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Ezekiel 24
Ezekiel 24:1
General Information:
Yahweh speaks to Ezekiel.
The word of Yahweh came
This is an idiom that is used to introduce something that God told his prophets or his people. See how you translated this in Ezekiel 3:16. Alternate translation: "Yahweh spoke this message" or "Yahweh spoke these words" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-idiom)
in the ninth year
"in year 9." This refers to how long they had been in exile under King Jehoiachin. Alternate translation: "in the ninth year of the exile of King Jehoiachin" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/translate-ordinal and rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-explicit)
the tenth month, and on the tenth day of the month
"the tenth day of the tenth month" or "the 10th day of the 10th month." This is the tenth month of the Hebrew calendar. The tenth day is near the beginning of January on Western calendars. (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/translate-hebrewmonths and rc://en/ta/man/jit/translate-ordinal)
Ezekiel 24:2
Son of man
"Son of a human being" or "Son of humanity." God calls Ezekiel this to emphasize that Ezekiel is only a human being. God is eternal and powerful, but humans are not. Alternate translation: "Mortal person" or "Human"
the king of Babylon has besieged
The army of Babylon is referred to by its leader. Alternate translation: "the army of the king of Babylon has besieged" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-metonymy)
Ezekiel 24:3
General Information:
Yahweh speaks a parable to Ezekiel about a cooking pot that represents Jerusalem. This parable continues through Ezekiel 24:14. (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-parables)
this rebellious house
This is a metonym for the family that lives in the house, in this case the Israelites, the descendants of Jacob over many years. See how you translated this in Ezekiel 2:5. Alternate translation: "this rebellious people" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-metonymy)
Ezekiel 24:4
Gather pieces of food
Here "food" refers specifically to meat. Alternate translation: "Place pieces of meat" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-synecdoche)
Ezekiel 24:5
the best of the flock
Here the "flock" refers to sheep, not birds.
pile up the bones under it
Some cultures add bones to a fire because they burn longer than wood. This refers to the bones that remained after the best bones were placed in the pot. Alternate translation: "place the rest of the bones under the pot to fuel the fire" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-explicit)
Ezekiel 24:6
General Information:
Yahweh continues telling a parable to Ezekiel about a cooking pot that represents Jerusalem. This parable continues through Ezekiel 24:14. (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-parables)
the city of blood
Here "blood" is a reference to "murder." Alternate translation: "the city of murderers" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-metonymy)
a cooking pot
Yahweh continues to compare Jerusalem to a cooking pot. Alternate translation: "it is like a cooking pot" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-metaphor)
rust
the red material that forms on metal. Rust eats away at metal and eventually destroys it
Take piece after piece
Yahweh does not give this command to a specific person. This is a general command given to an unspecified person within this metaphor.
but do not cast lots for it
Casting lots was a way of choosing which pieces of meat to take out, but because Yahweh wants to take out all of the pieces of meat, there is no need to cast lots.
Ezekiel 24:7
General Information:
Yahweh continues telling a parable to Ezekiel about a cooking pot that represents Jerusalem. This parable continues through Ezekiel 24:14. (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-parables)
For her blood is in the midst of her
This means that the blood from those who were murdered in Jerusalem is still there. Alternate translation: "For the blood of those who were murdered among her is still there" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-explicit)
her
The word "her" refers to Jerusalem, which is represented by the cooking pot.
She has set it on the smooth rock; she has not poured it out on the ground to cover it with dust
This personifies Jerusalem as a person who murdered the people and chose where to put their blood. Alternate translation: "They were murdered on the smooth rocks; not on the dirt where the dust would hide their blood" or "Their blood fell on the smooth rocks; it did not fall on the ground where the dust would cover it" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-personification)
has set it on the smooth rock
"has put the blood on bare rocks"
Ezekiel 24:8
so it brings fury up to exact vengeance
Here Yahweh is speaking about himself taking revenge on those who murdered the people in Jerusalem. Alternate translation: "in order that I could see it and then be angry and get revenge" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-explicit)
so it could not be covered
This can be stated in active form. Alternate translation: "so that no one could cover it" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-activepassive)
Ezekiel 24:9
General Information:
Yahweh continues telling a parable to Ezekiel about a cooking pot that represents Jerusalem. This parable continues through Ezekiel 24:14. (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-parables)
the city of blood
Here "blood" is a reference to "murder." Alternate translation: "the city of murderers" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-metonymy)
I will also enlarge the pile of wood
It is implied that the pile of wood is under the cooking pot that represents Jerusalem. "I will make the pile of wood on the fire under you even bigger" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-explicit)
Ezekiel 24:10
kindle the fire
"light the fire"
let the bones be charred
This can be stated in active form. Alternate translation: "burn the bones" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-activepassive)
Ezekiel 24:11
General Information:
Yahweh continues telling a parable to Ezekiel about a cooking pot that represents Jerusalem. This parable continues through Ezekiel 24:14. (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-parables)
scorch
to burn the surface of something
so its uncleanness within it will be melted, its corrosion consumed
This can be stated in active form. Alternate translation: "to melt the uncleanness within it and to consume its corrosion" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-activepassive)
uncleanness
A person whom God considers spiritually unacceptable or defiled is spoken of as if the person were physically unclean. (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-metaphor)
corrosion
rust
consumed
burned away
Ezekiel 24:12
She has become weary
Here the word "she" refers to the cooking pot. This is the cooking pot that is metaphorical for Jerusalem. Alternate translation: "Jerusalem has become tired" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-metaphor)
toil
difficult labor
but her corrosion has not gone out of her by the fire
The phrase "has not gone out of her" is an idiom. Alternate translation: "but the fire did not burn away her corrosion" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-idiom)
Ezekiel 24:13
General Information:
Yahweh continues telling a parable to Ezekiel about a cooking pot that represents Jerusalem. This parable continues through Ezekiel 24:14. (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-parables)
until I have satisfied my fury upon you.
This speaks of Yahweh punishing the people in his anger as if it were his "fury" that were punishing them. Alternate translation: "until I am finished punishing you and am no longer furious with you" or "until I have punished you and I am longer angry with you" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-metonymy)
Ezekiel 24:14
General Information:
Yahweh continues telling a parable to Ezekiel about a cooking pot that represents Jerusalem. This parable continues through the end of this verse. (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-parables)
nor will I rest from it
"nor will I rest from punishing you." The word "it" refers to Yahweh punishing the people.
this is the Lord Yahweh's declaration
Yahweh speaks of himself by name to express the certainty of what he is declaring. See how you translated this in Ezekiel 5:11. Alternate translation: "this is what the Lord Yahweh has declared" or "this is what I, the Lord Yahweh, have declared" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-123person)
Ezekiel 24:15
the word of Yahweh came
This is an idiom that is used to introduce something that God told his prophets or his people. See how you translated this in Ezekiel 3:16. Alternate translation: "Yahweh spoke this message" or "Yahweh spoke these words" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-idiom)
Ezekiel 24:16
the desire of your eyes from
This refers to Ezekiel's wife. Yahweh refers to Ezekiel by the part of his body he uses to see his wife. Alternate translation: "your wife, whom you love very much, from" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-synecdoche)
with a plague
"by a disease"
you must not mourn nor weep, and your tears must not flow
These phrases mean basically the same thing and emphasize that Ezekiel is not to cry about his wife dying. Alternate translation: "you must not mourn nor weep" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-parallelism)
Ezekiel 24:17
the dead
This refers to his dead wife. Alternate translation: "your dead wife" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-nominaladj)
turban
a head covering made of a long cloth wrapped around the head
sandals
a simple shoe held onto the foot with straps around the ankles
do not cover your facial hair
In Israel, men would shave their beards to express sorrow, then cover their faces until their facial hair grew back. Yahweh told Ezekiel not to cover his facial hair in order to show that he had not shaved his face to express his sorrow. Alternate translation: "do not mourn by veiling your facial hair" or "do not mourn by shaving and covering your beard" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/translate-symaction)
Ezekiel 24:18
In the morning
"The next morning"
Ezekiel 24:19
General Information:
The people of Israel question Ezekiel, and Ezekiel tells them what Yahweh has said to them.
Ezekiel 24:20
The word of Yahweh came
This is an idiom that is used to introduce something that God told his prophets or his people. See how you translated this in Ezekiel 3:16. Alternate translation: "Yahweh spoke this message" or "Yahweh spoke these words" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-idiom)
Ezekiel 24:21
the house of Israel
The word "house" is a metonym for the family that lives in the house, in this case the Israelites, the descendants of Jacob over many years. See how you translated this in Ezekiel 3:1. Alternate translation: "the Israelites" or "the Israelite people group" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-metonymy)
Behold
The word "behold" here alerts us to pay attention to the surprising information that follows.
I will desecrate my sanctuary—the pride of ... of your soul, and your sons
"I will desecrate my sanctuary which is the pride ... of your soul. Your sons"
the pride of your power
This describes the temple as the building that the people are proud of. This speaks of it as being their "pride" instead of the source of their pride. Alternate translation: "the building that you are proud of" or "the source of your strong pride" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-metonymy)
the delight of your eyes
Here Yahweh refers to the people by their "eyes." Alternate translation: "the building that you delight to look at" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-synecdoche)
the yearning of your soul
Here Yahweh refers to the people by their "soul" to emphasize their inner feelings. Alternate translation: "the building that you truly love" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-synecdoche)
your sons and your daughters ... will fall by the sword
This refers to their enemies by their swords. Alternate translation: "your sons and daughters ... will be killed in war" or "your enemies will kill your sons and your daughters ... with their swords" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-metonymy)
Ezekiel 24:22
General Information:
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Ezekiel 24:23
you will melt away
Here "melt away" is a metaphor for wasting away and dying. Alternate translation: "you will become very thin and slowly die" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-metaphor)
in your iniquities
This implies that God will not forgive the sins of these people. Alternate translation: "and I will not forgive your sins" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-explicit)
groan
This is the sound a person makes who wants help, but who has too much pain or sorrow to speak.
Ezekiel 24:24
So Ezekiel will be a sign for you
Here the word "sign" refers to something that communicates a special warning to those who see it. Yahweh speaks of Ezekiel and his actions as being this warning. See how you translated this metaphor in Ezekiel 12:6. Alternate translation: "So Ezekiel will be a warning for you" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-metaphor)
Ezekiel 24:25
that I capture their temple
Here Yahweh speaks of destroying the temple as if it were someone that he was capturing. Alternate translation: "that I destroy their temple"
which is their joy, their pride
The abstract nouns "joy" and "pride" can be translated as noun phrases. Alternate translation: "which is what they are joyful about and what they are proud of" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-metaphor)
Ezekiel 24:26
refugee
someone who has been forced to leave his country because of war or another disaster
Ezekiel 24:27
your mouth will be opened up
This can be stated in active form. Ezekiel being given understanding and the ability to speak is represented by his mouth being opened. Alternate translation: "I will open your mouth" or "you will know what to say" or "I will cause you to know what to say" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-activepassive and rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-synecdoche)
you will speak—you will no longer be silent
Both of these phrases mean that Ezekiel will speak. In the second phrase it is stated in negative form to emphasize that he will speak. (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-litotes)
You will be a sign for them
Here the word "sign" refers to something that communicates a special warning to those who see it. Yahweh speaks of Ezekiel and his actions as being this warning. See how you translated this metaphor in Ezekiel 12:6. Alternate translation: "You will be a warning for them" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-metaphor)
know that I am Yahweh
When Yahweh says that people will know that he is Yahweh, he is implying that they will know that he is the one true God who has supreme authority and power. See how you translated this in Ezekiel 6:7. Alternate translation: "understand that I am Yahweh, the one true God" or "realize that I, Yahweh, have supreme power and authority" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-explicit)