Ezekiel 20:47

45 Moreover the word of the LORD came unto me, saying,

46 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;

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.

48 And all flesh shall see that I the LORD have kindled it: it shall not be quenched.

49 Then said I, Ah Lord GOD! they say of me, Doth he not speak 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

    But I will punish you according to the fruit of your doings, saith the LORD: and I will kindle a fire in the forest thereof, and it shall devour all things round about it.

    Read in context
  • Isaiah 9:18–19

    For wickedness burneth as the fire: it shall devour the briers and thorns, and shall kindle in the thickets of the forest, and they shall mount up like the lifting up of smoke.

    Read in context
  • Luke 23:31

    For if they do these things in a green tree, what shall be done in the dry?

    Read in context
  • Ezekiel 17:24

    And all the trees of the field shall know that I the LORD have brought down the high tree, have exalted the low tree, have dried up the green tree, and have made the dry tree to flourish: I the LORD have spoken and have done it.

    Read in context
  • Isaiah 24:1–6

    Behold, the LORD maketh the earth empty, and maketh it waste, and turneth it upside down, and scattereth abroad the inhabitants thereof.

    Read in context
  • Isaiah 13:8

    And they shall be afraid: pangs and sorrows shall take hold of them; they shall be in pain as a woman that travaileth: they shall be amazed one at another; their faces shall be as flames.

    Read in context
  • Ezekiel 22:20–21

    As they gather silver, and brass, and iron, and lead, and tin, into the midst of the furnace, to blow the fire upon it, to melt it; so will I gather you in mine anger and in my fury, and I will leave you there, and melt you.

    Read in context
  • Ezekiel 19:14

    And fire is gone out of a rod of her branches, which hath devoured her fruit, so that she hath no strong rod to be a sceptre to rule. This is a lamentation, and shall be for a lamentation.

    Read in context