Ezekiel 11 4

Ezekiel 11:4 kjv

Therefore prophesy against them, prophesy, O son of man.

Ezekiel 11:4 nkjv

Therefore prophesy against them, prophesy, O son of man!"

Ezekiel 11:4 niv

Therefore prophesy against them; prophesy, son of man."

Ezekiel 11:4 esv

Therefore prophesy against them; prophesy, O son of man."

Ezekiel 11:4 nlt

Therefore, son of man, prophesy against them loudly and clearly."

Ezekiel 11 verses

Ezekiel 11 4 Meaning

Ezekiel 11:4 is a direct and urgent divine command from the Lord God to the prophet Ezekiel. Following God's observation of the wicked counsel and leadership in Jerusalem, He unequivocally instructs Ezekiel, addressed as "son of man," to pronounce a prophecy of judgment directly "against them," referring to the corrupt elders and leaders within the city. The repetition of "prophesy" emphasizes the seriousness and immediate nature of the divine mandate.

Ezekiel 11 4 Context

Ezekiel 11:4 occurs during a vivid prophetic vision where the Spirit of the Lord transports Ezekiel from Babylonia to Jerusalem (Ezek 8:3). In this vision, God reveals the appalling idolatry and moral corruption plaguing the city. Specifically in chapter 11, Ezekiel is brought to the East Gate of the Temple, where he witnesses twenty-five men, identified as prominent leaders of the people, including "Jaazaniah son of Azzur and Pelatiah son of Benaiah, leaders of the people" (Ezek 11:1). These leaders are observed "plotting evil" and offering "wicked counsel" to the city (Ezek 11:2). They articulate a false sense of security, believing Jerusalem to be like a protective "pot" that preserves them from harm, implying that the exiles were merely the "scum" removed from it (Ezek 11:3). Against this backdrop of arrogance, moral decay, and rejection of divine truth, Ezekiel 11:4 serves as God's immediate and unequivocal command for judgment, indicating that the prophetic word must directly confront their defiant behavior and destroy their illusion of safety.

Historically, this takes place during the early stages of the Babylonian exile (around 593 BC), with a portion of the population already in captivity, and Jerusalem facing its final downfall. The remaining leaders in Jerusalem held a dangerous presumption that God would protect the city regardless of their sin, largely due to the presence of the Temple and their interpretation of past divine interventions. This verse directly refutes such erroneous beliefs, establishing that God's covenant does not shield willful disobedience but actively brings judgment upon it, particularly from those in positions of authority.

Ezekiel 11 4 Word analysis

• Therefore (לָכֵ֕ן - lākēn): This conjunction acts as a pivotal connector, linking God's preceding observations of the leaders' wickedness (Ezek 11:1-3) directly to the command for prophecy that follows. It signifies that the prophecy is a logical and inevitable consequence of their actions and wicked counsel. This term consistently emphasizes divine consequence and judgment throughout the prophetic literature when connected to sin.
• prophesy (הִנָּבֵ֥א - hinnāḇē): This word is a Hithpael imperative masculine singular from the root נבא (nāḈ’), meaning "to prophesy, to speak by divine inspiration." The Hithpael stem here signifies not merely a passive reception but an active, declared utterance of God's message. Its repetition in the verse (translated as "prophesy, prophesy") serves as a powerful emphatic command, highlighting the urgency, certainty, and divine compulsion behind the instruction. It leaves no room for hesitation or modification from Ezekiel.
• against them (עֲלֵיהֶ֖ם - ‘ǎlēhem): The preposition על (‘al), combined with the masculine plural suffix, usually translates to "on," "over," or "concerning," but when used with a verb like "prophesy" in a context of moral and spiritual defiance, it unequivocally means "against." This specifies the target and the condemnatory nature of the prophetic message, identifying the wicked leaders observed by Ezekiel as the direct recipients of God's forthcoming judgment, dispelling any notion of the prophecy being for general edification or a distant future.
• prophesy (הִנָּבֵ֑א - hinnāḇē): As above, this repetition stresses the divine imperative, indicating that the prophet is to speak forth without compromise, echoing the solemnity and finality of God's decision regarding Jerusalem's leaders.
• son of man (בֶּן־אָדָֽם - ben-’ādām): This is God's primary address to Ezekiel throughout the book (occurring over 90 times). It emphasizes Ezekiel's humanity and mortality, his utter dependence on God as a creature. It starkly contrasts his frail nature with the awesome divine authority speaking through him, reinforcing that the message is God's, not his own. While later gaining messianic connotations (Dan 7:13, the title Jesus often used for Himself), in Ezekiel, it mainly functions to underscore the prophet's identity as a human messenger in dialogue with the divine, underscoring both his representational role and his profound submission to God's will.

Words-Group Analysis:

• "Therefore prophesy against them": This phrase succinctly states the cause-and-effect relationship between the leaders' iniquity and God's judicial response. It underscores the immediacy of God's judgment and His expectation that His prophet act as His voice to expose and condemn wickedness, particularly among those entrusted with leading the people.
• "prophesy, son of man": The direct address immediately following the double command to "prophesy" provides a powerful emphasis on Ezekiel's specific and unavoidable duty. It roots the prophetic utterance in divine authorization and distinguishes the human messenger from the divine message's origin, ensuring accountability and preventing the message from being dismissed as mere human opinion.

Ezekiel 11 4 Bonus section

The command to "prophesy against them" starkly contrasts with what these leaders might have expected or wanted to hear – a prophecy of protection or salvation. Their earlier utterance in Ezek 11:3, claiming Jerusalem as their protective "pot" and themselves as the precious "meat," is ironically inverted by God. The "prophecy against them" will reveal Jerusalem not as a safe pot but as a vessel where they, the "meat," are cooked by God's judgment, as described in later verses of chapter 11. This emphasizes God's sovereign insight into human deceit and His uncompromising justice, often challenging the self-perception of those who claim piety while practicing unrighteousness. Ezekiel's obedience in delivering such a severe message underpins the courage required in prophetic ministry, particularly when directed at influential figures.

Ezekiel 11 4 Commentary

Ezekiel 11:4 constitutes a powerful divine mandate for confrontation and judgment. After vividly revealing the pervasive corruption among Jerusalem's leadership, God directs Ezekiel, His designated "son of man," to declare an explicit prophecy of condemnation "against them." The emphatic repetition of "prophesy" highlights the non-negotiable nature of the command, requiring the prophet to deliver God's unfiltered truth regardless of its unpopularity or danger. This serves as a reminder that genuine prophecy confronts sin, especially where it resides in positions of power. The identification of Ezekiel as "son of man" further clarifies that while the message is humanly delivered, its origin and authority are entirely divine, reinforcing the message's veracity and the messenger's role as God's instrument in bringing justice and exposing unrighteousness within the covenant community.