Ezekiel 20:46
Son of man, set thy face toward the south, and drop thy word toward the south, and prophesy against the forest of the south field;
Original Language Analysis
בֶּן
Son
H1121
בֶּן
Son
Strong's:
H1121
Word #:
1 of 14
a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative relationship, including grandson, subject, nation, quality or
אָדָ֗ם
of man
H120
אָדָ֗ם
of man
Strong's:
H120
Word #:
2 of 14
ruddy i.e., a human being (an individual or the species, mankind, etc.)
שִׂ֤ים
set
H7760
שִׂ֤ים
set
Strong's:
H7760
Word #:
3 of 14
to put (used in a great variety of applications, literal, figurative, inferentially, and elliptically)
פָּנֶ֙יךָ֙
thy face
H6440
פָּנֶ֙יךָ֙
thy face
Strong's:
H6440
Word #:
4 of 14
the face (as the part that turns); used in a great variety of applications (literally and figuratively); also (with prepositional prefix) as a preposi
דֶּ֣רֶךְ
toward
H1870
דֶּ֣רֶךְ
toward
Strong's:
H1870
Word #:
5 of 14
a road (as trodden); figuratively, a course of life or mode of action, often adverb
תֵּימָ֔נָה
the south
H8486
תֵּימָ֔נָה
the south
Strong's:
H8486
Word #:
6 of 14
the south (as being on the right hand of a person facing the east)
וְהַטֵּ֖ף
and drop
H5197
וְהַטֵּ֖ף
and drop
Strong's:
H5197
Word #:
7 of 14
to ooze, i.e., distil gradually; by implication, to fall in drops; figuratively, to speak by inspiration
וְהִנָּבֵ֛א
and prophesy
H5012
וְהִנָּבֵ֛א
and prophesy
Strong's:
H5012
Word #:
10 of 14
to prophesy, i.e., speak (or sing) by inspiration (in prediction or simple discourse)
Cross References
Amos 7:16Now therefore hear thou the word of the LORD: Thou sayest, Prophesy not against Israel, and drop not thy word against the house of Isaac.Ezekiel 21:2Son of man, set thy face toward Jerusalem, and drop thy word toward the holy places, and prophesy against the land of Israel,Jeremiah 13:19The cities of the south shall be shut up, and none shall open them: Judah shall be carried away captive all of it, it shall be wholly carried away captive.
Historical Context
From Babylon, 'south' (negev) indicated Judah and Jerusalem. The forest imagery resonated with Judah's wooded hill country. Ezekiel's symbolic actions and cryptic oracles were designed to provoke questions, forcing the exiles to grapple with God's message.
Questions for Reflection
- Why does God sometimes communicate through symbols and parables rather than direct statements?
- How do you respond when God's word challenges your comfort or security?
Related Resources
Explore related topics, people, and study resources to deepen your understanding of this passage.
Analysis & Commentary
Set thy face toward the south (שִׂים פָּנֶיךָ דֶּרֶךְ תֵּימָנָה, sim panekha derekh teimanah)—the idiom שִׂים פָּנֶיךָ (sim panekha, set your face) indicates prophetic confrontation and coming judgment. Ezekiel must physically orient himself toward the south (תֵּימָן, teiman), meaning Jerusalem from his Babylonian perspective.
Drop thy word (הַטֵּף, hatef) uses agricultural imagery—letting words fall like rain or dew. Prophesy against the forest of the south field (וְהִנָּבֵא אֶל־יַעַר הַשָּׂדֶה נֶגֶב, v'hinabei el-ya'ar hasadeh negev)—'forest' symbolizes proud Jerusalem, soon to be burned. The threefold command (set, drop, prophesy) emphasizes urgency. Ezekiel's contemporaries complained he spoke in riddles (20:49), prompting God to plainly name Jerusalem in chapter 21.