“Look,” He replied, “I will let you use cow dung instead of human excrement, and you may bake your bread over that.”
Parallel translations
- WEB Then he said to me, “Behold, I have given you cow’s dung for man’s dung, and you shall prepare your bread on it.”
- KJV Then he said unto me, Lo, I have given thee cow’s dung for man’s dung, and thou shalt prepare thy bread therewith.
- NKJV Then He said to me, “See, I am giving you cow dung instead of human waste, and you shall prepare your bread over it.”
- NASB Then He said to me, “See, I will give you cow’s dung in place of human dung, so that you may prepare your bread over it.”
- NLT “All right,” the Lord said. “You may bake your bread with cow dung instead of human dung.”
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 mercifully permits cow's dung instead of human dung for the fire. He accommodates Ezekiel's plea while keeping the sign intact.
Overview
In response to Ezekiel's protest, the Lord allows a less defiling fuel, cow's dung, for baking the bread. The concession shows God's willingness to hear His servant and temper a command without abandoning its message. It reveals a God who is both unwavering in purpose and gracious in dealing with the consciences of those who serve Him.
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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 4:15 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
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