Ezekiel 4:8

Translations

Modern

Now behold, I will tie you up with ropes so you cannot turn from side to side until you have finished the days of your siege.

Traditional

And, behold, I will lay bands upon thee, and thou shalt not turn thee from one side to another, till thou hast ended the days of thy siege.

Literal

And behold, I will lay upon you cords so that you cannot turn yourself over from one side to another, until your completing the days of your siege.

Latin

Ecce circumdedi te vinculis: et non te convertes a latere tuo in latus aliud, donec compleas dies obsidionis tuæ.

Original

Hebrew

English

Now behold, I will tie you up with ropes so you cannot turn from side to side until you have finished the days of your siege.

Notes

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).

Theme notes and profiles

Prophetic Sign Acts The Gift of Prophecy