Ezekiel 2:9 kjv
And when I looked, behold, an hand was sent unto me; and, lo, a roll of a book was therein;
Ezekiel 2:9 nkjv
Now when I looked, there was a hand stretched out to me; and behold, a scroll of a book was in it.
Ezekiel 2:9 niv
Then I looked, and I saw a hand stretched out to me. In it was a scroll,
Ezekiel 2:9 esv
And when I looked, behold, a hand was stretched out to me, and behold, a scroll of a book was in it.
Ezekiel 2:9 nlt
Then I looked and saw a hand reaching out to me. It held a scroll,
Ezekiel 2 9 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference Note |
|---|---|---|
| Ezek 3:1-3 | Moreover He said to me, “Son of man, eat what you find; eat this scroll…” | Ezekiel commanded to eat the same scroll immediately. |
| Ezek 3:14 | …the hand of the LORD was strong upon me. | Divine hand symbolizing power/influence on the prophet. |
| Isa 8:1 | Moreover the LORD said to me, “Take for yourself a large scroll…” | Prophet instructed to write on a large scroll. |
| Jer 36:2 | “Take a scroll of a book for yourself and write on it all the words…” | Prophet given specific instructions for a scroll. |
| Zec 5:1-2 | …I looked, and behold, a flying scroll… | Vision of a scroll symbolizing widespread judgment. |
| Rev 5:1 | And I saw in the right hand of Him who sat on the throne a book… | A divine book/scroll held by God, containing decrees. |
| Rev 10:8-10 | “Go, take the small book which is open in the hand of the angel…eat it.” | A prophetic parallel of taking and eating a divine book. |
| Jer 1:9 | Then the LORD put forth His hand and touched my mouth… | Divine hand touching/empowering a prophet's mouth. |
| Isa 6:6-7 | …one of the seraphim flew to me…touched my mouth… | Divine agent cleansing and commissioning a prophet. |
| Ex 7:4 | …I will stretch out My hand on Egypt and bring forth My armies… | God's hand as an instrument of power and judgment. |
| Deut 29:20 | …all the curses written in this book shall settle on him… | Warning of consequences written in a book/scroll. |
| Ps 40:7-8 | …in the scroll of the book it is written of me. | Divine plan/purpose revealed in a written scroll. |
| Ezek 2:3 | …I am sending you to the children of Israel, to a rebellious nation… | Immediate context of Israel's rebellion. |
| Ezek 3:7 | …the house of Israel will not want to listen to you, for they do not want to listen to Me. | Reiterates Israel's deep-seated rebellion. |
| Deut 9:7 | Remember and do not forget how you provoked the LORD your God to wrath… | Highlights Israel's long history of provoking God. |
| Acts 7:51 | You stiff-necked…always resist the Holy Spirit; as your fathers did, so do you. | New Testament echoing the rebellious nature of Israel. |
| Ex 4:10-12 | …I will be with your mouth and teach you what you are to say. | God's promise to empower the prophet's speaking. |
| Dan 12:4 | …seal up the book until the end of time. | Reference to divine books sealed for future revelation. |
| Heb 10:7 | Then I said, ‘Behold, I have come (in the scroll of the book it is written of Me)… | New Testament citing Psalm 40, reinforcing the scroll's divine purpose. |
| 1 Kgs 18:46 | Then the hand of the LORD came upon Elijah… | God's empowering presence enabling a prophet. |
| Num 12:8 | …I speak with him face to face, even clearly… | God directly revealing Himself and His word to a prophet. |
Ezekiel 2 verses
Ezekiel 2 9 Meaning
Ezekiel 2:9 describes a pivotal moment in Ezekiel's prophetic commissioning, where he beholds a supernatural vision: a divine hand extends to him, presenting a written scroll. This visual manifestation symbolizes God's direct intervention and the authoritative, pre-ordained nature of the message Ezekiel is about to receive and deliver to a rebellious house of Israel. The scroll represents the revealed word, the burden of his prophecy.
Ezekiel 2 9 Context
Ezekiel chapter 2 details the specific commission given to Ezekiel, a priest in exile by the Chebar Canal, approximately five years into the Babylonian captivity (around 593 BC). Having previously encountered the glorious vision of God's throne-chariot in chapter 1, Ezekiel is now explicitly called to be a prophet to the rebellious house of Israel, both those in exile and those remaining in Jerusalem. God forewarns Ezekiel of the defiant nature of his audience—they are stiff-necked and hard-hearted. Verse 9 then vividly portrays the source and nature of the message Ezekiel is to convey. The vision of the hand and the scroll confirms that his message is not from himself but directly from God, solidifying his divine mandate. The content of this scroll, as revealed in verse 10, is filled with "lament, mourning, and woe," setting the tone for Ezekiel's daunting prophetic task to proclaim judgment and impending doom.
Ezekiel 2 9 Word analysis
- And when I looked: Signifies a focused, intentional observation of a divine vision rather than a casual glance. It underscores Ezekiel's receptive state to God's revelation.
- behold (הִנֵּה - hinnêh): An interjection signaling something sudden, remarkable, or particularly significant about to be revealed. It demands attention and highlights the divine initiative in the manifestation.
- a hand (יָד - yad): In this context, it represents a visible manifestation of divine power and action. It is God Himself acting directly, albeit in anthropomorphic form. It emphasizes immediate, tangible, and deliberate divine intervention, not a mere thought or word.
- was sent to me: Indicates the deliberate, intentional direction of God's action specifically towards Ezekiel. It's a direct transmission of authority and message.
- and, lo (וְהִנֵּה - wəhinnêh): A reiteration of the demonstrative particle "behold," further intensifying the surprise and importance of what is seen next. It points to a second, distinct, and highly significant element of the vision.
- a scroll of a book (מְגִלַּת סֵפֶר - məḡillaṯ sēfer):
- scroll (מְגִלָּה - megillah): A rolled-up document. It implies a written, prepared, and authoritative message. It symbolizes a fixed, unalterable divine decree or testament.
- of a book (סֵפֶר - sefer): Further clarifies that the scroll is a substantial written document, often official, legal, or literary. It signifies a complete, structured message or record. The combined phrase emphasizes that it is a definitive, comprehensive, and divinely authored revelation.
- was therein: Simply states that the content—the message itself—was inside or upon the scroll. This clarifies that the scroll wasn't empty; its purpose was to carry the divinely inscribed words.
- words-group analysis:
- "a hand was sent to me": This phrase highlights the divine source and the prophet's passive reception. Ezekiel is not seeking this message; it is actively delivered to him by God's own agency. It authenticates the message as divine and unavoidable for the prophet. This also emphasizes that prophetic calling and message originates from God alone.
- "behold… and, lo, a scroll of a book was therein": The repetition of the interjection "behold/lo" emphasizes the awe-inspiring nature of the vision and sequentially highlights two critical components: first the divine power (the hand), then the divine message (the scroll). This distinct appearance underlines the formal and sacred nature of the revealed word. It’s not just a fleeting thought but a tangible, prepared document embodying God’s decree.
Ezekiel 2 9 Bonus section
The visual clarity and tangibility of this prophetic initiation were crucial for Ezekiel, reinforcing the immense burden he was to carry. Unlike abstract divine promptings, the appearance of the "hand" and "scroll" left no doubt for Ezekiel as to the reality and source of his mission. This concrete presentation of the divine message ensured that Ezekiel was a messenger of a precise, pre-determined word, not one based on personal feelings or current events. This also establishes a precedent for the written Word of God as an authoritative and final revelation for humanity. The distinct nature of Ezekiel's encounter serves to validate his message to a people who consistently rejected prophetic warnings, underlining that God's word is firm, sealed, and will indeed come to pass.
Ezekiel 2 9 Commentary
Ezekiel 2:9 provides a powerful image of God's communication to His prophet. The divine "hand" signifies direct, potent action, emphasizing that the prophetic message is entirely from God's sovereign will, not human devising. The "scroll" acts as a physical manifestation of this divine word, presenting it as a formal, complete, and unalterable document. It is a sealed indictment or decree, embodying God's revealed will concerning His rebellious people. This direct, tangible handing over of the scroll by a divine hand removes any ambiguity about the message's origin or authority, grounding Ezekiel's daunting commission in an unassailable divine mandate. The subsequent content of the scroll (lament, mourning, woe in verse 10) indicates that God's truth would challenge the false sense of peace propagated by other voices among the exiles. It implicitly polemicizes against optimistic yet false prophecies by asserting God's true and often difficult reality for a sinful generation.