It contains three sections, each of which addresses a different subject matter. The first dated message in ezekiel is from the summer of 593 b. The book of ezekiel is the third of the latter prophets in the hebrew bible, following the books of isaiah and jeremiah and preceding the book of the twelve. The book of ezekiel takes its title from the priest of the same name, son to a man named buzi. The book of ezekiel is the third of the latter prophets in the tanakh and one of the major prophetic books in the old testament, following isaiah and jeremiah.
Standing by the kebar river ezekiel suddenly sees the vision. Information and translations of book of ezekiel in the most comprehensive dictionary definitions resource on the web. Watch our overview video on the first part of the book of ezekiel, which breaks down the literary design of the book and its flow of thought. Ezekiels priestly lineage shines through in his prophetic ministry. The first reason to study ezekiel is that it will help you see yourself, and especially your sin, more clearly. Like isaiah and unlike jeremiah, he puts them in the middle of his book. It records seven visions of the prophet ezekiel, exiled in babylon, during the 22 years from 593 to 571 bc. It is intended to help you better understand some of the background and issues in ezekiel s prophecy. The book of ezekiel pronounces judgment on both israel and surrounding nations, but it also provides a vision of the future millennial kingdom that complements and adds to the vision of other old and new testament texts. Pastor steve will move through the book in a methodical fashion to unveil the lords message to israel and all believers. Not only does the book present a striking picture of the resurrection and restoration of gods people ezekiel 37, it also. It is intended to help you better understand some of the background and issues in ezekiels prophecy. Sabbath school study hour helping you get the most out of your sabbath school quarterly every week. In the first half of the book of ezekiel ezekiel 3 judah is accused of breaking all of gods commandments, and they are warned by god that they will be destroyed if they persist in their sins.
Judgment of jerusalemisrael shall be destroyed ezekiel 78. Among the exiles in babylon, ezekiel shows that israel. The lesser known ezekiel is a priest in the time of king david 1 chronicles 24. The priest ezekiel was the first prophet to be called by the lord outside of israel during the babylonian captivity. The first part of the book, up to chapter 32 inclusive, announces gods judgments against both the people of israel and the idolatrous nations. The book of ezekiel was likely written between 593 and 565. The prophet ezekiel was commissioned to be a watchman sounding the warning for the early waves of exiles in babylon 3. Summary the book covers the prophecies, visions, and symbolic actions of ezekiel, a prophet among the jews during the exile in babylon. According to dates given in the text, ezekiel received his prophetic call in the fifth year of the first deportation to babylonia 592 bc and was active until about 570 bc. Ezekiel ministered to his generation who were both exceedingly sinful and. The book has always been named for its author, ezekiel 1. There is no clear evidence that there was an attempt to remove ezekiel from the canon. In the thirtieth year, in the fourth month, on the fifth day. The prophet is so overcome by the vision that he falls on his face.
Behold, i have made thy face strong against their faces, and thy forehead strong against their foreheads. The book of ezekiel definition of the book of ezekiel by. Besides clarity of structure, the book of ezekiel reveals symmetry. Doughty southside christian church december 2014 introduction. The latest dated oracle is 22 years later, in april 571 b. The book of ezekiel has a beginning few readers can forget. This book is basically about the destruction and exile of judah and the promise of its eventual restoration by god. The book of ezekiel has always been a problem book. A series of studies in the old testament book of ezekiel. His name means strengthened by god, which, indeed, he was for the prophetic ministry to which god called him 3. The book of ezekiel, chapters 124 new international commentary on the old testament block, daniel i.
In section 1 in ezekiel 1 to 3 the prophets call is more unusual than isaiahs or jeremiahs. In his book ezekiel is called upon by god to send his message to the people of israel who have gone astray. The order is somewhat different in the christian old testament. Ezekiel with book summary versebyverse bible commentary. The book of ezekiel he will be strengthened of god. According to the book itself, it records six visions of the prophet ezekiel, exiled in babylon, during the 22 years from 593 to 571 bc, although it is the product of a long and complex history and does not necessarily preserve the very. After an account of his call to the prophetical office. Ezekiel definition of ezekiel by the free dictionary. Ezekiel definition and meaning collins english dictionary. The three major prophets isaiah, jeremiah, ezekiel and zephaniah all have the same basic sequence of messages. The book of ezekiel calls us to join in a fresh and living encounter with the god of abraham, moses and the prophets. The book of ezekiel, chapters 124 new international commentary on the old testament.
Behold, i have made your face as hard as their faces, and your forehead as hard as their foreheads. Ezekiel is also one of the prophets who lived in exile. In judaism and christianity, he is also viewed as the 6thcentury bce author of the book of ezekiel, which reveals prophecies regarding the destruction of jerusalem, the restoration to the land of israel, and what some call. Like many other prophets, ezekiel includes a series of oracles against the nations in his book 25.
The book of ezekiel, chapters 124 new international. The chariot comes in a storm, the sign of a theophany. The book as a whole serves as a source of symbols and imagery for the book of revelation, such as the eating of the scroll ezekiel 2. Ezekiels prophecies correspond in many aspects to jeremiahs prophecies as regards to the contents. The glory of god may well be viewed as the theme of the book, because ezekiel s ministry begins with a vision of gods glory and emphasizes it throughout the book 1. He lived in jerusalem until the babylonian conquest and captivity of israel, at which time he was taken to babylon. There was fire inside the cloud, and in the middle of the fire glowed something like gleaming amber. Standing by the kebar river ezekiel suddenly sees the vision of the chariot of yahweh 1. Ezekiel, book of definition and meaning bible dictionary. The book of ezekiel is the third in a row of the socalled four major prophets. This commentary is based upon my personal devotional notes and reflections on the book of ezekiel. I believe that the revealed meaning which i presented above does indeed satisfy the requirement of speaking a parable. The problem was the people didnt want to hear his warning 2. A commentary on the book of ezekiel southside christian.
As an english given name, ezekiel has been used since the protestant reformation. Ezekiel, book ofconsists mainly of three groups of pro. In english bibles this man is often referred to as jehezkel or jehezekel, but in hebrew his name is identical to the famous ezekiel. Biblical ezekiel was a prophet among the captives taken to babylon at the first fall of jerusalem who wrote the book of ezekiel in captivity. These doubts were strong enough, in those early days, to raise the question of whether ezekiel should be one of the biblical books. Ezekiel dictionary definition ezekiel defined yourdictionary. In the chariot he sees the four creatures, each with four faces of a human, an ox, an eagle, and a lion. In ezekiel 4048 ezekiel sees a detailed vision of a grand and glorious temple. The christological purpose of ezekiel the book of ezekiel anticipates and points to jesus christ throughout.
The actual point at issue was not the standing of the book of ezekiel in the canon which was taken for granted, but the use of the book for liturgical purposes and in public readings. As we noted earlier, the theme of the book of ezekiel is the knowledge of god. In the first two ezekiel announced judgment on jerusalem ezek. Ezekiel went into exile at the same time as king jehoiachin in the year 597 bc. The righteous and the othersthe wheels and cheribums ezekiel 1112. In response to the rebellion of jehoiakim of judah in 601 b. Along with ezekiel s declaration of judgment to israel came a message of hope in a future restoration, though the message was veiled by mysterious symbols and events that still generate wonder and debate today. Ezekiel definition is a hebrew priest and prophet of the sixth century b. Ezekiel among the captivesnow it came to pass in the thirtieth year, in the fourth month, on the fifth day of the month, as i was among the captives by the river chebar, that the heavens were opened and i saw visions of god a. In judaism, christianity, and islam, ezekiel is acknowledged as a hebrew prophet.
Ezekiel describes his vision as an elaborate and complex image that symbolizes the majesty of yahweh and proclaims yahwehs sovereignty over all the nations of the earth. A book of the old testament of the bible a prophet mentioned. The book of ezekiel is filled with global significance, both for the world of ezekiel s time and for our own world today israels failure. Ezekiel s all about locationso much so that theres a series of chapters 4042 that do little more than describe the precise measurements of every single area. In no other book is this pattern clearer than in ezekiel see outline. This book is one of the major prophets, filled with deeply symbolic visions and extreme actions from a man of zealous faith and profound spiritual vision.
Vision of four creaturesthe sealed book ezekiel 34. This lengthy vision has been the subject of much speculation and various interpretations through the years. Ezekiel cliffsnotes study guides book summaries, test. It derives its name from, and records the visions of, the 6th century bce priest and prophet ezekiel according to the book, the prophet, exiled in babylon. After ezekiels announcement of jerusalems destruction the book of ezekiel focuses on an entirely different subject, which is one of comfort and encouragement to the heartbroken jews.
Ezekiel 1, new living translation nlt the bible app. Ezekiel definition, a major prophet of the 6th century b. The book of ezekiel, written by the prophetpriest ezekiel, who lived both in jerusalem prior to the babylonian exile 586 bce and in babylon after the exile, and also by an editor or editors, who belongs to a school of the prophet similar to that of the prophet isaiah, has captured the attention of readers for centuries because of. The book of ezekiel describes his vivid symbolic visions that predict the restoration of the kingdom of israel. Ezekiel is the central protagonist of the book of ezekiel in the hebrew bible. Book of ezekiel known to be written by prophet ezekiel and is placed immediately after lamentation in ot. The lack of the knowledge of god, or the lack of the desire to know him and to have fellowship with him, is the basic reason for the life that is not pleasing to him ezekiel, part 1 and also that is the same reason for not having the victorious life and not being. It is composed of 48 chapters divided almost half before and after the fall of jerusalem. Ezekiel s in babylon, having been exiled there after the first siege of judah by the babylonians. Book of ezekiel an old testament book containing ezekiels prophecies of the downfall of jerusalem and judah and their subsequent restoration ezechiel, ezekiel old testament the collection of books comprising the sacred scripture of the hebrews and recording their history as the chosen people.
The book of ezekiel is one of the major prophetic books in the old testament and had more influence on revelation than any other book. The book of ezekiel has the most logical arrangement of any of the prophetic books. Book of ezekiel overview insight for living ministries. Key personalities include ezekiel, israels leaders, ezekiel s wife. Book of ezekiel noun the noun book of ezekiel has 1 sense 1. Father, may i make disciples of the nations before they are destroyed mt 28. According to the book, the prophet, exiled in babylon, experienced a series of seven visions during the 22 years from 593 to 571 bc, a period which spans the final destruction of. If ezekiel was 30 years old when his ministry began, the final vision of the book came when he was about 50. Summary of the book of ezekiel the story of the bible. As a priest, ezekiel is fundamentally concerned with the kavod yhwh, a technical phrase meaning the presence shekhinah of yhwh i. In ezekiel, the metaphor is seen only in this chapter and in 37. Jesus is the fulfiller of the promises laid out in the book. Ezekiel an old testament book containing ezekiels prophecies of the downfall of jerusalem and judah and their subsequent restoration.
Meaning, origin and history of the name ezekiel behind. The book of ezekiel, one of the major prophetical books of the old testament. Ezekiel is a major prophet of the old testament, the author of the book of ezekiel. The book of ezekiel, chapters 124 the new international commentary on the old testament. When jehoiakims successor, jehoiachin, surrendered in 597, nebuchadnezzar appointed zedekiah king and deported to babylon jehoiachin and the royal family, along with members of the upper class, including ezekiel the priest. In ezekiel s visions, hes transported back to jerusalem, which is the real geographical center of the book. The book opens with a unique vision of the glory of the lord. The book of ezekiel chiefly records the events when the jews, including ezekiel himself, are among the exiles in babylon. While jeremiah lived judahs downfall in jerusalem daniel and ezekiel had already been deported to babylon. According to the book itself, it records six visions of the prophet ezekiel, exiled in babylon, during the 22 years from 593 to 571 bc, although it is the product of a long and complex history and does not necessarily preserve.
The book of ezekiel is unique in that, with occasional exceptions, it is entirely autobiographical, that is, written in the first person, from the viewpoint of ezekiel himself. Book of ezekiel definition of book of ezekiel by the. The prophet ezekiel is the author of the book ezekiel 1. But i will make you as unyielding and hardened as they are. Ezekiel develops the picture of the community and its leaders as flock and shepherds used throughout jeremiah. Ezekiels in babylon, having been exiled there after the first siege of judah by the babylonians. The book opens with an account of the vision that summoned ezekiel to his prophetic calling. Ezekiel was given prophethood at an age thirty after he saw a majestic vision of gods glory during his captivation in babylon. Ezekiel ministered to his generation who were both exceedingly sinful and thoroughly hopeless. Book of ezekiel noun the noun book of ezekiel has 1 sense. A commentary on the book of ezekiel by pastor galen l. Desolation and war over israelvision of wickedness ezekiel 910. Ezekiel, theology of definition and meaning bible dictionary. Ezekiel s final word is not a prophecy against nations but for restoration.
The book of ezekiel is narrative history, prophetic and apocalyptic in genre and even contains parables. Upwards of 75 times god expresses his own concerns in the book as for my names sake or that ye shall know that i am the lord. By way of his prophesy and ministry ezekiel seeks to bring the people. The book of ezekiel introduction to the book of ezekiel in the bible. In contrast to various other prophets ezekiel has not been criticised as much. After a short prologue in which ezekiel describes how god called him, he uses a series of symbols to predict the now inevitable destruction of jerusalem and identify its causes. Ezekiel has eight chapters of prophecies against foreign nations. Frank shallieu in 19871989 with notes inserted from a 19731976 study the first chapter of the book of ezekiel is a highly figurative vision of the glory of almighty god. Amazing facts 247 television station featuring the best in bible study streamed lived and ondemand. Ezekiel lived and prophesied among the jewish exiles in babylon immediately after the fall of jerusalem in 586 b.
This is a project that has been on my mind for over four and a half years outlining all the books of the bible, from genesis to revelation. Here, however, these prophecies take on the added urgency of being set against the crisis of 586 b. The book of ezekiel, written by the prophetpriest ezekiel, who lived both in jerusalem prior to the babylonian exile 586 the literary history of the book is much debated, but its final form exhibits a threefold theme. The book of ezekiel paperback october 1, 2004 by j. Ezekiel chapters 1 to 24 free bible commentary in easy english. Ezekiel chapters 1 to 24 free bible commentary in easy. Deported to babylon by the river chebar in 597 bc, ezekiel. The book of ezekiel was likely written between 593 and 565 b. This is not only the concise overview of the book of isaiah, but also of the book of ezekiel, except that ezekiel adds one more principle, the principle of individual responsibility which was also touched by the prophet, jeremiah. Meaning, origin and history of the name ezekiel behind the name. Ezekiel, ezechiel, book of ezekiel noun an old testament book containing ezekiels prophecies of the downfall of jerusalem and judah and their subsequent restoration freebase 0. It derives its name from, and records the visions of, the 6th century bc priest and prophet ezekiel. He belonged to the family of zadok, who was a famous priest.
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