Ezekiel 4:1 kjv
Thou also, son of man, take thee a tile, and lay it before thee, and pourtray upon it the city, even Jerusalem:
Ezekiel 4:1 nkjv
"You also, son of man, take a clay tablet and lay it before you, and portray on it a city, Jerusalem.
Ezekiel 4:1 niv
"Now, son of man, take a block of clay, put it in front of you and draw the city of Jerusalem on it.
Ezekiel 4:1 esv
"And you, son of man, take a brick and lay it before you, and engrave on it a city, even Jerusalem.
Ezekiel 4:1 nlt
"And now, son of man, take a large clay brick and set it down in front of you. Then draw a map of the city of Jerusalem on it.
Ezekiel 4 1 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Eze 4:1 | Take thee a tile, and lay it before thee, and portray upon it the city, even Jerusalem: | Prophetic actions (Jer 13:1), Symbolism in prophecy (Hos 1:2), Judgment on Jerusalem (Jer 39:3), Detailed instructions from God (Ex 25:9) |
| Eze 4:1 | And lay siege against it, and build forts against it, and cast a mount against it, set also engines of war against it round about. | Depicting siege warfare (2 Kgs 19:32), Illustrations of divine judgment (Lam 2:2), Visual aids for prophetic messages (Jer 18:3), Representing spiritual conflict (Eph 6:12) |
| Eze 4:1 | The siege mirrors divine displeasure. | God's sovereignty in judgment (Job 1:21), Heavenly warfare imagery (Rev 12:7) |
| Eze 4:1 | Jerusalem's fate prefigured. | Prophetic foreknowledge (Isa 46:10), The consequence of disobedience (Deut 28:64) |
| Eze 4:1 | The prophet's obedience to a command. | The importance of prophetic obedience (Jer 1:17), Acting out God's word (Heb 11:8) |
| Eze 4:1 | The tile as a canvas for divine pronouncements. | God's word etched in truth (Ps 119:105), Visual testimony to God's justice (Rev 19:2) |
| Eze 4:1 | The military actions symbolize the totality of destruction. | God's power over earthly armies (Jer 32:17), Complete devastation (Zeph 1:14-16) |
| Eze 4:1 | Portraying Jerusalem represents its sins. | Symbols of sinfulness (Isa 1:22), God's knowledge of human actions (Heb 4:13) |
| Eze 4:1 | The act of building forts symbolizes impending doom. | Fortifications as futile against God (Isa 30:2), The inevitability of judgment (Amos 3:2) |
| Eze 4:1 | The depiction of siege engines signifies destructive forces. | God as a warrior (Ex 15:3), The instruments of God's wrath (Jer 51:20) |
| Eze 4:1 | The prophet as a living sign. | God using servants for signs (Isa 8:18), Embodied prophecy (Eze 3:27) |
| Eze 4:1 | The faithfulness of God's word even in judgment. | God's word never fails (Isa 55:11), Divine faithfulness in execution of judgment (Num 23:19) |
| Eze 4:1 | The meticulous detail of the instruction. | God's order in all things (Col 1:17), Precise prophetic commands (1 Sam 15:3) |
| Eze 4:1 | Jerusalem's position as a central point of focus. | God's focus on His people (Zech 2:8), The importance of Zion (Ps 137:5) |
| Eze 4:1 | The prophet's personal involvement in conveying God's message. | Sharing in the suffering of the message (2 Tim 2:3), Proclaiming truth even when difficult (Acts 4:19-20) |
| Eze 4:1 | The tile becomes a representation of the besieged city. | Objects imbued with prophetic meaning (1 Sam 10:4), Visualizing spiritual realities (Heb 11:3) |
| Eze 4:1 | The "cast a mount" signifies a ramp leading to destruction. | Heights symbolizing opposition (1 Chr 29:23), Methods of conquest (Mic 1:6) |
| Eze 4:1 | The "engines of war" represent the tools of devastation. | God's control over weapons (1 Sam 17:47), The means of purging evil (Jer 51:11) |
| Eze 4:1 | "Round about" emphasizes the thoroughness of the siege. | All-encompassing judgment (Joel 2:9), Total encirclement of the enemy (Luke 21:20) |
| Eze 4:1 | The prophetic action a pre-enactment of future events. | Acting out future prophecy (Hos 9:3), Demonstrating God's planned actions (Eze 37:16) |
Ezekiel 4 verses
Ezekiel 4 1 Meaning
Ezekiel chapter 4 verse 1 speaks of a divine command given to the prophet Ezekiel to use symbolic actions to illustrate the impending judgment of Jerusalem. It marks the beginning of a period of prophetic mime, where Ezekiel would physically represent the suffering and destruction awaiting the city and its people. The verse establishes the visual and practical nature of Ezekiel's prophecy.
Ezekiel 4 1 Context
This verse is found at the beginning of Ezekiel chapter 4, which is part of the prophetic pronouncements concerning the destruction of Jerusalem and the judgment of Israel. Ezekiel, who had already been called as a prophet in chapter 2 and warned of his difficult mission, is now given specific symbolic actions to perform. These actions were intended for the people of Judah, especially those in Jerusalem, to visually communicate the severity and nature of the impending Babylonian siege and conquest. Historically, this took place around 597 BC or shortly thereafter, as Jerusalem was facing destruction due to its disobedience and idolatry. The prophecy addresses the people in their covenant relationship with God, highlighting their failure to uphold their end of the agreement.
Ezekiel 4 1 Word Analysis
- Take (לָקַח - laqach): To grasp, seize, acquire. In this context, it's a command for the prophet to physically obtain an object. It signifies initiation and commencement of an action.
- thee (אַתָּה - ʾattâ): Pronoun, second person masculine singular. Refers directly to Ezekiel.
- a tile (לְבֵנָה - leḇēnâ): Specifically, a brick or tablet made of clay. This common building material in ancient Mesopotamia and Israel was practical for marking or writing upon, making it a suitable medium for a symbolic drawing.
- and lay (וְנָתַתָּ - wə-nātattā): And place, set, put. Implies careful positioning for a specific purpose.
- it (אוֹתָהּ - ʾōtâ(h)): Refers to the tile.
- before (לְפָנֶיךָ - lə-pānêḵā): In front of you. Emphasizes visibility and direct interaction.
- thee (אַתָּה - ʾattâ): Pronoun, second person masculine singular, again referring to Ezekiel.
- and portray (וְשָׁקַק - wə-šāqaq): The exact meaning is debated; often translated as "draw," "sketch," or "engrave." It suggests creating a detailed representation. Other interpretations suggest "to set your face toward." However, in conjunction with "upon it," drawing is the prevalent understanding.
- upon it (עָלֶיהָ - ʿālêhâ): On the surface of the tile.
- the city (הָעִיר - hā-ʿîr): The city.
- even (הִיא - hî(ʾ)): She; in this construction, it strongly identifies Jerusalem.
- Jerusalem (יְרוּשָׁלַיִם - yərūšāláyim): The capital city of Judah, a place of great theological significance.
- And lay (וְשַׁלְתָּ - wə-šaltā): And cast, set, or draw. The root can mean to send, to bring, to install, or in this context, to depict a military operation.
- siege (מָצוֹר - māṣôr): A blockade, siege warfare.
- against it (עָלֶיהָ - ʿālêhâ): Directed towards Jerusalem.
- and build (וּבָנִיתָ - ū-ḇānîtā): And build. Refers to constructing siege works.
- forts (צֵרַ֞יחַ - ṣērîaḥ or ṣəreāḥ): Siege ramparts, mounds, fortifications.
- against it (עָלֶיהָ - ʿālêhâ): Against the city.
- and cast (וְשִׁפַחְתָּ - wə-šiphḥattā): And pour, cast. Implies dumping material to form the rampart.
- a mount (גַּד - gad): A rampart, mound, or heap, often for siege engines or approach.
- against it (עָלֶיהָ - ʿālêhâ): Facing the city.
- set also (וְנָתַתָּ ALSO (וּתְקִמ — wə-ṯaqîm?): And set up, place.
- engines (מַחְנוֹת — maḥănot): Camps, or more likely here, machines, instruments.
- of war (מִלְחָמָה - milḥāmâ): War, battle. The phrase refers to siege weaponry.
- against it (עָלֶיהָ - ʿālêhâ): Directed towards Jerusalem.
- round about (סָבִיב - sāḇîḇ): On every side, encompassing. Indicates a complete siege.
Group Analysis:The primary actions are "take a tile," "portray Jerusalem," and "lay siege." These verbs, used in sequence, build a picture of ordered, meticulous destruction being visualized and depicted by the prophet under divine instruction. The repeated "against it" ("עָלֶיהָ") underscores the singular focus of God's judgment on Jerusalem. The elements of the siege ("build forts," "cast a mount," "set engines of war") detail the comprehensive and suffocating nature of the attack.
Ezekiel 4 1 Bonus Section
The use of a tile is significant because clay was molded and fired, a process that can symbolize God’s sovereign power over His people, much like a potter shaping clay (Jeremiah 18:6). The drawing on the tile transforms a common object into a sacred text, a visual gospel of judgment for those who refused to hear the spoken word. The specific military terms used by Ezekiel also reflect the typical siege warfare strategies of the ancient Near East, demonstrating that God’s judgment operates through historical realities and human agency, even when guided by divine decree. This verse initiates a series of prolonged symbolic actions that extend throughout chapter 4, demonstrating God’s commitment to making His message understood through vivid and even unsettling demonstrations.
Ezekiel 4 1 Commentary
Ezekiel is instructed to use a common, humble object – a clay tile – as a visual aid for a profound prophetic message. This illustrates that God uses ordinary means to convey His extraordinary purposes. The act of portraying Jerusalem and then drawing the details of a siege is not mere artistry; it's a sacred, divinely mandated act of dramatization. The tile becomes a symbolic stage upon which the drama of Jerusalem’s downfall is played out. This action powerfully communicates to the people the reality and inevitability of God's judgment. It emphasizes the meticulous and thorough nature of the impending destruction, leaving no aspect of the city untouched. The prophet is acting as a living sign, embodying the message of judgment, which was characteristic of his ministry in delivering God's word to a rebellious nation.