Ezekiel 11:4
Ezekiel 11:4 in Multiple Translations
Therefore prophesy against them; prophesy, O son of man!”
¶ Therefore prophesy against them, prophesy, O son of man.
Therefore prophesy against them, prophesy, O son of man.
For this cause be a prophet against them, be a prophet, O son of man.
So prophesy against them. Prophesy, son of man!”
Therefore prophesie against them, sonne of man, prophesie.
Therefore prophesy concerning them, prophesy, son of man.'
Therefore prophesy against them. Prophesy, son of man.”
Therefore prophesy against them, prophesy, O son of man.
Therefore prophesy against them, prophesy, thou son of man.
So, you human, prophesy aboutthe terrible things that will happen to them.”
Berean Amplified Bible — Ezekiel 11:4
BAB
Word Study
Hover over any word to see its amplified meaning. Click a word to explore its full definition and translation comparisons.
Amplified text is generated using scripting to tie together English translations for comparison. Always refer to the core BSB translation and original Hebrew/Greek text for accuracy. Anomalies may occur.
Ezekiel 11:4 Interlinear (Deep Study)
BIB
HEB
לָ/כֵ֖ן
הִנָּבֵ֣א
עֲלֵי/הֶ֑ם
הִנָּבֵ֖א
בֶּן
אָדָֽם
לָ/כֵ֖ן
kên
H3651
right
Prep | Adv
הִנָּבֵ֣א
nâbâʼ
H5012
to prophesy
V-Niphal-Impv-2ms
עֲלֵי/הֶ֑ם
ʻal
H5921
upon
Prep | Suff
הִנָּבֵ֖א
nâbâʼ
H5012
to prophesy
V-Niphal-Impv-2ms
בֶּן
bên
H1121
son
N-ms
אָדָֽם
ʼâdâm
H120
the man (Adam)
N-ms
Hebrew Word Study
Select any word above to explore its original meaning, root, and usage across Scripture.
Use ← → arrow keys to navigate between words.
Hebrew Word Reference — Ezekiel 11:4
לָ/כֵ֖ן
kên
H3651
"right"
Prep | Adv
In the Bible, this Hebrew word means 'so' or 'thus', often used to show agreement or confirmation, like in the book of Genesis. It can also mean 'rightly' or 'justly', as in doing something the correct way. It appears in various forms throughout the Old Testament.
Definition: adv adj 1) right, just, honest, true, veritable 1a) right, just, honest 1b) correct 1c) true, veritable
Usage: Occurs in 737 OT verses. KJV: [phrase] after that (this, -ward, -wards), as... as, [phrase] (for-) asmuch as yet, [phrase] be (for which) cause, [phrase] following, howbeit, in (the) like (manner, -wise), [idiom] the more, right, (even) so, state, straightway, such (thing), surely, [phrase] there (where) -fore, this, thus, true, well, [idiom] you. See also: Genesis 1:7; Exodus 37:19; Judges 7:17.
הִנָּבֵ֣א
nâbâʼ
H5012
"to prophesy"
V-Niphal-Impv-2ms
To prophesy means to speak or sing under the influence of the divine spirit, as seen in the prophets of the Bible. This can include predicting the future or simply speaking God's message to others.
Definition: 1) to prophesy 1a) (Niphal) 1a1) to prophesy 1a1a) under influence of divine spirit 1a1b) of false prophets 1b)(Hithpael) 1b1) to prophesy 1b1a) under influence of divine spirit 1b1b) of false prophets Aramaic equivalent: ne.va (נבא "to prophesy" H5013)
Usage: Occurs in 102 OT verses. KJV: prophesy(-ing), make self a prophet. See also: Numbers 11:25; Jeremiah 27:16; Jeremiah 2:8.
עֲלֵי/הֶ֑ם
ʻal
H5921
"upon"
Prep | Suff
This Hebrew word means on or above something, like a physical object or a situation. It can also imply a sense of responsibility or accountability, as in being on behalf of someone.
Definition: prep 1) upon, on the ground of, according to, on account of, on behalf of, concerning, beside, in addition to, together with, beyond, above, over, by, on to, towards, to, against 1a) upon, on the ground of, on the basis of, on account of, because of, therefore, on behalf of, for the sake of, for, with, in spite of, notwithstanding, concerning, in the matter of, as regards 1b) above, beyond, over (of excess) 1c) above, over (of elevation or pre-eminence) 1d) upon, to, over to, unto, in addition to, together with, with (of addition) 1e) over (of suspension or extension) 1f) by, adjoining, next, at, over, around (of contiguity or proximity) 1g) down upon, upon, on, from, up upon, up to, towards, over towards, to, against (with verbs of motion) 1h) to (as a dative)
Usage: Occurs in 4493 OT verses. KJV: above, according to(-ly), after, (as) against, among, and, [idiom] as, at, because of, beside (the rest of), between, beyond the time, [idiom] both and, by (reason of), [idiom] had the charge of, concerning for, in (that), (forth, out) of, (from) (off), (up-) on, over, than, through(-out), to, touching, [idiom] with. See also: Genesis 1:2; Genesis 24:13; Genesis 41:33.
הִנָּבֵ֖א
nâbâʼ
H5012
"to prophesy"
V-Niphal-Impv-2ms
To prophesy means to speak or sing under the influence of the divine spirit, as seen in the prophets of the Bible. This can include predicting the future or simply speaking God's message to others.
Definition: 1) to prophesy 1a) (Niphal) 1a1) to prophesy 1a1a) under influence of divine spirit 1a1b) of false prophets 1b)(Hithpael) 1b1) to prophesy 1b1a) under influence of divine spirit 1b1b) of false prophets Aramaic equivalent: ne.va (נבא "to prophesy" H5013)
Usage: Occurs in 102 OT verses. KJV: prophesy(-ing), make self a prophet. See also: Numbers 11:25; Jeremiah 27:16; Jeremiah 2:8.
בֶּן
bên
H1121
"son"
N-ms
In the Bible, this word means a son or descendant, and can also refer to a grandson, nation, or quality. It appears in 1 Chronicles 24, describing a Levite named Beno. The word is used to show family relationships and inheritance.
Definition: : child/son
Usage: Occurs in 3653 OT verses. KJV: [phrase] afflicted, age, (Ahoh-) (Ammon-) (Hachmon-) (Lev-) ite, (anoint-) ed one, appointed to, ([phrase]) arrow, (Assyr-) (Babylon-) (Egypt-) (Grec-) ian, one born, bough, branch, breed, [phrase] (young) bullock, [phrase] (young) calf, [idiom] came up in, child, colt, [idiom] common, [idiom] corn, daughter, [idiom] of first, [phrase] firstborn, foal, [phrase] very fruitful, [phrase] postage, [idiom] in, [phrase] kid, [phrase] lamb, ([phrase]) man, meet, [phrase] mighty, [phrase] nephew, old, ([phrase]) people, [phrase] rebel, [phrase] robber, [idiom] servant born, [idiom] soldier, son, [phrase] spark, [phrase] steward, [phrase] stranger, [idiom] surely, them of, [phrase] tumultuous one, [phrase] valiant(-est), whelp, worthy, young (one), youth. See also: Genesis 3:16; Genesis 23:3; Genesis 34:18.
אָדָֽם
ʼâdâm
H120
"the man (Adam)"
N-ms
Adam was the first human, created by God and mentioned in Genesis 2:19, who married Eve and had sons including Cain, Abel, and Seth.
Definition: The first named man living at the time before the Flood, first mentioned at Gen.2.19; married to Eve (H2332); father of: Cain (H7014B), Abel (H1893) and Seth (H8352); also translated "man" at Gen.2.19,21,23; 3.8,9,20; 5.2; "mankind" at Deu.32.8; "others" at Job.31.33; Another spelling of a.dam (אָדָם "Adam" H0121) man, human being
Usage: Occurs in 526 OT verses. KJV: [idiom] another, [phrase] hypocrite, [phrase] common sort, [idiom] low, man (mean, of low degree), person. See also: Genesis 1:26; Judges 18:7; Psalms 8:5.
Study Notes — Ezekiel 11:4
Show Verse Quote Highlights
- Context
- Cross References
- Ezekiel 11:4 Summary
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Reflection Questions
- Gill's Exposition on Ezekiel 11:4
- Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Ezekiel 11:4
- Matthew Poole's Commentary on Ezekiel 11:4
- Trapp's Commentary on Ezekiel 11:4
- Cambridge Bible on Ezekiel 11:4
- Sermons on Ezekiel 11:4
Context — Evil in High Places
2And the LORD said to me, “Son of man, these are the men who plot evil and give wicked counsel in this city.
3They are saying, ‘Is not the time near to build houses? The city is the cooking pot, and we are the meat.’
4Therefore prophesy against them; prophesy, O son of man!”
5And the Spirit of the LORD fell upon me and told me to declare that this is what the LORD says: “That is what you are thinking, O house of Israel; and I know the thoughts that arise in your minds. 6You have multiplied those you killed in this city and filled its streets with the dead.Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ezekiel 20:46–47 | “Son of man, set your face toward the south, preach against it, and prophesy against the forest of the Negev. Say to the forest of the Negev: Hear the word of the LORD! This is what the Lord GOD says: I am about to ignite in you a fire, and it will devour all your trees, both green and dry. The blazing flame will not be quenched, and by it every face from south to north will be scorched. |
| 2 | Ezekiel 21:2 | “Son of man, set your face against Jerusalem and preach against the sanctuaries. Prophesy against the land of Israel |
| 3 | Ezekiel 3:2–15 | So I opened my mouth, and He fed me the scroll. “Son of man,” He said to me, “eat and fill your stomach with this scroll I am giving you.” So I ate, and it was as sweet as honey in my mouth. Then He said to me, “Son of man, go now to the house of Israel and speak My words to them. For you are not being sent to a people of unfamiliar speech or difficult language, but to the house of Israel— not to the many peoples of unfamiliar speech and difficult language whose words you cannot understand. Surely if I had sent you to them, they would have listened to you. But the house of Israel will be unwilling to listen to you, since they are unwilling to listen to Me. For the whole house of Israel is hard-headed and hard-hearted. Behold, I will make your face as hard as their faces, and your forehead as hard as their foreheads. I will make your forehead like a diamond, harder than flint. Do not be afraid of them or dismayed at their presence, even though they are a rebellious house.” “Son of man,” He added, “listen carefully to all the words I speak to you, and take them to heart. Go to your people, the exiles; speak to them and tell them, ‘This is what the Lord GOD says,’ whether they listen or refuse to listen.” Then the Spirit lifted me up, and I heard a great rumbling sound behind me: ‘Blessed be the glory of the LORD in His dwelling place!’ It was the sound of the wings of the living creatures brushing against one another and the sound of the wheels beside them, a great rumbling sound. So the Spirit lifted me up and took me away, and I went in bitterness and in the anger of my spirit, with the strong hand of the LORD upon me. I came to the exiles at Tel-abib who dwelt by the River Kebar. And for seven days I sat where they sat and remained there among them, overwhelmed. |
| 4 | Isaiah 58:1 | “Cry aloud, do not hold back! Raise your voice like a ram’s horn. Declare to My people their transgression and to the house of Jacob their sins. |
| 5 | Hosea 8:1 | Put the ram’s horn to your lips! An eagle looms over the house of the LORD, because the people have transgressed My covenant and rebelled against My law. |
| 6 | Ezekiel 3:17–21 | “Son of man, I have made you a watchman for the house of Israel. Whenever you hear a word from My mouth, give them a warning from Me. If I say to the wicked man, ‘You will surely die,’ but you do not warn him or speak out to warn him from his wicked way to save his life, that wicked man will die in his iniquity, and I will hold you responsible for his blood. But if you warn a wicked man and he does not turn from his wickedness and his wicked way, he will die in his iniquity, but you will have saved yourself. Now if a righteous man turns from his righteousness and commits iniquity, and I put a stumbling block before him, he will die. If you did not warn him, he will die in his sin, and the righteous acts he did will not be remembered. And I will hold you responsible for his blood. But if you warn the righteous man not to sin, and he does not sin, he will indeed live because he heeded your warning, and you will have saved yourself.” |
| 7 | Hosea 6:5 | Therefore I have hewn them by the prophets; I have slain them by the words of My mouth, and My judgments go forth like lightning. |
| 8 | Ezekiel 25:2 | “Son of man, set your face against the Ammonites and prophesy against them. |
Ezekiel 11:4 Summary
[In Ezekiel 11:4, God is telling Ezekiel to speak out against the evil plans and actions of the people, because He wants to hold them accountable for their actions. This is similar to what we see in Isaiah 58:1, where God calls His people to speak out against injustice. God wants us to know that our actions have consequences, and that He will judge us for what we do, as seen in Romans 2:16 and Revelation 20:12. By speaking out against evil, we can help to bring people to repentance and back to God, as seen in Ezekiel 18:30-32 and 2 Peter 3:9.]
Frequently Asked Questions
What does it mean for Ezekiel to prophesy against the people in Ezekiel 11:4?
It means that Ezekiel is being called by God to speak out against the evil plans and actions of the people, as seen in Ezekiel 11:2-3, and to declare God's judgment against them, similar to what is seen in Isaiah 58:1 and Jeremiah 1:10.
Why is God telling Ezekiel to prophesy against the people in this specific verse?
God is telling Ezekiel to prophesy against the people because they are plotting evil and giving wicked counsel, as stated in Ezekiel 11:2, and God wants to hold them accountable for their actions, as seen in Romans 2:16 and Revelation 20:12.
How does this verse relate to the overall message of the book of Ezekiel?
This verse is part of a larger theme in the book of Ezekiel, where God is calling His people to repentance and warning them of the consequences of their sin, as seen in Ezekiel 18:30-32 and Ezekiel 33:11.
What can we learn from Ezekiel's obedience to God's command to prophesy against the people?
We can learn the importance of obeying God's commands, even when it is difficult or unpopular, as seen in Acts 5:29 and 1 Peter 2:13-14, and trusting in God's sovereignty and wisdom, as seen in Proverbs 3:5-6 and Isaiah 55:8-9.
Reflection Questions
- What are some ways that I can be like the people in Ezekiel 11:2-3, plotting evil and giving wicked counsel, and how can I repent of those actions?
- How can I, like Ezekiel, be obedient to God's commands, even when it is difficult or unpopular, and trust in His sovereignty and wisdom?
- What are some ways that I can speak out against evil and injustice in my own community, like Ezekiel is called to do in this verse?
- How can I balance the need to speak out against evil with the need to love and forgive those who are perpetuating it, as seen in Matthew 5:44 and Luke 6:27-28?
Gill's Exposition on Ezekiel 11:4
Therefore prophesy against them,.... Evil things against them, things that are disagreeable to them; since they flatter themselves with good things, and cry peace and safety, let them know that
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Ezekiel 11:4
Therefore prophesy against them, prophesy, O son of man. Therefore prophesy against them, prophesy. The repetition marks emphatic earnestness.
Matthew Poole's Commentary on Ezekiel 11:4
For this their atheistical temper and words, tell them beforehand what they shall suffer. The charge and command is doubled, both to engage the prophet, and to intimate a doubled misery coming upon them, a misery they shall not have courage to laugh under, though they now dare contemptuously laugh at.
Trapp's Commentary on Ezekiel 11:4
Ezekiel 11:4 Therefore prophesy against them, prophesy, O son of man.Ver. 4. Therefore prophesy against them, prophesy.] Urger et repetit, ne cunctetur. Out of greatest indignation against these pests, he pricketh him on to prophesy, as having vengeance "in a readiness for the disobedient." Mockers shall be sure to have their "bands increased."
Cambridge Bible on Ezekiel 11:4
4. The prophet felt called to prophesy against these men—and all this is part of the vision. See on ch. Ezekiel 3:21.
Sermons on Ezekiel 11:4
| Sermon | Description | |
|---|---|---|
|
A Great Apostasy by David Wilkerson | In this sermon, the preacher emphasizes the importance of maintaining a childlike trust and confidence in God. He criticizes the modern methods and techniques used in churches and |
|
God Seeks a Man of Prayer by Alan Redpath | In this sermon, the speaker reflects on the lack of justice and salvation in the world, drawing parallels to historical events such as the Vietnam War, the tragedy of the boat peop |
|
|
Christian Growth - Part 4 by Alan Redpath | In this sermon, the speaker reflects on the state of the world and compares it to the biblical verses that describe a lack of justice and salvation. He specifically mentions the tr |
|
|
Hatching Snake Eggs by David Wilkerson | In this sermon, the preacher addresses the issue of putting off seeking deliverance from sin and turning back to God. He calls on those who have been injured or run away from God t |
|
|
Repairing the Breach by Alan Redpath | In this sermon, the speaker emphasizes that the convention is not a time for religious entertainment, but rather a time for serious reflection on one's spiritual journey. The messa |
|
The Sin of Silence by Laurence White | In this sermon, the speaker urges Christians in America to take action against evil and fight for righteousness. He references the story of the White Rose, a group of university st |
|
|
God's Grief Over His People by David Wilkerson | In this sermon, the minister shares various stories and concerns about the state of the church and God's people. He mentions a pastor whose wife left him, grandparents who feel dis |