Ezekiel 24 1

Ezekiel 24:1 kjv

Again in the ninth year, in the tenth month, in the tenth day of the month, the word of the LORD came unto me, saying,

Ezekiel 24:1 nkjv

Again, in the ninth year, in the tenth month, on the tenth day of the month, the word of the LORD came to me, saying,

Ezekiel 24:1 niv

In the ninth year, in the tenth month on the tenth day, the word of the LORD came to me:

Ezekiel 24:1 esv

In the ninth year, in the tenth month, on the tenth day of the month, the word of the LORD came to me:

Ezekiel 24:1 nlt

On January 15, during the ninth year of King Jehoiachin's captivity, this message came to me from the LORD:

Ezekiel 24 verses

Ezekiel 24 1 Meaning

Ezekiel 24:1 marks a crucial chronological point in God's revelation to the prophet. It precisely states that the divine message came to Ezekiel on a specific date: the ninth year, the tenth month, and the tenth day of that month. This timing is historically significant, as it coincides exactly with the beginning of the final siege of Jerusalem by the Babylonian king Nebuchadnezzar, as recorded in other biblical books. The verse introduces a profound prophecy concerning Jerusalem's ultimate destruction, underscoring God's sovereign control over history and His unerring fulfillment of prophetic warnings.

Ezekiel 24 1 Context

Ezekiel 24:1 introduces a new and deeply significant message concerning the impending doom of Jerusalem. Prior to this, Ezekiel delivered numerous warnings and prophecies of judgment, but this particular message marks a critical turning point as it occurs on the exact day the siege against Jerusalem began (January 15, 588 BC). For Ezekiel and the exiles in Babylon, this message from God, though delivered miles away from Jerusalem, provided a divine perspective on the unfolding catastrophic events back home. Chapter 24 then continues with the parable of the boiling pot (verses 3-14), symbolizing Jerusalem as a city destined for purification through fiery judgment, and the command for Ezekiel not to mourn his wife's death (verses 15-27), symbolizing the overwhelming grief of the exiles that would render normal mourning impossible when Jerusalem fell. The precise dating highlights God's sovereign foreknowledge and meticulous control over historical events, offering a stark contrast to any human belief in fate or the random whims of pagan deities. It underscores the reliability of prophetic revelation and shatters any remaining false hope among the exiles that Jerusalem would escape destruction.

Ezekiel 24 1 Word analysis

• Again (וַיְהִי / va-ye-hi): This Hebrew conjunction phrase, often translated "And it came to pass" or "It was," connects the current message to the ongoing series of divine revelations to Ezekiel. It signifies continuity rather than a break, showing God's sustained communication.
• in the ninth year (בַּשָּׁנָה הַתְּשִׁיעִית / ba-shana ha-te-shi'it): This refers to the ninth regnal year of King Zedekiah of Judah, which also corresponds to the ninth year of Jehoiachin's exile in Babylon. Ezekiel consistently dates his prophecies by the exile of Jehoiachin (Eze 1:2). This synchronizes exactly with the historical accounts of Jerusalem's siege (2 Kgs 25:1; Jer 39:1; Jer 52:4).
• in the tenth month (בַּחֹדֶשׁ הָעֲשִׂירִי / ba-ḥōḏeš hā-ʿăśīrī): The tenth month in the Hebrew calendar is Tevet (approximately December/January). The precise mention of the month further emphasizes the exactness of God's timing.
• on the tenth day of the month (בַּעֲשׂוֹר בַּחֹדֶשׁ / ba-ʿăśōr ba-ḥōḏeš): The specificity of the day is crucial. It directly marks the very day the final siege of Jerusalem began, revealing God's precise control over the timeline of historical events. This detail is remarkable as Ezekiel, in exile, would not have known this event was occurring without divine revelation.
• the word of the LORD (דְבַר־יְהוָה / dəvar YHVH): This is a standard and authoritative prophetic formula. Devar (word) signifies a direct message, and YHVH (the LORD) is the sacred covenant name of God, asserting the divine origin and infallible authority of the message. This phrase removes any doubt about the source or veracity of Ezekiel's prophecy.
• came to me (הָיָה אֵלָי / hāyāʾ ʾēlay): This personal reception emphasizes Ezekiel's role as a direct recipient of divine communication, underscoring his calling as a prophet to convey God's will to the exiles.
• saying (לֵאמֹר / lēʾmōr): This adverbial phrase routinely introduces the direct speech or content of the divine message that follows.

Word-Groups Analysis:

• Again, in the ninth year, in the tenth month, on the tenth day of the month: This precise temporal indicator (day, month, year) is the absolute cornerstone of this verse. It is not merely a date but a divinely appointed moment aligning prophetic announcement in Babylon with historical event in Jerusalem. This precision would have profoundly impacted the exiles when news eventually reached them, confirming Ezekiel's legitimacy as God's mouthpiece. It serves as powerful evidence of God's omniscience and omnipotence, showing His command over the sweep of history.
• the word of the LORD came to me, saying: This classic prophetic statement confirms the direct and undeniable nature of divine revelation. It highlights the prophet's passive reception of God's message, not his own ideas or interpretations. The authority of God (YHVH) stands behind every subsequent utterance, demanding attention and obedience from the audience. This phrase distinguishes true prophecy from human speculation, establishing the foundational authority of the prophet's upcoming declaration regarding Jerusalem's doom.

Ezekiel 24 1 Bonus section

The remarkable correspondence between the timing of this prophecy given to Ezekiel in Babylon and the start of Jerusalem's siege signifies God's presence both among His exiled people and in the heart of the crisis in Judah. It would have served as irrefutable evidence for the exiles, upon learning the news of the siege months later, that Ezekiel was a true prophet. This precise dating is a testament to the fact that God not only reveals the future but orchestrates the timing of its unfolding, down to the very day. This theme resonates strongly throughout the Old Testament, where specific timelines are often given for major redemptive or judgment events, demonstrating divine control over history and prophecy.

Ezekiel 24 1 Commentary

Ezekiel 24:1 is a chilling opening to a severe prophecy. It functions as God's personal, divinely stamped calendar entry for Jerusalem's judgment. The astonishing precision of the date—the ninth year, tenth month, tenth day—reveals God's complete sovereign oversight over human history, aligning an exact prophecy given in exile with the exact commencement of the siege of Jerusalem back home. This temporal congruence validates Ezekiel's prophetic ministry unequivocally and underscores the unerring reliability of God's word. For the exiles clinging to false hope, this message confirmed that judgment was not merely coming, but had begun precisely when God foretold it. It solidified the notion that Jerusalem's fate was sealed by divine decree, not by random circumstance or the strength of Babylon's army alone. It serves as a somber reminder that God's warnings are certain to be fulfilled.