EZEKIEL 1
EZEKIEL’S VISION OF GOD’S GLORY
Ezekiel the priest is shown a vivid vision from God. Suddenly, clouds and fire appear with a great wind. Ezekiel sees four distinct creatures, each with wings and four faces, one of a human, a lion, an ox, and an eagle. These four beings match the description of cherubim, which guarded the Garden of Eden and the Tabernacle (Genesis 3, Exodus 25). Cherubim are usually described as angelic creatures worthy of protecting holy places. Above the creatures, Ezekiel sees a great expanse with a throne-like sapphire structure.
Ezekiel describes the vision as the appearance of the glory of the Lord. Similar to the depiction of God’s presence with the Israelites in the wilderness, the vision contains God’s glory in the form of cloud and fire. Ezekiel also records a rainbow in his vision, the image God provided Noah as a promise to never flood the world again (Ezekiel 1:28, Genesis 9:16). In a tumultuous time of great destruction, God still reminds Ezekiel of His faithful promises.
EZEKIEL 2
EZEKIEL CALLED TO SHARE GOD’S MESSAGE
In Ezekiel’s vision, God’s spirit enters him, and he is set upon his feet. During this time God dwelled among His people, but not typically within His people because God had not yet sent the Holy Spirit to dwell within believers (Acts 2). Because this occurred long before the life of Jesus, this distinction shows Ezekiel’s calling is both unique and divine.
God sends Ezekiel to speak to the people of Israel, many of whom were already taken captive by the Babylonians. God refers to them as a nation of rebels because of their continual disobedience. Ezekiel is instructed to speak God’s word to the Israelites despite their stubbornness and dismissive attitude towards prophets.
Ezekiel is given a scroll with writing on both sides, containing words of warning and lamentation. God warns Ezekiel that this task will not come easily. Instead, he will feel as though he is among scorpions, briars, and thorns.
EZEKIEL 3
EZEKIEL COMMISSIONED AS ISRAEL’S WATCHMAN
Continuing Ezekiel’s vision, God tells Ezekiel to eat the scroll he has been handed. Ezekiel describes the scroll as filling to his stomach and sweet like honey. Because this is described as a vision, it is unknown whether this is a literal depiction or a symbolic representation of Ezekiel consuming God’s message.
God commissions Ezekiel to speak to the Israelites, but warns that Israel is hardheaded and stubborn. Because the people of Israel have not listened to God, it is not likely that they will listen to Ezekiel. This serves as a reminder that Ezekiel's obedience is not determined by the outcome, but instead by his willingness to trust and follow God.
God appoints Ezekiel as a watchman over Israel, making him responsible for warning and correcting the Israelites. Those who know better and choose to do wrong will die, but those who correct their actions in response to Ezekiel’s warning will live. God instructs Ezekiel to not go out and speak to the people until the time is right.
EZEKIEL 4
EZEKIEL STAGES THE SIEGE OF JERUSALEM
God instructs Ezekiel to create a staged scene of the siege of Jerusalem by building a model of Jerusalem out of bricks and iron. Ezekiel is told to lay on one side, facing the staged siege, for 390 days and then turn to his other side to face the model siege for another forty days. While demonstrating the years of captivity that awaited Israel and Judah, Ezekiel was to ration his water and only eat defiled food cooked over animal feces.
This exhibit was a strange and severe way of warning Judah what awaits their future: captivity, scarcity, and desperation.
EZEKIEL 5
GOD WILL BRING JUDGMENT ON JERUSALEM
God instructs Ezekiel to use a sword as a razor, shaving the hair from his beard and his head. In obedience to God’s request, Ezekiel burns one third of the hair in the fire, chops one third with the sword, and throws one third into the wind. These actions symbolized the future of Jerusalem, who will die by famine, plague, or sword, scattered among the nations.
Ezekiel is told to keep a small portion of the hair tucked into his robes, symbolizing the small number of Israelites who will return to Jerusalem as the remnant.
Although God has been extremely patient and merciful with the Israelites, their continued disobedience has caused God to be against them and bring His judgment upon them.
EZEKIEL 6
GOD WILL MAKE HIS NAME KNOWN AMONG THE PEOPLE
God is angered by the idolatry of the Israelites as they continue to create altars for false Gods. Ezekiel prophesizes against the high places of false worship and tells of their destruction. God rebukes Israel and threatens to replace their idols with their own dead bodies.
Soon, the rebellious people will finally realize that they are experiencing God’s judgment. God desires to be known among the people and will bring His wrath to punish the idolatry in Jerusalem and make Himself known.
EZEKIEL 7
DISASTER IS COMING UPON JERUSALEM
Disaster after disaster will come upon the nation for their sin and rebellion, causing mass execution by plague, famine, and sword. During this time of calamity, God’s temple will be plundered and dishonored.
God’s desire is to be known by the Israelites, despite the rebellion and idolatry. These consequences are in response to the Israelites actions, but will still glorify God by making His name and authority known.
EZEKIEL 8
EZEKIEL'S VISION OF IDOL WORSHIP IN THE TEMPLE
While Ezekiel is among the elders of Judah, God reveals a vision of a man who appears to be made of fire and metal. In the vision, Ezekiel is shown the inner court of the temple. This place, once reserved for worshiping God, has been turned into a place of pagan idol worship. Through this vision, God is revealing to Ezekiel the reason for His wrath upon Judah.
EZEKIEL 9
GOD PROTECTS THOSE WHO GRIEVE OVER JUDAH’S SIN
In continuation of Ezekiel’s vision, Ezekiel is shown seven men, each with an assigned task from God. Six of the men are assigned to slaughter, commissioned to execute the idolaters.
The remaining man, who is dressed in linen, is assigned to mark those who were grieving over the evil abominations committed in Judah. Those who mourn the evil in Judah find mercy from God. They will be marked on the forehead as a sign for their life to be spared, similar to the imagery of the Passover (Exodus 12).
In the vision, the temple courts are filled with the bodies of the slain, illustrating how their idolatry and defamation of the temple has led to their death.
EZEKIEL 10
GOD’S GLORY DEPARTS FROM THE TEMPLE
Ezekiel’s vision, similar to that of Ezekiel 1, consists of four cherubim, angelic creatures with four faces and many eyes. The cherubim carry a sapphire throne, God’s new dwelling place after departing the temple. The cherubim and the chariot are equipped with gyrating wheels that allow them to move seamlessly in any direction
The man clothed in linen, who previously marked those who grieved, is given burning coals to scatter across the city. This image symbolizes the fire of judgment and wrath that will soon overcome Jerusalem.
The glory of the Lord, which once dwelled within the innermost place of the temple, departs the house of the Lord and rests among the chariot of the cherubim.
EZEKIEL 11
GOD WILL REPLACE HEARTS OF STONE WITH HEARTS OF FLESH
Throughout Ezekiel’s visions, Ezekiel describes himself as being lifted up by the spirit. It is unknown whether this implies physically being moved or spiritually being shown another place. Regardless of Ezekiel’s travels or visions, God is revealing important messages to Ezekiel.
In this vision, Ezekiel sees twenty-five leaders of Judah plotting wrongdoing outside of the temple. Ezekiel prophesizes against them, warning that violence and war is headed their way.
Ezekiel shares God’s plans to restore the remnant. Despite the defamation of the temple, God has served as a sanctuary for His people. God promises to restore a remnant of the Israelites and purify them from their sins of idolatry.
In an effort to restore the relationship between God and His people, God will remove the hardened stone hearts of the Israelites and replace them with new hearts of flesh.
Ezekiel 11:19 - And I will give them one heart, and a new spirit I will put within them. I will remove the heart of stone from their flesh and give them a heart of flesh . . .
EZEKIEL 12
JUDAH’S CAPTIVITY DEMONSTRATED WITH THE CITY WALL
God instructs Ezekiel to attempt digging through the city walls, prophetically showing how one day Babylon would be taken into exile and their royal leaders would be desperately attempting to escape. During this demonstration of exile, Ezekiel carries baggage and covers his eyes, heading into Babylonian territory.
Although some of God’s prophecies tell of the end times or times yet to occur, God promises Ezekiel that these prophecies of Babylon will be fulfilled soon.
EZEKIEL 13
GOD REBUKES THE FALSE PROPHETS
Ezekiel shares God’s message to condemn the false prophets of Israel who claim that God told them there would be peace in Judah. These false prophets are lying and only saying what the people want to hear. Because they are misleading the people, the false prophets will not enter Israel when Jerusalem is restored. God also warns against the women who place their trust in magic and divination.
God desires to be known as the one true God and wants to put an end to idol worship, magic, and false prophecy.
EZEKIEL 14
GOD REBUKES IDOLATRY WITHIN THE HEARTS OF ELDERS
While gathering with the elders of Israel, God warns the elders against practicing idolatry privately within themselves. Because of the idolatry in their hearts, they have estranged themselves from God. Ezekiel calls the elders to repentance. This message from God is a reminder that He desires our hearts and affections more than our outward signs of sacrifice or religion.
God will not spare Jerusalem from His judgment and wrath and will leave only a few survivors remaining. God states that if Job, Daniel, and Noah were currently in Jerusalem, they would be delivered for their righteousness. These three men are all examples of faithful people who faced extremely challenging circumstances.
EZEKIEL 15
JERUSALEM IS LIKE A WORTHLESS VINE
In this short chapter, Jerusalem is compared to a worthless branch that has been burned up on both ends. Once it is charred, it becomes useless.
Because of their rebellion, the people of Jerusalem will not escape God’s judgment, and the land will become desolate.
EZEKIEL 16
GOD WILL ESTABLISH A NEW EVERLASTING COVENANT
God raised Jerusalem like a small, abandoned child, making her beautiful and prosperous. From the beginning, God bestowed grace and blessings upon Israel. God covered the nakedness of Israel, washed them clean with water, and anointed them with oil.
Instead of trusting in God and remaining faithful to Him, Jerusalem has become prideful and trusting in their own appearances. Jerusalem becomes like a faithless, adulterous bride. She does evil in God’s eyes, practicing child sacrifice and worshiping idols. Similar to the message of the prophet Hosea, Jerusalem’s idolatry is compared to spiritual infidelity.
Despite Israel's continual disregard to the covenant, God will establish a new everlasting covenant with His people and atone for their sins.
EZEKIEL 17
THE PARABLE OF THE EAGLES + THE VINE
God gives Ezekiel a parable to share, spoken as a riddle. The parable describes two eagles and a vine. An eagle, symbolizing Babylon, carries away a sprout from a cedar. This sprout represents Jerusalem, led by King Jehoiakim, who planted another growing vine. This second vine represents Zedekiah, who King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon appointed over Judah.
Another eagle appears, representative of Egypt, and the vine stretches out, growing towards the second eagle. The parable shows the sprout as representative of Judah, who was uprooted and turned astray. God will replace the sprig and bring forth a noble cedar, the re-established Jerusalem.
For greater context to this parable, visit 2 Kings 23–25 and Jeremiah 37–44.
EZEKIEL 18
GOD JUDGES EVERYONE INDIVIDUALLY
God confronts the idea that children are punished for the sins of their parents. Instead, each person will be judged individually according to their own sin. Although children may be affected by the consequences of their parents’ sin, they are not responsible or found guilty for that sin.
God offers an example of a wicked father and righteous son, as well as a righteous father and a wicked son, to show that the two individuals will be judged separately.
God gives instructions for living in righteousness and following His statutes. God’s mercy is on display through His desire for the wicked to repent. God takes no pleasure in the death of anyone and wants everyone to know and follow His ways.
EZEKIEL 19
EZEKIEL LAMENTS THE DOWNFALL OF ISRAEL
Ezekiel laments the poor leadership of Israel and reflects on Judah’s lost potential. The princes and leaders of Israel were once lion cubs, raised to be mighty beasts. But instead of living free and ruling the land, they have been trapped in cages, symbolizing Israel’s captivity.
God cared for Israel’s ancestors, carefully planting them in the Promised Land and providing their essential needs. But now, like a vine on the ground, Israel has been plucked up and consumed by fire. Ezekiel laments Israel’s lack of strong roots.
EZEKIEL 20
ISRAEL’S REBELLIOUS HISTORY + HOPEFUL FUTURE
Through the words of Ezekiel, God reminds the elders of Israel’s history of rebellion and rejection of God. Despite Israel’s disobedience, God continues to provide for them and protect them from disaster. God will continue to teach every generation of His character through Israel's tumultuous history.
God’s law not only shows His righteousness, but also reveals how far sin has carried humanity away from His goodness and points to Israel’s need for a savior.
God declares His intention to gather the scattered Israelites, bringing the faithful remnant together to restore the nation of Israel. God’s power and authority will lead the Israelites to know that He is the Lord.