Ezekiel 11 24

Ezekiel 11:24 kjv

Afterwards the spirit took me up, and brought me in a vision by the Spirit of God into Chaldea, to them of the captivity. So the vision that I had seen went up from me.

Ezekiel 11:24 nkjv

Then the Spirit took me up and brought me in a vision by the Spirit of God into Chaldea, to those in captivity. And the vision that I had seen went up from me.

Ezekiel 11:24 niv

The Spirit lifted me up and brought me to the exiles in Babylonia in the vision given by the Spirit of God. Then the vision I had seen went up from me,

Ezekiel 11:24 esv

And the Spirit lifted me up and brought me in the vision by the Spirit of God into Chaldea, to the exiles. Then the vision that I had seen went up from me.

Ezekiel 11:24 nlt

Afterward the Spirit of God carried me back again to Babylonia, to the people in exile there. And so ended the vision of my visit to Jerusalem.

Ezekiel 11 verses

Ezekiel 11 24 Meaning

The spirit of prophecy lifted Ezekiel, transporting him in a vision to the exiles in Babylon. He witnessed the destruction of Jerusalem and its temple, followed by divine judgment upon those who remained and rejoiced in Judah's downfall. This verse marks the transition from judgment to the promise of restoration, emphasizing God's sovereign power over His prophet and His people.

Ezekiel 11 24 Context

Chapter 11 of Ezekiel details a series of visions and prophecies concerning the fall of Jerusalem and the fate of its inhabitants. Ezekiel witnesses the departure of God's glory from the defiled Temple, signifying divine abandonment. He prophesies against wicked leaders like Pelatiah, who are judged for their actions. The chapter shifts from the immediate judgment of those in Jerusalem to the plight and eventual restoration of the exiles in Babylon, promising them a new covenant, a new heart, and a return to their land. Verse 24 serves as a bridge, concluding the visionary transport and signifying the continuation of the prophetic word to Ezekiel concerning God's dealings with His dispersed people.

Ezekiel 11 24 Word Analysis

• וְרוּחַ (v'ruach): "And the Spirit."
  • וְ (v'): "And." Connects this action to the preceding one, indicating continuation.
  • רוּחַ (ruach): "Spirit." Refers to the Spirit of God (Ruach Elohim). It signifies divine power, energy, and life-giving force.
• נָשְׂאָה (nos'ah): " lifted me up."
  • Perfect tense, indicating a completed action in the past from the narrator's perspective within the vision. The passive voice suggests God is the actor. It implies being carried, transported, or elevated.
• וַתִּשָּׂאֵנִי (vatis'e'eni): "and carried me."
  • וַ (va): Consecutive imperfect, indicating a sequence of actions.
  • תִּשָּׂא (tisa'): "carried." Feminine singular imperfect verb from נָשָׂא (nasa), referring back to רוּחַ (ruach) as the agent.
  • אֵנִי (e'eni): "me" (suffix). Direct object.
• בְּמַרְא֤וֹת (bemar'ot): "in visions."
  • בְּ (be): "in" or "by means of." Indicates the mode of transport or perception.
  • מַרְא֤וֹת (mar'ot): "visions." Plural of מַרְאָה (mar'ah), signifying divine revelations seen by the prophet.
• אֱלֹהִים (Elohim): "of God."
  • Divine name, emphasizing the supernatural origin of the visions.
• אֶל־ (el): "to."
  • Preposition indicating direction or destination.
• אֶרֶץ (eretz): "the land."
  • Refers specifically to the land of Israel.
• כַּשְׂדִּֽים (kasdim): "of the Chaldeans."
  • כַּשְׂדִּֽים (kasdim): Chaldea, the region and people who conquered Judah and exiled its people.
• וַתְּהִ֥י (vat'hi): "and I was."
  • וַ (va): Consecutive imperfect.
  • תְּהִ (t'hi): "she became" or "she was." Feminine singular imperfect of היה (hayah), referring to the prophet's state.
• שְׁבִי (shevi): "exile" or "captivity."
  • Refers to the condition of being taken away from one's homeland.
• בְּבָבֶ֖ל (bevavel): "in Babylon."
  • בְּ (be): "in."
  • בָבֶל (Bavel): Babylon, the imperial capital where the exiles resided.
• וַתַּעֲלֶ֤ה (vat'alah): "and ascended."
  • וַ (va): Consecutive imperfect.
  • תַּעֲלֶ (ta'aleh): "she ascended." Feminine singular imperfect of עָלָה (alah), again attributed to the Spirit. Indicates moving upward or departing.

Words-Group by Words-Group Analysis:

• "And the Spirit lifted me up and carried me...": This phrase underscores the supernatural and voluntary agency of the Holy Spirit in Ezekiel's prophetic ministry. It is not physical movement but a spiritual transport within a vision, highlighting God's control over His prophet's experiences. This contrasts with the powerless state of the exiles.
• "...in visions of God to the land of the Chaldeans...": This clarifies the nature of Ezekiel's transportation—it was a spiritual perception, not a physical relocation. The destination, the land of the Chaldeans (Babylon), places the prophet in the midst of his people in exile.
• "...and I was in exile in Babylon. And the vision ascended...": The phrasing "and I was in exile in Babylon" connects Ezekiel's prophetic experience to the reality of the exiles' situation. The final phrase "And the vision ascended" refers to the entirety of the preceding divine revelation being presented or carried upwards, implying its completion or reception by God.

Ezekiel 11 24 Bonus Section

The lifting and carrying by the Spirit of God is a recurring theme for prophets, showing that their ministry and message are divinely empowered and directed, not a product of their own volition or physical ability. This experience echoes the call of Elijah and the miraculous journeys of Philip. Ezekiel's immersion into the exiles' situation signifies the importance of contextualized prophecy; God's word must be delivered relevant to the people's current reality. The phrase "and the vision ascended" can also imply the finality or consummation of that specific divine communication being received by God Himself, signifying its divine authorization and purpose.

Ezekiel 11 24 Commentary

This verse is pivotal as it marks a shift in Ezekiel's prophetic journey. The Spirit, the same divine power that moved over the face of the waters at creation (Gen 1:2) and animated the dry bones later in Ezekiel's prophecy (Eze 37), actively transports the prophet. This emphasizes God's sovereignty over space and time, enabling His message to reach His dispersed people. Ezekiel is placed not just in the geographical location of the exiles but spiritually within their very condition of captivity ("and I was in exile"). This empathy through visionary transport allows him to speak with authority and compassion to those who have been uprooted and are despairing. The ascension of the vision signifies that the entire divine disclosure is complete for that particular segment of prophecy, having been conveyed from God to the prophet, and now to be proclaimed to the exiles. It's a demonstration of God's persistent presence and concern for His people even in their suffering and exile, ensuring they are not forgotten.