Ezekiel 12:6 kjv
In their sight shalt thou bear it upon thy shoulders, and carry it forth in the twilight: thou shalt cover thy face, that thou see not the ground: for I have set thee for a sign unto the house of Israel.
Ezekiel 12:6 nkjv
In their sight you shall bear them on your shoulders and carry them out at twilight; you shall cover your face, so that you cannot see the ground, for I have made you a sign to the house of Israel."
Ezekiel 12:6 niv
Put them on your shoulder as they are watching and carry them out at dusk. Cover your face so that you cannot see the land, for I have made you a sign to the Israelites."
Ezekiel 12:6 esv
In their sight you shall lift the baggage upon your shoulder and carry it out at dusk. You shall cover your face that you may not see the land, for I have made you a sign for the house of Israel."
Ezekiel 12:6 nlt
As they watch, lift your pack to your shoulders and walk away into the night. Cover your face so you cannot see the land you are leaving. For I have made you a sign for the people of Israel."
Ezekiel 12 6 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Ezek 12:1 | "Son of man, thou dwellest in the midst of the rebellious house..." | Context for the message |
| Ezek 12:6 | "By night thou shalt bear it upon the shoulder, and carry it forth in the darkness..." | Demonstrating departure under judgment |
| Ezek 12:7 | "And I did as I was commanded: I brought my stuff out by day, as stuff for captivity, and in the evening did I dig through the wall with mine own hand; I brought it forth in the twilight, and bare it upon my shoulder in the darkness." | The action of the prophet |
| Ezek 12:15 | "And I will scatter them among the heathen, and will disperse them through the countries." | Consequence of rebellion |
| Ezek 12:22 | "Son of man, what is that proverb that ye use in the land of Israel, saying, The days are prolonged, and every vision faileth?" | Addressing skepticism |
| Ezek 12:28 | "Son of man, behold, they of the house of Israel say, The vision that he seeth is for many days to come, and he prophesieth of the times that are far off." | Doubting the prophecy |
| Jer 28:11 | "And Hananiah spake in the presence of all the people, saying, Thus saith the LORD; Even within two full years will I bring again all the vessels of the house of the LORD, that were taken from you into this place:" | False prophecy vs. true prophecy |
| Jer 28:16 | "Therefore thus saith the LORD; Behold, I will cast thee from off the face of the earth: this year thou shalt die, because thou criest rebellion against the LORD." | Divine confirmation of true prophecy |
| Isa 10:33-34 | "Behold, the Lord, the LORD of hosts, shall lop the bough with terror: and the high ones of stature shall be hewn down, and the haughty shall be humbled. And he shall cut down the thickets of the forest with iron, and Lebanon shall fall by a mighty one." | God's judgment on pride |
| Luke 21:24 | "And they shall fall by the edge of the sword, and shall be led captive into all nations: and Jerusalem shall be trodden down of the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled." | Fulfillment in Jerusalem's fall |
| John 14:29 | "And now I have told you before it come to pass, that, when it is come to pass, ye might believe." | Jesus’ prophetic assurance |
| Acts 11:16 | "Then I remembered the word of the Lord, how that he said, John indeed baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost." | The Spirit confirming God's word |
| Acts 11:21 | "And the hand of the Lord was with them: and a great number believed, and turned unto the Lord." | Divine action leading to belief |
| 2 Thess 2:11 | "And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie:" | God's judgment on rejecting truth |
| Heb 4:12 | "For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart." | Power of God's word |
| 1 Pet 1:25 | "But the word of the Lord endureth for ever. And this is the word which by the gospel is preached unto you." | Enduring truth of God's word |
| Rev 1:3 | "Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein: for the time is at hand." | Blessings for heeding prophecy |
| Rev 6:9 | "And when he had opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of them that were slain for the word of God, and for the testimony which they held:" | Those martyred for God's word |
| Ps 78:1-8 | "Give ear, O my people, to my law: incline your ear unto the words of my mouth. I will open my mouth in a parable: I will utter dark sayings of old: Which we have heard and known, and our fathers have told us. We will not hide them from their children, shewing to the generation to come the praises of the LORD, and his strength, and his wonderful works that he hath done." | Passing down God's word through generations |
| Eze 13:6 | "They have seen vanity and lying divination, saying, The LORD saith: and the LORD hath not sent them: and they have made others to hope in vain." | False prophets vs. true prophet |
Ezekiel 12 verses
Ezekiel 12 6 Meaning
This verse signifies that those who witness the prophecy spoken to Ezekiel will face severe consequences. They will understand that judgment has indeed come from God, as confirmed by their own experience and God's communication through the prophet. It highlights the divine authenticity of Ezekiel's message.
Ezekiel 12 6 Context
Chapter 12 of Ezekiel is set during the siege and impending destruction of Jerusalem and the exile of its people. Ezekiel is commanded to perform symbolic actions to illustrate God's judgment on Judah and its leadership for their persistent rebellion and sin. Specifically, verse 6 is part of a larger symbolic act where Ezekiel is to pack his belongings as if preparing for exile. This dramatic demonstration serves as a visual sermon to a people who doubt the immediacy and reality of God's judgment. The surrounding verses (Ezekiel 12:1-7) detail this prophetic act.
Ezekiel 12 6 Word Analysis
- וּבְלַ֣יְלָה (uv-lay-LAH): "And by night." This temporal indicator emphasizes the clandestine or solemn nature of the act, contrasting with the open defiance of their sins. It also signifies the suddenness of God's judgment.
- תַּשֵּׂ֧א (ta-SE): "thou shalt bear." Imperfect tense, indicating a future action commanded by God. It refers to the prophet carrying his belongings.
- מַשָּׂ֖א (mas-SA): "carriage" or "burden." This refers to the possessions, the goods, the tools for exile. It embodies the weight of the judgment to come.
- עִמָּ֥ךְ (im-MACH): "with thee" or "your load." Singular masculine second person pronoun.
- וּבַחֹ֖שֶׁךְ (uv-cha-SHO-chech): "and in darkness." Reinforces the solemnity and hidden aspect of the act, symbolizing removal from familiar light into uncertainty and exile.
- תוֹצִיאֵֽ (to-TZI-ye-ah): "thou shalt bring forth." Another future imperative verb. It implies revealing or taking out what was concealed.
- פָנֶ֣יךָ (pa-NE-cha): "thy face." The act is done with the prophet's face, his public persona, veiled or obscured by the darkness. It shows that even his actions, not just words, are symbolic.
Ezekiel 12 6 Bonus Section
The symbolic act described in Ezekiel 12 is reminiscent of ancient Near Eastern practices where prophetic actions often accompanied or preceded divine pronouncements. The command to "carry it forth" (תוֹצִיאֵֽ) underscores the inescapable nature of God's judgment. Even the prophet, who receives the word, must embody the consequence of others' disobedience. This aligns with the broader prophetic ministry, which often required the prophet to live out the message as much as proclaim it. The contrast between day and night, and open versus hidden actions, highlights the shift from the deceptive normalcy of sinful life to the stark reality of judgment.
Ezekiel 12 6 Commentary
Ezekiel's symbolic act of packing and moving in the darkness illustrates the coming desolation and exile. He is to carry his possessions out in a way that signifies departure, a forced migration under judgment. This wasn't just for personal reflection; it was a public spectacle meant to convey God's message: His people will be removed from their land. The manner of carrying out the "burden" in darkness visually communicates the shame, fear, and hiddenness associated with impending doom. This action directly challenges the people's denial and their false hopes, making the reality of God's word undeniable.