people.

But thou, son of man, behold, they shall lay bands upon thee, and shall bind thee with them, and thou shalt not go out among them:

Commentary

Ezekiel 3:25 finds the prophet Ezekiel undergoing a period of divine restriction, symbolizing the spiritual state of the rebellious house of Israel. This verse is part of a larger passage where God prepares Ezekiel for his prophetic ministry, which includes both verbal declarations and powerful symbolic actions.

Context

Following his dramatic calling and commissioning as a watchman for Israel (Ezekiel 3:17), Ezekiel is instructed to return to his house. The Lord then declares that "they shall put bands upon thee, and shall bind thee with them." This refers to a period of physical or symbolic confinement, often understood in conjunction with the prophet's temporary muteness detailed in the very next verse (Ezekiel 3:26). This restriction served a divine purpose, limiting Ezekiel's public interaction with the people of Israel, who were obstinately rebellious and unwilling to hear God's word. This confinement would have served as a powerful sign to the exiles in Babylon.

Key Themes

  • Divine Sovereignty and Control: God is orchestrating Ezekiel's circumstances, even his confinement, to achieve His purposes. This demonstrates God's ultimate authority over the prophet's life and ministry.
  • Prophetic Isolation: The binding and inability to "go out among them" highlight the isolation that often accompanies a prophet's calling, particularly when delivering unpopular messages to a resistant audience. This isolation serves to emphasize the divine source of his messages.
  • Symbolic Action: While some interpret the "bands" as literal restraints imposed by the people, many scholars see this as a divinely ordained symbolic act. Ezekiel's confinement and muteness would have powerfully mirrored Israel's spiritual blindness and their inability to truly hear or respond to God's word, as if they themselves were bound by their sins. Prophets often performed such symbolic actions to convey God's message in a visceral way.

Linguistic Insights

The phrase "O son of man" (Hebrew: ben 'adam) is God's frequent address to Ezekiel, appearing over 90 times in the book. It serves to emphasize Ezekiel's humanity and frailty in contrast to the divine power and majesty of the God who speaks to him. It also highlights his representative role, standing for humanity before God. The "bands" (Hebrew: 'asurim) suggest literal bonds or ropes, reinforcing the imagery of physical restraint, though the ultimate meaning is spiritual and symbolic of Israel's spiritual bondage and their rejection of God's word.

Practical Application

Ezekiel's experience in verse 25 reminds us that God's servants may face periods of restriction, isolation, or even opposition when delivering His truth. Such limitations are not always hindrances but can be part of God's sovereign plan to deepen a prophet's reliance on Him, to prepare them for future ministry, or to serve as a powerful object lesson for the audience. For believers today, this verse can encourage perseverance and faithfulness even when circumstances seem to restrict our outward activity. It teaches that God can use our periods of waiting or confinement for His greater purposes, revealing His power not just through what we do, but also through what we endure for His name's sake, much like the apostle Paul's imprisonment furthered the gospel. Our obedience, even in challenging or restrictive circumstances, can be a powerful testimony to God's will.

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 (May 20, 2025) 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 4:8 (5 votes)

    And, behold, I will lay bands upon thee, and thou shalt not turn thee from one side to another, till thou hast ended the days of thy siege.

  • Acts 21:11 (2 votes)

    And when he was come unto us, he took Paul's girdle, and bound his own hands and feet, and said, Thus saith the Holy Ghost, So shall the Jews at Jerusalem bind the man that owneth this girdle, and shall deliver [him] into the hands of the Gentiles.

  • Acts 21:13 (2 votes)

    Then Paul answered, What mean ye to weep and to break mine heart? for I am ready not to be bound only, but also to die at Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus.

  • John 21:18 (2 votes)

    Verily, verily, I say unto thee, When thou wast young, thou girdedst thyself, and walkedst whither thou wouldest: but when thou shalt be old, thou shalt stretch forth thy hands, and another shall gird thee, and carry [thee] whither thou wouldest not.

  • Acts 9:16 (2 votes)

    For I will shew him how great things he must suffer for my name's sake.

  • Mark 3:21 (2 votes)

    And when his friends heard [of it], they went out to lay hold on him: for they said, He is beside himself.

  • Acts 20:23 (2 votes)

    Save that the Holy Ghost witnesseth in every city, saying that bonds and afflictions abide me.