Ezekiel 4:1

“Now you, son of man, take a brick, place it before you, and draw on it the city of Jerusalem.

² Then lay siege against it: Construct a siege wall, build a ramp to it, set up camps against it, and place battering rams around it on all sides.

³ Then take an iron plate and set it up as an iron wall between yourself and the city. Turn your face toward it so that it is under siege, and besiege it. This will be a sign to the house of Israel.

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: “Now you, son of man, take a brick, place it before you, and draw on it the city of Jerusalem.
KJV: Thou also, son of man, take thee a tile, and lay it before thee, and pourtray upon it the city, even Jerusalem:
WEB: “You also, son of man, take a tile, and lay it before yourself, and portray on it a city, even Jerusalem.
ASV: Thou also, son of man, take thee a tile, and lay it before thee, and portray upon it a city, even Jerusalem:
DARBY: And thou, son of man, take thee a brick, and lay it before thee, and portray upon it a city, Jerusalem:
BLB: [“] And You, son of man, take for yourself a clay tablet, and place it before your face; and engrave upon it a city, Jerusalem.

ÅB: Og du menneskesønn, ta deg en mursten og legg den foran deg og riss på den en by, Jerusalem,
OTB: “Nå, menneskesønn, ta en murstein og sett den foran deg, og skriv på den en by—Jerusalem.
B1930: Og du menneskesønn, ta dig en mursten og legg den foran dig og riss på den en by, Jerusalem,

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

Hosea 1:2–9
When the LORD first spoke through Hosea, He told him, “Go, take a prostitute as your wife and have children of adultery, because this land is flagrantly prostituting itself by departing from the LORD.”
Read in context
Isaiah 20:2–4
the LORD had already spoken through Isaiah son of Amoz, saying, “Go, remove the sackcloth from your waist and the sandals from your feet.” And Isaiah did so, walking around naked and barefoot.
Read in context
Hosea 12:10
I spoke through the prophets and multiplied their visions; I gave parables through the prophets.
Read in context
Jeremiah 27:2–22
This is what the LORD said to me: “Make for yourself a yoke out of leather straps and put it on your neck.
Read in context
Jeremiah 25:15–38
This is what the LORD, the God of Israel, said to me: “Take from My hand this cup of the wine of wrath, and make all the nations to whom I send you drink from it.
Read in context
Jeremiah 32:31
For this city has aroused My wrath and fury from the day it was built until now. Therefore I will remove it from My presence
Read in context
1 Samuel 15:27–28
As Samuel turned to go, Saul grabbed the hem of his robe, and it tore.
Read in context
Ezekiel 5:1–17
“As for you, son of man, take a sharp sword, use it as a barber’s razor, and shave your head and beard. Then take a set of scales and divide the hair.
Read in context