Ezekiel 24 20

Ezekiel 24:20 kjv

Then I answered them, The word of the LORD came unto me, saying,

Ezekiel 24:20 nkjv

Then I answered them, "The word of the LORD came to me, saying,

Ezekiel 24:20 niv

So I said to them, "The word of the LORD came to me:

Ezekiel 24:20 esv

Then I said to them, "The word of the LORD came to me:

Ezekiel 24:20 nlt

So I said to them, "A message came to me from the LORD,

Ezekiel 24 verses

Ezekiel 24 20 Meaning

Ezekiel 24:20 initiates God's direct interpretive response through the prophet Ezekiel to the people of Israel concerning the prophetic signs given in the chapter. Specifically, it confirms that the explanation Ezekiel is about to deliver—regarding the death of his wife and the parable of the boiling pot—originates directly from the Lord Himself. It emphasizes divine authority and the binding nature of the message that follows, preparing the audience for a grave and definitive pronouncement concerning the siege and destruction of Jerusalem.

Ezekiel 24 20 Context

Ezekiel 24 stands as a critical and somber chapter in the prophet's ministry. It unfolds two key prophetic signs, both delivered on the very day Nebuchadnezzar began his final siege of Jerusalem (Ezek 24:1-2): the parable of the boiling pot (24:1-14) and the sudden, unmourned death of Ezekiel's wife (24:15-18). These acts symbolize Jerusalem's impending destruction and the unprecedented, crushing sorrow that would grip the exiles, making traditional mourning rituals irrelevant. Verse 19 records the people's bewildered inquiry to Ezekiel, asking for the meaning of these enigmatic signs. Ezekiel 24:20 directly introduces God's response to their query, validating that the subsequent explanation of Jerusalem's fall and its aftermath is a direct divine message, not Ezekiel's own interpretation. Historically, this prophecy occurs amidst the Babylonian exile, just as the final doom for Judah is sealed. The shock of the prophecy was intensified because it spoke of God’s active judgment on His own temple and people.

Ezekiel 24 20 Word analysis

• Then: The Hebrew wā'êmar (וָאֹמַר) serves as a temporal and consequential connector, indicating that what follows is a direct reaction to the people's question in Ezekiel 24:19. It marks a shift from silent symbolic action to verbal divine explanation.

• I answered them: `êmar l'lōḵ (אֵלֵיהֶם). Ezekiel is responding directly to the specific query of the exiles who were observing his actions and seeking understanding. This highlights his role as a mediator between God and the people.

• The word of the Lord came to me: The standard prophetic formula wāyedaber Yahweh 'elai (וַיְדַבֵּר יְהוָה אֵלַי) or similar variations like debar Yahweh haya' 'elay. This phrase, foundational to prophetic literature (e.g., Jer 1:2, Hos 1:1), authenticates the message as divine revelation rather than human opinion. It removes any doubt about the origin and authority of the message, establishing it as binding truth. It stresses that Ezekiel is a mouthpiece, not the source.

• This is what the Sovereign Lord says: Koh amar 'Adonai Yahweh (כֹּה אָמַר אֲדֹנָי יְהוִה). This is an exceptionally weighty prophetic declaration.

  • Koh amar: "Thus says" or "This is what says" (lit. "so says"), a common and authoritative phrase that prefaces God's direct speech through His prophets, denoting the message as an absolute and incontrovertible divine pronouncement.
  • Adonai Yahweh: "Sovereign Lord." Adonai (אֲדֹנָי) signifies "my Lord" or "master," indicating absolute sovereignty and ownership. Yahweh (יְהוִה, traditionally vocalized "Jehovah" or "LORD" in English Bibles, derived from the divine tetragrammaton YHWH) is God's personal covenant name. The combination Adonai Yahweh is a favorite of Ezekiel's, used over 200 times. It emphasizes God's supreme authority, faithfulness to His covenant, and His ultimate power even over judgment, ensuring that His plans are perfectly executed. This compound name conveys both immanence (covenant relationship) and transcendence (sovereign power).

• Words-group by words-group analysis:

  • "Then I answered them, 'The word of the Lord came to me": This phrase directly addresses the interactive moment between Ezekiel and the exiles, setting the stage for the prophetic oracle. It transitions from their human query to the divine answer, underlining Ezekiel's role as a prophetic channel. It ensures the audience knows the prophet isn't simply giving his thoughts but receiving a direct transmission.
  • "'This is what the Sovereign Lord says:''": This declarative opening firmly asserts the divine origin and incontrovertible authority of the subsequent message. The dual title "Sovereign Lord" enhances the weight of the coming pronouncements, signifying absolute control, unchallengeable power, and faithful execution of God's plans. It underscores the severity and certainty of Jerusalem's fate about to be revealed.

Ezekiel 24 20 Bonus section

The specific repetition of the phrases "the word of the Lord came to me" and "Thus says the Sovereign Lord" within the same verse, though slightly redundant in human speech, intensely amplifies the message's divine authenticity and importance in prophetic literature. It signals that what follows is not merely an inspired word, but a direct, inarguable declaration from God. This layered emphasis was crucial for an audience grappling with profound suffering and theological questions about God's justice and faithfulness, assuring them that their questions were being answered by the ultimate authority. This also connects to the idea that true prophets do not speak their own words (Deut 18:20-22), but faithfully transmit God's word. The solemnity of this introduction heightens the dramatic impact of the prophecy that follows, a prophecy so severe it silenced conventional mourning.

Ezekiel 24 20 Commentary

Ezekiel 24:20 serves as the authoritative gateway to understanding the profound and devastating messages conveyed earlier in the chapter through the boiling pot parable and the death of Ezekiel's wife. After days of performing silent, grief-stricken, and enigmatic prophetic acts, the prophet now speaks by divine command. This verse underscores that the forthcoming interpretation of Jerusalem's impending destruction and the exiles' muted sorrow is not a mere human speculation or comfort-giving message, but the irrefutable "word of the Lord" from "the Sovereign Lord." The use of multiple prophetic formulas—"The word of the Lord came to me" and "Thus says the Sovereign Lord"—functions as a powerful attestation, removing all ambiguity. It is God Himself providing the interpretation, demonstrating His absolute sovereignty over events, even those as traumatic as the siege of His holy city and the suffering of His people. The people's confusion in verse 19 leads directly to God's clarity in this verse, preparing them for the painful reality that their national tragedy is a direct, divinely orchestrated consequence. The immediate and certain fulfillment of this word in history reinforces its divine origin and veracity.