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EZEKIEL 11
PARAGRAPH DIVISIONS OF MODERN TRANSLATIONS
| NASB | NKJV | NRSV | TEV | NJB |
| Temple Visions (8:1-11:25) |
||||
| Evil Rulers To Be Judged | Judgment On Wicked Counselors | Judgment and Promise | Jerusalem Condemned | The Sins of Jerusalem (con't.) |
| 11:1-4 | 11:1-4 | 11:1-4 | 11:1-4 | 11:1 |
| 11:2-12 | ||||
| 11:5-12 | 11:5-12 | 11:5-12 | 11:5-6 | |
| 11:7-12 | ||||
| 11:13 | 11:13 | 11:13 | 11:13 | 11:13 |
| Promise of Restoration | God Will Restore Israel | God's Promise to the Exiles | The New Covenant Promised to the Exiles | |
| 11:14-21 | 11:14-21 | 11:14-21 | 11:14-15 | 11:14-21 |
| 11:16 | ||||
| 11:17-21 | ||||
| God's Glory Leaves Jerusalem | The Glory of Yahweh Leaves Jerusalem | |||
| 11:22-25 | 11:22-23 | 11:22-25 | 11:22-25 | 11:22-23 |
| 11:24-25 | 11:24-25 |
READING CYCLE THREE (see "Bible Interpretation Seminar")
FOLLOWING THE ORIGINAL AUTHOR'S INTENT AT PARAGRAPH LEVEL
This is a study guide commentary, which means that you are responsible for your own interpretation of the Bible. Each of us must walk in the light we have. You, the Bible, and the Holy Spirit are priority in interpretation. You must not relinquish this to a commentator.
Read the chapter in one sitting. Identify the subjects (reading cycle #3). Compare your subject divisions with the five translations above. Paragraphing is not inspired, but it is the key to following the original author's intent, which is the heart of interpretation. Every paragraph has one and only one subject.
WORD AND PHRASE STUDY
NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: EZEKIEL 11:1-4
1Moreover, the Spirit lifted me up and brought me to the east gate of the Lord's house which faced eastward. And behold, there were twenty-five men at the entrance of the gate, and among them I saw Jaazaniah son of Azzur and Pelatiah son of Benaiah, leaders of the people. 2He said to me, "Son of man, these are the men who devise iniquity and give evil advice in this city, 3who say, 'Is not the time near to build houses? This city is the pot and we are the flesh.' 4Therefore, prophesy against them, son of man, prophesy!"
11:1 "the Spirit lifted me up" This was not the first or last time Ezekiel was impacted by the Spirit (cf. Ezek. 2:2; 3:12,14; 8:3; 11:24; 43:5). See note at Ezek. 3:12.
SPECIAL TOPIC: SPIRIT IN THE BIBLE
SPECIAL TOPIC: THE PERSONHOOD OF THE SPIRIT
▣ "the east gate of the Lord's house" We know from Jer. 26:10 that this was a place of public assembly (like the city gate in local settings). This gate is mentioned in Ezek. 10:19. This is where the portable Throne Chariot lifted up and left the temple area.
▣ "Jaazaniah son of Azzur" There are three others mentioned by this same name (BDB 24) but who have different fathers (cf. Ezek. 8:11; 2 Kgs. 25:23; Jer. 35:3). Be careful of confusion.
▣ "Pelatiah" We know nothing of this man (BDB 812). It is obvious that these two men were leaders of the people. The nobility had been exiled with Ezekiel in 597 B.C. and, therefore, these were new leaders.
| NASB, NJB, JPSOA, LXX | "leaders of the people" |
| NKJV, Peshitta | "princes of the people" |
| NRSV | "officials of the people" |
| TEV | "leaders of the nation" |
| REB | "of high office" |
The NKJV has the literal (BDB 978 construct BDB 766). This would imply they are high government leaders. The problem comes in how to identify them because most of these leaders were exiled with Ezekiel and the royal court (597 B.C.). These may have been:
11:2 "Son of man" See note at Ezek. 2:1.
▣ "who devise iniquity and give evil advice in the city" Their attitude is depicted in Ezek. 11:3 and 15. They are false leaders (cf. Ezek. 11:4), so common in Israel's religious and civic life!
11:3 "Is it not time to build houses? This city is the pot and we are the flesh" What they were saying is
Not only is the first phrase in doubt, but also the second. It could be
All being noted, I think it is a parallel to the false prophets' message of
The false, idolatrous leaders are the cause of Jerusalem's fall (cf. v. 6). The imagery here is from a sacrificial offering. The people of Jerusalem are the meat offering and the city is the sacrificial pot they are cooked in (i.e., siege, cf. v. 7)!
Notice v. 11 negates this prediction of the false, idolatrous leaders. YHWH will judge them, not in the city but at the borders of Israel.
11:4 "prophesy against them" Ezekiel had done this earlier in Ezek. 3:4,17.
The verb "prophesy" (BDB 612, KB 659) is a Niphal imperative. It is used twice for emphasis! YHWH, by His Spirit, directed the prophet (Ezek. 11:5) what to say, when to say it, and who to say it to.
NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: EZEKIEL 11:5-12
5Then the Spirit of the Lord fell upon me, and He said to me, "Say, 'Thus says the Lord, "So you think, house of Israel, for I know your thoughts. 6You have multiplied your slain in this city, filling its streets with them." 7Therefore, thus says the Lord God, "Your slain whom you have laid in the midst of the city are the flesh and this city is the pot; but I will bring you out of it. 8You have feared a sword; so I will bring a sword upon you," the Lord God declares. 9"And I will bring you out of the midst of the city and deliver you into the hands of strangers and execute judgments against you. 10You will fall by the sword. I will judge you to the border of Israel; so you shall know that I am the Lord. 11This city will not be a pot for you, nor will you be flesh in the midst of it, but I will judge you to the border of Israel. 12Thus you will know that I am the Lord; for you have not walked in My statutes nor have you executed My ordinances, but have acted according to the ordinances of the nations around you."'"
11:5 "said. . .say. . .says" The Hebrew word "say" (BDB 55, KB 65) is found often in this chapter. It refers to
See note at Ezek. 11:4. Ezekiel is YHWH's mouthpiece!
▣ "I know your thoughts" This same truth is expressed in several ways (cf. 1 Sam. 16:7; 1 Chr. 28:9; Ps. 7:9; Pro. 16:2; 21:2; 24:12; Jer. 11:20; 17:10; Luke 16:15; Acts 1:24; 15:8; Rom. 8:27; Rev. 2:23). God knows the thoughts and motives of His human creatures! We reap what we sow (see full lists of texts at Gal. 6:7-10 online) and what we think!
The literal phrase is "what comes up in your spirit"( NASB margin). The Hebrew term "spirit," "wind," "breath" (BDB 924) is understood here as "mind" (cf. Ezek. 20:32).
SPECIAL TOPIC: BREATH, WIND, SPIRIT
11:6 The terrible judgment about to destroy Jerusalem and the temple (God's protected place, Jer. 7:26) is because of their evil, not a lack of YHWH's protection and care!
11:7 This statement reverses the false leaders' statement of confidence in Ezek. 11:3.
11:9 "I shall deliver you into the hands of" This is an idiom of military defeat.
▣ "of strangers" This is a fulfillment of Deut. 28:36,49,50. As Assyrians exiled the northern tribes, so Neo-Babylon will exile the southern tribes!
11:10 "so you shall know that I am the Lord" See note at Ezek. 6:13.
▣ "to the borders of Israel" This could be "as far as the borders of Israel," or it could refer to "at the borders of Israel" as fulfilled in 2 Kings 25:18-21, where King Zedekiah, when trying to fleeing, is captured and taken to Nebuchadnezzar II at Riblah.
11:11 This is a clarification of Ezek. 11:7.
11:12 Israel sinned against two "laws."
Israel "walked" (i.e., lifestyle actions, BDB 229, KB 246, Qal PERFECT) in ways more evil than their pagan neighbors. This demanded judgment (cf. Gen. 15:16; Lev. 18:24-30).
NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: EZEKIEL 11:13
13Now it came about as I prophesied, that Pelatiah son of Benaiah died. Then I fell on my face and cried out with a loud voice and said, "Alas, Lord God! Will You bring the remnant of Israel to a complete end?"
11:13 "it came about as I prophesied, that Pelatiah son of Benaiah died" This was a visible and immediate sign to the elders back in the exile of the validity of Ezekiel's message. The word of this man's death would not reach them for several weeks.
▣ "Alas, Lord God!" This is literally the divine title "Adon YHWH."
SPECIAL TOPIC: LORD (Adon and Kurios)
SPECIAL TOPIC: NAMES FOR DEITY, D.
▣ Will You bring the remnant of Israel to a complete end" This same question was asked by Ezekiel as the six angelic destroyers went through the city (Ezek. 9:8).
It is uncertain why the death of an evil leader (Ezek. 11:2) would illicit this response.
For the theological concept of "remnant" see SPECIAL TOPIC: THE REMNANT, Three Senses.
NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: EZEKIEL 11:14-21
14Then the word of the Lord came to me, saying, 15"Son of man, your brothers, your relatives, your fellow exiles and the whole house of Israel, all of them, are those to whom the inhabitants of Jerusalem have said, 'Go far from the Lord; this land has been given us as a possession.' 16Therefore say, 'Thus says the Lord God, "Though I had removed them far away among the nations and though I had scattered them among the countries, yet I was a sanctuary for them a little while in the countries where they had gone."' 17Therefore say, 'Thus says the Lord God, "I will gather you from the peoples and assemble you out of the countries among which you have been scattered, and I will give you the land of Israel."' 18When they come there, they will remove all its detestable things and all its abominations from it. 19And I will give them one heart, and put a new spirit within them. And I will take the heart of stone out of their flesh and give them a heart of flesh, 20that they may walk in My statutes and keep My ordinances and do them. Then they will be My people, and I shall be their God. 21But as for those whose hearts go after their detestable things and abominations, I will bring their conduct down on their heads," declares the Lord God.
11:15 "Son of man" See note at Ezek. 2:1.
| NASB, NRSV | "your fellow exiles" |
| NASB margin, Jewish Study Bible | "the men of your redemption" |
| NKJV, Peshitta | "your kinsmen" |
| NRSV footnote | "people of your kindred" |
| NJB, REB | "to your kinfolk" |
| LXX | "the men of thy captivity" |
| JPSOA | "the men of your kindred" |
The MT has "the men of your kindred" (BDB 35 construct BDB 145), which seems to refer to other exiles, possibly of the same tribe clan or family.
For "kindred" (i.e., Go'el) see notes at Ruth 3:9.
▣ "Go far from the Lord; this land has been given us as a possession" "Go far" (BDB 934, KB 1221) can be a Qal IMPERATIVE or a Qal PERFECT. This is related to verse 3. The current residents of Jerusalem were saying they were the new chosen seed and the exiles (the royal family, the civil and religious leaders, and the artisans) had been rejected. But in reality just the opposite was true. This can be seen in Ezek. 11:16, where God says, "I am going to dwell with the exiles" and Ezek. 11:17, where He says He will restore them to the land. Both Ezek. 11:16 and 17 start with an IMPERATIVE!
Although it is true that Ezekiel focuses on Judah's destruction and exile through chapter 24 (chapters 25-32 are oracles against the nations, except for 28:25-26), there are hints here and there in these early chapters of Ezekiel's message of restoration to the faithful remnant exiled in Mesopotamia.
11:16 "I was a sanctuary for them" YHWH is described as a place of sacredness and safety to the faithful exiles (cf. Isa. 8:14, in Isa. 25:4 He is a "refuge"). These are all powerful imagery for care and protection! The physical sanctuary in Jerusalem will be destroyed, but the "true" sanctuary (i.e., YHWH) was with them in exile as the visions of Ezekiel would clearly reveal. YHWH had left Jerusalem and moved east (cf. Ezek. 11:22-25), but He would return with the exiles. YHWH moving to Babylon showed His universality. He was not limited to Canaan. He was the God of all creation!
This phrase may have been the OT background for Jesus' statement in John 2:19, quoted in Mark 14:58; 15:29; and Acts 6:14. Jesus saw Himself as the new temple! He is our sanctuary!
The term "little" (BDB 589), depending on context, can mean "a little" or "a few." It can denote numbers, kinds, or time. In this context "time" (i.e., the exile) fits best (NET). YHWH Himself cannot be described as "a little sanctuary"!
11:17 "the land of Israel" See note at Ezek. 7:2.
SPECIAL TOPIC: ISRAEL (the name)
11:18-19 Notice that "they will remove" (BDB 693, KB 747, Hiphil, PERFECT with waw, PLURAL) follows Ezek. 18:31-32. However, this has been the problem of fallen humanity, they cannot keep God's covenant! Therefore, YHWH will act on their behalf (i.e., similar to the "new covenant" of Jer. 31:31-34; described in Ezek. 36:22-36).
Notice that human response is still required (cf. Ezek. 11:20).
The covenant will be restored ("they will be My people, and I shall be their God"), but it still required obedience (cf. Ezek. 11:21; Deut. 30:2,10).
The returning exiles were meant to remove all the idolatrous evil from the land. By reading Ezra and Nehemiah this hope was only partially fulfilled. Idolatry was forsaken, but other evils returned.
The terms"detestable" (BDB 1055) and "abominations" (BDB 1072) are used together in Ezek. 5:11; 7:20; 11:18,21; and Jer. 16:18.
SPECIAL TOPIC: ABOMINATION (OT)
11:19 "I shall give them one heart, and shall put a new spirit within them" The MT has "one" heart, but note the following translations.
If "one," then it denotes
Because of (1) the parallelism within Ezek. 11:19 and (2) the textual parallel of Ezek. 36:26-27, I think the concept of "new" fits best. Not just restoration, but reorientation from an outward performance standard to an inner motivation based on divine performance (cf. Deut. 30:3-9). It is not just a new day for the children of Jacob, but for the children of Adam!
This is the new covenant (cf. Luke 22:20; 1 Cor. 11:25; 2 Cor. 3:3,6; Heb. 8:6-13; 9:15; 12:24) described in Jer. 31:31-34 and Ezek. 36:22-36. Israel had been characterized by Moses as being stiff-necked, hard-faced, and hard-hearted; now they will have a soft heart (i.e., obedient heart, cf. Ezek. 36:27) that is turned toward God (cf. Ezek. 16:60-63).
This is a good example of God's sovereignty and individual responsibility in the sense that this same phrase is repeated in Ezek. 18:31, where the people are commanded to make themselves a new heart and a new spsirit. Yet, again in Ezek. 36:26, it says that YHWH will give them a new heart and a new spirit. Here is the paradox of God's sovereignty and human responsibility! At this point let me insert two theological Special Topics that deal with this issue.
SPECIAL TOPIC: ELECTION/PREDESTINATION AND THE NEED FOR A THEOLOGICAL BALANCE
SPECIAL TOPIC: PREDESTINATION (Calvinism) vs. HUMAN FREE WILL (Arminianism)
11:20 "that they may walk in My statutes and keep My ordinances, and do them" Obedience is crucial! It is not optional. These are conditional covenants! Notice the repetition used for emphasis.
▣ "Then they will be my people and I will be their God" These are covenant terms (cf. Gen. 17:8; Exod. 6:7; Ezek. 14:11; 34:30; 36:28; 37:27). This was so important for these exiled people to hear because they wondered if God would keep His covenant with Israel's descendants. They wondered if they had been rejected. They wondered if their sin had totally altered their relationship with YHWH.
SPECIAL TOPIC: COVENANT PROMISES TO THE PATRIARCHS
SPECIAL TOPIC: COVENANT REQUIREMENTS OF ISRAEL
11:21 "their detestable things and abominations" See SPECIAL TOPIC: ABOMINATION (OT)
▣ "I shall bring their conduct down on their heads" Humans are responsible for their choices and actions! See note at Ezek. 9:10.
NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: EZEKIEL 11:22-25
22Then the cherubim lifted up their wings with the wheels beside them, and the glory of the God of Israel hovered over them. 23The glory of the Lord went up from the midst of the city and stood over the mountain which is east of the city. 24And the Spirit lifted me up and brought me in a vision by the Spirit of God to the exiles in Chaldea. So the vision that I had seen left me. 25Then I told the exiles all the things that the Lord had shown me.
11:22 This is referring to the portable throne chariot of YHWH, first seen by Ezekiel in chapter 1 and seen again in chapter 8. In Ezek. 11:23 it moves from the temple to the Mt. of Olives and then in Ezek. 11:24 it moves to be with the exiles in Babylon.
11:23 This shows the depth of the idolatry of the city of Jerusalem and particularly the priests that YHWH would have to leave the place where He had chosen to dwell (i.e., the temple) and go to be with the exiles, who would become the nucleus of His new covenant community.
11:24 "I had seen" This VERB (BDB 906, KB 1157, Qal PERFECT) is one of the terms used to describe a prophet (i.e., "seer."
SPECIAL TOPIC: PROPHET (the different Hebrew terms)
11:25 "I told the exiles all the things God had shown me" This refers to the elders who were mentioned in Ezek. 8:1. Therefore, chapters 8-11 form a literary unit.
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
This is a study guide commentary, which means that you are responsible for your own interpretation of the Bible. Each of us must walk in the light we have. You, the Bible, and the Holy Spirit are priority in interpretation. You must not relinquish this to a commentator.
These discussion questions are provided to help you think through the major issues of this section of the book. They are meant to be thought-provoking, not definitive.
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