Ezekiel 20:46
44 Then you will know, O house of Israel, that I am the LORD, when I have dealt with you for the sake of My name and not according to your wicked ways and corrupt acts, declares the Lord GOD.”
45 Now the word of the LORD came to me, saying,
“Son of man, set your face toward the south, preach against it, and prophesy against the forest of the Negev.
47 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.
48 Then all people will see that I, the LORD, have kindled it; it will not be quenched.”
This was said to Israel at a particular time, so it is wise to read it together with the surrounding text. Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.
Compare
- BSB
- “Son of man, set your face toward the south, preach against it, and prophesy against the forest of the Negev.
- KJV
- Son of man, set thy face toward the south, and drop thy word toward the south, and prophesy against the forest of the south field;
- WEB
- “Son of man, set your face toward the south, and preach toward the south, and prophesy against the forest of the field in the south.
- ASV
- Son of man, set thy face toward the south, and drop [thy word] toward the south, and prophesy against the forest of the field in the South;
- DARBY
- Son of man, set thy face toward the south, and drop [words] against the south, and prophesy against the forest of the south field;
- BLB
- “Son of man, set your face [to] the way of Teman, and preach against the south, and prophesy against the forest of the land of the Negev.
- ÅB
- Menneskesønn! Vend ditt åsyn mot syd og prek mot Syden og spå mot skoglandet i syd[^1]!
- OTB
- "Menneskesønn, vend ditt ansikt mot sør; forkynn mot sør og profeter mot skoglandet i Negev.
- B1930
- Menneskesønn! Vend ditt åsyn mot syd og prek mot Syden og spå mot skoglandet i syd! / < d.e. mot Jerusalem og Juda (ESK 21, 2), som for profeten i Kaldea lå mot syd.>
Study notes (Tyndale)
Original text and word study
Cross references
Ezekiel 21:2
“Son of man, set your face against Jerusalem and preach against the sanctuaries. Prophesy against the land of Israel
Read in contextAmos 7:16
Now, therefore, hear the word of the LORD. You say: ‘Do not prophesy against Israel; do not preach against the house of Isaac.’
Read in contextJeremiah 13:19
The cities of the Negev have been shut tight, and no one can open them. All Judah has been carried into exile, wholly taken captive.
Read in contextJeremiah 22:7
I will appoint destroyers against you, each man with his weapons, and they will cut down the choicest of your cedars and throw them into the fire.
Read in contextMicah 2:6
“Do not preach,” they preach. “Do not preach these things; disgrace will not overtake us.”
Read in contextEzekiel 4:7
You must turn your face toward the siege of Jerusalem with your arm bared, and prophesy against it.
Read in contextEzekiel 6:2
“Son of man, set your face against the mountains of Israel and prophesy against them.
Read in contextIsaiah 30:6
This is the burden against the beasts of the Negev: Through a land of hardship and distress, of lioness and lion, of viper and flying serpent, they carry their wealth on the backs of donkeys and their treasures on the humps of camels, to a people of no profit to them.
Read in context