Ezekiel 24:16

Grief Marriage Death and loss

¹⁴ I, the LORD, have spoken; the time is coming, and I will act. I will not refrain or show pity, nor will I relent. I will judge you according to your ways and deeds,’ declares the Lord GOD.”

¹⁵ Then the word of the LORD came to me, saying,

“Son of man, behold, I am about to take away the desire of your eyes with a fatal blow. But you must not mourn or weep or let your tears flow.

¹⁷ Groan quietly; do not mourn for the dead. Put on your turban and strap your sandals on your feet; do not cover your lips or eat the bread of mourners.”

¹⁸ So I spoke to the people in the morning, and in the evening my wife died. And the next morning I did as I had been commanded.

Here the Bible tells a story about someone else. Ask yourself what it can say to us today. Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.

Compare

BSB: “Son of man, behold, I am about to take away the desire of your eyes with a fatal blow. But you must not mourn or weep or let your tears flow.
KJV: Son of man, behold, I take away from thee the desire of thine eyes with a stroke: yet neither shalt thou mourn nor weep, neither shall thy tears run down.
WEB: “Son of man, behold, I will take away from you the desire of your eyes with one stroke; yet you shall neither mourn nor weep, neither shall your tears run down.
ASV: Son of man, behold, I take away from thee the desire of thine eyes with a stroke: yet thou shalt neither mourn nor weep, neither shall thy tears run down.
DARBY: Son of man, behold, I take away from thee the desire of thine eyes with a stroke; yet thou shalt not mourn nor weep, neither shall thy tears run down.
BLB: “Son of man, behold—I am taking away from you the desire of your eyes with a stroke, and you will not mourn and you will not weep, and your tears will not run down.

ÅB: Menneskesønn! Se, jeg tar dine øynes lyst fra deg ved en brå død; men du skal ikke klage og ikke gråte, og dine tårer skal ikke rinne.
OTB: "Menneskesønn, se, jeg er i ferd med å ta fra deg dine øynes glede med et enkelt slag; likevel skal du ikke sørge eller gråte, og dine tårer skal ikke renne.
B1930: Menneskesønn! Se, jeg tar dine øines lyst fra dig ved en brå død; men du skal ikke klage og ikke gråte, og dine tårer skal ikke rinne.

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

Jeremiah 22:10
Do not weep for the dead king; do not mourn his loss. Weep bitterly for the one who is exiled, for he will never return to see his native land.
Read in context
Jeremiah 13:17
But if you do not listen, I will weep in secret because of your pride. My eyes will overflow with tears, because the LORD’s flock has been taken captive.
Read in context
1 Thessalonians 4:13
Brothers, we do not want you to be uninformed about those who sleep in death, so that you will not grieve like the rest, who are without hope.
Read in context
Ezekiel 24:18
So I spoke to the people in the morning, and in the evening my wife died. And the next morning I did as I had been commanded.
Read in context
Song of Solomon 7:10
I belong to my beloved, and his desire is for me.
Read in context
Ezekiel 24:21–25
Tell the house of Israel that this is what the Lord GOD says: ‘I am about to desecrate My sanctuary, the pride of your power, the desire of your eyes, and the delight of your soul. And the sons and daughters you left behind will fall by the sword.’
Read in context
Jeremiah 16:5
Indeed, this is what the LORD says: “Do not enter a house where there is a funeral meal. Do not go to mourn or show sympathy, for I have removed from this people My peace, My loving devotion, and My compassion,” declares the LORD.
Read in context
Job 36:18
Be careful that no one lures you with riches; do not let a large bribe lead you astray.
Read in context