Ezekiel 3 12

Ezekiel 3:12 kjv

Then the spirit took me up, and I heard behind me a voice of a great rushing, saying, Blessed be the glory of the LORD from his place.

Ezekiel 3:12 nkjv

Then the Spirit lifted me up, and I heard behind me a great thunderous voice: "Blessed is the glory of the LORD from His place!"

Ezekiel 3:12 niv

Then the Spirit lifted me up, and I heard behind me a loud rumbling sound as the glory of the LORD rose from the place where it was standing.

Ezekiel 3:12 esv

Then the Spirit lifted me up, and I heard behind me the voice of a great earthquake: "Blessed be the glory of the LORD from its place!"

Ezekiel 3:12 nlt

Then the Spirit lifted me up, and I heard a loud rumbling sound behind me. (May the glory of the LORD be praised in his place!)

Ezekiel 3 verses

Ezekiel 3 12 Meaning

Ezekiel 3:12 describes a supernatural experience where the Spirit of the Lord lifted Ezekiel and carried him away. As he was taken, he heard behind him the sound of a great rushing, a powerful noise, akin to a mighty earthquake or thunder, stating "Blessed be the glory of the Lord from His place!" This verse signifies the divine empowerment and prophetic commission of Ezekiel, underscoring the sovereignty and immense power of God as He directs His prophet.

Ezekiel 3 12 Context

Ezekiel 3:12 falls within the opening chapters of the Book of Ezekiel, where the prophet receives his divine commission. Chapters 1 and 2 describe Ezekiel's profound vision of God's glory—the majestic, throne-chariot with living creatures, wheels, and a figure enthroned above them. This awe-inspiring vision emphasizes God's omnipresence, sovereignty, and control over all creation. Immediately preceding verse 12, Ezekiel has eaten the scroll (3:1-3), symbolizing the internalization of God's word, and has been commanded to speak to the house of Israel despite their rebelliousness (3:4-11). Verse 12 thus marks a significant transition: from receiving the message and a static commission to a dynamic, Spirit-empowered movement into the field of his prophetic ministry. The noise heard reinforces the divine authority accompanying his departure, signifying God's presence and active guidance.

Ezekiel 3 12 Word analysis

• And (וָתִּשָּׂא - waṯṯisśāʾ): Connective "and" linking to the preceding events. It shows the immediate divine action following the receipt of the prophetic word. The prefix "wa" is often consecutive, indicating a sequence of events, in this case, a divine initiation.

• the Spirit (רוּחַ - rúaḥ): A pivotal term, often referring to God's animating breath, divine power, or presence. Here, it denotes the active, executive force of God, the Holy Spirit, which empowers and directs prophets. This "Spirit" is the very power of God, distinct yet intrinsically connected to God's will, providing divine agency in human affairs.

• lifted me up (נְשָׂאַתְנִי - nəśāʾaṯnî): From the verb nasa', meaning to lift, carry, bear. This signifies a supernatural elevation, a removal from Ezekiel's current physical position, emphasizing divine intervention. It is not Ezekiel's own will or strength, but God's Spirit transporting him.

• and took me away (וַתְּקָחֵנִי - wattəqāḥēnî): From laqach, to take, seize. This reinforces the previous "lifted me up," highlighting a direct, compelling act of God. The prophet is not merely ascending but being transported to a specific (though unstated) destination for his ministry. This supernatural "taking" often implies being carried to a new location or into an altered state of prophetic vision (cf. Acts 8:39, Rev 17:3).

• And I heard (וָאֶשְׁמַע - wāʾešmaʿ): Indicates perception through hearing. Ezekiel's senses are fully engaged in this spiritual encounter, not merely visionary but auditory, grounding the experience in immediate reality for him.

• behind me (אַחֲרַי - ʾaḥărāy): This detail is significant. It implies that the sound came from where he had just departed or from the majestic vision he had just seen, rather than from where he was being carried. It could represent the trailing echoes of the divine glory. The direction of the sound often carries theological weight; it is the departing echo of God's manifested presence.

• a sound (קוֹל - qōl): Sound, voice, noise. This generic term is immediately qualified, signifying its immense character.

• of a great rushing (רַעַשׁ גָּדוֹל - raʿaš gādôl): Ra'ash implies a trembling, shaking, or violent noise, often associated with an earthquake or a storm. Gadōl means great or mighty. This sound is not merely a strong wind, but a profound, resonant tremor, signifying an immense display of divine power and majesty, reflective of God's manifest presence (cf. earthquakes at Mt. Sinai Exod 19:18).

• "Blessed be the glory (בָּרוּךְ כְּבוֹד - bārûḵ kəbôd): Baruch means blessed, praised. Kevod is glory, splendor, majesty, often referring to the tangible manifestation of God's presence and power. The phrase is a doxology, a pronouncement of praise to God, commonly spoken by celestial beings. It declares the intrinsic praiseworthiness of God's very essence and revealed presence.

• of the LORD (יְהוָה - YHWH): The Tetragrammaton, the unutterable proper name of God in Israel, revealing His covenant faithfulness and self-existence. Hearing this sacred name invoked reinforces the divine authority behind the events.

• from His place (מִמְּקוֹמוֹ - miməqōmô): Māqom means place, locality. This could refer to His heavenly abode, the locus of His throne (as seen in Ezek 1), or simply wherever His glorious presence chooses to manifest itself. It implies that the source of the glory and praise originates from God's sacred dwelling place, signifying its ultimate transcendence and inherent sanctity, unconfined to earthly limits yet capable of manifestation.

• "The Spirit lifted me up and took me away": This phrase denotes an irresistible, supernatural act. It emphasizes God's active role in empowering and relocating Ezekiel for his prophetic tasks. This is not a dream or mere trance, but a forceful, real spiritual transport by divine agency, setting the stage for direct divine involvement in his ministry. It underlines the concept of prophets being chosen and directed entirely by God.

• "I heard behind me a sound of a great rushing": The sound emanating from behind Ezekiel suggests the lingering or departing sound of God's magnificent glory and presence, reinforcing the power he has just witnessed and from which he is being moved. The "great rushing" likely connects to the sound of the Cherubim's wings or the accompanying sounds of the divine chariot-throne (Ezek 1:24). This implies the sound is not of mere natural phenomena, but a distinct sonic signature of the divine.

• "Blessed be the glory of the LORD from His place!": This doxology, spoken presumably by the accompanying living creatures (cherubim) or an angelic choir, is an act of adoration directed at God's visible manifestation of Himself. It affirms God's inherent holiness, majesty, and praiseworthiness irrespective of human rebellion or circumstances. It confirms that despite Israel's depravity, God's glory remains eternal and supreme, recognized and exalted in the heavens. "From His place" stresses that the praise emanates from the divine sphere itself, affirming God's transcendence even as He interacts with His creation.

Ezekiel 3 12 Bonus section

The concept of a "great rushing" (רַעַשׁ גָּדוֹל) has ancient Near Eastern parallels where divine appearances were often accompanied by meteorological or seismic disturbances, emphasizing the deity's power and grandeur. The phrase "Blessed be the glory of the LORD" is unique as an immediate, external, spoken affirmation within a prophetic vision of being moved by the Spirit. This direct doxology is significant because it points to a constant, transcendent reality of praise occurring in God's presence, contrasting with the often ungodly atmosphere Ezekiel was commissioned to address on earth. The act of the Spirit "lifting" and "taking away" can be seen as an initiatory rite for profound prophetic engagement, demonstrating that the prophet's subsequent actions are under direct divine control and not his own volition. It implies a total divine relocation and empowerment, necessary for the burdensome message Ezekiel would deliver.

Ezekiel 3 12 Commentary

Ezekiel 3:12 encapsulates a crucial moment in the prophet's commission: the direct, forceful, and auditory experience of being seized by God's Spirit. The Spirit's action of "lifting" and "taking away" signifies Ezekiel's complete submission to and enablement by divine power, essential for a prophet dealing with such a rebellious nation. The accompanying sound, described as a "great rushing" like an earthquake or thunder, is not just noise but the very reverberation of God's mighty presence, much like the thundering at Sinai. This powerfully reinforces the awesome authority from which Ezekiel receives his message. The audible praise, "Blessed be the glory of the LORD from His place!" is particularly profound. It is a heavenly declaration of God's unwavering majesty and transcendent holiness, spoken either by the Cherubim of His throne or angelic beings. This reminds Ezekiel, and us, that despite the judgment and desolation facing Israel, God's glory remains eternal and worthy of infinite praise, emanating from His eternal dwelling place. It underscores that God's plan is not diminished by human sin, and His glory continues to be celebrated in the heavens, providing a counterpoint to the earthly rebellion. This profound spiritual transportation with accompanying sound and heavenly doxology establishes the divine authenticity and inescapable nature of Ezekiel's prophetic call.