Ezekiel 3 15

Ezekiel 3:15 kjv

Then I came to them of the captivity at Telabib, that dwelt by the river of Chebar, and I sat where they sat, and remained there astonished among them seven days.

Ezekiel 3:15 nkjv

Then I came to the captives at Tel Abib, who dwelt by the River Chebar; and I sat where they sat, and remained there astonished among them seven days.

Ezekiel 3:15 niv

I came to the exiles who lived at Tel Aviv near the Kebar River. And there, where they were living, I sat among them for seven days?deeply distressed.

Ezekiel 3:15 esv

And I came to the exiles at Tel-abib, who were dwelling by the Chebar canal, and I sat where they were dwelling. And I sat there overwhelmed among them seven days.

Ezekiel 3:15 nlt

Then I came to the colony of Judean exiles in Tel-abib, beside the Kebar River. I was overwhelmed and sat among them for seven days.

Ezekiel 3 verses

Ezekiel 3 15 Meaning

Ezekiel 3:15 describes the prophet's journey to the exiled Jewish community at Tel-abib, by the River Chebar, after receiving his prophetic commission. Upon arrival, he enters into profound empathy with the captives, sitting among them in silence, overwhelmed and stunned for a significant period of seven days. This period marks a crucial phase of internalizing his divine call, understanding the people's desolation, and grappling with the immense burden of the Lord's message before he begins to prophesy. It signifies a profound emotional and spiritual assimilation of his prophetic task and the dire state of the exiles.

Ezekiel 3 15 Context

This verse is positioned immediately after Ezekiel's intense call and commission from God, detailed in chapters 1-3. In Eze 1, he experiences a magnificent vision of God's glory by the Chebar River. In Eze 2, he is commanded to speak to the rebellious house of Israel. In Eze 3, God explicitly tasks him as a "watchman" and warns him of the consequences of failing to deliver His message. Eze 3:15 marks Ezekiel's physical transition from the place of his profound divine encounter to the actual community of exiles he is sent to. He doesn't immediately begin prophesying but instead observes and absorbs the dire reality of the people he has been sent to, a period of silent identification preceding his prophetic ministry. The historical context is the Babylonian exile, a time of national catastrophe and spiritual disorientation for the Jewish people.

Ezekiel 3 15 Word analysis

• Then I came: Signifies Ezekiel's obedience and transition from the divine encounter to the people.
• to the captives: Hebrew גָּלוּת (galut), referring to the exiles, the community uprooted from their homeland, representing Judah's judgment. Ezekiel's ministry is specifically to these people in their broken state.
• at Tel-abib: Hebrew תֵּל אָבִיב (Tel Abib), meaning "Hill of Green Ears" or "Spring Mound." This was a specific settlement of Jewish exiles in Babylon, indicating God's focused attention on a particular, concrete community within the diaspora. It highlights the divine personal outreach to a dispersed people.
• who dwelt by the River Chebar: Hebrew נְהַר כְּבָר (Nehar K'var). A major canal or river in Babylon where Jewish exiles settled. This is the same location where Ezekiel first saw his spectacular vision of God's glory (Eze 1:1), linking his present human encounter with his prior divine revelation. It was a well-known place for the exiles, emphasizing the real, physical location of the divine burden.
• and I sat where they sat: Shows deep identification and solidarity with the suffering exiles. It is a posture of shared sorrow and empathetic presence, rather than standing aloof or in judgment. A prophet immersing himself in the human condition of his audience.
• and remained there astonished among them: Hebrew וָאֵשֵׁב שָׁם שֹׁמֵם (wa'eshev sham shomem). שֹׁמֵם (shomem) is a crucial term, meaning "desolate," "appalled," "dumbfounded," "stunned into silence," or "stupefied." This isn't mere surprise but a profound state of being overwhelmed. It reflects his internal struggle and the weight of God's message coupled with the visible desolation and spiritual decay of the people. It's a silence of profound contemplation and burdened soul.
• seven days: A biblically significant period. It could represent a time of ceremonial purification, a week of mourning, or a period of incubation and intense spiritual assimilation before beginning a new phase. In this context, it suggests a profound time of reflection, deep emotional and spiritual processing, and absorption of the full gravity of his prophetic task and the exiles' plight before beginning to speak God's word.

Words-group analysis:

• "Then I came to the captives at Tel-abib, who dwelt by the River Chebar": This phrase details the movement of the prophet, establishing the location and audience of his imminent ministry. It links the place of divine encounter to the place of human sorrow.
• "and I sat where they sat": This highlights the posture of empathy and humble identification. Ezekiel is not an elite observer but one who enters into the very condition of the people.
• "and remained there astonished among them seven days": This describes the duration and state of the prophet. The prolonged silence and being "astonished" (shomem) indicate the deep psychological and spiritual impact of both the divine encounter and the confronting reality of the people's suffering and spiritual condition. It's a time of internal processing before external proclamation.

Ezekiel 3 15 Bonus section

The term שֹׁמֵם (shomem) used for "astonished" has a broader range of meaning than just surprise. It is often used to describe places made desolate by judgment, or the state of one who is appalled or horrified. This suggests Ezekiel's "astonishment" was not one of simple wonder but an internal devastation or horror at the spiritual and physical desolation he witnessed among the exiles, deeply understanding God's judgment that led to their captivity. It was a profound internal alignment with the severity of their situation and God's feelings toward it, perhaps mirroring the silent horror often seen in the presence of overwhelming tragedy. This initial period of silence for Ezekiel might also parallel the 7 days his priestly ancestors underwent ritual consecration, indicating a new, profound, and set-apart beginning to his unique ministry.

Ezekiel 3 15 Commentary

Ezekiel 3:15 reveals a critical, often overlooked, dimension of prophetic ministry: not just the direct receipt and transmission of a divine message, but also a deep empathetic absorption of the human condition to which the message is directed. Ezekiel's profound state of "astonishment" or "desolation" for seven days before beginning his active ministry demonstrates the weight of God's word and the tragic spiritual state of the exiles. It's not merely observation but internal processing and a sharing in their sorrow and the consequences of their rebellion. This silent period served as a sacred incubation, allowing the divine word to fully settle in his soul and preparing him emotionally for the difficult task of delivering a challenging message to a stubborn people. It highlights that true ministry flows from profound identification with the people and an overwhelming burden from the Lord, preceding active speaking.