Death of Ezekiel’s Wife Is a Sign

15 And the word of the Lord came to me, saying, 16 “Son of man, behold, I am about to take from you (A)what is precious to your eyes with a (B)fatal blow; but you shall not (C)mourn and you shall not weep, and your (D)tears shall not come. 17 Groan silently; do (E)no mourning for the dead. Bind on your turban and put your sandals on your feet, and do not [a]cover your mustache, and (F)do not eat the [b]bread of other people.” 18 So I spoke to the people in the morning, and in the evening my wife died. And in the morning I did as I was commanded. 19 And the people said to me, “Will you not tell us what these things mean for us, that you are doing?” 20 Then I said to them, “The word of the Lord came to me, saying, 21 ‘Speak to the house of Israel, “This is what the Lord God says: ‘Behold, I am about to profane My sanctuary, the pride of your power, (G)that which is precious in your eyes and the longing of your soul; and your (H)sons and your daughters whom you have left behind will fall by the sword. 22 And you will do just as I have done; you will not [c]cover your mustache, and you will not eat the [d]bread of other people. 23 Your turbans will be on your heads, and your sandals on your feet. You (I)will not mourn and you will not weep; but (J)you will rot away in your guilty deeds, and you will groan [e]to one another. 24 So Ezekiel will be a (K)sign to you; according to all that he has done, you will do. When it comes, then you will know that I am the Lord God.’”

25 ‘As for you, son of man, will it not be on the day when I take from them their (L)stronghold, the joy of their splendor, that which is precious in their eyes and their [f]heart’s longing, their sons and their daughters, 26 that on that day the one who (M)escapes will come to you with information for your ears? 27 On that day your (N)mouth will be opened to him who escaped, and you will speak and no longer be silenced. So you will be a sign to them, and they will know that I am the Lord.’”

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. Ezekiel 24:17 Covering the beard and mustache was a mourning custom
  2. Ezekiel 24:17 I.e., food from others for mourners
  3. Ezekiel 24:22 See note 1 v 17
  4. Ezekiel 24:22 See note 2 v 17
  5. Ezekiel 24:23 Lit each to his brother
  6. Ezekiel 24:25 Lit soul’s burden

Bible Gateway Recommends