Ezekiel 6:1 kjv
And the word of the LORD came unto me, saying,
Ezekiel 6:1 nkjv
Now the word of the LORD came to me, saying:
Ezekiel 6:1 niv
The word of the LORD came to me:
Ezekiel 6:1 esv
The word of the LORD came to me:
Ezekiel 6:1 nlt
Again a message came to me from the LORD:
Ezekiel 6 1 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Ezekiel 6:2 | "Son of man, set your face toward the mountains of Israel, and prophesy against them;" | Direct Command |
| Isaiah 2:2 | "Now it shall come to pass in the latter days that the mountain of the Lord’s house | Prophecy of Future Exaltation |
| shall be established on the top of the mountains, and shall be exalted above the hills;" | ||
| Jeremiah 3:6 | "Then I said in my backsliding, 'Return to Me'; And you said, 'In what way shall I | Israel's Idolatry |
| return?' You have played the harlot with many lovers; yet return to Me," says the Lord." | ||
| Hosea 4:13 | "They sacrifice on the tops of the mountains, And burn incense on the hills, Under oak | Idolatrous Practices |
| and poplar and terebinth, Because their shade is good. Therefore your daughters commit | ||
| harlotry, And your daughters-in-law commit adultery." | ||
| Micah 1:3 | "For behold, the Lord is coming out of His place; He will come down and tread on the | God's Coming Judgment |
| high places of the earth." | ||
| Deuteronomy | "You shall utterly destroy all the places where the nations you shall possess serve their | Command to Destroy Idolatry |
| 12:2-3 | gods, on the high mountains and on the hills and under every green tree." | |
| Jeremiah 17:3 | "O my mountain in the field, I will give the forces of the enemy your substance and all | Judgment for Idolatry |
| your treasures as plunder, because of your sin in all your borders." | ||
| Psalm 78:58 | "For they provoked Him to anger with their high places; They stirred Him to jealousy | Israel's Provocation |
| with their carved images." | ||
| Isaiah 57:7 | "On a lofty and high mountain You have set your bed; You also went up there to offer | Defiled Worship |
| sacrifice." | ||
| 1 Kings 14:23 | "For they also built themselves high places, sacred pillars, and wooden images on | Idolatrous High Places |
| every high hill and under every green tree." | ||
| 2 Kings 17:10 | "They set up for themselves sacred pillars and wooden images on every high hill and | Persistent Idolatry |
| under every green tree." | ||
| Jeremiah 50:28 | "But you have also rewarded me, O house of Israel, with a voice of those who flee from | Vengeance and Judgment |
| Babylon, saying, ‘Let us go, each to his own country, to our own land, because of the | ||
| sword of the enemy.’" | ||
| Zephaniah 1:3 | "I will consume man and beast; I will consume the birds of the heavens and the fish of | Divine Destruction |
| the sea, And the stumbling blocks with the wicked. I will cut off man from the face | ||
| of the earth," says the Lord." | ||
| Romans 1:18 | "For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteous- | God's Wrath |
| ness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness," | ||
| Revelation | "So the second angel poured out his vial on the sea, and it became blood like the | Final Judgment |
| 16:3 | blood of a dead man; and every living soul in the sea died." | |
| Revelation | "And the third angel poured out his vial on the rivers and springs of water, and they | Judgment on Waters |
| 16:4 | became blood." | |
| Jeremiah | "The guilt of Judah is written with a pen of iron; With the point of a diamond it is | Inscribed Sin |
| 17:1 | engraved on the tablet of their heart, And on the horns of their altars," | |
| Jeremiah | "Thus says the Lord: ‘Stand in the ways and see, And ask for the old paths, where the | Seek the Old Paths |
| 6:16 | good way is, And walk in it; Then you will find rest for your souls. But they said, | |
| ‘We will not walk in it.’" | ||
| Proverbs | "The way of the wicked is an abomination to the Lord, But He loves him who pursues | God's Displeasure |
| 15:9 | righteousness." | |
| John 4:20 | "Our fathers worshiped on this mountain, and you say that in Jerusalem is the place | Worship Location |
| where one ought to worship.” | ||
| Acts 7:49 | "‘Heaven is a throne for Me, And the earth is a footstool for My feet. What house will | God's Sovereignty |
| you build for Me?’ says the Lord, ‘Or what is the place of My rest?" |
Ezekiel 6 verses
Ezekiel 6 1 Meaning
The word of the Lord comes to Ezekiel with a command to prophesy against the mountains of Israel. This prophetic declaration signifies God's judgment against the idolatrous practices that have defiled the land, specifically within its elevated places of worship. It's a divine pronouncement of imminent destruction upon those who have forsaken Him for false deities.
Ezekiel 6 1 Context
Ezekiel 6:1 marks the beginning of a significant prophetic oracle within the book of Ezekiel. The preceding chapters detailed Ezekiel's commissioning and the dire spiritual state of Judah, characterized by persistent idolatry and rebellion against God. This specific verse introduces a new section of prophecy focused on divine judgment directed specifically at the land and its inhabitants due to their violation of the covenant. Historically, the mountains of Israel were often sites of pagan worship, where rituals and sacrifices were offered to false gods, leading to a pervasive corruption of the land and its people. God's message through Ezekiel is to confront this deeply ingrained sin.
Ezekiel 6 1 Word Analysis
- And (וְ - we): A conjunction, here indicating a sequence or addition to the previous divine pronouncements.
- the word (דְּבַר - dabar): Meaning "word," "matter," "thing." Refers to the message or revelation from God.
- of the Lord (יְהוָה - YHWH): The personal covenantal name of God, emphasizing His relationship with His people and His authority.
- came (הָיָה - hayah): Primarily means "to be" or "to become," but here indicates that the word "came" to Ezekiel, signifying divine communication.
- to me (אֵלַי - elai): A prepositional phrase indicating the recipient of the divine message.
- saying (לֵאמֹר - le'mor): A gerund meaning "saying," often introducing direct speech or a message.
- Son (בֶּן - ben): Means "son." In this context, it's an appellation of address to Ezekiel.
- of man (אָדָם - adam): Means "man," "mankind." This title, "son of man," is a significant descriptor of Ezekiel, highlighting his humanity while receiving divine revelation, emphasizing his role as a messenger of God to humanity. It is used 93 times in Ezekiel.
- Set (שִׂים - sim): A versatile verb meaning "to put," "to place," "to set." Here it implies directing his attention or intent.
- your face (פָּנֶיךָ - panekha): "Your face" or "your countenance." Symbolically means to set oneself in a particular direction or toward a specific purpose.
- toward (אֶל - el): A preposition indicating direction.
- the mountains (הָרִים - harim): "Mountains," the plural form. Specifically referring to the geographical and spiritual landscape of Israel.
- of Israel (יִשְׂרָאֵל - Yisrael): The name of the people and land.
Word-Group Analysis
- "the word of the Lord came to me": This is a standard prophetic formula, signaling the direct, authoritative communication from God to the prophet. It underscores the divine origin and weight of the message.
- "Son of man": This is a unique and frequently used title for Ezekiel, connecting him directly to humanity, yet chosen by God for a divine task. It emphasizes his role as a human intermediary.
- "set your face toward the mountains of Israel": This is not just a geographical direction but a symbolic positioning. The "mountains of Israel" are places imbued with spiritual significance, both for past faithfulness and present corruption.
Ezekiel 6 1 Bonus Section
The specific targeting of the "mountains of Israel" by God's prophetic word is significant. Ancient Near Eastern religions often associated divinity with high places, believing they offered closer proximity to the gods. Israel was explicitly commanded to destroy such sites and worship solely at the place God would choose (Deuteronomy 12:2-3). The recurrent violation of this command by Israel, turning these mountains into centers of pagan rites, marked a severe breach of covenant faithfulness. This prophetic utterance therefore directly confronts the historical patterns of syncretism and idolatry that deeply compromised Israel's relationship with Yahweh.
Ezekiel 6 1 Commentary
The oracle begins with a stark divine mandate. God instructs Ezekiel to fix his gaze and his prophetic focus upon the "mountains of Israel." This directive carries immense weight because the mountains were not merely geographical features but held profound spiritual significance for the people of Israel. They were frequently sites where the covenant was made or reaffirmed, but sadly, they also became notorious centers of idolatrous worship.
The use of the title "Son of Man" grounds Ezekiel's prophetic role in his humanity, emphasizing that God, in His sovereignty, chooses to reveal His will through mortal men. This phrase prepares the audience for a divine message directed at earthly matters.
Ezekiel is commanded to "set his face" towards these mountains, signifying a deliberate and unwavering intention to pronounce judgment. This isn't a passive observation; it's an active proclamation against the specific sins associated with these elevated places – namely, the pervasive practice of idolatry and the violation of God's covenant. The prophecy that follows will expose the defilement of these sacred, yet corrupted, locales.