Ezekiel 22:17
And the word of the LORD came unto me, saying,
Original Language Analysis
וַיְהִ֥י
H1961
וַיְהִ֥י
Strong's:
H1961
Word #:
1 of 5
to exist, i.e., be or become, come to pass (always emphatic, and not a mere copula or auxiliary)
דְבַר
And the word
H1697
דְבַר
And the word
Strong's:
H1697
Word #:
2 of 5
a word; by implication, a matter (as spoken of) or thing; adverbially, a cause
Historical Context
Dated to approximately 591-590 BC, these oracles came during the brief respite between Babylon's first conquest (597 BC) and final destruction (586 BC). During this interval, false prophets proclaimed peace and swift restoration (Jeremiah 28). Against this backdrop, Ezekiel's repeated 'word of the LORD' formulas authenticated his message as genuine prophecy deserving obedience.
Questions for Reflection
- How do you distinguish between human opinions about God and 'the word of the LORD' in your spiritual life?
- What attitude should characterize our response when we recognize Scripture as divine speech?
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Analysis & Commentary
And the word of the LORD came unto me, saying, This prophetic formula (vayehi debar-YHWH elai lemor, וַיְהִי דְבַר־יְהוָה אֵלַי לֵאמֹר) introduces a new oracle—the furnace metaphor (verses 18-22). The repetition of this phrase throughout Ezekiel emphasizes that every word carries divine authority. Ezekiel never speaks from his own imagination but only as God's commissioned messenger.
The verse serves as a hinge between the catalog of sins (verses 1-16) and the extended metallurgical metaphor that follows. God's word is not exhausted by one indictment; layer upon layer of revelation exposes Jerusalem's corruption and announces judgment. Each fresh prophetic utterance adds weight to the covenant lawsuit against the rebellious city.