Menu

Ezekiel 20:46

Ezekiel 20:46 in Multiple Translations

“Son of man, set your face toward the south, preach against it, and prophesy against the forest of the Negev.

Son of man, set thy face toward the south, and drop thy word toward the south, and prophesy against the forest of the south field;

Son of man, set thy face toward the south, and drop thy word toward the south, and prophesy against the forest of the field in the South;

Son of man, let your face be turned to the south, let your words be dropped to the south, and be a prophet against the woodland of the South;

“Son of man, face towards the south and preach against it. Prophesy against the forest of the Negev.

Sonne of man, set thy face toward the way of Teman, and drop thy word toward the South, and prophecie towarde the forest of the fielde of the South,

Son of man, set thy face the way of Teman, and prophesy unto the south, and prophesy unto the forest of the field — the south;

“Son of man, set your face toward the south, and preach toward the south, and prophesy against the forest of the field in the south.

Son of man, set thy face towards the south, and drop thy word towards the south, and prophesy against the forest of the south field;

Son of man, set thy face against the way of the south, and drop towards the south, and prophesy against the forest of the south field.

“You human, turn toward the south. Preach about what will happen to that dry land, to the forest there.

Study Highlights

Key words in the translations above are automatically highlighted. Names of God and Jesus are marked in purple, the Holy Spirit in orange, divine action verbs are underlined, and repeated key words are highlighted in yellow.

Enable Study Highlights
God & Jesus
Holy Spirit
Divine Actions
Repeated Words

Berean Amplified Bible — Ezekiel 20:46

BAB
Word Study

Hover over any word to see its amplified meaning. Click a word to explore its full definition and translation comparisons.

Amplified text is generated using scripting to tie together English translations for comparison. Always refer to the core BSB translation and original Hebrew/Greek text for accuracy. Anomalies may occur.

Study Notes — Ezekiel 20:46

Show Verse Quote Highlights

Cross References

ReferenceText (BSB)
1 Amos 7:16 Now, therefore, hear the word of the LORD. You say: ‘Do not prophesy against Israel; do not preach against the house of Isaac.’
2 Ezekiel 21:2 “Son of man, set your face against Jerusalem and preach against the sanctuaries. Prophesy against the land of Israel
3 Jeremiah 13:19 The cities of the Negev have been shut tight, and no one can open them. All Judah has been carried into exile, wholly taken captive.
4 Isaiah 30:6 This is the burden against the beasts of the Negev: Through a land of hardship and distress, of lioness and lion, of viper and flying serpent, they carry their wealth on the backs of donkeys and their treasures on the humps of camels, to a people of no profit to them.
5 Zechariah 11:1–2 Open your doors, O Lebanon, that the fire may consume your cedars! Wail, O cypress, for the cedar has fallen; the majestic trees are ruined! Wail, O oaks of Bashan, for the dense forest has been cut down!
6 Ezekiel 6:2 “Son of man, set your face against the mountains of Israel and prophesy against them.
7 Deuteronomy 32:2 Let my teaching fall like rain and my speech settle like dew, like gentle rain on new grass, like showers on tender plants.
8 Job 29:22 After my words, they spoke no more; my speech settled on them like dew.
9 Jeremiah 22:7 I will appoint destroyers against you, each man with his weapons, and they will cut down the choicest of your cedars and throw them into the fire.
10 Ezekiel 4:7 You must turn your face toward the siege of Jerusalem with your arm bared, and prophesy against it.

Ezekiel 20:46 Summary

[Ezekiel 20:46 is a call to repentance, where God is instructing Ezekiel to preach against the southern part of Judah, represented by the forest of the Negev. This verse reminds us that God is a holy and just God who calls His people to account for their sins, as seen in Romans 3:23. Just like the people of Judah, we need to repent and turn back to God, trusting in His sovereignty and provision, as seen in Jeremiah 29:11. By doing so, we can experience God's redemption and restoration in our lives, just like the promise in Isaiah 40:31.]

Frequently Asked Questions

Why is Ezekiel being told to set his face toward the south and preach against the forest of the Negev?

Ezekiel is being instructed to preach against the forest of the Negev, which represents the southern part of Judah, as a symbol of God's judgment on the nation for their sins, as seen in Ezekiel 20:46 and also in Jeremiah 17:5-6 where judgment is proclaimed against those who trust in man.

What does the forest of the Negev represent in this context?

The forest of the Negev likely represents the people of Judah who are being called to repentance, as seen in Ezekiel 20:46, and also in Isaiah 55:12-13 where the forest is a symbol of God's redemption and restoration.

Is this prophecy limited to the historical context of Ezekiel's time or does it have a broader application?

While the immediate context of Ezekiel 20:46 is a prophecy against Judah, the principles of God's judgment and call to repentance are timeless and can be applied to any generation, as seen in Revelation 2:5 where Jesus calls the church to repentance.

How does this verse relate to the overall message of the book of Ezekiel?

Ezekiel 20:46 is part of a larger narrative in the book of Ezekiel where God is calling His people to repentance and warning them of the consequences of their sins, as seen in Ezekiel 18:30-32 and also in Ezekiel 33:11 where God takes no pleasure in the death of the wicked.

Reflection Questions

  1. What are the areas in my life where I need to repent and turn back to God, just like the people of Judah were called to do?
  2. How can I be a prophetic voice in my community, calling people to repentance and faith in God?
  3. What are the 'forests' in my life that need to be ignited with the fire of God's presence and purification?
  4. In what ways can I trust in God's sovereignty and provision, even in the midst of judgment and uncertainty, as seen in Psalm 37:3-7?

Gill's Exposition on Ezekiel 20:46

Son of man, set thy force toward the south,.... The land of Judea, which lay south of Babylon, where the prophet now was, as Babylon lay north of that, Jeremiah 1:14 to set his face was to speak

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Ezekiel 20:46

Moreover the word of the LORD came unto me, saying, Moreover the word of the Lord came unto me. An introductory brief description, in enigma, of the destruction by fire and sword detailed more explicitly in Ezekiel 21:1-32.

Matthew Poole's Commentary on Ezekiel 20:46

He was now in Babylon, north from Jerusalem, and being commanded to look toward the south, it is toward Jerusalem, and the land of Canaan. Thy face; thy courage and undaunted mind, manifest in prophesying as thou art commissioned. Drop; let thy word distil, begin with softer words ere thou shower down with the vehemency of a storm; prophesy so, . The forest of the south field, i.e. Jerusalem, which was become like a forest for multitude of inhabitants, for barrenness, wildness, degeneracy, and sheltering wild beasts; murderers lodged in her.

Trapp's Commentary on Ezekiel 20:46

Ezekiel 20:46 Son of man, set thy face toward the south, and drop [thy word] toward the south, and prophesy against the forest of the south field;Ver. 46. Set thy face.] Prophesy freely and boldly against Jerusalem, which is south from Chaldea. Against the forest.] Against Judea, which is mountainous and woody, having good and bad trees in it.

Adam Clarke's Commentary on Ezekiel 20:46

Verse 46. Set thy face toward the south] Towards Judea, which lay south from Babylon, or Mesopotamia, where the prophet then dwelt. The forest of the south field] The city of Jerusalem, as full of inhabitants as the forest is of trees.

Cambridge Bible on Ezekiel 20:46

46. the south] Though the reference is to Judah and Jerusalem (Ezekiel 21:1-5), the term “south” hardly means the south of Palestine; rather the whole land of Palestine from the point of view of the prophet residing in the north. The “forest of the field” hardly refers to Lebanon, but belongs to the figure, which, however, Lebanon may have suggested (Ezekiel 17:3; Jeremiah 22:23). The “scorching” of all faces from north to south (Ezekiel 20:47) is also part of the figure, though powerfully expressing the effect on all who behold the great judgments on Israel. There may be, however, a certain mixture of figures, those whose faces are scorched being no other than those who, regarded as trees, are consumed—viz. all flesh from the south to the north in Israel (Ezekiel 21:3-4). the south field] the field in the south, the land of Israel (Ezekiel 21:3).

Whedon's Commentary on Ezekiel 20:46

46. The south — Or, the south country. The land of Israel.

Sermons on Ezekiel 20:46

SermonDescription
Chuck Smith (The Word for Today) Isaiah 30:6 - Part 3 by Chuck Smith In this sermon, Pastor Chuck Smith emphasizes the importance of not losing sight of the true meaning of Christmas amidst the busyness and distractions of the season. He recommends
Chuck Smith (Through the Bible) Zechariah 11-12 by Chuck Smith In this sermon, the speaker discusses the protection and victory that God provided to Israel during the 1973 war. Despite being outnumbered and facing opposition from the entire wo
John W. Bramhall Studies in Zechariah 10 Zechariah 11: by John W. Bramhall In this sermon, the speaker discusses the judgment of God upon Israel due to their disobedience. The speaker emphasizes that God protected his people and directed his favor towards
C.H. Spurgeon Everybody's Sermon by C.H. Spurgeon In this sermon, the preacher emphasizes that even those who are not able to spend much time in nature can still learn from God's creation. He gives examples such as a baker who see
Ian Murray Promise to the Powerless by Ian Murray In this sermon, the preacher emphasizes that power does not come from personal feelings or experiences, but from the truth that God has given to his people. The book of Deuteronomy
J.C. Philpot The Call and Qualifications for the Ministry by J.C. Philpot J.C. Philpot delves into the importance of a divine call and necessary qualifications for the Gospel ministry. He emphasizes that a true call to the ministry involves a deep inward
Raymond Golsworthy Early Lessons for Christ's Disciples by Raymond Golsworthy Raymond Golsworthy preaches on the lessons from Mark 1:16-45, focusing on the events that followed Christ's call to His first disciples. The sermon highlights seven vital spiritual

Everything we make is available for free because of a generous community of supporters.

Donate