Ezekiel 23 1

Ezekiel 23:1 kjv

The word of the LORD came again unto me, saying,

Ezekiel 23:1 nkjv

The word of the LORD came again to me, saying:

Ezekiel 23:1 niv

The word of the LORD came to me:

Ezekiel 23:1 esv

The word of the LORD came to me:

Ezekiel 23:1 nlt

This message came to me from the LORD:

Ezekiel 23 verses

Ezekiel 23 1 Meaning

Ezekiel 23:1 serves as a foundational declaration, announcing the divine origin and authoritative nature of the subsequent message. It signifies a direct, personal encounter between the transcendent God (Yahweh) and His chosen prophet (Ezekiel). This introductory phrase establishes the absolute legitimacy and unassailable authority of the prophecy that follows, stressing that the words are not human conjecture but God's revealed truth delivered through His appointed messenger. It sets the stage for a solemn and profound divine communication to be conveyed to the people of Israel.

Ezekiel 23 1 Context

Ezekiel 23:1 initiates a new prophetic oracle within the Book of Ezekiel. Prior to this, Ezekiel has been receiving numerous messages, visions, and parables concerning the judgment and future restoration of Judah and Jerusalem, particularly against the backdrop of the Babylonian exile. Chapter 22 details the extensive sins of Jerusalem. Chapter 23 introduces an allegorical prophecy, where two sisters, Oholah (Samaria, representing Israel) and Oholibah (Jerusalem, representing Judah), are used to vividly portray the spiritual harlotry and idolatry of God's people. Verse 1's "The word of the LORD came to me" therefore prefaces a highly sensitive and impactful message, emphasizing its divine imperative and authority for a people living in profound rebellion and facing severe consequences. Historically, Ezekiel delivered these prophecies from Babylonian captivity to fellow exiles, guiding them through a period of national catastrophe and theological reorientation.

Ezekiel 23 1 Word analysis

• And (וַיְהִי - va-ye-hi): This conjunctive particle links the current revelation with previous ones, indicating continuity within God's ongoing communication with Ezekiel. It functions as "and it happened that" or "then it was." This is not an isolated event but part of a sustained prophetic dialogue.
• the word (דְבַר - devar): In Hebrew thought, devar encompasses more than just a spoken utterance; it is a dynamic force. It implies not just the communication of information but an active, creative, and potent decree or instruction from God. This "word" possesses inherent authority and power to effect what it declares, distinct from mere human words.
• of the LORD (יְהוָה - Yahweh): This is the covenant name of God, indicating His personal, revealed, and actively involved character. It asserts that the message originates from the sovereign God who entered into covenant relationship with Israel, rather than from any human or lesser divine entity. The use of Yahweh emphasizes both His identity as the true God and His relationship to the people being addressed.
• came (הָיָה אֵלַי - haya elay, literally "was to/upon me"): This verb phrase conveys a direct, active transmission and reception. It signifies that God's word was specifically directed and effectively delivered to Ezekiel. It denotes not just inspiration but a profound, undeniable, and often external, experience of receiving divine truth.
• to me (אֵלַי - elay): This pronominal suffix clearly identifies Ezekiel as the chosen and exclusive recipient of this particular revelation. It highlights the personal nature of God's calling and His deliberate choice of a human vessel for His message, establishing Ezekiel's mandate to speak for God.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• The word of the LORD: This entire phrase serves as the authoritative stamp on the prophecy. It asserts the divine source and intrinsic power of the message, distinguishing it sharply from human speculation or religious rhetoric. This is not simply a man's opinion, but the very decree of the Almighty. It directly confronts any reliance on false prophets or alternative divinatory practices prevalent in the ancient Near East, by unequivocally declaring Yahweh as the sole fount of truth.

Ezekiel 23 1 Bonus section

This seemingly simple introductory formula ("The word of the LORD came to me") is pregnant with theological significance. In an era saturated with pagan cults, diverse deities, and varied forms of divination (such as necromancy, omens, or ecstatic prophecies induced by drugs or self-harm, which God condemned, Deut 18:9-14), this phrase asserts a distinctively Israelite claim. It presents Yahweh as the unique, living God who personally speaks directly to His chosen agents with intelligible, authoritative messages. This is a deliberate counter-statement, a polemic against all alternative sources of spiritual authority and truth. Furthermore, the repetition of this phrase throughout Ezekiel underscores the continuous and relentless nature of God's attempts to communicate with His wayward people, even in their exile, demonstrating His enduring faithfulness despite their unfaithfulness. The weight of every subsequent word in Ezekiel 23 derives directly from this initial declaration of divine origin.

Ezekiel 23 1 Commentary

Ezekiel 23:1, "The word of the LORD came to me," is the indispensable prelude to divine prophecy. It fundamentally establishes the source of the ensuing oracle, declaring that the words are not of human devising but emanate directly from Yahweh, Israel's covenant God. This formula safeguards the message's integrity and absolute authority, positioning Ezekiel as a divinely appointed conduit, not the author, of the profound truths (and often severe judgments) that follow. It reinforces the theological understanding that all genuine biblical revelation originates from God's direct initiative and is uniquely delivered through chosen instruments, for His specific purposes. The consistency of this introductory formula across prophetic literature emphasizes a continuous divine plan for communication with humanity.