Overview Article
The prophet Ezekiel’s book contains strange visions, images, and messages that seem far removed from contemporary life. Yet its message remains very relevant: God will purify his people and live among them forever. Even during the darkest days, God insisted that he would restore his people. This message offered hope to the exiled people of Judah and provides inspiration to all who put their trust in him.
Key People, Places, and Terms
People 40
Places 106
Key Terms 110
Themes
Prophetic Sign Acts 12 The prophets of Israel sometimes used sign acts to share their messages. Sign acts were dramatic actions performed in public to make their message stronger. These visual demonstrations helped people not only hear the... The Son of Man 7 "Son of Man" was Jesus' favorite way to refer to himself. The phrase is unusual in both Greek and English. It translates the Hebrew phrase ben ’adam , which means "human being" or "person" (see, for example, Ezekiel 2... God’s Glory with His People 6 In ancient Israel, God's glory was especially visible at the main holy places built for him. When the Israelites finished building the Tent of Meeting, "the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle" ( Exodus 40:34–35 )... Temple Design as a Picture of God's Truth 6 The temple plan in Ezekiel 40–43 does not seem possible to build, nor was it meant to be. The plan lacks enough detail for construction, as shown by the different diagrams scholars have created. Unlike the tabernacle,... The Shepherd 5 In ancient Jewish society, shepherds who cared for sheep or goats were important. Shepherding was essential in the ancient Near East. Each morning, the shepherd led the flock out ( John 10:2–4 ). He found grass and wa... Temple Legislation as Theology 4 The religious teachers of Judaism (called "rabbis") spent much time trying to make the laws of Ezekiel 44–48 agree with those laws of the Torah (the law given to Moses). They failed because these chapters do not inten... Messages Against the Nations 4 Why did Israel’s prophets speak to nations who were unlikely to hear their messages? Why did the prophets care about these nations' thoughts and actions? The real audience was God's people. These messages reminded the... God’s Judgment of His People 4 The kings of Israel and Judah were very important in the history of the divided kingdom. But the people also influenced events. They followed their wicked rulers ( 2 Kings 3:3 ; 17:22 ; 21:9 , 11 , 16 ). They stopped...
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The Return of God’s Presence with His People 4 The descriptions of the Israelite exile include the terrible reality that, as part of his judgment, God removed his presence from his people and from the holy city of Jerusalem. This idea is most obviously present in... The Promise of New Life 4 The resurrection is a key belief in Christianity. Without it, the Christian faith has no value ( 1 Corinthians 15:14 ). God promises that his people will share in this resurrection with Christ ( Colossians 3:1 ). It i... False Prophets 4 The Bible describes many people who claimed to be prophets without authority and a true calling from God. They spoke as if they represented God. People often found it difficult to tell true prophets from false ones. F... Famine 4 Famine happened early in the lives of the patriarchs Abraham and Isaac ( Genesis 12:10 ; 26:1 ). When the patriarch Jacob’s family experienced famine, God had already placed his son Joseph in Egypt to help God's peopl... Israel’s Geography as Theology 3 The division of the land in Ezekiel 47:13–48:35 combines spiritual ideals with a practical message. It reinforces themes from earlier parts of the vision ( Ezekiel 40–46 ). The prophet Ezekiel envisioned a future clos... Circumcision 3 Many ancient cultures practiced circumcision, the removal of the male foreskin (see Jeremiah 9:25–26 ). God chose circumcision as a sign of a covenant (special agreement) that focuses on descendants. God promised to m... Divine Sovereignty and Human Responsibility 3 The Bible shows that everything is under God's control. In other words, God is sovereign over everything. For example, rain falls on both good and bad people as part of God's plan ( Matthew 5:45 ). God is not responsi... God’s Covenants 3 The word "covenant" (from the Hebrew word berith ) means "bond." A covenant is a binding relationship based on a commitment that includes promises and duties. The covenant relationship requires faithfulness and enable... God’s Justice 3 God is just ( Psalm 9:7–8 ). He hates sin and fairly rewards people and nations based on what they do ( Psalm 67:4 ; Isaiah 1:27 ; Jeremiah 46:28 ; Joel 3:1–8 ; Acts 17:31 ). God has complete control over the natural... God’s Servant 3 In Isaiah 40–66 , God's servant is very important and appears often. The servant announces a new order of justice and righteousness to the world ( 42:3–4 ). He prepares the world for God's arrival ( 52:7 ). Who is the... Making Sense of the Exile 3 The kings and people of Israel repeatedly disobeyed God and failed to keep their special agreement (the covenant) with him. As a result, God announced that he would bring the covenant curses upon them (see Deuteronomy... The Gift of Prophecy 3 As the apostle Peter stated on the day of Pentecost, prophecy was a result of God's Holy Spirit poured out ( Acts 2:17–21 ; see Joel 2:28–32 ). The book of Acts mentions a few Christian prophets ( Acts 11:27–28 ; 13:1...