Ezekiel 4:8 kjv
And, behold, I will lay bands upon thee, and thou shalt not turn thee from one side to another, till thou hast ended the days of thy siege.
Ezekiel 4:8 nkjv
And surely I will restrain you so that you cannot turn from one side to another till you have ended the days of your siege.
Ezekiel 4:8 niv
I will tie you up with ropes so that you cannot turn from one side to the other until you have finished the days of your siege.
Ezekiel 4:8 esv
And behold, I will place cords upon you, so that you cannot turn from one side to the other, till you have completed the days of your siege.
Ezekiel 4:8 nlt
I will tie you up with ropes so you won't be able to turn from side to side until the days of your siege have been completed.
Ezekiel 4 8 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Ezekiel 4:4 | Lie on your left side and set your sin on it. | To receive Israel's punishment |
| Ezekiel 4:5 | Days for Israel's punishment. | Prophetic symbolism |
| Ezekiel 4:6 | Days for Judah's punishment. | Prophetic symbolism |
| Ezekiel 4:11 | Bread to eat will be measured. | Rationed food, scarcity |
| Ezekiel 4:12 | Drink water measured, six to the hin. | Rationed drink, scarcity |
| Isaiah 20:3 | Isaiah walked naked and barefoot for 3 years. | Symbol of Egypt's captivity |
| Jeremiah 13:1-11 | Jeremiah buried his linen sash. | Symbol of Judah's ruin |
| Hosea 1:2 | Go, take yourself a wife of whoredom. | Symbol of Israel's unfaithfulness |
| 1 Kings 17:1 | Elijah said, "As the LORD lives... no dew nor rain." | Divine judgment on drought |
| Leviticus 26:16 | God will send terror, consumption, and fever. | Consequences of disobedience |
| Deuteronomy 28:53 | Eat the fruit of your body... children. | Severity of siege conditions |
| 2 Kings 18:13 | Sennacherib king of Assyria invaded Judah. | Historical context of judgment |
| Jeremiah 29:10 | After 70 years, I will punish Babylon. | Future judgment and restoration |
| Psalm 77:3 | I remembered God and groaned. | Grief and distress |
| Lamentations 4:6 | The punishment of my people is greater than... | Expression of deep sorrow |
| Matthew 11:23 | You, Capernaum, will you be exalted to heaven? | Judgment on cities |
| Revelation 18:6 | Give back to her as she has given. | Retribution of God |
| Hebrews 12:11 | No discipline seems pleasant but sorrowful. | Purpose of affliction |
| Ezekiel 3:26 | I will make your tongue stick to the roof of your mouth. | Silent prophecy |
| Ezekiel 24:27 | You will be a sign to them, and they will know... | Ezekiel as a living sign |
Ezekiel 4 verses
Ezekiel 4 8 Meaning
This verse describes the next action God commands Ezekiel to perform, after a period of lying on his left side. It signifies a further extension of his symbolic suffering and prophetic declaration.
Ezekiel 4 8 Context
Ezekiel chapter 4 depicts a series of divine commands given to Ezekiel the prophet, a living enactment of the coming destruction and exile of Jerusalem and Judah. Following the symbolic representations of lying on his sides for specific periods (4:4-8), this verse marks the continuation of these graphic demonstrations of divine judgment. The prophet is to repeat a specific posture, symbolizing a yet unmentioned aspect of the siege and its aftermath, or a related phase of their punishment. The intensity and duration of these actions underscore the severity of God's wrath against their sin.
Ezekiel 4 8 Word Analysis
- Then (Hebrew: və): This conjunction signifies a sequence of actions, indicating that this command follows immediately after the preceding ones.
- thou (Hebrew: ’attâ): Refers to Ezekiel, the recipient of God's direct command.
- art (Hebrew: hayâ): A verb of being, establishing the state or condition.
- to (Hebrew: ’el): A preposition indicating direction or transition.
- be (Hebrew: hâphoch): Literally "turn," suggesting a reversal, a turning over, or a changing of one's position or state.
- turned (Hebrew: ’od): This root implies "again" or "yet," suggesting a repetition or a continuing action.
- upon (Hebrew: `al): Indicates the direction of the action, upon or towards.
- thy (Hebrew: känfêḵâ): Possessive pronoun, "your side" or "your wing." In this context, it refers to Ezekiel's body, specifically the side.
- side (Hebrew: pênê): Face or side. Here it refers to the "side" or "face" of his bed or resting place, implying his physical position.
- ward (Hebrew: pônîm): "Towards the interior" or "inward." This implies a facing or turning inward.
- Jerusalem (Hebrew: Yerûšâlaim): The capital city of Judah, the object of God's judgment.
- shall (Hebrew: yeḵyeh): Future tense of "to be," indicating a destined outcome.
- be (Hebrew: šêmâliy): This root means "burned" or "scorched." It refers to intense heat and destruction by fire.
- burned (Hebrew: šêmâliy): The intensive participle, describing a continuous state of being burned.
- with (Hebrew: bə): Preposition, "in" or "with."
- the (Hebrew: hâ’eš): The definite article.
- in (Hebrew: bā’eš): Fire.
- the (Hebrew: bə’îrîm): In its cities.
- cities (Hebrew: bā’îrîm): Plural of city.
- thereof (Hebrew: miqqîrba’ô): "From within it" or "from its midst."
Phrase Group Analysis:
- "Turn thy side toward Jerusalem": This signifies Ezekiel's orientation. While previously on his left side, the command implies a change of posture or at least a distinct facing of Jerusalem with his body.
- "Burned with the fire": This phrase describes the devastating nature of the judgment that will befall Jerusalem, indicating complete consumption and destruction.
- "In the cities thereof": This clarifies that the burning judgment will not be confined to the capital but will extend to the surrounding cities and settlements of Judah.
Ezekiel 4 8 Bonus Section
The instruction to turn "upon thy side toward Jerusalem" after having spent days on each side highlights the progression of the prophetic burden. The change of posture signals a shift in the focus of judgment or a different phase of the punishment. The mention of being "burned with the fire" is a powerful metaphor for total destruction, a complete obliteration of the city and its inhabitants as a consequence of their sin. This reinforces the totality of God's judgment against the unrepentant. The repetition of such severe and uncomfortable enactments for Ezekiel underscores the gravity of the sin and the unwavering nature of God's wrath against it.
Ezekiel 4 8 Commentary
Ezekiel's divinely mandated actions continue to paint a stark picture of judgment. Having endured symbolic punishment for Israel and then for Judah on separate sides, the prophet is now instructed to turn his side toward Jerusalem, symbolizing the ultimate confrontation and destruction of the city itself. The repeated emphasis on "burning" vividly portrays the utter devastation awaiting Jerusalem, not just as a physical conquest but as a complete annihilation by fire. This reiterates the divine justice for unfaithfulness. It's a visual prophecy of the Babylonian siege and the subsequent burning of the city.