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Ezekiel 3

Ezekiel 3:15

Ezekiel Eats the Scroll · Ezekiel 3:1–15
Read Ezekiel 3

Translations

Modern
I came to the exiles at Tel-abib who dwelt by the River Kebar. And for seven days I sat where they sat and remained there among them, overwhelmed.
Traditional
Then I came to them of the captivity at Tel–abib, that dwelt by the river of Chebar, and I sat where they sat, and remained there astonished among them seven days.
Literal
And I came to the captivity at Tel-abib, those dwelling by the River Kebar, and I sat there where they were sitting, and I sat there seven days being desolate in their midst.
Latin
Et veni ad transmigrationem, ad acervum novarum frugum, ad eos qui habitabant juxta flumen Chobar: et sedi ubi illi sedebant, et mansi ibi septem diebus mœrens in medio eorum.

Original

Hebrew
English
I came to the exiles at Tel-abib who dwelt by the River Kebar. And for seven days I sat where they sat and remained there among them, overwhelmed.

Notes

Ezekiel 3:15

  • The exact location of Tel-abib in Babylonia is unknown.

  • As one of the exiles, Ezekiel felt overwhelmed by the idea of this terrible judgment. Like Job's counselors, he could not speak at first and sat silently for seven days (see Job 2:13).

Ezekiel 3:14–15

  • So the Spirit lifted me up: Ezekiel was brought back from his visionary experience to the ordinary world of the exiles. Ezekiel regularly experienced the powerful impact of the Spirit’s transporting him to another location (see also Ezekiel 8:3; 11:1, 24; 40:1–3; 43:5).

  • After the Spirit left him, Ezekiel felt strong and mixed emotions about his calling. He did not feel calm or peaceful.

    As a prophet who spoke for God, he began to feel bitterness and inner trouble. He shared in God’s anger against the sins of his people.

Ezekiel 1:1–3:27

Old Testament prophetic books often begin with a “call narrative.” A call narrative describes how God chose and sent a prophet to serve in this role (for example, Jeremiah 1:4–19).

This account showed that the prophet’s message was legitimate. It made clear that the prophet spoke as the Lord’s ambassador (a representative sent with authority). The call narrative also introduced important themes that the book would explain more fully later.

In Ezekiel, the call narrative focuses on the Lord’s coming judgment on his people.

Events

Parallels

Revelation 10:1–11

Places

Chebar: River in Babylonia; location of Ezekiel's visions Tel-abib: Settlement of exiled Jews in Babylonia

Glossary

Chebar Ezekiel (Person) Ezekiel, Book of Kebar Prophet, Prophetess Spirit of God Tel-Abib

Topics

Chebar: A River of Mesopotamia Prophets: Sometimes Received Divine Communications and Uttered Seven: Days: Ezekiel Sits by the Chebar River in Astonishment For Tel-Abib: Residence of Jewish Captives in Babylonia