Ezekiel 4:2 kjv
And lay siege against it, and build a fort against it, and cast a mount against it; set the camp also against it, and set battering rams against it round about.
Ezekiel 4:2 nkjv
Lay siege against it, build a siege wall against it, and heap up a mound against it; set camps against it also, and place battering rams against it all around.
Ezekiel 4:2 niv
Then lay siege to it: Erect siege works against it, build a ramp up to it, set up camps against it and put battering rams around it.
Ezekiel 4:2 esv
And put siegeworks against it, and build a siege wall against it, and cast up a mound against it. Set camps also against it, and plant battering rams against it all around.
Ezekiel 4:2 nlt
Show the city under siege. Build a wall around it so no one can escape. Set up the enemy camp, and surround the city with siege ramps and battering rams.
Ezekiel 4 2 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Ezekiel 4:2 | lay siege against it, encamp against it, heap up ramps against it | Ezekiel 4:2 (prophetic action) |
| Jeremiah 39:1 | So Zedekiah son of Josiah was made king...when all the king of Babylon’s army fought against Jerusalem and all the cities of Judah | Jeremiah 39:1 (literal siege) |
| 2 Kings 25:1 | And it came to pass in the ninth year of his reign, in the tenth month, in the tenth day of the month, that Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came, he, and all his army, against Jerusalem, and pitched against it, and built forts against it round about. | 2 Kings 25:1 (historical account) |
| Luke 19:41 | And when he was come near, he beheld the city, and wept over it | Luke 19:41 (Jesus weeps for Jerusalem) |
| Matthew 23:37 | O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not! | Matthew 23:37 (prophetic lament) |
| Revelation 11:2 | But the court which is without the temple leave out, and measure it not; for it is given unto the Gentiles: and the holy city shall they tread under foot forty and two months. | Revelation 11:2 ( Gentile trampling of Jerusalem) |
| Isaiah 29:3 | And I will encamp against thee round about, and will lay siege against thee with a mount, and I will raise forts against thee. | Isaiah 29:3 ( God's judgment on Jerusalem) |
| Micah 1:3 | For, behold, the Lord cometh forth out of his place, and will come down and tread upon the high places of the earth. | Micah 1:3 ( God's judgment against sins) |
| Jeremiah 52:4 | And it came to pass in the ninth year of his reign, in the tenth month, in the tenth day of the month, that Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon came, he, and all his army, against Jerusalem, and pitched against it, and built forts against it round about. | Jeremiah 52:4 (parallel to 2 Kings) |
| Lamentations 2:8 | The Lord hath purposed to destroy the wall of the daughter of Zion: he hath stretched out a line, he hath not withdrawn his hand from devouring: yet he remembered not his sanctuary. | Lamentations 2:8 (destruction of Zion's wall) |
| Ezekiel 4:1 | Thou also, son of man, take thee a tile, and lay it before thee, and portray upon it the city, even Jerusalem: | Ezekiel 4:1 (setting the scene) |
| Ezekiel 4:3 | Moreover take thou unto thee an iron pan, and set it for a wall of iron between thee and the city: and set thy face against it, and it shall be besieged, and thou shalt lay siege against it. This shall be a sign to the house of Israel. | Ezekiel 4:3 (completing the symbolic representation) |
| 2 Samuel 20:15 | And they came and cast her down without the city with stones, and she died: and thereupon all the rest of the city gave ear, and rejoiced. | 2 Samuel 20:15 (example of siege aftermath) |
| Deuteronomy 28:52 | And he shall besiege thee in all thy gates, until thy high fortified walls come down, wherein thou trustedst, throughout all thy land: and he shall besiege thee in all thy gates throughout all thy land, which the Lord thy God hath given thee. | Deuteronomy 28:52 (prophecy of siege) |
| Psalm 89:14 | Justice and judgment are the foundation of thy throne: mercy and truth shall go before thy face. | Psalm 89:14 ( God's righteous rule) |
| Jeremiah 33:16 | In those days shall Judah be saved, and Jerusalem shall dwell safely: and this is the name wherewith she shall be called, The Lord our righteousness. | Jeremiah 33:16 (future hope for Jerusalem) |
| Amos 3:15 | And I will smite the winter house with the summer house; and the houses of ivory shall perish, and the great houses shall have an end, saith the Lord. | Amos 3:15 (judgment on opulent houses) |
| Nahum 2:1 | He that dasheth in pieces is come up before thy face: keep the munition, watch the way, make thy loins strong, fortify thy power mightily. | Nahum 2:1 (anticipation of enemy attack) |
| Isaiah 7:14 | Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel. | Isaiah 7:14 (Messianic sign) |
| Revelation 20:9 | And they went up on the breadth of the earth, and compassed the camp of the saints about, and the beloved city: and fire came down from God out of heaven, and devoured them. | Revelation 20:9 (final defeat of enemies) |
Ezekiel 4 verses
Ezekiel 4 2 Meaning
Ezekiel 4:2 depicts a symbolic action representing the siege of Jerusalem. It signifies a direct, personal enactment by the prophet of the suffering and judgment that will befall the city. This isn't a mere observation but an immersive, prophetic portrayal of God's impending wrath upon a rebellious people.
Ezekiel 4 2 Context
This verse is part of Ezekiel's extensive prophecy delivered during the Babylonian exile, specifically targeting the city of Jerusalem. Ezekiel is instructed to enact symbolic acts to communicate God's judgment against Judah for its persistent sins, particularly idolatry and unfaithfulness. The preceding verse (Ezekiel 4:1) established the symbolic portrayal of Jerusalem on a clay tablet. This verse details the first of the ensuing symbolic actions, depicting the imminent siege of the city. Historically, this was a direct foreshadowing of Nebuchadnezzar's invasion and eventual destruction of Jerusalem, which had already begun to unfold for the audience who had heard this prophecy.
Ezekiel 4 2 Word Analysis
- וְאַתָּה (v'atta): "And you". This prepositional conjunction introduces a new, imperative action directed specifically at Ezekiel, emphasizing his personal involvement.
- בֶן־אָדָם (ben-adam): "son of man". This is a frequent address to Ezekiel, highlighting his humanity and positioning him as a representative spokesperson for God's message to humanity.
- קַח־לְךָ (kac-leka): "take for yourself". An imperative verb form, commanding Ezekiel to procure an object for his use, marking the initiation of another prophetic sign.
- לְבֵנָה (lebenah): "brick" or "tile". This common building material is used as the surface upon which the symbolic representation of Jerusalem is drawn, making the object tangible.
- וְשַׂמְתָּ (v'samta): "and you shall place" or "and set". Another imperative, indicating the subsequent placement and presentation of the inscribed brick.
- אֹתָהּ (otah): "it". Referring back to the "city, even Jerusalem" from the previous verse.
- לִפְנֵיךָ (lifnecha): "before you". Emphasizes the visual aspect of the sign, placing it directly in Ezekiel's sightline as a constant reminder and focus.
- וְהִצַּגְתָּ (v'hitzagta): "and you shall set up" or "and set forth". This implies presenting or displaying the brick prominently, making the symbolic representation clear.
- מִסְגֶּרֶת (misgeret): "siege", "enclosure", "fortification". This word denotes the act of surrounding and containing a city with defensive works during a military assault. It suggests a comprehensive surrounding.
- סָבִיב (saviv): "around". Reinforces the totality of the encirclement.
- וְצַרְתָּ (v'tzarta): "and you shall draw a line" or "and mark off". This action signifies delineating the boundaries of the siege, creating a precise perimeter.
- עָלֶיהָ (aleha): "against it" or "upon it". Again, referring to Jerusalem represented on the brick.
- חַיִל (chayil): "ramparts", "army", "strength", "force". In this context, it refers to the siege ramparts or mounds that attackers built to breach city walls.
- סָבִיב (saviv): "around". Reiterates the encompassing nature of these military constructions.
- וְצַר־לָהּ (v'tzar-lah): "and there shall be a siege against it" or "and it shall be besieged". This clause states the direct consequence and action of the encampment, reinforcing the totality of the entrapment.
Group by word analysis:
- The initial actions ("take," "place," "set forth") establish a sequential performance of the prophetic sign.
- The phrases "lay siege against it, encamp against it, heap up ramps against it" are direct, vivid representations of military encirclement and assault tactics, portraying the inescapable nature of God's judgment.
Ezekiel 4 2 Bonus Section
The brick itself serves as a microcosm of the entire city. The prophet's physical interaction with it mirrors the physical destruction that will befall Jerusalem. This meticulous depiction of siege warfare highlights God's perfect knowledge and foreknowledge of events, even down to the specific military tactics that will be employed. It underscores that the impending destruction is not accidental but divinely orchestrated as a consequence of covenantal breach.
Ezekiel 4 2 Commentary
Ezekiel 4:2 is a command for a concrete, visual representation of the divine judgment against Jerusalem. By inscribing the city on a brick and then performing the actions of siege warfare – building ramps and encampments – Ezekiel embodies the impending doom. This is not just a passive prophecy but an active performance of the people's fate. The specific actions described – encampment and rampart construction – were characteristic of ancient Near Eastern warfare, detailing the mechanical process of subjugation. This serves as a stark warning, emphasizing that no fortification would protect Jerusalem from God's ordained judgment for its persistent sins. The prophet's personal participation makes the message inescapable for those who witness or hear of his actions.