Ezekiel 24:17

Authorized King James Version

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Forbear to cry, make no mourning for the dead, bind the tire of thine head upon thee, and put on thy shoes upon thy feet, and cover not thy lips, and eat not the bread of men.

Original Language Analysis

הֵאָנֵ֣ק׀ to cry H602
הֵאָנֵ֣ק׀ to cry
Strong's: H602
Word #: 1 of 20
to shriek
דֹּ֗ם Forbear H1826
דֹּ֗ם Forbear
Strong's: H1826
Word #: 2 of 20
to be dumb; by implication, to be astonished, to stop; also to perish
מֵתִים֙ for the dead H4191
מֵתִים֙ for the dead
Strong's: H4191
Word #: 3 of 20
to die (literally or figuratively); causatively, to kill
אֵ֣בֶל no mourning H60
אֵ֣בֶל no mourning
Strong's: H60
Word #: 4 of 20
lamentation
לֹֽא H3808
לֹֽא
Strong's: H3808
Word #: 5 of 20
not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no; often used with other particles
תַֽעֲשֶׂ֔ה make H6213
תַֽעֲשֶׂ֔ה make
Strong's: H6213
Word #: 6 of 20
to do or make, in the broadest sense and widest application
פְאֵֽרְךָ֙ the tire of thine head H6287
פְאֵֽרְךָ֙ the tire of thine head
Strong's: H6287
Word #: 7 of 20
an embellishment, i.e., fancy head-dress
חֲב֣וֹשׁ bind H2280
חֲב֣וֹשׁ bind
Strong's: H2280
Word #: 8 of 20
to wrap firmly (especially a turban, compress, or saddle); figuratively, to stop, to rule
עָלֶ֔יךָ H5921
עָלֶ֔יךָ
Strong's: H5921
Word #: 9 of 20
above, over, upon, or against (yet always in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great variety of applications
וּנְעָלֶ֖יךָ thy shoes H5275
וּנְעָלֶ֖יךָ thy shoes
Strong's: H5275
Word #: 10 of 20
properly, a sandal tongue; by extension a sandal or slipper (sometimes as a symbol of occupancy, a refusal to marry, or of something valueless)
תָּשִׂ֣ים upon thee and put on H7760
תָּשִׂ֣ים upon thee and put on
Strong's: H7760
Word #: 11 of 20
to put (used in a great variety of applications, literal, figurative, inferentially, and elliptically)
בְּרַגְלֶ֑יךָ upon thy feet H7272
בְּרַגְלֶ֑יךָ upon thy feet
Strong's: H7272
Word #: 12 of 20
a foot (as used in walking); by implication, a step; by euphemistically the pudenda
וְלֹ֤א H3808
וְלֹ֤א
Strong's: H3808
Word #: 13 of 20
not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no; often used with other particles
תַעְטֶה֙ and cover H5844
תַעְטֶה֙ and cover
Strong's: H5844
Word #: 14 of 20
to wrap, i.e., cover, veil, clothe, or roll
עַל H5921
עַל
Strong's: H5921
Word #: 15 of 20
above, over, upon, or against (yet always in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great variety of applications
שָׂפָ֔ם not thy lips H8222
שָׂפָ֔ם not thy lips
Strong's: H8222
Word #: 16 of 20
the beard (as a lippiece)
וְלֶ֥חֶם not the bread H3899
וְלֶ֥חֶם not the bread
Strong's: H3899
Word #: 17 of 20
food (for man or beast), especially bread, or grain (for making it)
אֲנָשִׁ֖ים H376
אֲנָשִׁ֖ים
Strong's: H376
Word #: 18 of 20
a man as an individual or a male person; often used as an adjunct to a more definite term (and in such cases frequently not expressed in translation)
לֹ֥א H3808
לֹ֥א
Strong's: H3808
Word #: 19 of 20
not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no; often used with other particles
תֹאכֵֽל׃ and eat H398
תֹאכֵֽל׃ and eat
Strong's: H398
Word #: 20 of 20
to eat (literally or figuratively)

Analysis & Commentary

So I spake unto the people in the morning; and at even my wife died reports the sequence: Ezekiel prophesied, then that evening his wife died suddenly. And I did in the morning as I was commanded recounts his obedience. The next morning, he appeared publicly without mourning. The swiftness (evening death, morning appearance) allowed no time for processing grief privately. His immediate obedience despite crushing personal loss demonstrates prophetic commitment—God's message takes precedence over personal comfort. This isn't cold heartedness but costly obedience. True discipleship sometimes requires sacrificing legitimate goods for kingdom purposes.

Historical Context

Ezekiel functioned among the exiles as God's messenger and sign. His marriage was real, his love genuine, his loss devastating. Yet he subordinated personal grief to prophetic calling. This mirrors Christ's teaching that disciples must love Him more than family (Matthew 10:37; Luke 14:26). Following God may cost us what we treasure most.

Questions for Reflection

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