Ezekiel 24

1 In the ninth year, on the tenth day of the tenth [a month of fulfillment] month, the word [Yehovah’s message, divine communication] of the LORD [Yehovah, the self-existent God] came to me, saying [to speak, to command, to proclaim], word study 2 “Son [descendant, human] of man [the first human, Adam], write [record, inscribe] down today’s [this present] date [name of the day], for on this very day [at this exact moment] the king [ruler, monarch] of Babylon [city of confusion] has laid [set, established] siege [attack, assault] to Jerusalem [city of peace]. word study 3 Now speak [utter, declare] a parable [a comparison, a lesson] to this rebellious [uncontrolled, disobedient] house and tell them that this is what the Lord [Adonay, the sovereign Master] GOD [Yehovah] says: ‘Put [set, establish] the pot [a vessel, a container] on the fire; put [set] it on and pour [flow, gush forth] in the water [the liquid, the source of refreshment]. word study 4 Put in the pieces [fragments, parts] of meat, every good [pleasant, choice] piece— thigh and shoulder [the upper end of the arm]— fill it with choice [best, finest] bones [the substance or essence of something]. word study 5 Take the choicest [best, most select] of the flock [sheep or goats, a group of people] and pile the fuel [wood, a pile of things] beneath it [underneath, below]. Bring it to a boil [make it boil well, seethe] and cook the bones [the substance or essence] in it [in the midst, inside].’ word study 6 Therefore [in this manner, thus] this is what the Lord [Adonay, the sovereign Master] GOD [Yehovah] says: ‘Woe [a cry of sorrow, alas] to the city [a place of habitation, a community] of bloodshed [violence, murder], to the pot [a vessel, a container] now rusted [with scum, corrupted], whose rust [disease, corruption] will not come off [be removed, cleansed]! Empty it piece by piece [by portions, gradually]; cast no lots [make no random decisions, do not gamble] for its contents [what it holds, its inhabitants]. word study 7 For the blood [life-giving fluid] she shed [poured out, spilled] is still within her [in her midst, among her people]; she poured it out [set it, shed it] on the bare [exposed, uncovered] rock [crag, cliff]; she did not pour it [shed it, spill it] on the ground [land, earth] to cover it [hide it, conceal it] with dust [dry earth]. word study 8 In order to stir up [intense, burning] wrath [rage, fierce anger] and take [execute, carry out] vengeance [punishment, revenge], I have placed [set, put] her blood [the liquid essential for life] on the bare [exposed, uncovered] rock [crag, cliff], so that it would not be [lest it be] covered [hidden, concealed].’ word study 9 Yes, this is what the Lord [Adonay, the sovereign Master] GOD [Yehovah] says: ‘Woe [a cry of sorrow, alas] to the city [a place of habitation, a town] of bloodshed [violence, murder]! I, too [also, even], will pile [make great, magnify] the kindling [fuel for the fire, a burning mass] high [to a great height, abundantly]. word study 10 Pile on the logs [heap together, multiply] and kindle the fire [make hot, ignite]; cook the meat [flesh, body] well and mix in the spices [seasoning]; let the bones [body, essence] be burned [scorched, dried up]. word study 11 Set the empty [worthless, without value] pot on its coals [burning embers, hot sparks] until it becomes hot [scorched, intensely heated] and its copper [bronze, base metal] glows [is purified, shines brightly]. Then its impurity [uncleanness, sinful corruption] will melt [be dissolved, purified] within; its rust [scum, corrupting influence] will be consumed [completely destroyed, burned away]. word study 12 It has frustrated [wearied itself with toil, been disgusted] every effort; its thick [great, abundant] rust [scum, disease] has not [never] been removed, even [not even] by the fire [refining presence]. word study 13 Because of the indecency [lewdness, wickedness] of your uncleanness [moral impurity] I tried to cleanse [purge, purify] you, but you would not be purified [cleansed, made clean] from your filthiness [immorality, sinful actions]. You will not be pure [clean, righteous] again until My wrath [rage, intense anger] against you has subsided [rested, come to an end]. word study 14 I, the LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God], have spoken [declared, uttered]; the time [season, appointed hour] is coming, and I will act [fulfill, bring to pass]. I will not refrain [hold back, spare] or show pity [have compassion, be merciful], nor will I relent [change my mind, turn back]. I will judge [evaluate, vindicate] you according to your ways [path, manner of life] and deeds [actions, accomplishments],’ declares the Lord GOD [Adonay, the sovereign ruler].” word study 15 Then the word [message, declaration] of the LORD [Yehovah, the covenant God] came [was given, existed] to me, saying [to speak, to command], word study 16 “Son of man [human, a mortal], behold, I am about to take away [remove, snatch] the desire [beloved, pleasure] of your eyes [sight, vision] with a fatal blow [stroke, plague]. But you must not mourn [lament, grieve] or weep [cry, shed tears] or let your tears [sorrow, emotional pain] flow. word study 17 Groan [sigh, mourn in silence] quietly; do not mourn [refrain from lamenting, cease wailing] for the dead [those who have died, the deceased]. Put on your turban [headdress, head-dress] and strap your sandals [shoes, footwear] on your feet; do not cover [veil, enwrap] your lips [mustache, upper lip] or eat the bread [food, grain] of mourners [those in grief, men in sorrow].” word study 18 So I spoke [to proclaim, declare] to the people [a nation, community] in the morning [at dawn, the break of day], and in the evening [at sunset, the end of the day] my wife [woman, partner] died [passed away, came to an end]. And the next morning [following day, new beginning] I did [carried out, obeyed] as I had been commanded [instructed, given orders]. word study 19 Then the people [a nation, a community] asked me, “Won’t [is it not the case that] you tell [declare, make known] us what these things [events, signs] you are doing [performing, acting out] mean [signify, represent] to us [toward us, for our benefit]?” word study 20 So I answered [replied to, spoke to] them, “The word [message, declaration] of the LORD [Yehovah, the covenant God] came [was given, existed] to me, saying [to speak, to command]: word study 21 Tell the house [family, descendants] of Israel that this is what the Lord [Adonay, Master] GOD [Yehovah] says: ‘I am about to desecrate [profane, pollute] My sanctuary [holy place, temple], the pride [excellence, majesty] of your power [strength, might], the desire [delight, beloved thing] of your eyes [sight, vision], and the delight [pleasure, joy] of your soul [inner being, life]. And the sons [children, descendants] and daughters [female children, women] you left behind [abandoned, forsaken] will fall [be killed, die] by the sword [weapon, instrument of war].’ word study 22 Then you will do [in like manner] as I have done: You will not [refuse to, neglect to] cover your lips [mustache, beard, the upper lip] or eat [consume, devour] the bread [food, grain] of mourners [those in grief, men in sorrow]. word study 23 Your turbans [headdress, fancy head-dress] will remain on your heads and your sandals on your feet. You will not mourn [lament, express deep sadness] or weep [cry, shed tears], but you will waste away [rot, decay] because of your sins [iniquity, moral evil], and you will groan [growl, make a low sound] among yourselves [one toward another, to each other]. word study 24 ‘Thus Ezekiel [a sign, a wonder] will be a sign [a token, a miracle] for you; you will do [perform, accomplish] everything that he has done [made, accomplished]. When this happens [comes to pass, occurs], you will know [perceive, understand] that I [the Lord, Adonay] am the Lord [Adonay, the sovereign Master] GOD [Yehovah, the self-existent God].’ word study 25 And you, son of man [human, a mortal], know that on the day I take away their stronghold [fortress, place of security], their pride and joy [rejoicing, delight]—the desire [beloved, pleasure] of their eyes which uplifted [brought joy to] their souls [living being, essence]—and their sons [descendants, offspring] and daughters [female children, women] as well, word study 26 on that day [a specific point in time, a turning point] a fugitive [survivor, one who has escaped] will come [approach, arrive] and tell [report, announce] you the news [information, a message, something heard with the ears]. word study 27 On that day [the day of reckoning, a time of great significance] your mouth [lips, the means of speaking] will be opened [to utter words, to speak freely] to him who has escaped [the survivor, the one who remains]; you will speak [to communicate, to express thoughts] and no longer be mute [silent, unable to speak]. So you will be a sign [a wonder, a miracle] to them, and they will know [to understand, to perceive] that I am the LORD [Yehovah, the one true God].” word study