Ezekiel
Among the 16 in the whose names grace biblical books, Ezekiel stands as one of the "major prophets." In his 48-chapter book, written during the Babylonian exile, this prophet of God speaks to the hearts of Jerusalem's inhabitants, warning them and calling them back to God. Let's explore who the prophet Ezekiel was and examine 8 key biblical passages from his prophecies.
Who Was the Prophet Ezekiel?
Born into a priestly family, Ezekiel was destined to serve in Jerusalem's temple at age 30. However, years before this could happen, the Babylonian exile began. It was in this foreign land, amid the despair of captivity, that Ezekiel received divine visions:
"On the fifth day of the month—it was the fifth year of the exile of King Jehoiachin—the word of the Lord came to Ezekiel the priest, the son of Buzi, by the Kebar River in the land of the Babylonians. There the hand of the Lord was on him." (Ezekiel 1:1–3)
Ezekiel's Prophecies
Exiled to Babylon after Jerusalem's first siege, Ezekiel witnessed God's glory in a vision. God commanded him to foretell Jerusalem's impending destruction—a message he delivered through symbolic acts to capture his people's attention. Yet, as God had warned, their hearts remained hardened, and the prophecy was fulfilled with the temple's ruin and Jerusalem's fall. Ezekiel later proclaimed God's judgment on Jerusalem and surrounding nations, concluding with visions of hope and restoration for God's people.
8 Powerful Passages from Ezekiel
Ezekiel 2
"He said to me, 'Son of man, stand up on your feet and I will speak to you.' As he spoke, the Spirit came into me and raised me to my feet, and I heard him speaking to me." (Ezekiel 2:1–2)
Ezekiel 3
"Then he said to me, 'Son of man, eat this scroll I am giving you and fill your stomach with it.' So I ate it, and it tasted as sweet as honey in my mouth." (Ezekiel 3:3)
Ezekiel 18
"What do you people mean by quoting this proverb about the land of Israel: "The parents eat sour grapes, and the children's teeth are set on edge"? As surely as I live, declares the Sovereign Lord, you will no longer quote this proverb in Israel." (Ezekiel 18:2–3)
"Do I take any pleasure in the death of the wicked? declares the Sovereign Lord. Rather, am I not pleased when they turn from their ways and live?" (Ezekiel 18:23)
"For I take no pleasure in the death of anyone, declares the Sovereign Lord. Repent and live!" (Ezekiel 18:32)
Ezekiel 36
"I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean; I will cleanse you from all your impurities and from all your idols. I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh." (Ezekiel 36:25–26)
Ezekiel 37
"He asked me, 'Son of man, can these bones live?' I said, 'Sovereign Lord, you alone know.'" (Ezekiel 37:3, NIV)
"I will put my Spirit in you and you will live, and I will settle you in your own land. Then you will know that I the Lord have spoken, and I have done it, declares the Lord." (Ezekiel 37:14)
