Verse (Click for Chapter) New International Version Then the word of the LORD came to me: New Living Translation Then this message came to me from the LORD: English Standard Version And the word of the LORD came to me: Berean Standard Bible Then the word of the LORD came to me, saying, King James Bible And the word of the LORD came unto me, saying, New King James Version The word of the LORD came to me, saying, New American Standard Bible And the word of the LORD came to me, saying, NASB 1995 And the word of the LORD came to me, saying, NASB 1977 And the word of the LORD came to me saying, Legacy Standard Bible And the word of Yahweh came to me, saying, Amplified Bible And the word of the LORD came to me, saying, Christian Standard Bible The word of the LORD came to me: Holman Christian Standard Bible The word of the LORD came to me: “ American Standard Version And the word of Jehovah came unto me, saying, Contemporary English Version The LORD said: English Revised Version And the word of the LORD came unto me, saying, GOD'S WORD® Translation Then the LORD spoke his word to me. He said, Good News Translation The LORD said to me, International Standard Version This message came to me from the LORD: NET Bible The word of the LORD came to me: New Heart English Bible The word of the LORD came to me, saying, Webster's Bible Translation And the word of the LORD came to me, saying, Majority Text Translations Majority Standard BibleThen the word of the LORD came to me, saying, World English Bible Yahweh’s word came to me, saying, Literal Translations Literal Standard VersionAnd there is a word of YHWH to me, saying, Young's Literal Translation And there is a word of Jehovah unto me, saying, 'Son of man, Smith's Literal Translation And the word of Jehovah will be to me, saying, Catholic Translations Douay-Rheims BibleAnd the word of the Lord came to me, saying: Catholic Public Domain Version And the word of the Lord came to me, saying: New American Bible The word of the LORD came to me: New Revised Standard Version The word of the LORD came to me: Translations from Aramaic Lamsa BibleAnd the word of the LORD came to me, saying, Peshitta Holy Bible Translated And the word of LORD JEHOVAH was upon me, saying: OT Translations JPS Tanakh 1917And the word of the LORD came unto me, saying: Brenton Septuagint Translation And the word of the Lord came to me, saying, Additional Translations ... Audio Bible Context The Refining Furnace17Then the word of the LORD came to me, saying, 18“Son of man, the house of Israel has become dross to Me. All of them are copper, tin, iron, and lead inside the furnace; they are but the dross of silver.… Cross References Malachi 3:2-3 But who can endure the day of His coming? And who can stand when He appears? For He will be like a refiner’s fire, like a launderer’s soap. / And He will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver; He will purify the sons of Levi and refine them like gold and silver. Then they will present offerings to the LORD in righteousness. Isaiah 1:25 I will turn My hand against you; I will thoroughly purge your dross; I will remove all your impurities. Jeremiah 6:29-30 The bellows blow fiercely, blasting away the lead with fire. The refining proceeds in vain, for the wicked are not purged. / They are called rejected silver, because the LORD has rejected them.” Zechariah 13:9 This third I will bring through the fire; I will refine them like silver and test them like gold. They will call on My name, and I will answer them. I will say, ‘They are My people,’ and they will say, ‘The LORD is our God.’” Proverbs 17:3 A crucible for silver and a furnace for gold, but the LORD is the tester of hearts. Isaiah 48:10 See, I have refined you, but not as silver; I have tested you in the furnace of affliction. 1 Peter 1:7 so that the proven character of your faith—more precious than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may result in praise, glory, and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ. Revelation 3:18 I counsel you to buy from Me gold refined by fire so that you may become rich, white garments so that you may be clothed and your shameful nakedness not exposed, and salve to anoint your eyes so that you may see. 1 Corinthians 3:12-15 If anyone builds on this foundation using gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, or straw, / his workmanship will be evident, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will prove the quality of each man’s work. / If what he has built survives, he will receive a reward. ... Hebrews 12:29 “For our God is a consuming fire.” Matthew 3:11-12 I baptize you with water for repentance, but after me will come One more powerful than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire. / His winnowing fork is in His hand to clear His threshing floor and to gather His wheat into the barn; but He will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.” Malachi 4:1 “For behold, the day is coming, burning like a furnace, when all the arrogant and every evildoer will be stubble; the day is coming when I will set them ablaze,” says the LORD of Hosts. “Not a root or branch will be left to them.” Isaiah 31:9 Their rock will pass away for fear, and their princes will panic at the sight of the battle standard,” declares the LORD, whose fire is in Zion, whose furnace is in Jerusalem. Jeremiah 9:7 Therefore this is what the LORD of Hosts says: “Behold, I will refine them and test them, for what else can I do because of the daughter of My people? Zephaniah 1:3 “I will sweep away man and beast; I will sweep away the birds of the air, and the fish of the sea, and the idols with their wicked worshipers. I will cut off mankind from the face of the earth,” declares the LORD. Treasury of Scripture And the word of the LORD came to me, saying, no references listed for this verse. Jump to Previous WordJump to Next WordEzekiel 22 1. A catalogue of sins in Jerusalem, and the dispersion of the Jews in consequence17. God will burn them as dross in his furnace 23. The general corruption of prophets, priests, princes, and the people Then the word of the LORD came to me, saying, This phrase indicates a direct communication from God to the prophet Ezekiel. In the context of the Old Testament, prophets were often the mouthpieces of God, receiving divine messages to deliver to the people of Israel. This underscores the authority and seriousness of the message that follows. The phrase "the word of the LORD" is a common introduction in prophetic literature, emphasizing that the message is not of human origin but divinely inspired. This is consistent with other prophetic books, such as Jeremiah and Isaiah, where similar phrases are used to introduce God's messages. The use of "came to me" highlights the personal nature of the revelation, indicating that Ezekiel is the chosen vessel for this particular message. This reflects the intimate relationship between God and His prophets, where God entrusts them with His words to guide, warn, or instruct His people. Persons / Places / Events 1. EzekielA prophet and priest during the Babylonian exile, Ezekiel is the recipient of God's messages, tasked with delivering them to the Israelites. 2. The LORD (Yahweh) The covenant God of Israel, who communicates His judgments and intentions through His prophets. 3. Israel The nation to whom Ezekiel is prophesying, specifically the people in exile who are being called to account for their sins. 4. Babylonian Exile The historical context in which Ezekiel prophesied, a period of judgment and reflection for the Israelites. 5. Jerusalem Though not directly mentioned in this verse, it is the focal point of many of Ezekiel's prophecies, representing the spiritual and political center of Israel. Teaching Points The Authority of God's WordRecognize that the messages delivered by prophets like Ezekiel are authoritative and divinely inspired. The Role of the Prophet Understand the prophet's role as a mouthpiece for God, calling people to repentance and faithfulness. God's Sovereignty and Justice Acknowledge God's sovereignty in delivering judgment and His justice in addressing the sins of His people. The Call to Repentance Reflect on the importance of repentance in response to God's word, as exemplified by the messages given to Israel. The Relevance of Old Testament Prophecy Consider how Old Testament prophecies remain relevant today, offering lessons on obedience, faith, and God's character. Bible Study Questions and Answers 1. What is the meaning of Ezekiel 22:17?2. How does Ezekiel 22:17 illustrate God's refining process for His people today? 3. What impurities in our lives might God be calling us to remove? 4. How can we apply the concept of refining to our spiritual growth? 5. What other scriptures discuss God's refining or purification of His people? 6. How can we support each other in spiritual refinement and growth? 7. What is the significance of the furnace imagery in Ezekiel 22:17-22? 8. How does Ezekiel 22:17 reflect God's judgment on Israel? 9. What historical events might Ezekiel 22:17 be referencing? 10. What are the top 10 Lessons from Ezekiel 22? 11. Why does God prohibit David from building the temple in 2 Samuel 7 yet allow Solomon to do so, raising questions of consistency in divine commands? 12. What are the Names and Titles of God? 13. Was the Word present at the beginning? 14. Why does 1 Chronicles 17:3-4 reverse Nathan's initial approval (17:2) for David to build the temple, and does this indicate an inconsistency? What Does Ezekiel 22:17 Mean ThenEzekiel signals a new moment in his ongoing vision. - The “then” ties directly to the previous indictment of Jerusalem’s sin (Ezekiel 22:1-16), showing God’s judgment message continues without pause. - It reminds us that God speaks in real history, step by step; His dealings with people are never random (cf. Exodus 12:12-13; Acts 17:26-27). - Each “then” in Scripture marks a deliberate divine intervention, such as “Then the LORD said to Noah” (Genesis 7:1) and “Then the LORD spoke to Moses” (Numbers 12:4). the word What arrives is not a vague impression but a concrete, authoritative word. - God reveals Himself through spoken, specific communication (Hebrews 4:12; Isaiah 55:11). - The word creates, convicts, and comforts—“By the word of the LORD the heavens were made” (Psalm 33:6). - Ezekiel’s entire ministry rests on this same phrase (Ezekiel 1:3; 6:1; 7:1), underscoring Scripture’s reliability. of the LORD The source determines the weight. - This is Yahweh, the covenant-keeping, self-existent One who declared, “I AM WHO I AM” (Exodus 3:14). - Because the word is “of the LORD,” it carries absolute authority (2 Timothy 3:16) and cannot be broken (John 10:35). - The message judges all human opinions; people do not stand over it—“The word of the Lord stands forever” (1 Peter 1:25). came to me God’s word arrives personally. - Ezekiel is singled out: “the hand of the LORD was upon him there” (Ezekiel 1:3). - Prophets are not volunteers; they are chosen vessels (Jeremiah 1:4-5; Acts 9:15). - Personal reception demands personal obedience. When the word comes, the listener must respond (James 1:22). saying, God intends His word to be spoken onward. - A divine message is given for proclamation, not privatization—“Whatever I tell you in the dark, speak in the light” (Matthew 10:27). - Prophetic speech carries both warning and hope (Amos 3:8; Revelation 1:11). - The “saying” prepares us for the severe refining illustration in verses 18-22, where the Lord compares Israel to dross in a furnace. summary Ezekiel 22:17 is more than a narrative transition; it affirms that at a specific moment, the living God delivered an authoritative, personal, and public word to His prophet. Every phrase underscores the trustworthiness of Scripture and the responsibility of God’s people to listen, obey, and relay His message. Hebrew Then the wordדְבַר־ (ḏə·ḇar-) Noun - masculine singular construct Strong's 1697: A word, a matter, thing, a cause of the LORD יְהוָ֖ה (Yah·weh) Noun - proper - masculine singular Strong's 3068: LORD -- the proper name of the God of Israel came וַיְהִ֥י (way·hî) Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular Strong's 1961: To fall out, come to pass, become, be to me, אֵלַ֥י (’ê·lay) Preposition | first person common singular Strong's 413: Near, with, among, to saying, לֵאמֹֽר׃ (lê·mōr) Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct Strong's 559: To utter, say Links Ezekiel 22:17 NIVEzekiel 22:17 NLT Ezekiel 22:17 ESV Ezekiel 22:17 NASB Ezekiel 22:17 KJV Ezekiel 22:17 BibleApps.com Ezekiel 22:17 Biblia Paralela Ezekiel 22:17 Chinese Bible Ezekiel 22:17 French Bible Ezekiel 22:17 Catholic Bible OT Prophets: Ezekiel 22:17 The word of Yahweh came to me (Ezek. Eze Ezk) |