What does Ezekiel 21:2 mean?
“Son of man, set thy face toward Jerusalem, and drop thy word toward the holy places, and prophesy against the land of Israel,” — Ezekiel 21:2
The King James Version of Ezekiel 21:2 reads, "Son of man, set thy face toward Jerusalem, and drop thy word toward the holy places, and prophesy against the land of Israel."
This verse is part of a larger section of the Book of Ezekiel which contains prophecies against Jerusalem and the land of Israel. In this particular verse, the Lord instructs Ezekiel to direct his attention and prophecy towards Jerusalem and to speak out against the land of Israel. This verse can be seen as a powerful message from God to the people of Israel, warning them of impending judgment and calling them to repentance.
The theme of judgment is prevalent throughout the Book of Ezekiel, and this verse is no exception. The Lord is preparing to bring destruction upon the land of Israel, and he is using Ezekiel as a messenger to deliver this warning to the people. The act of "dropping thy word toward the holy places" signifies the importance of the message being conveyed and the significance of the location in which it is being delivered. The holiness of Jerusalem and the land of Israel cannot protect them from the impending judgment if they do not turn from their wicked ways.
The context of this verse is important in understanding its significance. The book of Ezekiel was written during the Babylonian exile, a time of great despair and hopelessness for the people of Israel. The nation had been conquered, the temple in Jerusalem had been destroyed, and the people were scattered and living in captivity. In this context, the prophecy against the land of Israel takes on a sense of urgency and desperation. The people are in need of repentance and a turning back to God in order to avert the impending judgment.
The symbolism in this verse is also worth exploring. The act of setting one's face towards Jerusalem can be seen as a symbol of determination and focus. Ezekiel is being called to direct his attention and his message towards the heart of the nation, emphasizing the seriousness of the situation. The holy places represent the sacredness and significance of the land of Israel, and the act of prophesying against them highlights the need for the people to heed the warning and turn back to the Lord.
In conclusion, Ezekiel 21:2 is a powerful and poignant message from the Lord to the people of Israel. It serves as a warning of impending judgment and a call to repentance. The themes of judgment, desperation, and urgency are prevalent, and the context of the Babylonian exile adds depth and significance to the verse. The symbolism of setting one's face towards Jerusalem and prophesying against the holy places adds to the weight and seriousness of the message. Ultimately, this verse serves as a reminder of the consequences of turning away from God and the hope of restoration through repentance.
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Artwork for Ezekiel 21:2
Ezekiel 21:2 - "Son of man, set thy face toward Jerusalem, and drop thy word toward the holy places, and prophesy against the land of Israel,"
"Son of man, set thy face toward Jerusalem, and drop thy word toward the holy places, and prophesy against the land of Israel," - Ezekiel 21:2
Ezekiel 21:7
Ezekiel 21:1 - "And the word of the LORD came unto me, saying,"
Ezekiel 12:21 - "¶ And the word of the LORD came unto me, saying,"
Ezekiel 21:18 - "¶ The word of the LORD came unto me again, saying,"
Ezekiel 21:8 - "¶ Again the word of the LORD came unto me, saying,"
Ezekiel 28:21 - "Son of man, set thy face against Zidon, and prophesy against it,"
Ezekiel 21:21 - "For the king of Babylon stood at the parting of the way, at the head of the two ways, to use divination: he made his arrows bright, he consulted with images, he looked in the liver."
Ezekiel 41:21 - "The posts of the temple were squared, and the face of the sanctuary; the appearance of the one as the appearance of the other."
Ezekiel 21:20 - "Appoint a way, that the sword may come to Rabbath of the Ammonites, and to Judah in Jerusalem the defenced."
Ezekiel 44:21 - "Neither shall any priest drink wine, when they enter into the inner court."
Ezekiel 47:21 - "So shall ye divide this land unto you according to the tribes of Israel."
Ezekiel 7:21 - "And I will give it into the hands of the strangers for a prey, and to the wicked of the earth for a spoil; and they shall pollute it."
Ezekiel 27:21 - "Arabia, and all the princes of Kedar, they occupied with thee in lambs, and rams, and goats: in these were they thy merchants."
Ezekiel 21:6 - "Sigh therefore, thou son of man, with the breaking of thy loins; and with bitterness sigh before their eyes."
Ezekiel 21:11 - "And he hath given it to be furbished, that it may be handled: this sword is sharpened, and it is furbished, to give it into the hand of the slayer."
Ezekiel 21:13 - "Because it is a trial, and what if the sword contemn even the rod? it shall be no more, saith the Lord GOD."
Ezekiel 16:21 - "That thou hast slain my children, and delivered them to cause them to pass through the fire for them?"
Ezekiel 21:9 - "Son of man, prophesy, and say, Thus saith the LORD; Say, A sword, a sword is sharpened, and also furbished:"
Ezekiel 21:25 - "¶ And thou, profane wicked prince of Israel, whose day is come, when iniquity shall have an end,"
Ezekiel 21:16 - "Go thee one way or other, either on the right hand, or on the left, whithersoever thy face is set."
"And the word of the LORD came unto me, saying," - Ezekiel 21:1
"¶ And the word of the LORD came unto me, saying," - Ezekiel 12:21
Ezekiel 21:27 - "I will overturn, overturn, overturn, it: and it shall be no more, until he come whose right it is; and I will give it him."
Ezekiel 21:21 For the king of Babylon stands at the parting of the road, at the fork of the two roads, to use divination: he shakes the arrows, he consults the images, he looks at the liver.
Ezekiel 21:17 - "I will also smite mine hands together, and I will cause my fury to rest: I the LORD have said it."
Ezekiel 36:21 - "¶ But I had pity for mine holy name, which the house of Israel had profaned among the heathen, whither they went."
Ezekiel 43:21 - "Thou shalt take the bullock also of the sin offering, and he shall burn it in the appointed place of the house, without the sanctuary."
Ezekiel 10:21 - "Every one had four faces apiece, and every one four wings; and the likeness of the hands of a man was under their wings."