Ezekiel 12 3

Ezekiel 12:3 kjv

Therefore, thou son of man, prepare thee stuff for removing, and remove by day in their sight; and thou shalt remove from thy place to another place in their sight: it may be they will consider, though they be a rebellious house.

Ezekiel 12:3 nkjv

"Therefore, son of man, prepare your belongings for captivity, and go into captivity by day in their sight. You shall go from your place into captivity to another place in their sight. It may be that they will consider, though they are a rebellious house.

Ezekiel 12:3 niv

"Therefore, son of man, pack your belongings for exile and in the daytime, as they watch, set out and go from where you are to another place. Perhaps they will understand, though they are a rebellious people.

Ezekiel 12:3 esv

As for you, son of man, prepare for yourself an exile's baggage, and go into exile by day in their sight. You shall go like an exile from your place to another place in their sight. Perhaps they will understand, though they are a rebellious house.

Ezekiel 12:3 nlt

"So now, son of man, pretend you are being sent into exile. Pack the few items an exile could carry, and leave your home to go somewhere else. Do this right in front of the people so they can see you. For perhaps they will pay attention to this, even though they are such rebels.

Ezekiel 12 verses

Ezekiel 12 3 Meaning

Ezekiel 12:3 describes a prophetic sign-act commanded by God to the prophet Ezekiel. This act dramatizes the impending exile of the people of Judah, specifically those in Jerusalem, who falsely believed their city and temple were invulnerable. Ezekiel is to prepare the meager belongings of an exile and then, conspicuously during daylight hours, depart his current dwelling. This symbolic departure signifies the forced, public, and inescapable deportation of the Judeans from their homeland to a foreign land. The ultimate purpose of this stark visual message is to penetrate the spiritual blindness of the "rebellious house," offering a slender hope that they might finally understand God's pronouncements of judgment.

Ezekiel 12 3 Context

Ezekiel 12 begins with a divine command to the prophet to perform another highly visual and dramatic sign-act, a common method for prophets in the Ancient Near East to convey complex messages. This particular act is a direct consequence of the spiritual blindness and stubborn rebellion of the people of Judah, described in the preceding verse as "a rebellious house" that "has eyes to see but does not see, and ears to hear but does not hear."

Historically, Ezekiel is in exile in Babylon, by the Chebar Canal, having been deported with the first wave of captives in 597 BC, alongside King Jehoiachin. Jerusalem, however, still stands under King Zedekiah, but it is under increasing Babylonian pressure. Many remaining inhabitants of Judah and Jerusalem hold a deep-seated belief that God would never allow His holy city and temple to be destroyed, clinging to a false sense of security. They scoff at prophecies of impending doom, believing they will not happen in their lifetime or are for a distant future. Ezekiel's ministry during this period (c. 593-592 BC) is to dismantle these false hopes and prepare the exiles, and through them, those still in Judah, for the inevitable and total destruction and deportation. The sign-act of exile in verse 3, along with further details in the chapter, is specifically aimed at vividly portraying the coming forced migration, including that of King Zedekiah, underscoring its reality and inescapability.

Ezekiel 12 3 Word analysis

• Therefore: (לָכֵן, lākēn) This particle signifies a conclusion drawn from what has just been stated. It directly connects the command to Ezekiel with the preceding description of Israel's spiritual blindness and rebellion (Ezek 12:2). It points to a divine response necessitated by their hardened state.
• prepare for yourself: (הֵכֶן־לְךָ֙, hēkhen-ləḵā) A direct command, imperative. Ezekiel is personally involved, embodying the message. It's an active, personal preparation for a harsh reality.
• baggage for exile: (כְּלֵי גּוֹלָה֙, kəlê ḡôlâ) Literally, "vessels of exile" or "equipment for migration/captivity." Keli (כְּלִי) can denote any utensil, instrument, or container, often a portable one. Golâ (גּוֹלָה) means exile or captivity. This phrase emphasizes not a light travel bag but the sparse, essential possessions one might hastily gather for a forced, lengthy departure. It evokes the arduousness and finality of leaving everything behind.
• and go into exile: (וְיָצָא֙, wəyāṣāʾ) Literally "and you shall go out" or "depart." This verb emphasizes the physical act of departure from their accustomed place, not a mere journey but an expulsion. It's a definitive, forced relocation.
• by day: (יוֹמָם֙, yōmām) This adverb highlights the visibility of the act. Unlike those attempting to escape secretly, this exodus is not hidden. It underlines the public and deliberate nature of the coming deportation, which would involve the Babylonians openly rounding up and leading away the captives.
• in their sight: (לְעֵינֵיהֶ֖ם, ləʿênêhem) "Before their eyes." This phrase focuses on the audience for whom the sign-act is performed. It ensures that the action is not merely symbolic but a public spectacle, forcing the "rebellious house" to witness what awaits them. It aims to overcome their denial.
• You shall go into exile from your place to another place: (מִמְקוֹמְךָ֙ אֶל־מָק֣וֹם אַחֵ֑ר, miməqōwməḵā ʾel-māqōwm ʾaḥēr) A powerful declaration of total displacement. Maqom (מָקוֹם) is place; ʾaḥēr (אַחֵר) is another. It implies a permanent severance from their familiar environment, homeland, and social structure, being uprooted and transferred to a foreign, unfamiliar land, effectively losing their identity rooted in their location.
• Perhaps they will understand: (אוּלַ֣י יָבִֽינוּ, ʾûlay yāvînū) ʾUlay (אוּלַי) means "perhaps" or "maybe," conveying a sense of doubt or uncertainty regarding the outcome. Yāvînū (יָבִינוּ) means "they will understand, perceive, or discern." This phrase reflects God's ongoing desire for His people to repent and grasp the truth, even in the face of their persistent obstinacy. It acknowledges their spiritual deafness while still offering a glimmer of hope that the severity of the judgment might finally shock them into understanding.
• though they are a rebellious house: (כִּ֣י בֵית־מְרִ֣י הֵ֔ם, kî bêt-mərî hēm) Kî (כִּי) means "for" or "because," explaining the reason for the "perhaps." Bêt-mərî (בֵית־מְרִ֞י) "house of rebellion/insurrection" is a characteristic description used frequently by Ezekiel for Israel. It identifies their deep-seated obstinacy, stubborn resistance to God's word and will, and explains why genuine understanding is an uncertain prospect despite the clear prophetic warning.

Ezekiel 12 3 Bonus section

• Prophetic Role: Ezekiel's sign-acts were not merely dramatic presentations but integral aspects of his prophetic office, functioning as vivid sermons and pre-enactments of future divine judgment. These visual messages often circumvented the verbal resistance of the audience, presenting an undeniable picture of what was to come.
• Corporate Identity: The phrase "house of rebellion" (bêt-mərî) is uniquely prominent in Ezekiel's prophecy, often marking the identity of Israel collectively as prone to defying God. This highlights the deep spiritual malaise within the entire nation.
• Precedence for Flight: The depiction of taking baggage and leaving echoes similar scenes in distress and war, such as Lot's flight from Sodom (Gen 19) or the Israelites' hurried departure from Egypt (Exod 12). However, here it is not a voluntary escape to safety but a forced deportation to an unknown place.
• Irony of Sight: The repeated emphasis on "in their sight" coupled with the people having "eyes to see but not seeing" creates a powerful irony, highlighting their spiritual imperviousness. Even when directly confronted with a prophetic representation of their future, their spiritual state makes true discernment unlikely.

Ezekiel 12 3 Commentary

Ezekiel 12:3 serves as a pivotal point in Ezekiel's ministry, demonstrating God's unwavering commitment to His prophetic word and the severe consequences of chronic rebellion. The meticulous detail in the divine instruction for Ezekiel's sign-act is striking: gathering scant provisions, departing visibly during the day, and moving to an undisclosed "another place." Each element underscores the undeniable, public, and forced nature of the impending Babylonian deportation. The phrase "baggage for exile" starkly contrasts with the Israelites' false belief in their unassailable security within Jerusalem; it confronts them with the reality of an abrupt, humiliating, and complete displacement.

The command to perform this "in their sight" emphasizes God's direct appeal to a spiritually blind and deaf audience. God desires that this visual sermon might finally penetrate their hardened hearts. Yet, the inclusion of "Perhaps they will understand, though they are a rebellious house," is profoundly poignant. It reveals the tension between God's gracious desire for repentance and understanding (His steadfast love) and the reality of His people's persistent stiff-neckedness (His justice). While judgment is certain, the possibility of understanding suggests that God's purpose even in judgment is not mere retribution but ultimately restorative, hoping to bring about a turning back to Him, however slight that hope might be for such a resistant people. The act foreshadows King Zedekiah's attempted escape and capture (fulfilled in Jer 39 and 52), making it a personal warning to the royal household and a universal message to the Judeans about the destruction of their communal life.