Ezekiel 3:14 kjv
So the spirit lifted me up, and took me away, and I went in bitterness, in the heat of my spirit; but the hand of the LORD was strong upon me.
Ezekiel 3:14 nkjv
So the Spirit lifted me up and took me away, and I went in bitterness, in the heat of my spirit; but the hand of the LORD was strong upon me.
Ezekiel 3:14 niv
The Spirit then lifted me up and took me away, and I went in bitterness and in the anger of my spirit, with the strong hand of the LORD on me.
Ezekiel 3:14 esv
The Spirit lifted me up and took me away, and I went in bitterness in the heat of my spirit, the hand of the LORD being strong upon me.
Ezekiel 3:14 nlt
The Spirit lifted me up and took me away. I went in bitterness and turmoil, but the LORD's hold on me was strong.
Ezekiel 3 14 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Eze 2:1-3 | And he said to me, “Son of man, stand up on your feet, and I will speak with you.” | Immediate prophetic calling |
| Eze 3:10-11 | Moreover, he said to me, “Son of man, all my words that I shall speak to you, receive into your heart, and hear with your ears. | Reception of God's words |
| Eze 3:22 | And the hand of the LORD was strong upon me there. | Repetition of divine empowerment |
| Psa 139:7 | Where shall I go from your Spirit? Or where shall I flee from your presence? | Omnipresence and Spirit's leading |
| Isa 42:1 | Behold my servant, whom I uphold, my chosen, in whom my soul delights; I have put my Spirit upon him; he will bring forth justice to the nations. | Spirit upon the servant |
| Jer 20:7 | O LORD, you have enticed me, and I was enticed; you have overcome me, and you are mightier than I. I have become a laughingstock all the day; everyone mocks me. | Prophet's emotional distress |
| John 6:44 | No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him. And I will raise him up on the last day. | Divine drawing and compulsion |
| Acts 8:39 | And when they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord caught away Philip, and he saw him no more, but went on his way rejoicing. | Spirit's swift action |
| Rev 1:10 | I was in the Spirit on the Lord’s day, and I heard a voice behind me, like a trumpet call. | Being in the Spirit |
| Gal 5:25 | If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit. | Walking by the Spirit |
| Eph 4:30 | And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. | Grieving the Spirit |
| 1 Cor 2:12 | Now we have received not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might understand the things freely given us by God. | Understanding through the Spirit |
| 2 Cor 3:5 | not that we are sufficient in ourselves to claim anything as coming from ourselves, but our sufficiency is from God. | Sufficiency from God |
| 1 Thes 4:9 | Now concerning brotherly love you have no need for someone to write to you, for you yourselves have been taught by God to love one another. | Divine teaching |
| Rom 8:14 | For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. | Led by the Spirit |
| Heb 12:1 | Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us. | Endurance in the race |
| Phil 2:13 | for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure. | God working in believers |
| Eze 40:3 | and he brought me there, and behold, there was a man whose appearance was like bronze, with a line of flax cord in his hand and a measuring reed. | Visionary guidance |
| Gen 15:1 | After these things the word of the LORD came to Abram in a vision: “Fear not, Abram, I am your shield; your reward shall be very great.” | Divine word in vision |
| Psa 46:1 | God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. | God as refuge |
| Deut 33:25 | Thy bars shall be iron and bronze. And as thy days, so shall thy strength be. | Strength for the days |
Ezekiel 3 verses
Ezekiel 3 14 Meaning
Ezekiel 3:14 states, "So the Spirit lifted me up and took me away, and I went in bitterness, in the heat of my spirit, but the hand of the LORD was strong upon me." This verse signifies the immediate and powerful divine compulsion Ezekiel experienced after receiving God's message. It highlights the personal turmoil (bitterness, heat of spirit) he felt while being empowered and guided by the LORD's strong hand to carry out his prophetic mission, emphasizing the internal struggle and external divine enablement.
Ezekiel 3 14 Context
Ezekiel is in Babylonia, called by God to prophesy to the rebellious house of Israel. Following God's instruction to eat the scroll containing the lamentations, the prophecies, and the wailing, Ezekiel experiences an overwhelming divine experience. This verse describes the immediate aftermath of consuming God's word and the powerful, almost involuntary, movement of the Spirit, carrying him to his prophetic assignment amidst personal distress. He is compelled to go to his people, not out of personal desire, but under the potent influence of the Spirit and the strong hand of the LORD, setting the stage for his difficult ministry.
Ezekiel 3 14 Word Analysis
- וְרוּחַ (vĕrûaḥ) - "and the Spirit" or "and the breath" or "and the wind." This refers to the Holy Spirit, the divine power that activates and sustains God's agents.
- נְשָׂאתַנִי (nĕśā’ṯanî) - "lifted me up" or "carried me." This denotes a powerful, upward movement, implying both physical and spiritual elevation.
- וַתִּשָּׂאֵנִי (wattîśā’ēnî) - "and it carried me away." This reinforces the forceful, directed transportation.
- חֲמַת רוּחִי (ḥămaṯ rûḥî) - "the heat/wrath of my spirit." This signifies intense inner emotion—agitation, frustration, perhaps even a righteous anger or bitterness due to the weighty and painful message he carried. It suggests internal conflict.
- מַר (mar) - "bitter." A profound sense of grief, sorrow, or distress.
- יַד יְהוָה (yaḏ Yĕhōwāh) - "the hand of the LORD." Represents God's power, authority, active presence, and enabling force.
- חָזָקָה (ḥăzāqâ) - "strong" or "mighty." Emphasizes the overwhelming and effective nature of God's power.
- עָלַי (‘ālāy) - "upon me." The Spirit and the LORD's hand were directly and intensely upon him.
Words Group Analysis
- "the Spirit lifted me up and took me away": This phrase emphasizes divine empowerment and irresistible calling. It’s not a passive acceptance, but an active, Spirit-driven movement that takes over Ezekiel's will and direction. This mirrors how the Spirit empowers believers today to fulfill God's purposes.
- "in bitterness, in the heat of my spirit": This group of words reveals the prophet's emotional state. It’s a mixture of personal distress and passionate emotion concerning his task. It underscores that even those called by God may experience personal struggle and strong feelings about the message and mission they carry.
- "but the hand of the LORD was strong upon me": This powerfully contrasts the prophet's internal state with God's external, controlling influence. The LORD's strength overrides Ezekiel's potential resistance or emotional turmoil, ensuring his obedience and movement towards the prophetic task. It’s a reminder of God’s sovereignty and the inescapable nature of His calling and support.
Ezekiel 3 14 Bonus Section
This experience is often interpreted as a form of divine ecstasy or transport, akin to angelic ministrations seen in other biblical accounts. The overwhelming nature of the Spirit’s action on Ezekiel indicates the direct, personal, and authoritative way God engages His servants. The "bitterness" might stem from the sheer weight of sin he was called to confront and the judgment he was to declare, knowing the people’s rebellious heart. Despite this personal burden, God’s strong hand ensures the prophet fulfills his mandate. This serves as a precursor to later spiritual empowerments, demonstrating that the Holy Spirit is the essential power for prophecy and divine service throughout Scripture.
Ezekiel 3 14 Commentary
Ezekiel's experience here is a stark depiction of prophetic ministry. He has internalized God's word, and this act of obedience, though painful ("bitterness," "heat of my spirit"), is immediately met with the irresistible force of the Holy Spirit. The Spirit is not just a gentle guide but a powerful agent that "lifts up" and "carries away," signifying a supernatural enablement and direction that transcends human capability or personal feeling.
The tension between Ezekiel's inner emotional state (bitterness, heat) and the strong, undeniable hand of the LORD highlights a common experience for prophets and, by extension, for believers called to difficult spiritual tasks. God's power often works through our human frailty and emotional complexity. His strength is sufficient to carry us, even when our spirit is agitated by the burden of His will. This verse teaches that obedience is a partnership: our willingness to receive God's word, combined with His overpowering Spirit, enables us to accomplish His purposes, even when it feels emotionally taxing.