Study scripture verses and use highlighting, underlining, and take notes in the bible. Book of ezekiel overview insight for living ministries. Thats just one of many symbolic visions and performances of this ancient prophet, who predicted the destruction of israel and the idolatrous nations around it. Ezekiel 1, new living translation nlt the bible app. As such, the whole revelation by god in this vision to ezekiel, i. Book of ezekiel analysis of literary devices by phd students from stanford.
Two visions of restoration, old testament seminary student study guide 2002, 173 one of the beautiful things about inspired symbolic teaching is that it can have more than one meaning and apply to more than one time or situation. It is important to elaborate on a few points raised in this article. God would send someone from davids family to be their leader ezekiel 37. Upwards of 75 times god expresses his own concerns in the book as for my names sake or that ye shall know that i. Ezekiel s name, in hebrew, means something like may god strengthen him. His vision of the glory of god, in his attendance, surrounded with angels, here called living creatures ver. And it was according to the appearance of the vision which i saw, even according to the vision that i saw when i came to destroy the city. The book of ezekiel is in the old testament section of the bible. This remarkable book bears the name of the prophet who wrote it. A series of studies in the old testament book of ezekiel. The prophet jeremiah is in judah, fearlessly proclaiming the impending destruction of jerusalem and the desolation of the land of judah. The prophet ezekiel was given an awesome vision when he was with the captives of judah at babylon in 594 bce.
The book of ezekiel takes its title from the priest of the same name, son to a man named buzi. The book of ezekiel is the third of the latter prophets in the tanakh and one of the major prophetic books in the old testament, following isaiah and jeremiah. This summary of the book of ezekiel provides information about the title. The first chapter of the biblical book of ezekiel served as the textual starting point for the merkavah mysticsand hints at an image of god. On one hand, he was the son of buzi, despised by others, but on the other hand, he was ezekiel, strengthened by god. Ezekiel s mission to the judean exiles in babylon was to prepare them for the greatest crisis in the history of yahwehs covenant people. Ezekiel was among the jewish exiles whom king nebuchadnezzar took to babylon at. Ezekiel book of consists mainly of three groups of prophecies. The book of ezekiel is one of the major prophetic books in the old testament and had more influence on revelation than any other book. Well, the title is ezekiel s name, and its his prophecies that make up the whole of the book. The prophet is so overcome by the vision that he falls on his face. Turn from your idols and renounce all your detestable practices. Ezekiel cliffsnotes study guides book summaries, test.
Sep 28, 2012 this is a project that has been on my mind for over four and a half years outlining all the books of the bible, from genesis to revelation. Of all the scripture passages we might turn to during these times, the bizarre vision that opens the book of ezekiel would not register high on our list. Book of ezekiel known to be written by prophet ezekiel and is placed immediately after lamentation in ot. Intro to ezekiel biblica the international bible society. It records seven visions of the prophet ezekiel book of ezekiel. Many of the divine visions that ezekiel shares are relevant to gods plans for reconstructing the present world and restoring his people to our former days in the garden of eden. Ezekiels vision of gods chariot became the biblical text most important to jewish mysticism. Ezekiel describes his vision as an elaborate and complex image that symbolizes the majesty of yahweh and proclaims yahwehs sovereignty over all the nations of the earth. Ezekiel witnessed marvelous things in his prophetic visions even as he lived through terrible things on earth. The book of ezekiel was likely written between 593 and 565 b. I also had a vision of heaven and was born again and baptised in the spirit on my birthday.
The book of ezekiel was written between 593 and 565 b. According to the book itself, it records six visions of the prophet ezekiel, exiled in babylon, during the 22 years 593571 bc. The book opens with an account of the vision that summoned ezekiel to his prophetic calling. I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you. The prophet ezekiel is one of four major prophets along with isaiah, jeremiah, and daniel in hebrew scripture, our old testament of the bible. It is composed of 48 chapters divided almost half before and after the fall of jerusalem.
Some commentaries do try to describe ezekiel s fantastic wheel vision. Ezekiels vision is an example of contextualization, where god accommodates his selfrevelation to cultural expectations and norms. According to the book itself, it records six visions of the prophet ezekiel, exiled in babylon, during the 22 years from 593 to 571 bc, although it is the product of a long and complex history and does not necessarily preserve the very. The description is full of the splendor of flashing light, so brilliant that the details are minutely revealed, but so dazzling that they are not clearly seen. The glory and sovereignty of god the book of ezekiel opens and concludes with visions of the glory of god. In a vision, he sees gods presence leaving the temple in jerusalem to instead hang out with the exiles in babylon. Warning against the sin of idolatry learn religions. The book opens with a unique vision of the glory of the lord. After an account of his call to the prophetical office. Book of ezekiel read, study bible verses online bible study tools. There was fire inside the cloud, and in the middle of the fire glowed something like gleaming amber. This series is not ment to be an exhaustive, indepth.
This text is actually the primary source in the tanach for the mystical element of torah, known in the. Ezekiel s in babylon, having been exiled there after the first siege of judah by the babylonians. It reveals how god is manifested, how god moves, and how god administrates his government through the four living creatures. What beautiful lessons we learn from the first 24 chapters of the bible book of ezekiel. In my thirtieth year, in the fourth month on the fifth day, while i was among the exiles by the kebar river, the heavens were opened and i saw visions of god.
Encounter divine dreams and visions in the book of ezekiel. The book of ezekiel pronounces judgment on both israel and surrounding nations, but it also provides a vision of the future millennial kingdom that complements. Mar 16, 2014 book of ezekiel ezekiel, god, king james bible, douay rheims, american standard bible, bible in basic english, webster bible, matthew henry on. The book of ezekiel is poorly understood and the results are that many people have been led to believe things about ezekiel that have nothing to do with the intended meaning. From the first chapter, which graphically describes the overwhelming invasion of the divine presence into ezekiels world, to the last phrase of ezekiels vision the lord is there the book sounds and echoes gods sovereignty. It is not a vision of this mechanical age this is not the airplane or the missile. Although some modern literalists explain this vision as spacecraft, it has a much deeper meaning. Are the wheels in ezekiel 1 some kind of aliens spaceship or angelic beings. Ezekiel 1 niv bible in my thirtieth year, in the fourth. The throne vision, in which ezekiel sees god enthroned in the temple among the heavenly host. In response to the rebellion of jehoiakim of judah in 601 b.
Ezekiel s vision of the glory of godits departure and returnis first set within israels history, then in the culmination of gods promises in christ. The book of ezekiel is a book in the christian old testament that derives its name from, and records the visions of, the priest and prophet ezekiel. God also showed ezekiel a picture of a new temple in the future ezekiel chapters 4048. Prophet ezekiel is one of the four prominent prophets mentioned in the hebrew bible. The priest ezekiel was the first prophet to be called by the lord outside of israel during the babylonian captivity.
The first chapter of ezekiel is about the vision of god. King nebuchadnezzar of babylon has already taken many jews into captivity. The prophet ezekiel is the author of the book of ezekiel ezekiel 1. The closing chapters of ezekiel s vision 4048, constitute one of the most dramatic predictions in all the bible and one which has been a continuing puzzle to the commentators. It was authored by ezekiel who was set as a watchman to the house of israel. The new testament portrait of jesus is saturated with imagery of ezekiel s shepherdking. The book of ezekiel is generally divided into five parts.
We see in acts 2 how the church is built upon the belief that jesus came as the shepherdking in stride with that great vision of ezekiel 34 to gather his flock and rule over them in righteousness, truth, and justice. A free bible version and commentary on the old testament book of ezekiel in easy english. The babylonian king has begun his final siege of jerusalem. It reveals how god is manifested, how god moves, and how god administrates his. The poet william blake was inspired by ezekiel more by the trippy, far. Ezekiel was the son of a priest, and served as a prophet of jehovah. When jehoiakims successor, jehoiachin, surrendered in 597, nebuchadnezzar appointed zedekiah king and deported to babylon jehoiachin and the royal family, along with members of the upper class, including ezekiel the priest. Jul 03, 2016 watch our overview video on the first part of the book of ezekiel, which breaks down the literary design of the book and its flow of thought. Embedded in the pattern of the strange, the bizarre, and the wonderful is a word that still speaks to gods people today.
Ezekiel also had detailed visions of a new temple ezekiel 4043, a restored jerusalem ezekiel 48. The book of ezekiel is narrative history, prophetic and apocalyptic in genre and even contains parables. The vision of ezekiel for an informed reading of ezekiel 1. The first section of ezekiel, which is all of chapter one, presents a vision of the appearance of the glory of the lord. Ezekiel the son of buzi, a priest, may have completed writing the book in babylonia in about the year 591 b. Mar 17, 2016 the book of ezekiel is one of the major prophets in the old testament. God himself would return to this temple ezekiel 43. Ezekiels priestly lineage shines through in his prophetic ministry. Ezekiel encountered god through extraordinary visions full of metaphor and symbology that have produced much speculation over the millennia, yet god also conveyed his message to the people of israel through ezekiel very clearly. I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. Best commentaries and books on ezekiel logos bible software. Nazianzen a calleth this prophet, the beholder of great things, and the interpreter of visions and mysteries.
Ezekiel 1 new international version niv ezekiels inaugural vision. Fire moved back and forth between the living creatures. Throughout the book the phrase that is repeated over and over again is, that you may know that i am the lord. Now we need to see the conditions for seeing the visions. The abingdon bible commentary states the following. The message of ezekiel the main themes of the letter which develop throughout are. Watch our overview video on the first part of the book of ezekiel, which breaks down the literary design of the book and its flow of thought. The haftarah for the first day of shavuot is of the most hallowed portions of the bible. Watch our overview video on the first part of the book of ezekiel, which. Among the exiles in babylon, ezekiel shows that israel. Ezekiel nkjv ezekiels vision of god bible gateway.
On the fifth of the monthit was the fifth year of the exile of king jehoiachin. The time when this prophecy was delivered, the place where, and person by whom, ver. The vision of ezekiel for an informed reading of ezekiel. This book is basically about the destruction and exile of judah and the promise of its eventual restoration by god. While all other priests in jerusalem predicted good days for israelites, ezekiel. Many jews still residing in judah, as well as those already in babylon, refused to believe ezekiel concerning the impending destruction of jerusalem. If anyone asks whether the vision is lucid, i confess its obscurity, and that i can scarcely understand it calvin. Ezekiel was given prophethood at an age thirty after he saw a majestic vision. Ezekiel, god, king james bible, douay rheims, american standard bible, bible in basic english, webster bible, matthew henry.
From the first chapter, which graphically describes the overwhelming invasion of the divine presence into ezekiel s world, to the last phrase of ezekiel s vision the lord is there the book sounds and echoes. This seminar series highlights the differences between plan a and plan b. It is designed to help couples grow closer by putting jesus first in the covenant of marriage. Summary the book of ezekiel has the most logical arrangement of any of the prophetic books. The book of ezekiel can seem vague and confusing for some readers, but with careful observation it contains key details god wants us to know about.
Summary of the book of ezekiel the story of the bible. Highlights from the book of ezekieli watchtower online library. A literary masterpiece of the english language, the original king james bible is still in use today. The biblical prophets those clasic distrubers of the false peace continue to hold reliogn and history accountable to the word of god. The prophet ezekiel is the author of the book ezekiel 1. This again points to the uniqueness of the lord of israel. In no other book is this pattern clearer than in ezekiel see outline. Ezekiel new king james version nkjv ezekiels vision of god. Ezekiel 1 ezekiels inaugural vision in my bible gateway. Highlights from the book of ezekieli watchtower online. The book of ezekiel features one of the eeriest scenes in the bible, a vision of god raising an army of dead mens bones from their graves and bringing them back to life ezekiel 37. Ezekiel chapters 1 to 24 free bible commentary in easy.
In exile, hebrews found hope in prophet ezekiels visions. The prophet is caught up once again by the spirit of god and in vision is taken to a high mountain overlooking the city of jerusalem. The book of ezekiel, so the hebrews call it, and forbid any to read the beginning and ending of it till he be thirty years of age, because it is so abstruse and mysterious. And nowhere in the bible are gods initiative and control expressed more clearly and pervasively than in the book of ezekiel. Although archaeology has discovered figures and art of creatures that combine lions with eagles and so forth in the palaces and temples of other ancient near eastern peoples, other nations did not combine all four of the aforementioned creatures like we see in ezekiels vision. So far, ezekiel s message to the exiles in babylon has centered on one theme. Ezekiel s gripping visions convinced his audience that the covenant was not broken, and that in due course, god would shepherd his people back.
This detail seems to parallel the vision of john in the book of revelation, chapter 4. Known as mirkevet yechezkel, the chariot of ezekiel, the reading speaks of the revelation to ezekiel in which he saw the entire gamut of divine beings in what he describes as a chariot. Besides clarity of structure, the book of ezekiel reveals symmetry. Ezekielstill in babylonis taken by god back to the land of israel in visions as real as being on location similar to virtual reality.
The book of ezekiel predicted a glorious future for israel if they had cooperated with god. The prophet ezekiel, exiled in babylon, experienced a series of seven visions during the period that spans the final destruction of jerusalem. Ezekiel was given prophethood at an age thirty after he saw a majestic vision of gods glory during his captivation in babylon. The glory of god may well be viewed as the theme of the book, because ezekiel s ministry begins with a vision of gods glory and emphasizes it throughout the book 1. It covers a period of approximately 22 years, from 6 to about 591 b. The book of ezekiel is the third of the books of the major prophets, coming after the books of isaiah and jeremiah in the christian canon.
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