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Ezekiel 4

Ezekiel 4:5

A Sign of Jerusalem’s Siege · Ezekiel 4:1–8
Read Ezekiel 4

Translations

Modern
For I have assigned to you 390 days, according to the number of years of their iniquity. So you shall bear the iniquity of the house of Israel.
Traditional
For I have laid upon thee the years of their iniquity, according to the number of the days, three hundred and ninety days: so shalt thou bear the iniquity of the house of Israel.
Literal
For I have given to you the years of their iniquity according to the number of the days—three hundred and ninety days. And you shall bear the iniquity of the house of Israel.
Latin
Ego autem dedi tibi annos iniquitatis eorum, numero dierum trecentos et nonaginta dies: et portabis iniquitatem domus Israël.

Original

Hebrew
English
For I have assigned to you 390 days, according to the number of years of their iniquity. So you shall bear the iniquity of the house of Israel.

Notes

Ezekiel 4:4–5

Israel refers to the entire covenant community, not just the northern kingdom. The number 390 has been interpreted in different ways. A likely explanation is that 390 represents years. It may refer to the time from early in Solomon’s reign, which lasted from 971 to 931 BC, to the destruction of Jerusalem in 586 BC (see 2 Kings 25:3–7).

Ezekiel 4:4–8

The prophet’s second sign act was connected to the first. This time, he acted out the roles of both God and the people suffering during the siege.

As someone suffering in the siege, he was tied with ropes (Ezekiel 4:8). He had to lie in one position. He may not have stayed like this all the time during the 14 months. Instead, he may have performed this sign each day.

When Ezekiel represented Israel, he symbolically bore Israel’s sins. This means he acted out the weight of their guilt by lying on one side. However, he did not bring atonement (the removal of sin) or forgiveness to Israel.

Ezekiel 4:1–7:27

These chapters discuss words and actions that warned of disaster for Jerusalem (Ezekiel 4–5) and the land of Judah (Ezekiel 6–7).

Events

People

Israel: Patriarch, son of Isaac, father of twelve tribes

Glossary

Ezekiel (Person) Ezekiel, Book of Prophet, Prophetess Son of Man

Topics

Instruction by Object Lessons: Lying on One Side in Public View for a Long Period Pantomime by Ezekiel Prophets: Frequently in Their Actions Were Made Signs to the People Symbols and Similitudes: Posture