Ezekiel 21:2

Authorized King James Version

Son of man, set thy face toward Jerusalem, and drop thy word toward the holy places, and prophesy against the land of Israel,

Word-by-Word Analysis
#1
בֶּן
Son
a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative relationship, including grandson, subject, nation, quality or
#2
אָדָ֗ם
of man
ruddy i.e., a human being (an individual or the species, mankind, etc.)
#3
שִׂ֤ים
set
to put (used in a great variety of applications, literal, figurative, inferentially, and elliptically)
#4
פָּנֶ֙יךָ֙
thy face
the face (as the part that turns); used in a great variety of applications (literally and figuratively); also (with prepositional prefix) as a preposi
#5
אֶל
near, with or among; often in general, to
#6
יְר֣וּשָׁלִַ֔ם
toward Jerusalem
jerushalaim or jerushalem, the capital city of palestine
#7
וְהַטֵּ֖ף
and drop
to ooze, i.e., distil gradually; by implication, to fall in drops; figuratively, to speak by inspiration
#8
אֶל
near, with or among; often in general, to
#9
מִקְדָּשִׁ֑ים
thy word toward the holy places
a consecrated thing or place, especially, a palace, sanctuary (whether of jehovah or of idols) or asylum
#10
וְהִנָּבֵ֖א
and prophesy
to prophesy, i.e., speak (or sing) by inspiration (in prediction or simple discourse)
#11
אֶל
near, with or among; often in general, to
#12
אַדְמַ֥ת
against the land
soil (from its general redness)
#13
יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃
of Israel
he will rule as god; jisral, a symbolical name of jacob; also (typically) of his posterity

Analysis

The salvation theme here intersects with the metanarrative of redemption running from Genesis to Revelation. Biblical theology recognizes this as part of a unified storyline from the promise in Genesis 3:15 to its fulfillment in Christ. The phrase emphasizing divine revelation contributes to our systematic understanding of Christian doctrine and connects to the broader scriptural witness about God's saving work from the Exodus to the cross.

Historical Context

The literary and historical milieu of the literary conventions and historical circumstances of biblical literature shapes this text's meaning. The historical development of salvation within the theological tradition of Ezekiel Understanding the ancient worldview that shaped the author's theological expression helps modern readers appreciate why the author emphasizes divine revelation in this particular way.

Questions for Reflection

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