Ezekiel 24 27

Ezekiel 24:27 kjv

In that day shall thy mouth be opened to him which is escaped, and thou shalt speak, and be no more dumb: and thou shalt be a sign unto them; and they shall know that I am the LORD.

Ezekiel 24:27 nkjv

On that day your mouth will be opened to him who has escaped; you shall speak and no longer be mute. Thus you will be a sign to them, and they shall know that I am the LORD.' "

Ezekiel 24:27 niv

At that time your mouth will be opened; you will speak with him and will no longer be silent. So you will be a sign to them, and they will know that I am the LORD."

Ezekiel 24:27 esv

On that day your mouth will be opened to the fugitive, and you shall speak and be no longer mute. So you will be a sign to them, and they will know that I am the LORD."

Ezekiel 24:27 nlt

And when he arrives, your voice will suddenly return so you can talk to him, and you will be a symbol for these people. Then they will know that I am the LORD."

Ezekiel 24 verses

Ezekiel 24 27 Meaning

Ezekiel 24:27 declares that a specific future event – the arrival of news concerning Jerusalem's downfall – will mark the end of Ezekiel's prophetic muteness. At that precise moment, his mouth will be opened, enabling him to speak freely once more. This restoration of speech will serve as a profound sign to the exiled Israelites, powerfully demonstrating the truthfulness of all Ezekiel's prior prophecies and divine messages, ultimately leading them to recognize and acknowledge the sovereignty and power of God Himself.

Ezekiel 24 27 Context

Ezekiel chapter 24 represents a critical turning point in the book and in Ezekiel's ministry. It opens with the "parable of the boiling pot," illustrating Jerusalem's imminent, fiery destruction due to its spiritual impurities. This oracle, delivered in Babylonian exile, precisely correlates with the start of Nebuchadnezzar's final siege on Jerusalem. Following this, God commands Ezekiel not to mourn audibly when his beloved wife dies, a profoundly personal and agonizing test. This unusual prohibition symbolizes the stunned, muted grief of the Israelites who will be too shocked by the Temple's destruction – the "delight of their eyes" – to openly lament. Verse 27, therefore, closes this intense chapter by specifying the moment Ezekiel's unique, prophetically-imposed muteness (or restriction on speaking certain warnings) will lift: the arrival of a messenger confirming Jerusalem's fall. This news will validate all his prior, often visually-delivered, and silent prophecies, thus transitioning his prophetic focus. Historically, Ezekiel is ministering to the exiles in Tel-abib, by the Chebar Canal, far from Jerusalem, making the arrival of such news highly significant for divine confirmation.

Ezekiel 24 27 Word analysis

• On that day: This phrase (bayyom hahu) is an emphatic temporal marker, signifying a precise moment in God's predetermined plan. It directly refers to the day when news of Jerusalem's fall would reach the exiles, tying divine action to specific historical events. It underscores the precision of prophetic fulfillment.
• your mouth will be opened: Hebrew niftach pîka (נִפְתַּח פִּיךָ). This is a passive construction, indicating that God, not Ezekiel, is the agent of opening. It implies a restoration of prophetic speech, removing a divinely imposed restriction. It marks an end to a period where Ezekiel was limited in his verbal pronouncements to the exiles concerning judgment, allowing him to deliver new messages, particularly of comfort and restoration.
• to him: Referring to the "fugitive" mentioned in the preceding verse (Ezek 24:26), who will bring the news of Jerusalem's fall. Ezekiel will speak directly to this witness and also, implicitly, to the people regarding this momentous event.
• and you will speak: Hebrew wəḏibbartā (וְדִבַּרְתָּ). This is a strong verb emphasizing actual, vocal communication, in contrast to the prior silence or symbolic actions. It signals the resumption of full verbal prophetic ministry.
• and no longer be silent: Hebrew wəloʾ tôsip ʿôḏ lĕhêôt mēḥerêš (וְלֹא תֽוֹסִיף ע֗וֹד לִהְי֥וֹת מֵחֵרֵשׁ). Literally "you will not add to be mute again." It confirms the permanent removal of this specific muteness regarding warnings and the timing of the end of Jerusalem. It highlights the definitive nature of this shift.
• So you will be a sign: Hebrew wəhāyîṯā lāhem lĕʾôṯ (וְהָיִ֖יתָ לָהֶ֥ם לְאֽוֹת). Ezekiel himself, through the fulfillment of this prophecy in his person, becomes a tangible, living confirmation of God's word. His transformation from silence to speech serves as concrete evidence for the people. This demonstrates the integral connection between the prophet's life and his message.
• to them: Refers to the exiled people of Israel, who were the primary audience for Ezekiel's prophecies and signs. They are the ones who need this divine confirmation and self-revelation.
• and they will know: Hebrew wəyādĕʿû (וְיָֽדְע֖וּ). This signifies a profound, experiential recognition and acknowledgment, not merely intellectual assent. It means "to understand and acknowledge experientially." This is a central purpose of all God's acts in Ezekiel.
• that I am the LORD: Hebrew kî ʾănî Yahweh (כִּי־אֲנִ֖י יְהוָֽה). This is the hallmark "recognition formula" throughout Ezekiel. It's the ultimate goal of God's judgments and redemptive acts. It refers to Yahweh's unique identity, sovereignty, faithfulness to His covenant, and unmatched power. His word coming to pass causes people to acknowledge His true identity as the one true God.

Words-group analysis:

• "your mouth will be opened to him, and you will speak and no longer be silent": This entire phrase indicates the transition from a period of restricted, partial, or full muteness (depending on scholarly interpretation of Ezek 3:26-27) to full verbal prophetic utterance. It's a divinely orchestrated restoration of Ezekiel's primary mode of ministry. The prior muteness was itself a prophetic sign, mirroring the speechless horror of the exiles.
• "So you will be a sign to them, and they will know that I am the LORD": This second part reveals the ultimate purpose behind the lifting of Ezekiel's muteness. His personal experience, transitioning from sign-bearer to verbal messenger at a specific, foretold event, transforms him into a sign of divine faithfulness. The objective is always God's self-revelation to a people who had forgotten or ignored His true identity. The fulfillment of prophecy leads to this essential recognition.

Ezekiel 24 27 Bonus section

The specific nature of Ezekiel's muteness leading up to this point (Ezek 3:26-27) is debated among scholars. Some interpret it as a period of absolute silence, broken only by specific divine instructions for short pronouncements. Others see it as a restricted muteness, preventing him from issuing any further warnings to the stubbornly rebellious house of Israel, allowing only messages of condemnation or symbolic actions, as God considered their resistance insurmountable at that stage. Ezekiel 24:27, when read alongside 33:21-22, unequivocally indicates the end of this prophetic speech restriction, marking a full-scale return to his vocal prophetic role, particularly as a watchman guiding his people towards future restoration rather than just warning them of imminent doom. This shift from judgment to a forward-looking hope is critical to understanding the second half of Ezekiel's prophecies.

Ezekiel 24 27 Commentary

Ezekiel 24:27 marks a pivotal climax in the prophet's ministry and the structure of the Book of Ezekiel. The preceding verses (and chapters) have been dominated by pronouncements of judgment against Jerusalem, often communicated through dramatic, symbolic actions or periods of prophetic muteness from Ezekiel. This verse declares the end of that specific phase. God's timing is precise: the moment news of Jerusalem's fall reaches the Babylonian exiles, a physical event confirms the spiritual and verbal messages.

Ezekiel's divinely imposed muteness was a profound sign in itself, mirroring the stunned, inconsolable grief that would render the people speechless when their most cherished possession—the Temple—was destroyed. The lifting of this muteness serves as confirmation that God's word is true and exact in its fulfillment. It is a sign not merely by Ezekiel but in Ezekiel; his personal transformation verifies God's omnipotence and faithfulness to His spoken word.

This restoration of speech enabled Ezekiel to transition from delivering prophecies primarily focused on judgment and destruction to delivering prophecies of hope, restoration, and the future glory of Israel. His open mouth signified that the period of severe judgment for the immediate generation of exiles was concluding, and a new phase of understanding God's ultimate plan could begin. The overarching goal, like much of Ezekiel, is that "they will know that I am the LORD." This is more than intellectual acknowledgment; it is an experiential recognition of Yahweh's absolute sovereignty, righteousness, and power, both in executing judgment and in revealing His purposes. It serves as a reminder that God's pronouncements, however harsh, always carry a redemptive intent: to draw His people back to the true knowledge of Himself.