Ezekiel (Bible)

Ezekiel
Abbreviation	Eze
Class.	Old Testament
Category	Major Prophets
Chapters	48
Record Related
Writer	Ezekiel
Date (Approx.)	BC 593–BC 570
Location	Babylon

The book of Ezekiel is the 26th book of the Old Testament, named after the prophet Ezekiel, who is traditionally believed to have written it. Taken captive to Babylon during the Neo-Babylonian Empire, Ezekiel received divine visions and revelations while in exile. Through prophetic visions, symbolic actions, and messages, he foretold both the destruction and future restoration of Jerusalem. This book is classified among the Major Prophets, alongside Isaiah, Jeremiah, and Daniel.

The Writer: Ezekiel

The writer of this book, Ezekiel, was taken captive during Babylon’s second invasion of Judah in 597 B.C. In the fifth year of his exile, he received a revelation from God by the Chebar River in Babylon. Even after Jerusalem was completely conquered in Babylon’s third invasion, he continued preaching God’s word for sixteen years.

Ezekiel faithfully proclaimed God’s will, regardless of whether the people listened or refused to listen. At the same time, he offered hope and comfort to the Jewish people discouraged by captivity, preaching the eventual restoration of Jerusalem.

Historical Background

The Kingdom of Judah had abandoned God’s laws and commandments, turning to idolatry. Even priests and leaders became corrupt, defiling the temple with idols. In response, God allowed Babylon to attack Judah.

During Babylon’s first two invasions, King Nebuchadnezzar II took King Jehoiachin, the royal family, nobles, leaders, and skilled workers into exile, leaving only the poor behind. He then appointed Zedekiah as Judah’s king. However, the people misunderstood their suffering, believing it was merely a consequence of their ancestors’ sins. They also listened to false prophets who promised peace and falsely claimed, “Jerusalem cannot be destroyed by the Gentiles.” But in 586 B.C., Babylon’s third invasion led to the complete destruction of Jerusalem. The temple was burned, most of the population was taken into exile, and only the poor remained in the land.

Key Characteristics of the Book of Ezekiel

• Prophetic Visions & Symbolic Actions

Ezekiel conveyed God’s messages through visions and symbolic acts. He remained mute for a time, lay on one side for over a year, and ate defiled food as signs of Judah’s judgment. He also endured many hardships, including the sudden death of his wife.

• “Son of Man”

God repeatedly called Ezekiel “son of man,” a title appearing 90 times in the book.

• Chronological Order & Precise Dates

The book records the dates and years of Ezekiel’s visions with great precision. Except for part of chapter 29, the book follows a chronological order, beginning in the 5th year of his exile and ending in the 25th year of captivity.

• Similarities to the Book of Revelation

Some of Ezekiel’s visions closely resemble those in the Book of Revelation. These include: the vision of God’s glory (Ezekiel 1 ↔ Revelation 4), the eating of the scroll (Ezekiel 3 ↔ Revelation 10), and the river of life (Ezekiel 47 ↔ Revelation 22).

• Shift in Content: Judgment & Restoration

The first half of Ezekiel’s ministry focused on prophesying Judah’s destruction due to its sins (Chapters 1–24). However, after Jerusalem was destroyed in Babylon’s third invasion, his message changed to one of hope and restoration (Chapters 33–48), offering comfort to those in exile.

Composition of Ezekiel

Chapters	Content
Chs. 1–3	God calls Ezekiel
Chs. 4–24	Judgment on Jerusalem
Chs. 25–32	Judgment on the nations
Chs. 33–39	Restoration of Israel
Chs. 40–48	Glory of the Jerusalem Temple

Ezekiel’s Call (Chapters 1–3)

The Vision of the Valley of Dry Bones by Gustave Doré, 1866: In Ezekiel 37, the restoration of Israel is prophesied through a revelation that when the breath of God enters, the bones come to life and form an exceedingly great army.

On the 5th day of the 4th month in the 5th year of Jehoiachin’s exile, Ezekiel received a divine revelation by the Chebar River in the land of the Chaldeans. God appeared in glory and power, appointing Ezekiel to awaken Israel. God then commanded Ezekiel to eat a scroll filled with words of lamentation and woe, instructing him to deliver His message to Israel, regardless of whether they listened. Ezekiel was only able to speak when conveying God’s words; otherwise, he remained silent like a mute. His mouth was finally opened only after the destruction of Jerusalem.

Judgment on Jerusalem (Chapters 4–24)

Ezekiel saw the wickedness of the people through visions and sought to make them aware of their sins. However, even the leaders, who were supposed to guide the people, had become false prophets, worshiping idols, violating the Sabbath, and abandoning God’s law. Despite having experienced two Babylonian invasions, the people failed to recognize God’s warning. Ezekiel prophesied that Jerusalem would be completely destroyed. He also emphasized that each individual would be judged for their own sins, as the exiled generation wrongly blamed their ancestors for their suffering. Ezekiel strongly declared that God judges each person according to their deeds and urged the wicked to repent.

• The Symbol of Jerusalem’s Siege (Chs. 4–7)

God commanded Ezekiel to draw Jerusalem on a large stone and surround it, symbolizing its impending siege and destruction. Additionally, Ezekiel was instructed to:

• Lie on one side for an extended period, symbolizing the siege duration.
• Eat defiled bread, representing the famine that would strike Jerusalem.
• Shaved his hair and beard, then burn and scatter it, symbolizing the fate of Jerusalem’s people.

• Idolatry of Jerusalem in a Vision (Chs. 8–11)

On the 5th day of the 6th month in the 6th year of Zedekiah’s reign, God showed Ezekiel a vision of the idolatry in the temple.

• The people had turned their backs on God’s altar, worshiping the sun in the east.
• Because of this extreme wickedness, God’s judgment upon Jerusalem was prophesied.

• Symbol of Jerusalem’s Inhabitants Going Into Exile (Ch. 12)

To demonstrate the coming exile, Ezekiel:

• Packed his belongings and placed them outside during the day.
• Carried the load on his shoulders at dusk, leaving the city like a captive.
• This act was meant to awaken the people to the imminent captivity of the king and Jerusalem’s inhabitants.

• The Parable of the Vine and the Unclean Wife (Chs. 15–16)

• Israel’s idolatry was compared to a bride who committed adultery, despite being once loved by her husband.
• Judah, having fallen into idolatry, was likened to a fruitless vine, destined to be burned.

• Oholah and Oholibah (Ch. 23)

This parable describes Israel’s idolatry, using the metaphor of two women who committed adultery:

• Oholah represents Samaria.
• Oholibah represents Jerusalem.

Both symbolized the corruption and unfaithfulness of God’s people.

• The Rusty Kiln (Ch. 24)

On the 10th day of the 10th month in the 9th year of Zedekiah’s reign, Babylon launched its third attack on Jerusalem.

• The rusty pot symbolized the destruction of Jerusalem.
• Ezekiel’s wife suddenly died, serving as a prophetic sign that Jerusalem—dearly loved by the people—would be destroyed.

Judgment on the Nations (Chapters 25–32)

• Ammon, Moab, Edom, and Philistia (Ch. 25)

These four neighboring nations rejoiced over Judah’s downfall and actively opposed both Judah and God. Like Jeremiah, Ezekiel prophesied judgment upon them. After conquering Judah, King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon later subdued Philistia and invaded Ammon, Moab, and Edom.

• The King of Tyre (Chs. 26–28)

In the 11th year of Zedekiah’s reign (around 586 B.C.), God revealed to Ezekiel that He would summon King Nebuchadnezzar to execute judgment on Tyre, leaving it in eternal ruin.

• In a vision, God showed Ezekiel a ship laden with goods and precious jewels sinking, symbolizing the downfall of Tyre.
• This prophecy also foreshadowed the eventual destruction of Sidon.

• Judgment on Egypt (Chs. 29–32)

Ezekiel received six visions foretelling the decline of Egypt’s power due to an invasion by King Nebuchadnezzar. Egypt, which had once been a powerful empire, would be humbled and weakened.

Restoration of Israel (Chapters 33–39)

In the 12th year of Ezekiel’s exile, the southern Kingdom of Judah was completely destroyed by Babylon, just as God had foretold. The Jewish exiles in Babylon received news of their homeland’s destruction, leading them into deep despair. Many had hoped to return to Judah, but now their hope seemed lost. However, Ezekiel proclaimed a message of hope and restoration:

• God would forgive their sins and bring them back to their homeland.
• He would restore them under King David, foreshadowing the coming of the spiritual David—their Savior.

Ezekiel also prophesied that restored Israel would face an invasion by Gog from the land of Magog, who would unite with various northern nations. However, God would intervene and defeat them.

“My servant David will be king over them, and they will all have one shepherd. They will follow my laws and be careful to keep my decrees. They will live in the land I gave to my servant Jacob, the land where your fathers lived. They and their children and their children’s children will live there forever, and David my servant will be their prince forever.”

Ezekiel 37:24-25

The Glory of the Jerusalem Temple (Chapters 40–48)

By this time, it had been 25 years since the exile began and 14 years since Jerusalem’s destruction. Around the Passover season (the 11th day of the first month in the sacred calendar), Ezekiel experienced a second vision of going to Jerusalem.

• He saw a great and magnificent temple, symbolizing God’s presence among His people.
• Water flowed from the temple, becoming a mighty river that brought life wherever it went, symbolizing the life-giving water of God.
• The land was divided among the twelve tribes of Israel, with the temple at the center.
• The city next to the temple was named “Yahweh Shammah,” meaning “The LORD is There.”

The man brought me back to the entrance of the temple, and I saw water coming out from under the threshold of the temple toward the east (for the temple faced east). The water was coming down from under the south side of the temple, south of the altar. He then brought me out through the north gate and led me around the outside to the outer gate facing east, and the water was flowing from the south side . . . “Fruit trees of all kinds will grow on both banks of the river. Their leaves will not wither, nor will their fruit fail. Every month they will bear, because the water from the sanctuary flows to them. Their fruit will serve for food and their leaves for healing.”

Ezekiel 47:1-2, 12