Ezekiel 11:12 kjv
And ye shall know that I am the LORD: for ye have not walked in my statutes, neither executed my judgments, but have done after the manners of the heathen that are round about you.
Ezekiel 11:12 nkjv
And you shall know that I am the LORD; for you have not walked in My statutes nor executed My judgments, but have done according to the customs of the Gentiles which are all around you." ' "
Ezekiel 11:12 niv
And you will know that I am the LORD, for you have not followed my decrees or kept my laws but have conformed to the standards of the nations around you."
Ezekiel 11:12 esv
and you shall know that I am the LORD. For you have not walked in my statutes, nor obeyed my rules, but have acted according to the rules of the nations that are around you."
Ezekiel 11:12 nlt
and you will know that I am the LORD. For you have refused to obey my decrees and regulations; instead, you have copied the standards of the nations around you."
Ezekiel 11 12 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Ezek 11:12 | You say, ‘Because these people have said, ‘It is not the time to build houses; the city is the pot, and we are the meat.’ | God's people believe their time for prosperity and rebuilding is past, likening themselves to meat cooked in a pot, exposed and consumed. |
| Ezek 11:13 | And you have prophesied against them… | God speaks through Ezekiel, pointing out their pronouncements. |
| Ezek 12:1-2 | The word of the LORD came to me: “Son of man, you live in the midst of a rebellious house…” | Parallel theme of God’s word coming to Ezekiel concerning the rebellious house of Israel. |
| Jer 24:1-3 | The LORD showed me, and behold, two baskets of figs were set before the temple of the LORD… | Jeremiah also received visions regarding the scattered people of Judah, distinguishing between good and bad exiles. |
| Jer 29:10 | For thus says the LORD: When your seventy years are completed at Babylon, I will visit you, and I will fulfill to you my promise and bring you back to this place. | Prophecy of a future return from Babylonian exile, echoing the concept of God’s continued concern. |
| Ps 106:44-45 | Nevertheless, he looked upon their affliction, when he heard their cry. He remembered for their covenant’s sake, and relented according to the abundance of his steadfast love. | God's remembrance and pity for His people even in their distress and exile. |
| Lam 3:31-33 | For the Lord will not cast off forever. Though he causes grief, he will have compassion according to the abundance of his steadfast love. For he does not afflict with his whole heart or grieve the children of men. | The persistence of God's compassion even amidst His chastening. |
| Isa 60:15 | Whereas you have been forsaken and hated, so that no one came through, I will make you exultation for ever, a joy from age to age. | God's promise to restore His people to a state of lasting joy and exultation after their suffering. |
| Isa 43:2 | When you pass through the waters, I will be with you… | God’s presence with His people even in times of hardship and transition. |
| Isa 55:11 | so shall my word that goes out from my mouth not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I aim, and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it. | The certainty and purpose of God’s spoken word, including prophecies. |
| Ezek 3:11 | And say to them, ‘Thus says the Lord GOD.’ Whether they hear or refuse to hear. | God commissioning Ezekiel to speak His word, regardless of the people's reception. |
| Ezek 3:27 | But when I speak with you, I will open your mouth, and you shall say to them, ‘Thus says the Lord GOD!’ | God directly enabling Ezekiel to communicate His message. |
| Rom 9:24-26 | even us whom he has called, not from the Jews only but also from the Gentiles? As indeed he says in Hosea, “Those who were not my people I will call ‘my people’…” | God's plan encompassing all His chosen people, extending beyond immediate historical or ethnic boundaries. |
| Acts 7:42 | Then God turned and gave them up to worship the host of heaven, as it is written in the book of the prophets: ‘Did you offer to me slain and sacrifices during forty years in the wilderness, O house of Israel?’ | God's historical judgment for idolatry and disobedience, leading to national suffering. |
| Ps 79:8-9 | Do not remember against us our former iniquities; let your compassion come speedily to meet us, for we are brought very low. Help us, O God of our salvation, for the glory of your name… | A plea to God for mercy based on His name and covenant, even in dire circumstances. |
| Deut 30:1-3 | When all these blessings and curses that I have set before you come upon you… and you call them to mind among all the nations to which the LORD your God has driven you, and you return to the LORD your God, you and your children… then the LORD your God will restore your fortunes and have mercy on you… | The conditional nature of God’s restoration based on repentance after being scattered. |
| Jer 30:18 | "Thus says the LORD: Behold, I will restore the fortunes of the tents of Jacob, and I will have mercy on his dwelling places; and the city shall be rebuilt on its mound, and the palace shall be established as it was." | God's promise of restoration for Jacob and Jerusalem, even after judgment. |
| Ezek 11:16 | Therefore say, ‘Thus says the Lord GOD: Though I removed them far off among the nations, and though I scattered them among the countries, yet I have been a sanctuary to them for a while in the countries where they have gone.’ | God Himself acting as a sanctuary and presence even in the midst of their exile. |
| Zech 2:6-7 | Up, up, flee from the land of the north, declares the LORD. For I have spread you abroad as the four winds of the heavens, declares the LORD. Up, escape to Zion, you who live with the daughter of Babylon.’ | God orchestrating a dispersion (like the four winds) but also a future gathering. |
| Ezek 3:10 | Moreover, he said to me, “Son of man, all my words that I shall speak to you receive in your heart, and hear with your ears all that I say to you. | The importance of Ezekiel internalizing God’s words before proclaiming them. |
Ezekiel 11 verses
Ezekiel 11 12 Meaning
The people of Israel, having been exiled from their land due to their sin and disobedience, are shown in their distressed state. This verse specifically addresses the "men of your people" who have been taken into captivity. It declares that concerning these exiles, the LORD's word has come to Ezekiel. The affirmation that God's word comes to Ezekiel regarding them highlights that, despite their judgment and dispersion, God has not abandoned His people but remains in communication with them through His prophet.
Ezekiel 11 12 Context
Ezekiel chapter 11 finds the prophet in Jerusalem, witnessing the depravity and corrupt leadership that has led to impending doom. The scene is set with the elders of Israel engaging in wicked schemes and pronouncing their belief that Jerusalem, as "the pot," is their only protection, while they are merely the vulnerable "meat" to be consumed by external enemies. They have distorted the meaning of their present suffering, believing that God has abandoned them and that their city will be destroyed with them. God's word comes to Ezekiel in response to this hardened attitude. This specific verse is part of a larger prophetic oracle that will address the nation's sin, the imminent judgment (the exile), and ultimately, God's promise of future restoration and a new covenant, signifying that God’s word and concern extend even into their period of divine punishment. The immediate historical context is the final stages of Jerusalem's decline before its destruction by the Babylonians, with many of the unrighteous carried off into exile.
Ezekiel 11 12 Word Analysis
- And (וְ — və): A conjunctive particle, linking this verse to the preceding prophecy and statement about the people’s mindset. It shows a continuation of God’s communication.
- say (אמרו — ʼāmərū): The plural imperfect verb from amar, meaning "to say." This word signifies that the people are actively speaking and articulating their perceived hopeless situation.
- you (אתם — ʼattem): The plural masculine pronoun, directly addressing the people who have expressed this sentiment.
- because (על־ — ʻal): This preposition can mean "upon," "concerning," or "because of." Here it introduces the reason behind their saying.
- say (אמרו — ʼāmərū): The same plural verb from amar, repeated to emphasize the people's stated belief and justification for their despair.
- it is not (לא — lō): A negation, signifying that the time is not suitable.
- time (עת — ʻēṯ): Meaning "time," "season," or "opportunity." They perceive no favorable time for building.
- to build (לבנות — livnōt): The infinitive of banah, meaning "to build."
- houses (בתים — bāttîm): The plural of bayith, meaning "house," "home," or "building."
- the city (העיר — hāʻîr): The definite article ha- with ʻîr, meaning "the city." Refers to Jerusalem.
- is (היא — hî’): A demonstrative pronoun, functioning as the copula, stating that the city is identical to the pot.
- the pot (הסיר — haśśîr): The definite article ha- with śîr, meaning "pot," "caldron," or "kettle." A vessel used for cooking.
- and (ו — wə): Conjunction linking the city to the people.
- we (אנחנו — ʼanāḥnû): The first-person plural pronoun.
- are (אנחנו — ʼanāḥnû): Implied by the pronoun, and the phrase emphasizes their state.
- the meat (הבשר — habbāśār): The definite article ha- with bāśār, meaning "flesh," "meat," or "body." This highlights their vulnerability.
Group Analysis:
- "it is not time to build houses": This phrase encapsulates their sense of futility and lack of future hope. The building of houses signifies normal life, security, and prosperity, which they believe has been permanently snatched away by their predicament.
- "the city is the pot, and we are the meat": This is a powerful metaphor conveying utter helplessness and impending doom. The pot (the city) is the container, exposed to external forces, and the meat within is destined to be consumed or destroyed. It signifies that they are at the mercy of whatever powers are outside the city, believing their fate is sealed and they are merely fuel for destruction, with no hope of survival or escape from their circumstances. This imagery contrasts sharply with God’s intent for His people and His city.
Ezekiel 11 12 Bonus Section
This verse reveals a core issue in the people’s understanding of God’s judgment: they interpreted His chastening as total abandonment rather than corrective discipline within a framework of love and a promised future. Their fatalistic metaphor overlooks God’s persistent presence and His ultimate redemptive plan for His people, which includes restoration after judgment. The theological significance lies in contrasting human despair and finite perspective with God's infinite mercy, power, and His unwavering commitment to His covenant. This verse underscores that true hope is not in circumstances but in the faithfulness of God, whose word has the power to accomplish His purposes, even through scattering and judgment. The analogy of "the pot and the meat" could also allude to the Babylonian siege engines or armies being the "heat" that cooks the "meat" within the city "pot," emphasizing their complete subjugation and imminent destruction.
Ezekiel 11 12 Commentary
The people’s statement reveals their deep despair and their misguided belief that God has abandoned them. By declaring "it is not time to build houses," they renounce any hope of rebuilding their lives and futures in their land, signifying a total surrender to despair. The metaphor "the city is the pot, and we are the meat" powerfully illustrates their perceived powerlessness; they see themselves as helpless victims about to be consumed by external forces, with their city unable to protect them. This attitude reflects a rejection of God’s covenantal faithfulness and an embrace of fatalism. However, God, through Ezekiel, will soon reveal that His judgment, while real, is not the end of the story, and His presence and future mercies extend even to the exiles. This highlights the importance of holding onto faith and hope even in the darkest of times, trusting in God's sovereign plan rather than succumbing to despair based on present circumstances.