Ezekiel 24 23

Ezekiel 24:23 kjv

And your tires shall be upon your heads, and your shoes upon your feet: ye shall not mourn nor weep; but ye shall pine away for your iniquities, and mourn one toward another.

Ezekiel 24:23 nkjv

Your turbans shall be on your heads and your sandals on your feet; you shall neither mourn nor weep, but you shall pine away in your iniquities and mourn with one another.

Ezekiel 24:23 niv

You will keep your turbans on your heads and your sandals on your feet. You will not mourn or weep but will waste away because of your sins and groan among yourselves.

Ezekiel 24:23 esv

Your turbans shall be on your heads and your shoes on your feet; you shall not mourn or weep, but you shall rot away in your iniquities and groan to one another.

Ezekiel 24:23 nlt

Your heads will remain covered, and your sandals will not be taken off. You will not mourn or weep, but you will waste away because of your sins. You will groan among yourselves for all the evil you have done.

Ezekiel 24 verses

Ezekiel 24 23 Meaning

Those who survive will escape to the mountains, like the doves of the valleys, each one moaning because of their iniquities.

Ezekiel 24 23 Context

In Ezekiel chapter 24, the prophet is given a series of symbolic actions and messages to convey God's judgment upon Jerusalem and its people. The chapter begins with a symbolic depiction of Jerusalem as a pot of stew, signifying its corruption and impending destruction. The fire of God’s judgment is depicted as consuming the pot, its contents, and its very dross.

Verse 23 specifically addresses the survivors of the impending siege and destruction of Jerusalem. It foretells that these remaining people will escape to the mountains, likened to doves. Their escape will be characterized by moaning and lamentation, acknowledging their own iniquities as the cause of their suffering and exile. This signifies a partial repentance and a recognition of guilt among some of the survivors. The inability to speak clearly ("their tongues cleave to the roof of their mouth") highlights their desolation and brokenness.

Historically, this chapter speaks to the final siege and destruction of Jerusalem by the Babylonians under Nebuchadnezzar in 587/586 BCE. The imagery of a defiled pot reflects the moral and spiritual corruption within the city, leading to divine judgment. The survivors’ plight, though an escape from immediate death, represents the hardship and consequence of their collective sin.

Ezekiel 24 23 Word Analysis

• So shall your throw your tongues:

  • "So" (כֵּן - kēn): Indicates manner or consequence, "thus" or "in this way."
  • "shall you throw/cast" (תִּקְצְצָ֤ה - tiqṣĕṣā): This verb, derived from קָצַץ (qāṣaṣ), can mean "to cut off," "to clip," or "to make fine." In this context, it suggests the inability to speak, with the tongue becoming stuck or clipped to the roof of the mouth due to severe affliction, thirst, or silence imposed by judgment.
  • "your tongues" (לְשׁוֹנֵיכֶם - lĕšōnêkem): Plural of "tongue" (לָשׁוֹן - lāšôn), representing speech, voice, and communication.

• and their voice shall be to you from Jerusalem:

  • "and their voice" (וְק֖וֹל - wĕqôl): "And voice," referring to the sound or speech of the people.
  • "shall be" (יִהְיֶ֣ה - yihyeh): Future tense of "to be."
  • "to you" (לָכֶ֣ם - lākem): Plural masculine pronoun, indicating the message is for the exiled community of Ezekiel.
  • "from Jerusalem" (מִיְר֛וּשָׁלִַ֖ם - mîrūšālayim): Signifies the source of this lament, the very city under siege.

• in the midst of their wailing:

  • "in the midst" (בְּת֖וֹךְ - bĕṯôḵ): "In the middle of" or "within."
  • "their wailing" (נִֽיבָרֹ֥ת - nîwārōt): This word can refer to "wailing," "moaning," or "complaining." It signifies the vocal expression of grief and sorrow.

• each one moaning because of their iniquities:

  • "each one" (אִ֖ישׁ - îš): "Man" or "each person."
  • "moaning/groaning" (מְהַמְהֲמֹת - məhamhªmōt): This word signifies a murmuring, groaning, or muttering sound. It captures the internal and subdued nature of their distress.
  • "because of" (מִדִּבְרֵיהֶם֙ - middibṟêhem): Literally "from their speaking," but in context, it points to the source of their groaning, which is related to their actions and words, implying their sins. A more precise reading connects it to their transgressions or guilt.
  • "their iniquities" (עֲוֹנֹתֵיהֶֽם - ʿªwōṯêhem): "Their iniquities," "their transgressions," or "their guilt." This is the crucial element, pointing to the self-blame and recognition of sin as the cause of their suffering.

• and their escape shall be like the doves of the valleys:

  • "and their escape/remainder" (וּפְלֵיטָתָ֖ם - ūpĕlêṭāṯām): "And their escaped ones" or "their remnant." This refers to those who survive the immediate onslaught.
  • "shall be" (כִּֽי־ - kî): The particle here can introduce the manner of their escape.
  • "like" (כְּמֹ֣ו - kĕmō): "As" or "like."
  • "the doves" (ְיוֹנִ֑י - yōnî): Plural of "dove" (יונה - yōnâ). Doves were common birds, often found in secluded or rocky places.
  • "of the valleys" (בִּגְיֹונ֖וֹת - bigʻyōnōt): The exact meaning of this word is debated, but it likely refers to the deep valleys or ravines where doves would seek refuge and safety. This imagery suggests vulnerability, fear, and the need for hiding.

Ezekiel 24 23 Bonus Section

The imagery of the tongue cleaving to the roof of the mouth is found in other contexts of severe suffering and affliction, such as intense thirst (Job 29:10, Psalm 22:15) or extreme terror and shock. In Ezekiel's prophecy, it serves to intensify the depiction of the survivors' profound despair and self-inflicted misery, linking their physical suffering directly to their spiritual state. The "doves of the valleys" can also symbolize the peaceable, gentler nature of those now forced into a harsh, exposed existence due to their unfaithfulness. Their inherent nature is contrasted with the harsh reality they must now endure, caused by their sins.

Ezekiel 24 23 Commentary

Ezekiel 24:23 paints a vivid picture of the aftermath of divine judgment for Jerusalem. Those who survive the immediate destruction will not be triumphant but will bear the heavy burden of their own transgressions. Their escape is not one of joy but of profound sorrow and self-awareness, characterized by silence, moaning, and recognition of their iniquities.

The metaphor of doves in the valleys emphasizes their newfound vulnerability and desperation. These birds, seeking refuge in secluded, often difficult terrain, represent the state of the survivors: scattered, fearful, and hidden away. Their moaning is a deep expression of personal guilt and the collective consequences of their disobedience to God. This verse underscores that even survival under judgment is marked by profound suffering stemming directly from sin. The inability to speak freely highlights their spiritual desolation and the internal "tongues cleaving to the roof of their mouth" is a strong image of profound affliction and speechless grief over their past actions.