Ezekiel 5:4

Translations

Modern

Again, take a few of these, throw them into the fire, and burn them. From there a fire will spread to the whole house of Israel.

Traditional

Then take of them again, and cast them into the midst of the fire, and burn them in the fire; for thereof shall a fire come forth into all the house of Israel.

Literal

And some of them you shall take again and cast them into the midst of the fire, and you shall burn them in the fire; from there will go out a fire into all the house of Israel!

Latin

…et ex eis rursum tolles, et projicies eos in medio ignis, et combures eos igni, et ex eo egredietur ignis in omnem domum Israël.

Original

Hebrew

English

Again, take a few of these, throw them into the fire, and burn them. From there a fire will spread to the whole house of Israel.

Notes

Ezekiel 5:3–4

Ezekiel was to tie a small amount of hair in his robe to show that a few people would be safe. However, even some of them would die during the exile. Only a few would survive the many disasters about to happen to God's people.

Ezekiel 5:1–4

The prophet had to perform two more sign acts (symbolic actions that showed God’s message).

First, he took a sharp sword and used it like a razor. He shaved his head and his beard. This action showed the coming destruction described in Ezekiel 4 (compare Isaiah 7:20). In that culture, shaving off a man’s hair showed the loss of honor and strength. It was a public sign of shame (see 2 Samuel 10:4–5).

Second, Ezekiel weighed the hair he had shaved. He divided it into three equal parts. This action showed that God’s judgment would come in three different ways. It also showed that God’s judgment was measured and purposeful.

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

Events

Prophecies of Ezekielc. 593 BC

Related verses

Jeremiah 48:45
“Those who flee will stand helpless in Heshbon’s shadow, because fire has gone forth from Heshbon and a flame from within Sihon. It devours the foreheads of Moab and the skulls of the sons of tumult.
2 Kings 25:25
In the seventh month, however, Ishmael son of Nethaniah, the son of Elishama, who was a member of the royal family, came with ten men and struck down and killed Gedaliah, along with the Judeans and Chaldeans who were with him at Mizpah.
Jeremiah 4:4
Circumcise yourselves to the LORD, and remove the foreskins of your hearts, O men of Judah and people of Jerusalem. Otherwise, My wrath will break out like fire and burn with no one to extinguish it, because of your evil deeds.”
Jeremiah 52:30
…in Nebuchadnezzar’s twenty-third year, Nebuzaradan captain of the guard carried away 745 Jews. So in all, 4,600 people were taken away.
Jeremiah 41:1–18
In the seventh month, Ishmael son of Nethaniah, the son of Elishama, who was a member of the royal family and one of the king’s chief officers, came with ten men to Gedaliah son of Ahikam at Mizpah, and they ate a meal together there.

People

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

Glossary

Ezekiel (Person) Ezekiel, Book of

Topics

Backsliders: Backsliding of Israel Ezekiel: Teaches by Pantomime: Shaves Himself Prophecy: (Respecting Individuals, See Under Their Names): Exemplified in Pantomime Prophets: Frequently in Their Actions Were Made Signs to the People Symbols and Similitudes: Ezekiel's Beard

Ezekiel 5:4

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