Ezekiel 12 21

Ezekiel 12:21 kjv

And the word of the LORD came unto me, saying,

Ezekiel 12:21 nkjv

And the word of the LORD came to me, saying,

Ezekiel 12:21 niv

The word of the LORD came to me:

Ezekiel 12:21 esv

And the word of the LORD came to me:

Ezekiel 12:21 nlt

Again a message came to me from the LORD:

Ezekiel 12 verses

Ezekiel 12 21 Meaning

Ezekiel 12:21 introduces a direct divine message from the LORD to the prophet Ezekiel. This verse is a standard prophetic formula, signifying that the words immediately following are not Ezekiel’s own thoughts or interpretations, but a direct, authoritative revelation from God Himself, initiating a new segment of divine communication.

Ezekiel 12 21 Context

Ezekiel 12:21 introduces a significant message directly from the LORD. The preceding verses (1-20) in Ezekiel chapter 12 describe Ezekiel's powerful symbolic actions—packing his bags and digging through a wall—to portray the impending, certain exile of Jerusalem and its king, Zedekiah. This divine "sign-act" directly confronted the widespread skepticism among the exiles in Babylon and those remaining in Judah. Many people, dismissing prophetic warnings, recited a proverb, "The days are prolonged, and every vision fails" (Ezek 12:22). This proverb expressed their belief that God's judgments were either perpetually delayed or entirely untrue. Historically, during the Babylonian exile, Judah had already experienced one or two deportations, but Jerusalem still stood. There was a prevailing false hope that the city would not fall and that previous prophecies of judgment would not come to pass. This verse marks the beginning of God's direct refutation of this proverb, asserting the immediate and undeniable fulfillment of His prophetic word.

Ezekiel 12 21 Word analysis

• Then (וַיְהִי - vayhi)

  • This is a conjunction, often translated as "and it came to pass" or "now it happened."
  • Significance: It marks a sequential transition in the narrative, introducing a new event or message. It acts as a pivot, shifting from the previous prophetic sign-act to a direct verbal declaration.

• the word (דְבַר - devar)

  • From the Hebrew word dabar (דָּבָר). This term is rich in meaning, going beyond mere speech.
  • Meaning: It signifies not just "word" but also "matter," "thing," "event," "action," or "decree." God's dabar is not merely descriptive; it is active and performs what it speaks.
  • Significance: Highlights the authoritative and effective nature of divine communication. God's word is efficacious; it does not return void (Isa 55:11). It's an announcement that carries power and brings about reality.

• of the LORD (יהוה - YHWH)

  • This is the personal, covenantal name of God, frequently transliterated as Yahweh.
  • Meaning: It emphasizes God's self-existence ("I Am Who I Am" - Exod 3:14), His unchanging nature, and His covenant faithfulness to Israel.
  • Significance: Attributing the "word" to YHWH underscores its ultimate authority, truthfulness, and origin. It assures that the message is from the sovereign God who makes and keeps covenants, distinct from human opinion or other deities.

• came (אֵלַי - elay)

  • While usually rendered as "came to," the Hebrew hayah (to be, become, happen) combined with "to me" signifies direct, personal revelation.
  • Significance: This denotes a direct and personal communication from God to the prophet Ezekiel. It's not a general idea or an interpretation, but a specific divine impartation, confirming Ezekiel's role as a chosen messenger.

• to me (אֵלַי - elay)

  • The suffix refers directly to Ezekiel, the recipient of the divine message.
  • Significance: Establishes the prophet's personal encounter with God's word, highlighting his mediatorial role. Ezekiel is specifically called to receive and transmit this message to a skeptical audience.

• saying (לֵאמֹר - lêʼmor)

  • This is a common infinitive absolute used to introduce direct speech.
  • Significance: It serves as a strong indicator that the following verses are a direct quotation of God's spoken message. It prepares the reader for the exact words of the LORD, adding emphasis and authenticity to the impending divine declaration.

• Words-group analysis:

  • "Then the word of the LORD came to me, saying": This entire phrase constitutes a highly conventional and solemn prophetic formula found throughout the Hebrew Bible, especially in Jeremiah and Ezekiel. It acts as an authoritative preface. Its primary purpose is to firmly establish the divine origin and incontrovertible truthfulness of the message that immediately follows. In the face of doubt and mockery ("The days are prolonged, and every vision fails"), this formula underscores that the impending prophecy is not from human imagination but directly from YHWH, affirming the prophet's divine commission and validating the absolute certainty of God's spoken judgments.

Ezekiel 12 21 Bonus section

• Frequency in Ezekiel: The specific phrase "The word of the LORD came to me, saying" or close variants appear exceptionally often in the book of Ezekiel—around 49 times. This high frequency, compared to other prophetic books, strengthens Ezekiel's role as God's precise and direct messenger to a particularly stubborn and cynical audience. It serves as a constant reinforcement of the messages' divine source.
• Contrast to False Prophecy: This formula acts as an implicit but strong polemic against the numerous false prophets active at the time, both among the exiles and in Jerusalem. False prophets often spoke "from their own spirit" or "out of their own mind" (Ezek 13:2-3). By consistently prefacing his messages with "the word of the LORD," Ezekiel highlights the stark difference between genuine divine revelation and deceptive human inventions.
• Literary Structure: In the broader narrative of Ezekiel, such formulas often mark distinct literary units or shifts in subject matter. Verse 21 signals the conclusion of Ezekiel's symbolic action-sermon from earlier in the chapter and introduces a direct verbal pronouncement from God, a response to the people's particular challenge regarding the timing of prophecy.

Ezekiel 12 21 Commentary

Ezekiel 12:21 is a foundational and recurrent phrase within prophetic literature, acting as a crucial attestation to divine authority. At a point where Judah's people scoffed at delayed prophecies, this introductory formula forcefully declares that what is about to be spoken originates unequivocally from YHWH, the covenant-keeping God. It directly counters the popular proverb that divine words were unreliable or never fulfilled. The phrase "the word of the LORD" (dabar YHWH) implies a living, active, and effective utterance that commands and brings about reality, far surpassing mere human speech or opinion. By affirming that this "word came to me," Ezekiel's mediatorial role is emphasized, assuring the audience that he is a faithful conduit, not a mere prognosticator. This verse therefore sets the stage for God's forceful and imminent refutation of the people's cynicism, declaring the swift fulfillment of His prophetic judgments, contrasting human skepticism with divine certainty.