Ezekiel 7:1
Moreover 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
Moreover the word
H1697
דְבַר
Moreover 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 592-591 BC, this prophecy came roughly five years before Jerusalem's destruction (586 BC). The exiles believed their captivity would be brief and Jerusalem would survive. Ezekiel's message contradicts this false hope, declaring that the end has come. Within a few years, this prophecy would be vindicated when Babylon razed Jerusalem, validating Ezekiel's credentials as true prophet against false prophets promising peace (Jeremiah 28-29; Ezekiel 13).
Questions for Reflection
- How does the prophetic formula remind us that Scripture originates from God, not human imagination?
- What does the theme of 'the end' teach about God's patience having limits?
- How should awareness that judgment eventually comes shape our response to warnings?
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Analysis & Commentary
Moreover the word of the LORD came unto me, saying, The prophetic formula introduces another divine revelation, this time concerning "the end" (qets, קֵץ) of Israel's probation. Chapter 7 forms a unified prophetic oracle announcing judgment's immediacy using drumbeat repetition of "the end" (verses 2, 3, 6) and "the day" (verses 7, 10, 12). The formula establishes divine origin—what follows isn't Ezekiel's speculation but God's direct communication. This repetitive authentication emphasizes the message's gravity: Israel's final hour has arrived.