Ezekiel 12:7 kjv
And I did so as I was commanded: I brought forth my stuff by day, as stuff for captivity, and in the even I digged through the wall with mine hand; I brought it forth in the twilight, and I bare it upon my shoulder in their sight.
Ezekiel 12:7 nkjv
So I did as I was commanded. I brought out my belongings by day, as though going into captivity, and at evening I dug through the wall with my hand. I brought them out at twilight, and I bore them on my shoulder in their sight.
Ezekiel 12:7 niv
So I did as I was commanded. During the day I brought out my things packed for exile. Then in the evening I dug through the wall with my hands. I took my belongings out at dusk, carrying them on my shoulders while they watched.
Ezekiel 12:7 esv
And I did as I was commanded. I brought out my baggage by day, as baggage for exile, and in the evening I dug through the wall with my own hands. I brought out my baggage at dusk, carrying it on my shoulder in their sight.
Ezekiel 12:7 nlt
So I did as I was told. In broad daylight I brought my pack outside, filled with the things I might carry into exile. Then in the evening while the people looked on, I dug through the wall with my hands and went out into the night with my pack on my shoulder.
Ezekiel 12 7 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Eze 12:11 | Say, ‘I am your sign… as I have done, so it shall be done to them.’ | Eze 12:11 (fulfillment) |
| Eze 12:18 | Eat your bread with quaking, and drink your water with trembling and with anxious care. | Eze 12:18 (shared anxiety) |
| Eze 12:20 | I am against the inhabited cities of Israel; I will scatter them to the winds. | Eze 12:20 (dispersal theme) |
| Eze 17:12 | He took seed of the land and put it in fertile ground; he planted it like a poplar by abundant waters. | Eze 17:12 (figurative language) |
| Jer 14:3 | Their nobles send their young men for water; they come to the cisterns, and find none. | Jer 14:3 (suffering parallels) |
| Jer 22:24-27 | “As I live, declares the Lord, though Coniah the son of Jehoiakim, king of Judah, were the signet on my right hand, yet I would tear you off. | Jer 22:25 (kings' removal) |
| Jer 24:1-3 | The Lord showed me, and behold, two baskets of figs set before the temple of the Lord… one basket had very good figs, the other had bad figs. | Jer 24:1-2 (displaced objects) |
| Jer 46:27-28 | “But you, my servant Jacob, need not fear, nor be dismayed, O Israel; for behold, I will save you from far away, and your offspring from the land of their captivity. | Jer 46:27-28 (hope in exile) |
| Isa 43:5-6 | Fear not, for I am with you; I will bring your offspring from the east, and from the west I will gather you. | Isa 43:5-6 (gathering theme) |
| Isa 46:13 | I bring near my righteousness; it is not far off, and my salvation will not tarry. | Isa 46:13 (approaching deliverance/judgment) |
| Dan 4:10 | the visions of my head as I lay in bed were: I saw, and behold, a standing tree in the midst of the earth: | Dan 4:10 (symbolic vision) |
| Dan 11:20 | Then shall arise in his place one who sends an exactor of taxes over the glory of the kingdom. | Dan 11:20 (oppressive taxes) |
| Zech 10:9 | Though I scattered them among the peoples, yet in far countries they will remember me. | Zech 10:9 (remembering in exile) |
| Zech 11:15-17 | Then the Lord said to me, “Take the tools of a foolish shepherd. For behold, I am raising up a shepherd in the land who does not seek the lost, or kno.. | Zech 11:15 (shepherd imagery) |
| Matt 1:11-12 | Josiah fathered Jeconiah and his brothers, at the time of the deportation to Babylon. And after the deportation to Babylon: Jeconiah fathered Shealtiel. | Matt 1:11 (lineage of exile) |
| Luke 21:20-24 | “When you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, then know that its desolation has come near. | Luke 21:20 (foretelling destruction) |
| Acts 8:26-40 | Now an angel of the Lord spoke to Philip, saying, “Rise and go toward the south to the road that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza.” | Acts 8:27 (divine directive to move) |
| Rev 18:1-3 | After this I saw another angel coming down from heaven, having great authority, and the earth was made bright with his glory. | Rev 18:1 (fall of great city) |
| Rev 18:17-19 | For in one hour so great a wealth has been laid waste. And all shipmasters and seafaring sailors, and all sailors, and all who trade by sea, stood far off. | Rev 18:17 (judgment on commerce) |
| 1 Cor 6:19-20 | Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. | 1 Cor 6:19 (body as sacred) |
| Phil 1:20 | as it is my eager expectation and hope that I will not be put to shame, but that with all boldness, now as always, Christ will be magnified in my body, | Phil 1:20 (living for Christ) |
Ezekiel 12 verses
Ezekiel 12 7 Meaning
Ezekiel 12:7 declares that Ezekiel is to perform an action in plain sight of the exiles. He must bring his belongings out by day, as if in preparation for exile. This vividly portrays the imminent and public nature of their judgment and forced removal from Jerusalem. The action serves as a tangible sign to the people that the very thing they fear and are about to experience, deportation, is now happening before their eyes.
Ezekiel 12 7 Context
Ezekiel 12 presents a series of symbolic actions performed by Ezekiel, orchestrated by God, to communicate God’s impending judgment on Judah and Jerusalem. These actions are intended to demonstrate to the disbelieving and rebellious people that their cherished city and kingdom will be utterly destroyed and their inhabitants exiled. Verse 7 falls within this context, following an instruction for Ezekiel to prepare himself and his belongings as if for exile, emphasizing the stark reality and public display of this coming disaster. The prophecy occurs during the period leading up to the Babylonian siege and destruction of Jerusalem, a time when many were in denial of God’s wrath.
Ezekiel 12 7 Word Analysis
וְאַתָּה (v'atta): "And you." This conjunction ("and") links this instruction directly to the preceding context, often highlighting a shift in focus or an addition to previous directives. It emphasizes that Ezekiel, specifically, is to perform this act.
בֶּן־אָדָם (ben-adam): "Son of man." A recurring appellation for Ezekiel, emphasizing his humanity and calling him to represent humanity before God. It also signifies his role as a prophet, sent with divine messages, highlighting the authority God invests in him, yet grounding him as human.
עֲשֵׂה (aseh): "Do" or "Make." A command form of the Hebrew verb 'asah'. It signifies an imperative action, an active performance of the described deed.
לְעֵינֵיהֶם (le'eyneyhem): "before their eyes" or "in their sight." This phrase is crucial, indicating that the act is to be performed publicly, openly, and visibly for all the exiles to witness. The preposition 'l' (le) means "to" or "for," and 'eyneyhem' is the plural "eyes" with the third-person masculine plural possessive pronoun "their."
סָעוּ (sa'u): "carry away" or "transport." This verb implies a movement of belongings or people from one place to another, often with difficulty or under compulsion, fitting the context of forced displacement. The root verb is 'su' (סוע), meaning to journey or move.
בָּקַע (baka): "Break forth" or "dig through." This verb suggests a forceful or secretive way of leaving or making an exit, often through a wall or barrier. In this context, it implies leaving by a clandestine or unceremonious route, rather than the front gate, perhaps underscoring the shock or abnormality of the departure.
בָּהּ (bah): "through it." Referring back to the previously mentioned "vessel" or baggage. The preposition 'b' (b') means "in" or "through."
וְאַתָּה (v'atta): "and you." Repeated for emphasis, drawing the focus back to Ezekiel's personal engagement in the action.
בָּהּ (bah): "in it" or "with it." Refers to the "daylight" (by day).
בָּעֶרֶב (ba'erev): "in the evening." The preposition 'b' (b') meaning "in" and 'erev' (ערב) meaning "evening" or "night."
כָּשָׁבָה (kashavah): "like those carried away." This is a comparative phrase. 'Kmo' (כמו) meaning "like" and 'shuvah' (שבוּה), which can be related to capture or carrying away (shav, שב), possibly hinting at captivity or displacement. It directly equates Ezekiel's preparation with that of those being exiled.
בַּגּוֹלָה (bagolah): "in captivity" or "in exile." The preposition 'b' (b') means "in," and 'golah' (גולה) specifically refers to exile or the exiled community, directly linking Ezekiel’s action to the fate of his people.
Carrying out belongings publicly: The action of carrying baggage out by day is symbolic of forced exile, presented as an open spectacle for all to see.
Breaking forth by evening: Digging through and going out by evening, like those in exile, highlights the shock, the abruptness, and perhaps the desperate manner in which judgment will fall and people will be taken.
Emulating the exiled: Ezekiel’s personal imitation of those in exile signifies the widespread nature of the coming judgment, affecting all levels of society.
Ezekiel 12 7 Bonus Section
The symbolic act described in Ezekiel 12:7 resonates with themes found throughout scripture, where prophets perform outlandish actions to convey God's message. For example, Isaiah walked naked and barefoot for three years as a sign against Egypt and Cush (Isaiah 20:2-3). Jeremiah was told not to marry or have children because of the impending disaster (Jeremiah 16:2). These enactments are divine imperatives designed to shock the senses and communicate the gravity of sin and the certainty of judgment. Ezekiel’s actions here are not mere performances but prophetic pronouncements, God’s way of delivering a stark, unvarnished truth through a tangible, visible representation of a coming reality. The concept of God using ordinary objects or actions to convey profound theological truths is a hallmark of prophetic ministry.
Ezekiel 12 7 Commentary
Ezekiel is instructed to act out a vivid picture of exile for the onlookers. By carrying out his baggage in broad daylight, as if preparing to leave, he makes the impending judgment undeniable. The command to "break forth" or "dig through" by evening and carry away belongings "as those who are carried away in exile" intensifies this symbolism. It’s not just an preparation for departure, but a portrayal of the violent, disorienting, and desperate manner in which the exiles will be removed. This public, tangible sign aims to break through the people's complacency and denial, showing them that their judgment is not a distant possibility but a present reality being demonstrated before their very eyes. Ezekiel's own participation in this dramatic portrayal underscores the totality of the coming destruction and the certainty of God’s justice.