Ezekiel 24 summary meaning ai explained commentary

Ezekiel 24 meaning explained in AI Summary

This chapter marks a turning point in Ezekiel's ministry, transitioning from pronouncements of judgment against Judah to pronouncements against the nations. It does so through a powerful symbolic act and message from God.

The Pot and the Siege of Jerusalem (24:1-14):

God instructs Ezekiel to record the date, as it marks the beginning of the siege of Jerusalem.
Ezekiel uses a boiling pot as a metaphor for Jerusalem, filled with choice cuts of meat (representing the people) and destined to boil over.
The pot symbolizes the city's violence, idolatry, and defilement, which have reached a boiling point and will be judged by God.
Despite the severity of the coming judgment, God forbids Ezekiel from mourning or showing any outward signs of grief.

The Death of Ezekiel's Wife and God's Message (24:15-27):

God strikes Ezekiel with a devastating personal tragedy: the sudden death of his wife, the "delight of his eyes."
He is forbidden from mourning her publicly, mirroring the numbness and shock that the people will experience when Jerusalem falls.
This act serves as a living parable, demonstrating the severity of Jerusalem's impending destruction and the emotional detachment God's people will face.
Ezekiel's silence and grief become a sign for the exiles, foreshadowing the destruction of the temple and the end of their former way of life.
The chapter ends with the promise that after the destruction, survivors will come to Ezekiel seeking understanding, and he will finally be able to speak God's word to them.

Key Themes:

God's Judgment is Imminent and Severe: The boiling pot and Ezekiel's personal tragedy highlight the inescapable and devastating nature of God's judgment on Jerusalem's sin.
The End of an Era: The destruction of Jerusalem represents the end of the old covenant, the Davidic monarchy, and the people's way of life.
Hope for the Future: Despite the bleakness, the promise of survivors seeking Ezekiel's word hints at the possibility of restoration and a new beginning.

Chapter 24 serves as a bridge between judgment and hope, emphasizing the gravity of sin's consequences while also pointing towards a future where God's people will return to him.

Ezekiel 24 bible study ai commentary

The climactic oracle of Jerusalem's doom, Ezekiel 24 announces the beginning of the end. The judgment, long prophesied, is no longer a future event but a present reality, marked by a precise date. This final sermon before the city's fall uses two powerful signs: the parable of the rusty cooking pot, symbolizing the inescapable, fiery judgment on a city corroded by sin; and the deeply personal tragedy of the death of Ezekiel's wife, which serves as a shocking metaphor for God's loss of His "delight"—the Temple and its people—and the stunned, silent grief that will paralyze the survivors.

Ezekiel 24 Context

This chapter is precisely dated to the tenth day of the tenth month in the ninth year of the exile (January 15, 588 B.C.). This is the exact day Nebuchadnezzar's army began the final, fatal siege of Jerusalem. Ezekiel, in exile in Babylon, receives this divine revelation in real-time. His pronouncements are no longer warnings but declarations of an event in progress hundreds of miles away, serving as an ultimate validation of his prophetic ministry when the news eventually arrives. The culture of the time had elaborate and public mourning rituals, which God's command for Ezekiel to abstain from would have been profoundly shocking and counter-cultural, forcing the exiles to ask for its meaning.

Ezekiel 24:1-2

Again, in the ninth year, in the tenth month, on the tenth day of the month, the word of the LORD came to me: “Son of man, write down the name of the day, this very day. The king of Babylon has laid siege to Jerusalem this very day."

In-depth-analysis

The Command to Write: This is a legal, historical act. The date is to be recorded as a memorial and future proof of God's sovereignty over history. It transforms the prophecy from a prediction into a divine commentary on a current event.
"This Very Day": The Hebrew phrase bᵉ‘eṣem hayyôm hazzeh emphasizes the exact, precise moment. God is not speaking of a future possibility but a present reality. His knowledge is not limited by time or distance.
Significance: This is the culmination of all previous warnings. The probationary period for Judah is over. The moment of final judgment has arrived, marking a major turning point in Ezekiel's ministry.

Bible references

2 Kings 25:1: "And in the ninth year of his reign, in the tenth month, on the tenth day of the month, Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came...against Jerusalem and encamped against it." (Exact historical fulfillment).
Jeremiah 52:4: "And in the ninth year of his reign, in the tenth month, on the tenth day of the month, Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came...against Jerusalem..." (Parallel account).
Isaiah 8:1: "Then the LORD said to me, 'Take a large tablet and write on it in common characters...'" (Recording a prophecy for future validation).

Cross references

Jer 39:1 (The fall of Jerusalem); Dan 9:2 (Understanding the timeline of desolation); Hab 2:2-3 (Write the vision down).

Ezekiel 24:3-5

“And utter a parable to the rebellious house and say to them, Thus says the Lord GOD: ‘Set on the pot, set it on; pour in water also; put in it the pieces of meat, all the good pieces, the thigh and the shoulder; fill it with the choice bones. Take the choicest of the flock and pile the logs under it; boil it well; seethe also its bones in it.’”

In-depth-analysis

Parable (Mashal): This is a proverbial saying or allegory, a common teaching method.
The Pot: The pot represents the city of Jerusalem, once a vessel for God's people but now a container for judgment.
Water and Meat: The water symbolizes the tumult of the siege, and the "good pieces" (thigh, shoulder, choice bones) represent the inhabitants of Jerusalem, particularly the elite and the powerful, who thought they were secure within the city's walls.
Boiling: The intense boiling signifies the fierceness of the Babylonian siege, a fiery judgment orchestrated by God Himself ("pile the logs under it"). This is not a cleansing simmer but a violent, destructive cooking.

Bible references

Ezekiel 11:3: "...‘Is not the time near to build houses? This city is the caldron, and we are the meat.’” (The people's arrogant, twisted version of the same metaphor, now turned against them).
Jeremiah 1:13: "And the word of the Lord came to me a second time, saying, 'What do you see?' And I said, 'I see a boiling pot, and it is tilting away from the north.'” (Jeremiah's earlier vision of judgment from Babylon).
Micah 3:2-3: "...who tear the skin from off my people and their flesh from off their bones... who chop them up as for the pot..." (A similar metaphor for the oppression of the people by their own leaders).

Cross references

Lam 4:10 (Hands of compassionate women have boiled their own children); Isa 34:6 (A sacrifice in Bozrah).

Ezekiel 24:6-8

“Therefore thus says the Lord GOD: Woe to the bloody city, to the pot whose corrosion is in it, and whose corrosion has not gone out of it! Take out of it piece after piece, without making any choice. For her blood is in her midst; she has set it on the bare rock; she has not poured it on the ground to cover it with dust. To stir up my wrath, to take vengeance, I have set her blood on the bare rock, that it may not be covered.”

In-depth-analysis

Bloody City: A title given also in Ezekiel 22:2, referencing Jerusalem's guilt from idolatry (child sacrifice) and social injustice (shedding innocent blood).
Corrosion (Chelyah): Often translated as rust or scum. This is not surface dirt but a deep, ingrained moral and spiritual corruption that has become part of the very fabric of the city. It cannot be washed away.
Without Making Any Choice: The Hebrew literally says "no lot has fallen upon it." Lots were used to determine divine will or portion. This signifies an indiscriminate judgment. No one—rich or poor, priest or prince—will be spared. All are corrupted.
Blood on the Bare Rock: Blood spilled on the ground could be covered with dust (Lev 17:13), symbolizing atonement or the hiding of a crime. By placing its blood on a "bare rock," Jerusalem has committed its sins openly, shamelessly, and without remorse. This public sin cries out for public vengeance, which God now provides.

Bible references

Genesis 4:10: "...The voice of your brother’s blood is crying to me from the ground." (Bloodguilt demanding justice).
Leviticus 17:13: "Any one...who takes in hunting any beast...shall pour out its blood and cover it with dust." (The proper way to treat shed blood, which Jerusalem ignored).
Nahum 3:1: "Woe to the bloody city, all full of lies and plunder..." (A woe oracle against Nineveh using the same title).

Cross references

Eze 22:2-3 (The bloody city indictment); Isa 1:15 (Your hands are full of blood); Job 16:18 (Job's cry for his blood not to be covered).

Ezekiel 24:9-11

“Therefore thus says the Lord GOD: Woe to the bloody city! I myself will make the pile of wood great. Heap on the logs, kindle the fire, boil the meat well, mix in the spices, and let the bones be burned. Then set it empty on the coals, that it may become hot, and its copper may burn, that its uncleanness may be melted in it, its corrosion consumed.”

In-depth-analysis

I Myself: God is no longer a passive observer. He is the active agent of judgment, personally intensifying the fire.
Empty on the Coals: The judgment will be so complete that after the inhabitants ("meat") are dealt with, the city itself ("the pot") must be destroyed.
Burn the Corrosion: The fire is now intended to purify the metal of the pot itself by melting it. This shows that Jerusalem's sin is so deep that only a destructive, refining fire that consumes the vessel can deal with it. The goal is to eradicate the very source of the uncleanness.

Bible references

Isaiah 1:25: "I will turn my hand against you and will smelt away your dross as with lye and remove all your alloy." (The theme of judgment as a refining fire).
Zechariah 13:9: "And I will put this third into the fire, and refine them as one refines silver..." (A remnant purified through a fiery trial).
Malachi 3:2-3: "But who can endure the day of his coming... For he is like a refiner’s fire..." (The Messiah's coming as a purifying judgment).

Cross references

Isa 4:4 (Spirit of judgment and fire); Rev 18:8 (Babylon's fiery judgment); 2 Pet 3:10 (The elements melting with fervent heat).

Ezekiel 24:12-14

“In vain I have wearied myself; its thick corrosion does not go out of it by fire. Its corrosion is in the fire! On account of your unclean lewdness, because I would have cleansed you and you were not cleansed from your uncleanness, you shall not be cleansed anymore till I have satisfied my wrath upon you. I am the LORD. I have spoken; it will come to pass; I will do it. I will not go back; I will not spare; I will not relent; according to your ways and your deeds you will be judged, declares the Lord GOD.”

In-depth-analysis

Corrosion in the Fire: The corruption is so deep that even the fire of judgment cannot remove it; the fire only reveals its presence.
I Would Have Cleansed You: God affirms His desire for their repentance and the opportunities He provided for it. Their judgment is a consequence of their persistent refusal to be cleansed. This refutes any idea that God is arbitrary.
Unrelenting Judgment: The series of negatives—"will not go back, will not spare, will not relent"—is a powerful rhetorical device emphasizing the finality and irrevocability of the sentence. The time for mercy has passed; the time for justice is now. God’s character demands He act on His word.

Bible references

Jeremiah 15:1: "...‘Though Moses and Samuel stood before me, yet my heart would not turn toward this people. Send them out of my sight, and let them go!'" (A point of no return).
Hebrews 12:17: "For you know that afterward, when he desired to inherit the blessing, he was rejected, for he found no chance to repent, though he sought it with tears." (A point where the consequences of an action become irreversible).
1 Samuel 15:29: "And also the Glory of Israel will not lie or have regret, for he is not a man, that he should have regret." (God's steadfastness in carrying out His declared judgment).

Cross references

Jer 6:29-30 (Failed refining); Jer 7:16 (Do not pray for this people); Num 23:19 (God is not a man, that He should lie).

Ezekiel 24:15-18

The word of the LORD came to me: “Son of man, behold, I am about to take the delight of your eyes from you with a stroke, yet you shall not mourn or weep, nor shall your tears run down. Sigh, but not aloud; make no mourning for the dead. Bind on your turban, and put your shoes on your feet; do not cover your upper lip or eat the bread of men.” So I spoke to the people in the morning, and at evening my wife died. And on the next morning I did as I was commanded.

In-depth-analysis

Delight of your eyes (machmad ‘êneykā): A term of profound endearment. God takes from Ezekiel what is most precious to him, mirroring what God Himself is about to lose.
With a Stroke: Signifies a sudden, unexpected, and devastating blow.
Prohibition of Mourning: Ezekiel is commanded to suppress all common signs of grief: no loud wailing, no baring his head (he must keep his turban on), no bare feet, no covering the lower face (a sign of shame and sorrow), and no eating the "bread of men" (the customary meal brought by comforters).
Prophetic Obedience: Ezekiel's immediate and stoic obedience is breathtaking. His personal agony becomes a public, living parable. His silent grief is louder than any cry.

Bible references

Jeremiah 16:5-7: "For thus says the LORD: Do not enter the house of mourning...for I have taken away my peace from this people..." (Jeremiah is given a similar command to abstain from mourning as a national sign).
Leviticus 10:6: "And Moses said to Aaron and to Eleazar and Ithamar his sons, 'Do not let the hair of your heads hang loose, and do not tear your clothes...'" (Priests forbidden to mourn after the judgment of Nadab and Abihu).
Leviticus 21:10-12: The high priest was not to show signs of mourning, even for his parents, because he was consecrated to God. Ezekiel is acting in a high-priestly role for a judged nation.

Cross references

Job 1:20-21 (Job's response to loss); Isa 20:2-3 (Isaiah walks naked and barefoot as a sign).

Ezekiel 24:19-24

And the people said to me, “Will you not tell us what these things mean for us, that you are acting this way?” Then I said to them, “...Behold, I will profane my sanctuary, the pride of your power, the delight of your eyes, and the yearning of your soul, and your sons and your daughters whom you left behind shall fall by the sword. And you shall do as I have done: you shall not cover your upper lip or eat the bread of men. Your turbans shall be on your heads and your shoes on your feet; you shall not mourn or weep, but you shall pine away in your iniquities and groan to one another. Thus Ezekiel shall be to you a sign; according to all that he has done you shall do. When this comes, then you will know that I am the Lord GOD.”

In-depth-analysis

The Explanation: Ezekiel's strange behavior provokes the intended question. The people realize his actions are symbolic for them.
God's Loss: The "delight of your eyes" is explicitly identified as God's sanctuary (the Temple), the symbol of their national pride and security. Ezekiel's loss of his wife is a direct parallel to God's loss of His house and people.
The People's Reaction: When news of Jerusalem’s fall arrives, the exiles will be so overcome by shock, grief, and the crushing weight of their own guilt ("pine away in your iniquities") that they will be unable to perform the normal rites of mourning. Their sorrow will be too deep for tears, a silent, internal groaning of despair.
Ezekiel as a Sign: He is the living embodiment of their coming experience. When they find themselves unable to mourn, they will remember Ezekiel and his silent grief, and finally understand the gravity of their sin and God’s righteous judgment. This realization leads to the acknowledgment of God's sovereignty: "then you will know that I am the Lord GOD."

Bible references

Psalm 78:60-61: "He forsook his dwelling at Shiloh... he delivered his power to captivity, his glory to the hand of the foe." (Precedent for God abandoning His sanctuary).
Lamentations 1:12: "Is it nothing to you, all you who pass by? Look and see if there is any sorrow like my sorrow, which was brought upon me..." (The depth of Jerusalem's future sorrow).
Isaiah 22:12: "In that day the Lord GOD of hosts called for weeping and mourning... But behold, joy and gladness... ‘Let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die!’” (A perverse refusal to mourn that angers God).

Cross references

Lam 2:9 (gates sunk, king and princes in exile); Amos 8:10 (turn feasts into mourning); Jer 7:4 (false trust in the Temple).

Polemics: This passage is a powerful polemic against the "Zion theology" of the day—the false belief, popularised by false prophets (cf. Jeremiah 28), that God would never allow His Temple or His city to be destroyed. God's willingness to "profane" His own sanctuary to uphold His holiness is a shocking refutation of this belief. He demonstrates that His own holy character is more precious to Him than the physical structure of the Temple.

Ezekiel 24:25-27

“And you, son of man, on the day when I take from them their stronghold, their joy and glory, the delight of their eyes and their soul's desire, and also their sons and their daughters, on that day a fugitive will come to you to report to you the news. On that day your mouth will be opened to the fugitive, and you shall speak and be no longer mute. So you will be a sign to them, and they will know that I am the LORD.”

In-depth-analysis

The Fugitive: A specific event is foretold: the arrival of an escapee from Jerusalem will be the confirming signal of the prophecy's fulfillment.
Mouth Opened: This refers back to God's command in Ezekiel 3:26-27, where He made the prophet's tongue "stick to the roof of his mouth." Ezekiel’s ministry of silent signs and judgment oracles will end.
A New Phase: The opening of Ezekiel's mouth marks the transition to a new phase of his ministry. Once judgment is complete and confirmed, his message will shift to hope, restoration, and the future glory of Israel (chapters 33-48). The silence is broken when the terrible truth is finally acknowledged by the people.

Bible references

Ezekiel 33:21-22: "In the twelfth year of our exile... a fugitive from Jerusalem came to me and said, 'The city has been struck down.' Now the hand of the LORD had been upon me...and he opened my mouth..." (The direct and literal fulfillment of this prophecy).
Ezekiel 3:26-27: "And I will make your tongue cling to the roof of your mouth, so that you shall be mute... But when I speak with you, I will open your mouth..." (The original commissioning of Ezekiel's muteness).
Luke 1:20: "And behold, you will be silent and unable to speak until the day that these things take place, because you did not believe my words..." (Zechariah's temporary muteness as a sign).

Cross references

Dan 5:5-6 (The writing on the wall confirming judgment); 1 Sam 4:12-22 (News of the Ark's capture arrives).

Ezekiel chapter 24 analysis

The Convergence of Signs: The chapter masterfully intertwines two distinct but related signs. The impersonal, national sign of the pot (the judgment) is immediately followed by the deeply personal, intimate sign of the prophet's wife (the response to judgment). This makes the message inescapable.
The Prophet's Suffering: Ezekiel 24 contains perhaps the most severe personal demand placed on any prophet. His own deepest human grief is conscripted for divine service. This highlights the concept of "sympathetic suffering," where the prophet must physically and emotionally embody the message he preaches, reflecting the pain in God's own heart.
Structural Pivot: This chapter is the definitive conclusion to the first major section of Ezekiel's book (chapters 1-24), which focuses on the sin of Judah and its inevitable judgment. The opening of his mouth in 33:22, promised here, will launch the second major section (chapters 33-48) on restoration.
Knowing Yahweh: The phrase "you will know that I am the Lord GOD" appears twice, bookending the explanation of the signs (v. 24, v. 27). The ultimate purpose of this devastating judgment is not merely punitive but revelatory. Through this catastrophe, Israel will be stripped of its false securities and brought to a true, experiential knowledge of God's sovereignty, justice, and power.

Ezekiel 24 summary

Marking the exact day of Jerusalem's final siege, this chapter presents God's irrevocable judgment through two signs. A rusty pot boiling over a fierce fire illustrates the city's inhabitants being consumed in a judgment made necessary by their ingrained, shameless sin. In a stunning personal parallel, God commands Ezekiel not to mourn the sudden death of his wife, the "delight of his eyes." This shocking act serves as a living sign that the exiles, too, will be so paralyzed by the loss of their Temple and the realization of their own guilt that they will be incapable of normal grief, leading them to finally know that He is the Lord.

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Ezekiel chapter 24 kjv

¹ Again in the ninth year, in the tenth month, in the tenth day of the month, the word of the LORD came unto me, saying,
² Son of man, write thee the name of the day, even of this same day: the king of Babylon set himself against Jerusalem this same day.
³ And utter a parable unto the rebellious house, and say unto them, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Set on a pot, set it on, and also pour water into it:
⁴ Gather the pieces thereof into it, even every good piece, the thigh, and the shoulder; fill it with the choice bones.
⁵ Take the choice of the flock, and burn also the bones under it, and make it boil well, and let them seethe the bones of it therein.
⁶ Wherefore thus saith the Lord GOD; Woe to the bloody city, to the pot whose scum is therein, and whose scum is not gone out of it! bring it out piece by piece; let no lot fall upon it.
⁷ For her blood is in the midst of her; she set it upon the top of a rock; she poured it not upon the ground, to cover it with dust;
⁸ That it might cause fury to come up to take vengeance; I have set her blood upon the top of a rock, that it should not be covered.
⁹ Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD; Woe to the bloody city! I will even make the pile for fire great.
¹⁰ Heap on wood, kindle the fire, consume the flesh, and spice it well, and let the bones be burned.
¹¹ Then set it empty upon the coals thereof, that the brass of it may be hot, and may burn, and that the filthiness of it may be molten in it, that the scum of it may be consumed.
¹² She hath wearied herself with lies, and her great scum went not forth out of her: her scum shall be in the fire.
¹³ In thy filthiness is lewdness: because I have purged thee, and thou wast not purged, thou shalt not be purged from thy filthiness any more, till I have caused my fury to rest upon thee.
¹⁴ I the LORD have spoken it: it shall come to pass, and I will do it; I will not go back, neither will I spare, neither will I repent; according to thy ways, and according to thy doings, shall they judge thee, saith the Lord GOD.
¹⁵ Also the word of the LORD came unto me, saying,
¹⁶ Son of man, behold, I take away from thee the desire of thine eyes with a stroke: yet neither shalt thou mourn nor weep, neither shall thy tears run down.
¹⁷ Forbear to cry, make no mourning for the dead, bind the tire of thine head upon thee, and put on thy shoes upon thy feet, and cover not thy lips, and eat not the bread of men.
¹⁸ So I spake unto the people in the morning: and at even my wife died; and I did in the morning as I was commanded.
¹⁹ And the people said unto me, Wilt thou not tell us what these things are to us, that thou doest so?
²⁰ Then I answered them, The word of the LORD came unto me, saying,
²¹ Speak unto the house of Israel, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I will profane my sanctuary, the excellency of your strength, the desire of your eyes, and that which your soul pitieth; and your sons and your daughters whom ye have left shall fall by the sword.
²² And ye shall do as I have done: ye shall not cover your lips, nor eat the bread of men.
²³ And your tires shall be upon your heads, and your shoes upon your feet: ye shall not mourn nor weep; but ye shall pine away for your iniquities, and mourn one toward another.
²⁴ Thus Ezekiel is unto you a sign: according to all that he hath done shall ye do: and when this cometh, ye shall know that I am the Lord GOD.
²⁵ Also, thou son of man, shall it not be in the day when I take from them their strength, the joy of their glory, the desire of their eyes, and that whereupon they set their minds, their sons and their daughters,
²⁶ That he that escapeth in that day shall come unto thee, to cause thee to hear it with thine ears?
²⁷ In that day shall thy mouth be opened to him which is escaped, and thou shalt speak, and be no more dumb: and thou shalt be a sign unto them; and they shall know that I am the LORD.

Ezekiel chapter 24 nkjv

¹ Again, in the ninth year, in the tenth month, on the tenth day of the month, the word of the LORD came to me, saying,
² "Son of man, write down the name of the day, this very day?the king of Babylon started his siege against Jerusalem this very day.
³ And utter a parable to the rebellious house, and say to them, 'Thus says the Lord GOD: "Put on a pot, set it on, And also pour water into it.
⁴ Gather pieces of meat in it, Every good piece, The thigh and the shoulder. Fill it with choice cuts;
⁵ Take the choice of the flock. Also pile fuel bones under it, Make it boil well, And let the cuts simmer in it."
⁶ 'Therefore thus says the Lord GOD: "Woe to the bloody city, To the pot whose scum is in it, And whose scum is not gone from it! Bring it out piece by piece, On which no lot has fallen.
⁷ For her blood is in her midst; She set it on top of a rock; She did not pour it on the ground, To cover it with dust.
⁸ That it may raise up fury and take vengeance, I have set her blood on top of a rock, That it may not be covered."
⁹ 'Therefore thus says the Lord GOD: "Woe to the bloody city! I too will make the pyre great.
¹⁰ Heap on the wood, Kindle the fire; Cook the meat well, Mix in the spices, And let the cuts be burned up.
¹¹ "Then set the pot empty on the coals, That it may become hot and its bronze may burn, That its filthiness may be melted in it, That its scum may be consumed.
¹² She has grown weary with lies, And her great scum has not gone from her. Let her scum be in the fire!
¹³ In your filthiness is lewdness. Because I have cleansed you, and you were not cleansed, You will not be cleansed of your filthiness anymore, Till I have caused My fury to rest upon you.
¹⁴ I, the LORD, have spoken it; It shall come to pass, and I will do it; I will not hold back, Nor will I spare, Nor will I relent; According to your ways And according to your deeds They will judge you," Says the Lord GOD.' "
¹⁵ Also the word of the LORD came to me, saying,
¹⁶ "Son of man, behold, I take away from you the desire of your eyes with one stroke; yet you shall neither mourn nor weep, nor shall your tears run down.
¹⁷ Sigh in silence, make no mourning for the dead; bind your turban on your head, and put your sandals on your feet; do not cover your lips, and do not eat man's bread of sorrow."
¹⁸ So I spoke to the people in the morning, and at evening my wife died; and the next morning I did as I was commanded.
¹⁹ And the people said to me, "Will you not tell us what these things signify to us, that you behave so?"
²⁰ Then I answered them, "The word of the LORD came to me, saying,
²¹ 'Speak to the house of Israel, "Thus says the Lord GOD: 'Behold, I will profane My sanctuary, your arrogant boast, the desire of your eyes, the delight of your soul; and your sons and daughters whom you left behind shall fall by the sword.
²² And you shall do as I have done; you shall not cover your lips nor eat man's bread of sorrow.
²³ Your turbans shall be on your heads and your sandals on your feet; you shall neither mourn nor weep, but you shall pine away in your iniquities and mourn with one another.
²⁴ Thus Ezekiel is a sign to you; according to all that he has done you shall do; and when this comes, you shall know that I am the Lord GOD.' "
²⁵ 'And you, son of man?will it not be in the day when I take from them their stronghold, their joy and their glory, the desire of their eyes, and that on which they set their minds, their sons and their daughters:
²⁶ that on that day one who escapes will come to you to let you hear it with your ears?
²⁷ On that day your mouth will be opened to him who has escaped; you shall speak and no longer be mute. Thus you will be a sign to them, and they shall know that I am the LORD.' "

Ezekiel chapter 24 niv

¹ In the ninth year, in the tenth month on the tenth day, the word of the LORD came to me:
² "Son of man, record this date, this very date, because the king of Babylon has laid siege to Jerusalem this very day.
³ Tell this rebellious people a parable and say to them: 'This is what the Sovereign LORD says: "?'Put on the cooking pot; put it on and pour water into it.
⁴ Put into it the pieces of meat, all the choice pieces?the leg and the shoulder. Fill it with the best of these bones;
⁵ take the pick of the flock. Pile wood beneath it for the bones; bring it to a boil and cook the bones in it.
⁶ "?'For this is what the Sovereign LORD says: "?'Woe to the city of bloodshed, to the pot now encrusted, whose deposit will not go away! Take the meat out piece by piece in whatever order it comes.
⁷ "?'For the blood she shed is in her midst: She poured it on the bare rock; she did not pour it on the ground, where the dust would cover it.
⁸ To stir up wrath and take revenge I put her blood on the bare rock, so that it would not be covered.
⁹ "?'Therefore this is what the Sovereign LORD says: "?'Woe to the city of bloodshed! I, too, will pile the wood high.
¹⁰ So heap on the wood and kindle the fire. Cook the meat well, mixing in the spices; and let the bones be charred.
¹¹ Then set the empty pot on the coals till it becomes hot and its copper glows, so that its impurities may be melted and its deposit burned away.
¹² It has frustrated all efforts; its heavy deposit has not been removed, not even by fire.
¹³ "?'Now your impurity is lewdness. Because I tried to cleanse you but you would not be cleansed from your impurity, you will not be clean again until my wrath against you has subsided.
¹⁴ "?'I the LORD have spoken. The time has come for me to act. I will not hold back; I will not have pity, nor will I relent. You will be judged according to your conduct and your actions, declares the Sovereign LORD.'?"
¹⁵ The word of the LORD came to me:
¹⁶ "Son of man, with one blow I am about to take away from you the delight of your eyes. Yet do not lament or weep or shed any tears.
¹⁷ Groan quietly; do not mourn for the dead. Keep your turban fastened and your sandals on your feet; do not cover your mustache and beard or eat the customary food of mourners."
¹⁸ So I spoke to the people in the morning, and in the evening my wife died. The next morning I did as I had been commanded.
¹⁹ Then the people asked me, "Won't you tell us what these things have to do with us? Why are you acting like this?"
²⁰ So I said to them, "The word of the LORD came to me:
²¹ Say to the people of Israel, 'This is what the Sovereign LORD says: I am about to desecrate my sanctuary?the stronghold in which you take pride, the delight of your eyes, the object of your affection. The sons and daughters you left behind will fall by the sword.
²² And you will do as I have done. You will not cover your mustache and beard or eat the customary food of mourners.
²³ You will keep your turbans on your heads and your sandals on your feet. You will not mourn or weep but will waste away because of your sins and groan among yourselves.
²⁴ Ezekiel will be a sign to you; you will do just as he has done. When this happens, you will know that I am the Sovereign LORD.'
²⁵ "And you, son of man, on the day I take away their stronghold, their joy and glory, the delight of their eyes, their heart's desire, and their sons and daughters as well?
²⁶ on that day a fugitive will come to tell you the news.
²⁷ At that time your mouth will be opened; you will speak with him and will no longer be silent. So you will be a sign to them, and they will know that I am the LORD."

Ezekiel chapter 24 esv

¹ In the ninth year, in the tenth month, on the tenth day of the month, the word of the LORD came to me:
² "Son of man, write down the name of this day, this very day. The king of Babylon has laid siege to Jerusalem this very day.
³ And utter a parable to the rebellious house and say to them, Thus says the Lord GOD: "Set on the pot, set it on; pour in water also;
⁴ put in it the pieces of meat, all the good pieces, the thigh and the shoulder; fill it with choice bones.
⁵ Take the choicest one of the flock; pile the logs under it; boil it well; seethe also its bones in it.
⁶ "Therefore thus says the Lord GOD: Woe to the bloody city, to the pot whose corrosion is in it, and whose corrosion has not gone out of it! Take out of it piece after piece, without making any choice.
⁷ For the blood she has shed is in her midst; she put it on the bare rock; she did not pour it out on the ground to cover it with dust.
⁸ To rouse my wrath, to take vengeance, I have set on the bare rock the blood she has shed, that it may not be covered.
⁹ Therefore thus says the Lord GOD: Woe to the bloody city! I also will make the pile great.
¹⁰ Heap on the logs, kindle the fire, boil the meat well, mix in the spices, and let the bones be burned up.
¹¹ Then set it empty upon the coals, that it may become hot, and its copper may burn, that its uncleanness may be melted in it, its corrosion consumed.
¹² She has wearied herself with toil; its abundant corrosion does not go out of it. Into the fire with its corrosion!
¹³ On account of your unclean lewdness, because I would have cleansed you and you were not cleansed from your uncleanness, you shall not be cleansed anymore till I have satisfied my fury upon you.
¹⁴ I am the LORD. I have spoken; it shall come to pass; I will do it. I will not go back; I will not spare; I will not relent; according to your ways and your deeds you will be judged, declares the Lord GOD."
¹⁵ The word of the LORD came to me:
¹⁶ "Son of man, behold, I am about to take the delight of your eyes away from you at a stroke; yet you shall not mourn or weep, nor shall your tears run down.
¹⁷ Sigh, but not aloud; make no mourning for the dead. Bind on your turban, and put your shoes on your feet; do not cover your lips, nor eat the bread of men."
¹⁸ So I spoke to the people in the morning, and at evening my wife died. And on the next 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 acting thus?"
²⁰ Then I said to them, "The word of the LORD came to me:
²¹ 'Say to the house of Israel, Thus says the Lord GOD: Behold, I will profane my sanctuary, the pride of your power, the delight of your eyes, and the yearning of your soul, and your sons and your daughters whom you left behind shall fall by the sword.
²² And you shall do as I have done; you shall not cover your lips, nor eat the bread of men.
²³ Your turbans shall be on your heads and your shoes on your feet; you shall not mourn or weep, but you shall rot away in your iniquities and groan to one another.
²⁴ Thus shall Ezekiel be to you a sign; according to all that he has done you shall do. When this comes, then you will know that I am the Lord GOD.'
²⁵ "As for you, son of man, surely on the day when I take from them their stronghold, their joy and glory, the delight of their eyes and their soul's desire, and also their sons and daughters,
²⁶ on that day a fugitive will come to you to report to you the news.
²⁷ On that day your mouth will be opened to the fugitive, and you shall speak and be no longer mute. So you will be a sign to them, and they will know that I am the LORD."

Ezekiel chapter 24 nlt

¹ On January 15, during the ninth year of King Jehoiachin's captivity, this message came to me from the LORD:
² "Son of man, write down today's date, because on this very day the king of Babylon is beginning his attack against Jerusalem.
³ Then give these rebels an illustration with this message from the Sovereign LORD: "Put a pot on the fire,
and pour in some water.
⁴ Fill it with choice pieces of meat ?
the rump and the shoulder
and all the most tender cuts.
⁵ Use only the best sheep from the flock,
and heap fuel on the fire beneath the pot.
Bring the pot to a boil,
and cook the bones along with the meat.
⁶ "Now this is what the Sovereign LORD says:
What sorrow awaits Jerusalem,
the city of murderers!
She is a cooking pot
whose corruption can't be cleaned out.
Take the meat out in random order,
for no piece is better than another.
⁷ For the blood of her murders
is splashed on the rocks.
It isn't even spilled on the ground,
where the dust could cover it!
⁸ So I will splash her blood on a rock
for all to see,
an expression of my anger
and vengeance against her.
⁹ "This is what the Sovereign LORD says:
What sorrow awaits Jerusalem,
the city of murderers!
I myself will pile up the fuel beneath her.
¹⁰ Yes, heap on the wood!
Let the fire roar to make the pot boil.
Cook the meat with many spices,
and afterward burn the bones.
¹¹ Now set the empty pot on the coals.
Heat it red hot!
Burn away the filth and corruption.
¹² But it's hopeless;
the corruption can't be cleaned out.
So throw it into the fire.
¹³ Your impurity is your lewdness
and the corruption of your idolatry.
I tried to cleanse you,
but you refused.
So now you will remain in your filth
until my fury against you has been satisfied.
¹⁴ "I, the LORD, have spoken! The time has come, and I won't hold back. I will not change my mind, and I will have no pity on you. You will be judged on the basis of all your wicked actions, says the Sovereign LORD."
¹⁵ Then this message came to me from the LORD:
¹⁶ "Son of man, with one blow I will take away your dearest treasure. Yet you must not show any sorrow at her death. Do not weep; let there be no tears.
¹⁷ Groan silently, but let there be no wailing at her grave. Do not uncover your head or take off your sandals. Do not perform the usual rituals of mourning or accept any food brought to you by consoling friends."
¹⁸ So I proclaimed this to the people the next morning, and in the evening my wife died. The next morning I did everything I had been told to do.
¹⁹ Then the people asked, "What does all this mean? What are you trying to tell us?"
²⁰ So I said to them, "A message came to me from the LORD,
²¹ and I was told to give this message to the people of Israel. This is what the Sovereign LORD says: I will defile my Temple, the source of your security and pride, the place your heart delights in. Your sons and daughters whom you left behind in Judah will be slaughtered by the sword.
²² Then you will do as Ezekiel has done. You will not mourn in public or console yourselves by eating the food brought by friends.
²³ Your heads will remain covered, and your sandals will not be taken off. You will not mourn or weep, but you will waste away because of your sins. You will groan among yourselves for all the evil you have done.
²⁴ Ezekiel is an example for you; you will do just as he has done. And when that time comes, you will know that I am the Sovereign LORD."
²⁵ Then the LORD said to me, "Son of man, on the day I take away their stronghold ? their joy and glory, their heart's desire, their dearest treasure ? I will also take away their sons and daughters.
²⁶ And on that day a survivor from Jerusalem will come to you in Babylon and tell you what has happened.
²⁷ And when he arrives, your voice will suddenly return so you can talk to him, and you will be a symbol for these people. Then they will know that I am the LORD."