Major Prophets · Old Testament
Ezekiel
c. 593–571 BC
- Section
- Major Prophets · Old Testament
- Events span
- c. 593–571 BC
- Written
- c. 571 BC critical view: c. 6th century BC, with later editing
- Author
- Ezekiel the priest critical view: Ezekiel, with later editing
Ezekiel, a priest exiled to Babylon, receives dramatic visions and acts out God's messages. He declares judgment on Jerusalem before its fall, then judgment on the nations, and finally hope: dry bones coming to life and a restored temple where God dwells.
Key themes
- The glory of God
- Judgment for idolatry
- Individual responsibility
- The valley of dry bones
- God's presence restored
Key events
Judgment on Jerusalem (Ezekiel 1–24)
- Ezekiel sees a vision of God's glory on a chariot-throne of wheels and is called as a prophet
- He acts out the coming siege of Jerusalem with signs and symbols
- In a vision he sees the idolatry in the temple and God's glory departing from it
- "The soul that sinneth, it shall die" — each person is accountable for their own sin
- Ezekiel's wife dies as a sign, and he is told not to mourn
Judgment on the Nations (Ezekiel 25–32)
- Oracles of judgment against Ammon, Moab, Tyre, Egypt, and other nations
Hope & Restoration (Ezekiel 33–48)
- Ezekiel is made a watchman; God himself will be the good shepherd who seeks his sheep
- The valley of dry bones comes to life, picturing Israel's national resurrection
- The defeat of Gog of Magog, who comes against God's restored people
- A vision of a new temple, with God's glory returning to fill it
“A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh.”