Ezekiel 20:47

⁴⁵ Now the word of the LORD came to me, saying,

⁴⁶ “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.

⁴⁸ Then all people will see that I, the LORD, have kindled it; it will not be quenched.”

⁴⁹ Then I said, “Ah, Lord GOD, they are saying of me, ‘Is he not just telling parables?’”

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: 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.
KJV: And say to the forest of the south, Hear the word of the LORD; Thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I will kindle a fire in thee, and it shall devour every green tree in thee, and every dry tree: the flaming flame shall not be quenched, and all faces from the south to the north shall be burned therein.
WEB: Tell the forest of the south, ‘Hear the LORD’s word: The Lord GOD says, “Behold, I will kindle a fire in you, and it will devour every green tree in you, and every dry tree. The burning flame will not be quenched, and all faces from the south to the north will be burned by it.
ASV: and say to the forest of the South, Hear the word of Jehovah: Thus saith the Lord Jehovah, Behold, I will kindle a fire in thee, and it shall devour every green tree in thee, and every dry tree: the flaming flame shall not be quenched, and all faces from the south to the north shall be burnt thereby.
DARBY: and say to the forest of the south, Hear the word of Jehovah. Thus saith the Lord Jehovah: Behold, I will kindle a fire in thee, and it shall devour every green tree in thee, and every dry tree: the flashing flame shall not be quenched; and all that it meets from the south to the north shall be burned thereby.
BLB: And say to the forest of the Negev, Hear the word of YHWH, thus says the Lord YHWH: Behold, I am going to kindle in you a fire, and it will devour in you every moist tree and every dry tree; the blazing flame will not be quenched, and all faces from the south to the north will be scorched by it!

ÅB: Og si til Sydens skog: Hør Herrens ord! Så sier Herren, Israels Gud: Se, jeg tenner en ild i deg, og den skal fortære hvert friskt tre og hvert tørt tre i deg; den flammende ild skal ikke utslukkes, men alle ansikter fra syd til nord skal bli forbrent ved den.
OTB: Si til skogen i Negev: ‘Hør Herrens ord. Så sier Herren Gud: Se, jeg er i ferd med å tenne en ild i deg, og den vil fortære hvert grønt tre og hvert tørt tre; den brennende flammen vil ikke bli slukket, og hvert ansikt fra sør til nord vil bli svidd av den.
B1930: Og si til Sydens skog: Hør Herrens ord! Så sier Herren, Israels Gud: Se, jeg tender en ild i dig, og den skal fortære hvert friskt tre og hvert tørt tre i dig; den luende ild skal ikke utslukkes, men alle ansikter fra syd til nord skal bli forbrent ved den.

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

Jeremiah 21:14
I will punish you as your deeds deserve, declares the LORD. I will kindle a fire in your forest that will consume everything around you.’”
Read in context
Isaiah 9:18–19
For wickedness burns like a fire that consumes the thorns and briers and kindles the forest thickets which roll upward in billows of smoke.
Read in context
Luke 23:31
For if men do these things while the tree is green, what will happen when it is dry?”
Read in context
Ezekiel 17:24
Then all the trees of the field will know that I am the LORD. I bring the tall tree down and make the low tree tall. I dry up the green tree and make the withered tree flourish. I, the LORD, have spoken, and I have done it.’”
Read in context
Isaiah 24:1–6
Behold, the LORD lays waste the earth and leaves it in ruins. He will twist its surface and scatter its inhabitants—
Read in context
Isaiah 13:8
Terror, pain, and anguish will seize them; they will writhe like a woman in labor. They will look at one another, their faces flushed with fear.
Read in context
Ezekiel 22:20–21
Just as one gathers silver, copper, iron, lead, and tin into the furnace to melt with a fiery blast, so I will gather you in My anger and wrath, leave you there, and melt you.
Read in context
Ezekiel 19:14
Fire has gone out from its main branch and devoured its fruit; on it no strong branch remains fit for a ruler’s scepter.’ This is a lament and shall be used as a lament.”
Read in context