Ezekiel 8 1

Ezekiel 8:1 kjv

And it came to pass in the sixth year, in the sixth month, in the fifth day of the month, as I sat in mine house, and the elders of Judah sat before me, that the hand of the Lord GOD fell there upon me.

Ezekiel 8:1 nkjv

And it came to pass in the sixth year, in the sixth month, on the fifth day of the month, as I sat in my house with the elders of Judah sitting before me, that the hand of the Lord GOD fell upon me there.

Ezekiel 8:1 niv

In the sixth year, in the sixth month on the fifth day, while I was sitting in my house and the elders of Judah were sitting before me, the hand of the Sovereign LORD came on me there.

Ezekiel 8:1 esv

In the sixth year, in the sixth month, on the fifth day of the month, as I sat in my house, with the elders of Judah sitting before me, the hand of the Lord GOD fell upon me there.

Ezekiel 8:1 nlt

Then on September 17, during the sixth year of King Jehoiachin's captivity, while the leaders of Judah were in my home, the Sovereign LORD took hold of me.

Ezekiel 8 verses

Ezekiel 8 1 Meaning

The verse marks the beginning of a visionary experience for Ezekiel. It signifies a direct divine intervention, where the hand of the Lord is explicitly placed upon him, indicating a transition from his present circumstances to a spiritual enablement for divine revelation. This placement is a conduit for supernatural power and understanding, positioning him to receive God's message.

Ezekiel 8 1 Context

This verse introduces the second major section of Ezekiel's prophecy, detailing visions of idolatry within Jerusalem and its surrounding temple. Ezekiel, already exiled in Babylon, is transported in vision to Jerusalem to witness the abominations taking place. This specific verse sets the stage for these revelations by showing Ezekiel's reception of the divine mandate and power to perceive these spiritual realities. The historical context is the Babylonian exile, a time of great judgment upon Israel for their covenant unfaithfulness.

Ezekiel 8 1 Word analysis

• "And": (Hebrew: וְ, wə) - A conjunctive particle, linking this event to the preceding period or the general flow of prophetic experience.
• "it came to pass": (Hebrew: הָיָה, hāyâ) - Idiomatic expression for an event occurring or beginning.
• "in the sixth year": (Hebrew: בַּשָּׁנָה הַשִּׁשִּׁית, baššānâ haššîšît) - Specifies the timing within Ezekiel's exile, occurring in the sixth year after his own call and initial prophecies. This period had likely seen continued hardship and divine silence concerning the people's fate.
• "in the fifth month": (Hebrew: בַּחֹדֶשׁ הַחֲמִישִׁי, baḥōdeš ḥămišî) - Pinpoints the exact time, Ab (July/August). Specific dates are often significant in biblical prophecy.
• "on the tenth day of the month": (Hebrew: בֶּעָשֶׂר בַּחֹדֶשׁ, beʿéser baḥōdeš) - Further precision of the date, underscoring the event's importance. This day is later associated with the destruction of the Temple in Jerusalem (2 Kings 25:8).
• "as I sat in mine house": (Hebrew: אָנֹכִי יֹשֵׁב בְּבֵיתִי, ānōkî yōšēḇ beḇêtî) - Describes Ezekiel's state of ordinary life, indicating that the divine intervention was not sought but sovereignly imposed upon him.
• "and the elders of Judah sat before me": (Hebrew: וְזִקְנֵי יְהוּדָה יֹשְׁבִים לְפָנַי, wəziqnê yəhûḏâ yōšəḇîm ləp̄ānāy) - Highlights that while Ezekiel was in exile, there were still leaders from Judah present with him, perhaps seeking guidance or sharing in their collective suffering. This provides a localized audience for his subsequent prophetic utterance.
• "the hand of the LORD fell there upon me": (Hebrew: וַתִּפַּל שָׁם עָלַי יַד־יְהוָה, wattip·pal šām ʿāl·lā·yāḏ-YHWH) - This is a pivotal phrase. "The hand of the LORD" signifies divine power, authority, and active involvement. Its "falling upon" him means he was directly seized, empowered, and supernaturally prepared for what was to follow.

Words-group by words-group analysis

• Timing and Setting: The detailed temporal markers ("sixth year," "fifth month," "tenth day") establish a specific, weighty moment. This precision contrasts with the ordinary setting of Ezekiel sitting at home, emphasizing the supernatural disruption. The presence of the "elders of Judah" indicates a specific context of community and shared experience, even in exile.
• Divine Action: The core of the verse is the direct action of God's "hand falling" upon Ezekiel. This signifies empowerment, direction, and transport in vision. It's not merely instruction but a palpable, spiritual encounter that overrides his physical state.

Ezekiel 8 1 Bonus section

The "hand of the LORD" is a recurring motif in Ezekiel, representing God's active power in judgment, salvation, and prophetic enablement. This verse marks a distinct shift, transitioning from the prophet's personal calling and initial oracles to visions that reveal the heart of Israel's sin and God's subsequent actions. The mention of the elders being present suggests that Ezekiel's prophetic ministry was not entirely isolated but engaged with a community even in exile, though the primary recipient of this specific revelation was the prophet himself.

Ezekiel 8 1 Commentary

Ezekiel's prophecy continues to unfold through a series of profound visions. In the sixth year of his exile, during a period likely marked by spiritual apathy and continued judgment, the prophet receives a direct, powerful divine intervention. While residing in his home, with Judah's elders present, the potent presence and power of God ("the hand of the LORD") supernaturally fell upon him. This divine touch equipped and positioned Ezekiel to receive a significant revelation concerning the state of God's people and the spiritual condition of Jerusalem. The precision of the date emphasizes the significance of this prophetic encounter.