Ezekiel 12

1 Then the word [message from God, divine utterance] of the LORD [Yehovah, the Lord of Israel] came [existed, came into being] to me, saying [to speak, to command, to proclaim], word study 2 “Son of man [human, a son of Adam], you are living in a rebellious [uncontrolled] house [family, community, dwelling place]. They have eyes [sight, ability to see] to see but do not see [are blind, unaware], and ears [ability to hear, listen] to hear but do not hear [are deaf, disobedient], for they are a rebellious [stubborn, provoking] house [people, nation]. word study 3 Therefore, son [a descendant] of man [the human, Adam], pack your bags [articles, utensils] for exile [captivity, being taken away]. In broad daylight [by day, in the daytime], set out from your place [a location] and go to another [achar, a different] as they watch [before their eyes, in their sight]. Perhaps [ulay, if not] they will understand [see, consider], though they are a rebellious [bitter] house [a dwelling, a family]. word study 4 Bring out your baggage [articles, vessels, stuff for removing] for exile [captivity, being taken away] by day [in the daytime, daily], as they watch. Then in the evening [at sunset, in the late afternoon], as they watch, go out like those who go into exile [captivity, a state of being taken away, removal]. word study 5 As they watch [before their eyes, in their sight], dig [to force a passage, like a burglar breaking in] through the wall [of the city, of your house] and carry [take out, bring forth] your belongings [baggage, things] out through it [by it, thereby]. word study 6 And as they watch [in their sight, before their eyes], lift your bags [goods, belongings] to your shoulder [upper arm, the place where garments hang] and take them out at dusk [in the twilight, darkness]; cover your face [presence, countenance] so that you cannot see the land [earth, territory]. For I have made you a sign [wonder, token] to the house [family, dwelling place] of Israel [God’s chosen people, descendants of Jacob].” word study 7 So I did as I was commanded [to obey, following instructions]. I brought out my bags [utensils, articles] for exile [captivity, being taken away] by day [in the daytime, openly], and in the evening [at sunset, as the light faded] I dug through the wall [a barrier, a division] by hand [with my own strength, manually]. I took my belongings [my stuff, my possessions] out at dusk [in the dark, in the twilight], carrying them on my shoulder [bearing the weight, lifting the load] as they watched [observed, saw with their eyes]. word study 8 And in the morning [at the break of day, dawn] the word [message, thing, or affair] of the LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God] came [existed, came into being] to me [toward me, in my direction], saying [to speak, command, or promise], word study 9 “Son [descendant, child] of man [the human, Adam], hasn’t [is it not the case] the rebellious [bitter, uncontrolled] house [family, dwelling place] of Israel [Jacob’s descendants, God’s chosen people] asked [said to] you [directly, personally], ‘What are you doing [making, acting]?’ word study 10 Tell them that this [the prophetic message] is what the Lord [Adonay, the sovereign Master] GOD [Yehovah] says: ‘This burden [prophetic sign, message from God] concerns the prince [leader, ruler] in Jerusalem [the city of peace, capital of Israel] and all [every, the whole] the house [family, community] of Israel [God’s chosen people] who are [dwelling, living] there [in the midst, among them].’ word study 11 You are to say [declare, proclaim], ‘I am a sign [a wonder] to you.’ Just as it happened [occurred, took place] here, so will it be done [accomplished, fulfilled] to them; they will go into exile [captivity, bondage] as captives [prisoners, those taken away]. word study 12 And at dusk [in the dark, at twilight] the prince [leader, ruler] among them will lift his bags [belongings, goods] to his shoulder [upper end of the arm] and go out [depart, leave]. They will dig [force a passage, break through] through the wall [barrier, partition] to bring him out [escape, come out]. He will cover [hide, conceal] his face [presence, countenance] so he cannot see [look, gaze] the land [earth, territory]. word study 13 But I will spread [stretch out, cast forth] My net [a network] over him, and he will be caught [seized, taken] in My snare [a means of capture]. I will bring [lead, guide] him to Babylon [a city of confusion, a place of exile], the land [territory, region] of the Chaldeans [a people known for wisdom, astrology]; yet he will not see [perceive, understand] it, and there [in that place, at that time] he will die [meet his end, perish]. word study 14 And I will scatter [to every direction, towards every wind] to every wind all the attendants [helpers, those who provide aid] around him and all his troops [bands, armies], and I will draw [unsheathe, bring out] a sword [cutting instrument, tool for battle] to chase after them [pursue, follow closely]. word study 15 And they will know [be certain, perceive] that I [emphatically, the Lord myself] am the LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God], when I disperse [scatter, spread abroad] them among the nations [Gentiles, non-Hebrew peoples] and scatter [disperse, winnow] them throughout the countries [lands, territories]. word study 16 But I will spare [leave, keep] a few of them from sword [cutting instrument, war] and famine [hunger, lack of food] and plague [pestilence, disease], so that in the nations [Gentile, heathen] to which they go, they can recount [declare, tell] all their abominations [disgusting things, idolatry]. Then they will know [ascertain, learn] that I am the LORD [Yehovah, the supreme God].” word study 17 Moreover, the word [message from God, divine communication] of the LORD [Yehovah, the self-existent God] came [existed, came into being] to me, saying [to speak, to command, to declare], word study 18 “Son [descendant, human] of man [the first human, Adam], eat [devour, consume] your bread [food, grain] with trembling [quaking, shaking], and drink [imbibe, feast on] your water [liquid, refreshment] with quivering [trembling, fearfulness] and anxiety [care, worry]. word study 19 Then tell the people of the land [the inhabitants, the nation] that this is what the Lord [Adonay, the sovereign God] GOD [Yehovah] says about those living in Jerusalem [the city of peace, the holy city] and in the land [the territory, the region] of Israel [the chosen people, the descendants of Jacob]: ‘They will eat their bread [food, sustenance] with anxiety [fearfulness, carefulness] and drink their water [refreshment, nourishment] in dread [horror, astonishment], for their land [the earth, the ground] will be stripped [desolate, laid waste] of everything in it because of the violence [cruelty, injustice] of all who dwell [reside, abide] in it. word study 20 The inhabited [peopled, settled] cities will be laid waste [destroyed, devastated], and the land [earth, territory] will become desolate [a wonder, barren]. Then you will know [be certain, ascertain] that I [emphatically, the Lord myself] am the LORD [Yehovah, the Lord of Israel].’” word study 21 Again the word [message from God, divine utterance] of the LORD [Yehovah, the self-existent God] came [existed, was present] to me, saying [to speak, to declare, to command], word study 22 “Son of man [the human, a descendant of Adam], what is this [a short saying that teaches a lesson] proverb that you have in the land [the earth, a source of sustenance] of Israel [the symbolic name of Jacob, referring to his descendants]: ‘The days [a literal 24-hour period or a figurative space of time] go by [are prolonged, made long], and every [all, everything] vision [a revelation from God, often received through dreams or prophecy] fails’? word study 23 Therefore tell them that this is what the Lord [Adonay, the sovereign Master] GOD [Yehovah] says: ‘I will put an end [bring to cessation, cause to stop] to this proverb [a short saying that teaches a lesson], and in Israel [the symbolic name of Jacob, also referring to his descendants] they will no longer recite [use as a common saying] it.’ But say to them: ‘The days [a period of time, a season] are at hand [near, approaching] when every vision [a revelation from God, a prophetic insight] will be fulfilled [accomplished, completed, brought to pass]. word study 24 For [because, since] there will be no more [never again, not anymore] false [vain, deceitful] visions [revelations, prophetic messages] or [nor, and not] flattering [smooth, deceitful] divinations [predictions, fortune-telling] within [in the midst of, among] the house [family, nation] of Israel [God’s chosen people], word study 25 because I, the LORD [Yehovah, the covenant God], will speak whatever word I speak, and it will be fulfilled [come to pass, accomplished] without delay [no more prolonged, swiftly]. For in your days, O rebellious [uncontrolled, bitter] house, I will speak a message [word, declaration] and bring it to pass [perform, accomplish], declares the Lord GOD [Adonay, the sovereign Lord].’” word study 26 Furthermore [Again, An additional message], the word [a matter or affair, a thing] of the LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God] came [to exist, to be] to me, saying [to speak, to command, to utter], word study 27 “Son [descendant, child] of man, take note that the house [dwelling place, family] of Israel [Jacob’s descendants] is saying [speaking, declaring], ‘The vision [revelation, prophecy] that he sees [perceives, prophesies] is for many [numerous, abundant] years [days, periods of time] from now; he prophesies [speaks under divine influence] about the distant [far-off, remote] future [times, events].’ word study 28 Therefore tell them that this is what the Lord [Adonay, the sovereign Master] GOD [Yehovah] says: ‘None of My words [divine messages, prophetic utterances] will be delayed [put off, prolonged] any longer [still, any more]. The message [word, declaration] I speak [declare, proclaim] will be fulfilled [accomplished, performed], declares the Lord [Adonay, the sovereign Master] GOD [Yehovah].’” word study