Ezekiel 1:2
In the fifth day of the month, which was the fifth year of king Jehoiachin's captivity,
Original Language Analysis
הִ֚יא
H1931
הִ֚יא
Strong's:
H1931
Word #:
3 of 8
he (she or it); only expressed when emphatic or without a verb; also (intensively) self, or (especially with the article) the same; sometimes (as demo
Cross References
Ezekiel 40:1In the five and twentieth year of our captivity, in the beginning of the year, in the tenth day of the month, in the fourteenth year after that the city was smitten, in the selfsame day the hand of the LORD was upon me, and brought me thither.Ezekiel 20:1And it came to pass in the seventh year, in the fifth month, the tenth day of the month, that certain of the elders of Israel came to enquire of the LORD, and sat before me.
Historical Context
Ezekiel prophesied among Jewish exiles at Tel-abib by the Chebar canal in Babylon, following Nebuchadnezzar's first siege of Jerusalem (597 BC). The exiles included King Jehoiachin, nobles, craftsmen, and warriors (2 Kings 24:14-16). Archaeological discoveries including the Jehoiachin ration tablets from Babylon confirm his captivity and royal status even in exile. The exiles initially expected quick return to Jerusalem, but Ezekiel's message—like Jeremiah's—warned of prolonged judgment and called for spiritual renewal in exile.
Questions for Reflection
- How does God's precise dating of revelation demonstrate His control over history and nations?
- What does it mean that God spoke powerfully to His people even in pagan Babylon, far from the temple?
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Analysis & Commentary
This verse provides precise chronological anchoring for Ezekiel's prophetic ministry: "in the fifth year of king Jehoiachin's captivity." The Hebrew emphasis on dating reflects God's sovereignty over history—divine revelation enters real time and space. Jehoiachin's exile (597 BC) began the 70-year captivity prophesied by Jeremiah, and Ezekiel's call in the fifth year (593 BC) positioned him as God's spokesman to a displaced covenant community. The specificity combats the pagan notion that deities are limited to geographical territories; Yahweh speaks with authority even in Babylon, demonstrating His universal dominion.