Ezekiel 44:5
And the LORD said unto me, Son of man, mark well, and behold with thine eyes, and hear with thine ears all that I say unto thee concerning all the ordinances of the house of the LORD, and all the laws thereof; and mark well the entering in of the house, with every going forth of the sanctuary.
Original Language Analysis
יְהוָ֖ה
And the LORD
H3068
יְהוָ֖ה
And the LORD
Strong's:
H3068
Word #:
3 of 30
(the) self-existent or eternal; jeho-vah, jewish national name of god
בֶּן
unto me Son
H1121
בֶּן
unto me Son
Strong's:
H1121
Word #:
4 of 30
a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative relationship, including grandson, subject, nation, quality or
אָדָ֡ם
of man
H120
אָדָ֡ם
of man
Strong's:
H120
Word #:
5 of 30
ruddy i.e., a human being (an individual or the species, mankind, etc.)
וְשַׂמְתָּ֤
mark
H7760
וְשַׂמְתָּ֤
mark
Strong's:
H7760
Word #:
6 of 30
to put (used in a great variety of applications, literal, figurative, inferentially, and elliptically)
לִבְּךָ֙
well
H3820
לִבְּךָ֙
well
Strong's:
H3820
Word #:
7 of 30
the heart; also used (figuratively) very widely for the feelings, the will and even the intellect; likewise for the center of anything
וּרְאֵ֨ה
and behold
H7200
וּרְאֵ֨ה
and behold
Strong's:
H7200
Word #:
8 of 30
to see, literally or figuratively (in numerous applications, direct and implied, transitive, intransitive and causative)
בְעֵינֶ֜יךָ
with thine eyes
H5869
בְעֵינֶ֜יךָ
with thine eyes
Strong's:
H5869
Word #:
9 of 30
an eye (literally or figuratively); by analogy, a fountain (as the eye of the landscape)
וּבְאָזְנֶ֣יךָ
with thine ears
H241
וּבְאָזְנֶ֣יךָ
with thine ears
Strong's:
H241
Word #:
10 of 30
broadness. i.e., (concrete) the ear (from its form in man)
שְּׁמָ֗ע
and hear
H8085
שְּׁמָ֗ע
and hear
Strong's:
H8085
Word #:
11 of 30
to hear intelligently (often with implication of attention, obedience, etc.; causatively, to tell, etc.)
אֵ֣ת
H853
אֵ֣ת
Strong's:
H853
Word #:
12 of 30
properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)
כָּל
H3605
כָּל
Strong's:
H3605
Word #:
13 of 30
properly, the whole; hence, all, any or every (in the singular only, but often in a plural sense)
אֲשֶׁ֤ר
H834
אֲשֶׁ֤ר
Strong's:
H834
Word #:
14 of 30
who, which, what, that; also (as an adverb and a conjunction) when, where, how, because, in order that, etc
מְדַבֵּ֣ר
all that I say
H1696
מְדַבֵּ֣ר
all that I say
Strong's:
H1696
Word #:
16 of 30
perhaps properly, to arrange; but used figuratively (of words), to speak; rarely (in a destructive sense) to subdue
אֹתָ֔ךְ
H853
אֹתָ֔ךְ
Strong's:
H853
Word #:
17 of 30
properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)
לְכָל
H3605
לְכָל
Strong's:
H3605
Word #:
18 of 30
properly, the whole; hence, all, any or every (in the singular only, but often in a plural sense)
הַבַּ֔יִת
of the house
H1004
הַבַּ֔יִת
of the house
Strong's:
H1004
Word #:
20 of 30
a house (in the greatest variation of applications, especially family, etc.)
יְהוָ֖ה
And the LORD
H3068
יְהוָ֖ה
And the LORD
Strong's:
H3068
Word #:
21 of 30
(the) self-existent or eternal; jeho-vah, jewish national name of god
וּלְכָל
H3605
וּלְכָל
Strong's:
H3605
Word #:
22 of 30
properly, the whole; hence, all, any or every (in the singular only, but often in a plural sense)
תּֽוֹרֹתָ֑ו
and all the laws
H8451
תּֽוֹרֹתָ֑ו
and all the laws
Strong's:
H8451
Word #:
23 of 30
a precept or statute, especially the decalogue or pentateuch
וְשַׂמְתָּ֤
mark
H7760
וְשַׂמְתָּ֤
mark
Strong's:
H7760
Word #:
24 of 30
to put (used in a great variety of applications, literal, figurative, inferentially, and elliptically)
לִבְּךָ֙
well
H3820
לִבְּךָ֙
well
Strong's:
H3820
Word #:
25 of 30
the heart; also used (figuratively) very widely for the feelings, the will and even the intellect; likewise for the center of anything
לִמְב֣וֹא
the entering in
H3996
לִמְב֣וֹא
the entering in
Strong's:
H3996
Word #:
26 of 30
an entrance (the place or the act); specifically sunset or the west; also (adverb with preposition) towards
הַבַּ֔יִת
of the house
H1004
הַבַּ֔יִת
of the house
Strong's:
H1004
Word #:
27 of 30
a house (in the greatest variation of applications, especially family, etc.)
בְּכֹ֖ל
H3605
בְּכֹ֖ל
Strong's:
H3605
Word #:
28 of 30
properly, the whole; hence, all, any or every (in the singular only, but often in a plural sense)
Cross References
Ezekiel 40:4And the man said unto me, Son of man, behold with thine eyes, and hear with thine ears, and set thine heart upon all that I shall shew thee; for to the intent that I might shew them unto thee art thou brought hither: declare all that thou seest to the house of Israel.Deuteronomy 12:32What thing soever I command you, observe to do it: thou shalt not add thereto, nor diminish from it.Deuteronomy 32:46And he said unto them, Set your hearts unto all the words which I testify among you this day, which ye shall command your children to observe to do, all the words of this law.
Historical Context
Moses similarly commanded careful attention to God's law (Deuteronomy 4:1, 5:1, 6:4). Prophets frequently addressed inattention to divine instruction (Isaiah 1:2-3, Jeremiah 7:2, Ezekiel 3:10). The exiles' catastrophe resulted from ignoring God's Word—they 'refused to hearken, and pulled away the shoulder, and stopped their ears' (Zechariah 7:11-12). The detailed ordinances governing temple access, worship, and service required careful transmission and observance. Ezra's post-exilic ministry emphasized reading and explaining the law (Nehemiah 8:1-8). Jesus rebuked disciples who had eyes but didn't see, ears but didn't hear (Mark 8:18). The early church 'continued steadfastly in the apostles' doctrine' (Acts 2:42), demonstrating sustained attention to authoritative teaching.
Questions for Reflection
- How carefully do you 'mark well' Scripture versus scanning quickly without deep engagement?
- What percentage of your Bible reading actually engages eyes (reading), ears (hearing), and heart (applying)?
- Do you pay particular attention to 'entering in'—how you approach God—or assume all approaches are equally acceptable?
Related Resources
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Analysis & Commentary
God commands: 'Son of man, mark well, and behold with thine eyes, and hear with thine ears all that I say unto thee concerning all the ordinances of the house of the LORD... and mark well the entering in of the house'—comprehensive attention required. The Hebrew שִׂים לֵב (sim lev, 'mark well'—literally 'set heart') demands focused concentration. The threefold emphasis—mark well, behold, hear—engages complete attention. God's ordinances (חֻקּוֹת, chuqqot) aren't suggestions but binding regulations. The specific attention to 'entering in' stresses proper access protocols. Reformed theology emphasizes that God's Word requires careful, comprehensive attention—not casual skimming (Deuteronomy 6:6-9, Joshua 1:8, Psalm 1:2). The command to 'mark well' challenges superficial Bible study that misses crucial details.