Thou also, son of man, take thee a tile, and lay it before thee, and pourtray upon it the city, even Jerusalem:
Parallel translations
- WEB “You also, son of man, take a tile, and lay it before yourself, and portray on it a city, even Jerusalem.
- BSB “Now you, son of man, take a brick, place it before you, and draw on it the city of Jerusalem.
- NKJV “You also, son of man, take a clay tablet and lay it before you, and portray on it a city, Jerusalem.
- NASB “Now you, son of man, get yourself a brick, place it before you, and inscribe a city on it—Jerusalem.
- NLT “And now, son of man, take a large clay brick and set it down in front of you. Then draw a map of the city of Jerusalem on it.
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 tells Ezekiel to take a clay tablet and portray Jerusalem on it. This begins a dramatized prophecy of Jerusalem's siege.
Overview
Ezekiel is to engrave a map of Jerusalem on a soft clay brick, a common writing surface in Babylon. This sign-act vividly previews the coming siege of the city. Enacted prophecy made God's warning tangible to the exiles. It shows God graphically declaring judgment on the beloved but rebellious city.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 16
- Hos 1:2–9The beginning of the word of the LORD by Hosea. And the LORD said to Hosea, Go, take unto thee a wife of whoredoms and children of whoredoms: for the land hath committed great whoredom, departing from the LORD.
- Jer 6:6For thus hath the LORD of hosts said, Hew ye down trees, and cast a mount against Jerusalem: this is the city to be visited; she is wholly oppression in the midst of her.
- Jer 13:1–14Thus saith the LORD unto me, Go and get thee a linen girdle, and put it upon thy loins, and put it not in water.
- Ezek 12:3–16Therefore, thou son of man, prepare thee stuff for removing, and remove by day in their sight; and thou shalt remove from thy place to another place in their sight: it may be they will consider, though they be a rebellious house.
- Jer 32:31For this city hath been to me as a provocation of mine anger and of my fury from the day that they built it even unto this day; that I should remove it from before my face,
- Hos 12:10I have also spoken by the prophets, and I have multiplied visions, and used similitudes, by the ministry of the prophets.
- Hos 3:1–5Then said the LORD unto me, Go yet, love a woman beloved of her friend, yet an adulteress, according to the love of the LORD toward the children of Israel, who look to other gods, and love flagons of wine.
- Jer 18:2–12Arise, and go down to the potter’s house, and there I will cause thee to hear my words.
- 1 Kgs 11:30–31And Ahijah caught the new garment that was on him, and rent it in twelve pieces:
- Ezek 5:1–17And thou, son of man, take thee a sharp knife, take thee a barber’s razor, and cause it to pass upon thine head and upon thy beard: then take thee balances to weigh, and divide the hair.
- 1 Sam 15:27–28And as Samuel turned about to go away, he laid hold upon the skirt of his mantle, and it rent.
- Amos 3:2You only have I known of all the families of the earth: therefore I will punish you for all your iniquities.
- Jer 27:2–22Thus saith the LORD to me; Make thee bonds and yokes, and put them upon thy neck,
- Jer 25:15–38For thus saith the LORD God of Israel unto me; Take the wine cup of this fury at my hand, and cause all the nations, to whom I send thee, to drink it.
- Isa 20:2–4At the same time spake the LORD by Isaiah the son of Amoz, saying, Go and loose the sackcloth from off thy loins, and put off thy shoe from thy foot. And he did so, walking naked and barefoot.
- Jer 19:1–15Thus saith the LORD, Go and get a potter’s earthen bottle, and take of the ancients of the people, and of the ancients of the priests;
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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 4:1 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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