Ezekiel 24:16

Translations

Modern

“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.

Traditional

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.

Literal

“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.

Latin

Fili hominis, ecce ego tollo a te desiderabile oculorum tuorum in plaga: et non planges, neque plorabis, neque fluent lacrimæ tuæ.

Original

Hebrew

English

“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.

Notes

Ezekiel 24:15–17

Nowhere do we see a prophet so deeply involved in his message as in this event. God took the life of Ezekiel’s wife. Yet Ezekiel was not allowed to mourn her openly, even though she was very precious to him.

Ezekiel was a priest (Ezekiel 1:3). Priests had strict rules about mourning. When people mourned, they often tore their clothes and left their hair uncombed. These public signs of grief made a person ceremonially unclean (not fit for worship).

Priests were not allowed to make themselves unclean, except for their closest family members (Leviticus 21:1–4). Even so, God told Ezekiel not to follow the usual customs of mourning.

Ezekiel’s silence was a sign act (a symbolic action that carries a message). It showed what would soon happen to Israel (Ezekiel 24:20–24; see “Prophetic Sign Acts” Theme Note). The people would lose something precious, but they would not be able to mourn in the normal way.

Theme notes and profiles

Ezekiel Prophetic Sign Acts

Events

Prophecies of Ezekielc. 593 BC

Related verses

Jeremiah 22:10
Do not weep for him who is dead; do not mourn his loss. Weep bitterly for him who is exiled, for he will never return to see his native land.
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.
Song of Solomon 7:10
I belong to my beloved, and his desire is for me.
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.
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.
Proverbs 5:19
A loving doe, a graceful fawn—may her breasts satisfy you always; may you be captivated by her love forever.
Lamentations 2:18
The hearts of the people cry out to the Lord. O wall of the Daughter of Zion, let your tears run down like a river day and night. Give yourself no relief, and your eyes no rest.
Job 36:18
Be careful that no one lures you with riches; do not let a large bribe lead you astray.
Leviticus 10:2–3
So fire came out from the presence of the LORD and consumed them, and they died in the presence of the LORD.
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.
Jeremiah 9:1
Oh, that my head were a spring of water, and my eyes a fountain of tears! I would weep day and night over the slain daughter of my people.
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.’

Glossary

Ezekiel (Person) Ezekiel, Book of Prophet, Prophetess

Topics

Bereavement: And to Ezekiel, for his Wife Christian Minister: Trials and Persecutions of Ezekiel: Teaches by Pantomime: Does not Show Mourning Upon the Death of his Wife Instruction by Object Lessons: Widowhood Prophets: Frequently in Their Actions Were Made Signs to the People Symbols and Similitudes: Death Symbols and Similitudes: Mourning Forbidden Wife: Called: Desire of the Eyes

Ezekiel 24:16

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