Keraia
Ezekiel 24

Ezekiel 24:5

The Parable of the Cooking Pot · Ezekiel 24:1–14
Read Ezekiel 24

Translations

Modern
Take the choicest of the flock and pile the fuel beneath it. Bring it to a boil and cook the bones in it.’
Traditional
Take the choice of the flock, and burn also the bones under it, and make it boil well, and let them seethe the bones of it therein.
Literal
Take the choicest of the flock, and pile up the bones under it; bring to a boil the boiling of it, and let seethe the limbs in the midst of it.’
Latin
Pinguissimum pecus assume, compone quoque strues ossium sub ea: efferbuit coctio ejus, et discocta sunt ossa illius in medio ejus.

Original

Hebrew
English
Take the choicest of the flock and pile the fuel beneath it. Bring it to a boil and cook the bones in it.’

Notes

Ezekiel 24:1–14

At first, the picture of a cooking pot seems positive. It makes people think about good food and shared meals. In many cultures, a meal brings people together in peace and joy.

The pot was filled with choice pieces of meat from a sacrifice. A fire burned under the pot. The meat began to cook slowly.

However, like many parables, this story has a sharp ending. What should have been a good meal became rotten and unclean. The best pieces of meat went into the pot, but they came out spoiled.

The pot represents Jerusalem (Ezekiel 24:9). The meat inside represents the people. Instead of being pure and pleasing to God, they had become corrupt (morally ruined). As a result, the pot and its contents would be burned and destroyed.

Theme notes and profiles

Prophetic Sign Acts

Events

Glossary

Ezekiel, Book of

Topics

Boiling Pot: Parable of Broth: Symbolical Ezekiel: Teaches by Pantomime: Employs a Boiling Pot to Symbolize the Destruction of Jerusalem Instruction by Object Lessons: The Boiling Pot Parables: The Boiling Pot Prophets: Frequently in Their Actions Were Made Signs to the People Symbols and Similitudes: A Boiling Pot Symbols and Similitudes: Cooking