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Therefore, son of man, prophesy against them loudly and clearly.”
Ezekiel 11:4 · New Living Translation
Parallel translations
  • WEB Therefore prophesy against them, prophesy, son of man.”
  • KJV Therefore prophesy against them, prophesy, O son of man.
  • BSB Therefore prophesy against them; prophesy, O son of man!”
  • NKJV Therefore prophesy against them, prophesy, O son of man!”
  • NASB Therefore, prophesy against them, prophesy, son of man!”

Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org

Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

Quick answer

God commands Ezekiel to prophesy against these leaders. It commissions a direct word of judgment on their presumption.

Overview

The doubled call to "prophesy" stresses the urgency and certainty of God's response to their arrogance. Ezekiel must confront the false comfort with God's true word. Faithful prophecy refuses to flatter sin but speaks God's verdict plainly. Such bold, faithful proclamation models the truth-telling of Christ and His messengers.

Cross-references & the web

Cross-references · 8

  • Ezek 3:17–21“Son of man, I have made you a watchman to the house of Israel. Therefore hear the word from my mouth, and warn them from me.
  • Hos 8:1“Put the trumpet to your lips! Something like an eagle is over Yahweh’s house, because they have broken my covenant, and rebelled against my law.
  • Ezek 20:46–47“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;
  • Ezek 25:2Son of man, set your face toward the children of Ammon, and prophesy against them:
  • Ezek 21:2“Son of man, set your face toward Jerusalem, and preach toward the sanctuaries, and prophesy against the land of Israel.
  • Isa 58:1“Cry aloud, don’t spare. Lift up your voice like a trumpet. Declare to my people their disobedience, and to the house of Jacob their sins.
  • Hos 6:5Therefore I have cut them to pieces with the prophets; I killed them with the words of my mouth. Your judgments are like a flash of lightning.
  • Ezek 3:2–15So I opened my mouth, and he caused me to eat the scroll.

Themes, concepts, people & topics

Topics (4)

Resources, by level

Commentaries & study tools

  • VideoBibleProject — Ezekiel videosBibleProject · Lay · Free · evangelical

    Free animated overview and word-study videos for this book.

  • VideoWatch teaching on Ezekiel 11:4YouTube · Lay · Free

    Sermons and teaching on this passage from across YouTube.

  • CommentaryEnduring Word — verse-by-verseDavid Guzik · Lay · Free · evangelical

    Clear, readable, conservative exposition — the best free place to start on any passage.

  • CommentaryClassic commentaries for this verseBibleHub (20+ works) · Pastoral · Free

    Matthew Henry, Barnes, Gill, the Pulpit Commentary, Ellicott, Cambridge, and more — stacked on one page for this exact verse.

  • CommentaryMatthew Henry on EzekielMatthew Henry · Pastoral · Free · evangelical

    The beloved Puritan exposition of this whole book — warm, devotional, and verse by verse (free, CCEL).

  • ReferenceInterlinear, lexicon & Strong'sBlue Letter Bible · Seminary · Free

    Hebrew/Greek interlinear, word definitions, and cross-references for this verse.

Christ at the center

The promise of one Shepherd-King David, a new heart and new Spirit, and the river of life flowing from the temple all stream toward Christ, the good Shepherd who gives the Spirit.

How Ezekiel 11:4 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.

Original language

Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Hebrew word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.