Ezekiel 24 25

Ezekiel 24:25 kjv

Also, thou son of man, shall it not be in the day when I take from them their strength, the joy of their glory, the desire of their eyes, and that whereupon they set their minds, their sons and their daughters,

Ezekiel 24:25 nkjv

'And you, son of man?will it not be in the day when I take from them their stronghold, their joy and their glory, the desire of their eyes, and that on which they set their minds, their sons and their daughters:

Ezekiel 24:25 niv

"And you, son of man, on the day I take away their stronghold, their joy and glory, the delight of their eyes, their heart's desire, and their sons and daughters as well?

Ezekiel 24:25 esv

"As for you, son of man, surely on the day when I take from them their stronghold, their joy and glory, the delight of their eyes and their soul's desire, and also their sons and daughters,

Ezekiel 24:25 nlt

Then the LORD said to me, "Son of man, on the day I take away their stronghold ? their joy and glory, their heart's desire, their dearest treasure ? I will also take away their sons and daughters.

Ezekiel 24 verses

Ezekiel 24 25 Meaning

Ezekiel 24:25 foretells a specific day when the Lord would irrevocably remove from the exiles in Babylon everything they held dear, particularly the things associated with their identity, security, joy, pride, and most significantly, their children. This verse climaxes the prior prophetic warnings, detailing the ultimate and comprehensive nature of the judgment against Judah and Jerusalem, revealing a profound and deeply personal loss that would strip away all comfort and hope from their immediate experience.

Ezekiel 24 25 Context

Ezekiel 24:25 concludes a chapter rich with imagery and somber prophecy concerning the final destruction of Jerusalem. The chapter begins with the parable of the cooking pot (verses 1-14), symbolizing Jerusalem as a pot where its inhabitants are cooked by the heat of the siege. This parable, delivered in Babylon on the very day Nebuchadnezzar began his siege of Jerusalem (January 15, 588 BCE), underscores the certainty and severity of God's judgment. Immediately following, Ezekiel experiences the sudden death of his wife (verses 15-18), a "delight of his eyes." He is commanded not to mourn outwardly (verses 19-24), serving as a stark prophetic sign to the exiles: when their "delight" – the Temple, Jerusalem, and their loved ones – is taken, they too will be in such despair that outward mourning will be secondary to their inner devastation. Verse 25, therefore, serves as the climactic summation, detailing the precise things that would be removed, directly referencing and broadening the personal loss experienced by Ezekiel to encompass the entire exiled community's future. The historical context is the Babylonian exile, where Judahite captives in Babylon longed for Jerusalem's salvation, refusing to believe in its ultimate destruction, which this prophecy confirmed with stark clarity.

Ezekiel 24 25 Word analysis

• And you, son of man (וְאַתָּה בֶן-אָדָם, və'attâ ḇen-’ādām): "Son of man" is a consistent appellation for Ezekiel, emphasizing his humanity and mortal nature in contrast to God's divine majesty. The phrase "And you" personalizes the message directly to Ezekiel, signaling a shift in address and a critical juncture in the revelation of judgment. This emphasizes Ezekiel's personal connection and responsibility to convey the divine word, preparing him for what he must witness and communicate.
• on the day (בְּיוֹם, bəyōm): Refers to a definite future time, indicating the certainty and immutability of the divine decree. This is not a general period but a specific, pivotal moment in history when the prophecy will visibly culminate. The precision suggests God's sovereign control over historical events, specifically the fall of Jerusalem.
• when I take from them (קַחְתִּי מֵהֶם, qaḥtî mêhem): Emphasizes God's active agency and intentionality in judgment. It is not merely a consequence of external events but a divine act. The verb `לקח` (laqach) means to take, seize, or acquire, reinforcing the idea of a deliberate and powerful removal, an unarguable dispossession by God himself.
• their stronghold (מָעוּזָּם, mā‘ûzzām): Literally means a strong place, fortress, or refuge. This refers primarily to Jerusalem, the fortified capital, and by extension, the Temple within it, which was considered impregnable. For the Israelites, this represented their security, defense, and national identity, which they wrongly trusted in, rather than in the Lord. It signifies the removal of their perceived invincibility and ultimate source of earthly protection.
• their joy (מְשׂוֹשָׂם, məśôsām): Derived from `שׂושׂ` (sûs), meaning to rejoice. This refers to their happiness, gladness, and prosperity, which were intricately linked with their settled life in the land, the functioning Temple, and the regular celebrations and festivals. Its removal signifies an utter absence of delight, transforming their lives into sorrow and lamentation.
• and their glory (וּתְפְאֶרְתָּם, ûṯif'artām): Derived from `פאר` (pa’ar), meaning splendor, beauty, honor, or boast. This points to their national pride, the splendor of their religious institutions, and perhaps even the physical beauty of Jerusalem and the Temple. It represents what they esteemed and gloried in, that which gave them reputation and standing among nations. Its loss marks humiliation and disgrace.
• the delight of their eyes (מַחְמַד עֵינֵיהֶם, maḥmad ‘ênêhem): Refers to whatever they found pleasurable, valuable, and attractive to behold. This could encompass precious possessions, the beauty of their land, their physical well-being, or particularly loved individuals. The phrase emphasizes an aesthetic and emotional attachment, signaling the removal of what truly brought visual pleasure and deep satisfaction. This directly echoes the description of Ezekiel's wife in v.16 ("delight of your eyes").
• and their heart's longing (וּמַשָּׂא נַפְשָׁם, ûmassā’ nafšām): Refers to the deep yearning, desire, or profound attachment of their inner being (soul, self). It encapsulates what was most longed for and deeply cherished. This phrase speaks to the profound emotional core of their existence, indicating a comprehensive loss reaching into the innermost desires and hopes of their soul. It often connotes burden or uplift, here representing what elevated their spirit or weighed heavily on their hearts out of intense love.
• their sons and daughters (בְּנֵיהֶם וּבְנוֹתֵיהֶם, bənêhem ûḇənôṯêhem): This phrase, placed last, serves as the devastating culmination of all previous losses. Children were not merely possessions but the continuation of lineage, hope for the future, and the deepest personal attachment. Their removal, through death or captivity, represents the most severe and irreversible judgment, stripping the community of its future, its very identity, and its ability to perpetuate. It signifies an existential crisis and ultimate human grief.

• "when I take from them their stronghold, their joy and their glory, the delight of their eyes, and their heart's longing": This series of losses highlights the multifaceted nature of divine judgment. It isn't just a political or military defeat; it's a comprehensive stripping away of every source of security, happiness, pride, and personal fulfillment. It covers the material (stronghold), emotional (joy), national pride (glory), sensory pleasure (delight of eyes), and profound personal longing. This accumulation of nouns builds a powerful image of total despoliation, emphasizing the gravity of Judah's spiritual corruption that warranted such a complete loss.
• "their stronghold... their sons and daughters": The juxtaposition of material and abstract possessions with human lives underscores the all-encompassing nature of God's judgment. Starting with external security and moving to the deepest personal affections demonstrates how the fall of Jerusalem would touch every aspect of their existence. The "stronghold" and "sons and daughters" frame the range of losses, from communal defenses to individual futures, highlighting that nothing cherished would be spared. The very real human cost of sin is revealed through the loss of what is most precious: children.

Ezekiel 24 25 Bonus section

The concept of "delight of their eyes" and "heart's longing" (or "desire of their soul") has profound theological implications as it mirrors God's own description of the Temple as the "delight of their eyes" (Ezek 24:21). The parallelism suggests that the very things Israel had cherished and found delight in—their physical security, prosperity, and even their families—had inadvertently supplanted the rightful place of God or His sanctuary in their hearts. Thus, God removes these lesser "delights" and "longings" to ultimately demonstrate His preeminence and to sever their attachments to what prevented them from fully turning to Him. The collective loss experienced by the exiles through the fall of Jerusalem and the death of loved ones was to be a catalyst for them to re-evaluate their worship and re-center their desires on the Lord. The severe nature of the judgment aims not only at punishment but also at ultimate repentance and a future restoration rooted in a right relationship with God. This verse underscores the divine principle that anything that becomes an idol, even seemingly good things like family and security, can be removed by God to realign human hearts towards Him.

Ezekiel 24 25 Commentary

Ezekiel 24:25 delivers a stark, concluding prophecy, unveiling the depth of loss awaiting the exiles on the "day" Jerusalem falls. This is a personal message to Ezekiel about the profound grief that will afflict his people. God, as the divine agent, declares that He will actively remove everything central to their identity and existence: their fortified city, their communal happiness and national pride, their cherished possessions, and ultimately, their beloved children. This comprehensive dispossession signifies that their idolatry and rebellion necessitated a complete breaking of their false securities. The listing culminates with "sons and daughters," illustrating that the judgment extends to the most precious and irreplaceable aspects of human life, severing the continuity of generations and extinguishing future hope in their eyes. The magnitude of this impending desolation is intended to prepare both Ezekiel and the exiles for a sorrow so deep it would render customary mourning practices insufficient. It affirms the absolute certainty and justice of God's judgment, bringing them to an undeniable point of recognizing their utter dependence on Him alone.