Ezekiel 24:22
New International Version
And you will do as I have done. You will not cover your mustache and beard or eat the customary food of mourners.

New Living Translation
Then you will do as Ezekiel has done. You will not mourn in public or console yourselves by eating the food brought by friends.

English Standard Version
And you shall do as I have done; you shall not cover your lips, nor eat the bread of men.

Berean Standard Bible
Then you will do as I have done: You will not cover your lips or eat the bread of mourners.

King James Bible
And ye shall do as I have done: ye shall not cover your lips, nor eat the bread of men.

New King James Version
And you shall do as I have done; you shall not cover your lips nor eat man’s bread of sorrow.

New American Standard Bible
And you will do just as I have done; you will not cover your mustache, and you will not eat the bread of other people.

NASB 1995
You will do as I have done; you will not cover your mustache and you will not eat the bread of men.

NASB 1977
‘And you will do as I have done; you will not cover your mustache, and you will not eat the bread of men.

Legacy Standard Bible
And you will do as I have done; you will not cover your mustache, and you will not eat the bread of men.

Amplified Bible
You will do as I [Ezekiel] have done; you shall not cover your mustache nor eat the bread of [mourning brought to you by other] men.

Christian Standard Bible
Then you will do just as I have done: You will not cover your mustache or eat the bread of mourners.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Then you will do just as I have done: You will not cover your mustache or eat the bread of mourners.

American Standard Version
And ye shall do as I have done: ye shall not cover your lips, nor eat the bread of men.

Contemporary English Version
Then you will do the same things I have done. You will leave your face uncovered and refuse to eat the food that mourners usually eat.

English Revised Version
And ye shall do as I have done: ye shall not cover your lips, nor eat the bread of men.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Then you must do as I did. Don't cover your faces or eat the food that mourners eat.

Good News Translation
Then you will do what I have done. You will not cover your faces or eat the food that mourners eat.

International Standard Version
That's why you will soon be doing what I've just done. You are not to cover your mouth or eat what your comforters bring to you.

Majority Standard Bible
Then you will do as I have done: You will not cover your lips or eat the bread of mourners.

NET Bible
Then you will do as I have done: You will not cover your lip or eat food brought by others.

New Heart English Bible
You shall do as I have done: you shall not cover your lips, nor eat the bread of men.

Webster's Bible Translation
And ye shall do as I have done: ye shall not cover your lips, nor eat the bread of men.

World English Bible
You will do as I have done. You won’t cover your lips or eat mourner’s bread.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
And you have done as I have done, "" You have not covered over the upper lip, "" And you do not eat [the] bread of men.

Young's Literal Translation
And ye have done as I have done, On the upper lip ye are not covered, And bread of men ye do not eat.

Smith's Literal Translation
And ye did as I did: ye shall not cover over your mustachios, and the bread of men ye shall not eat.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
And you shall do as I have done: you shall not cover your faces, nor shall you eat the meat of mourners.

Catholic Public Domain Version
And so, you shall do just as I have done. You shall not cover your faces, and you shall not eat the food of those who mourn.

New American Bible
Then you shall do as I have done, not covering your beards nor eating the bread of mourning.

New Revised Standard Version
And you shall do as I have done; you shall not cover your upper lip or eat the bread of mourners.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
And you shall do as I have done; you shall not cover your lips nor shall you eat the bread provided for mourners.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And you shall do as I have done, and you shall cover your lips, and the bread of the children of men you shall not eat
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
And ye shall do as I have done: ye shall not cover your upper lips, nor eat the bread of men;

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And ye shall do as I have done: ye shall not be comforted at their mouth, and ye shall not eat the bread of men.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Ezekiel's Wife Dies
21Tell the house of Israel that this is what the Lord GOD says: ‘I am about to desecrate My sanctuary, the pride of your power, the desire of your eyes, and the delight of your soul. And the sons and daughters you left behind will fall by the sword.’ 22Then you will do as I have done: You will not cover your lips or eat the bread of mourners. 23Your turbans will remain on your heads and your sandals on your feet. You will not mourn or weep, but you will waste away because of your sins, and you will groan among yourselves.…

Cross References
Jeremiah 16:6-7
“Both great and small will die in this land. They will not be buried or mourned, nor will anyone cut himself or shave his head for them. / No food will be offered to comfort those who mourn the dead; not even a cup of consolation will be given for the loss of a father or mother.

Leviticus 10:6-7
Then Moses said to Aaron and his sons Eleazar and Ithamar, “Do not let your hair become disheveled and do not tear your garments, or else you will die, and the LORD will be angry with the whole congregation. But your brothers, the whole house of Israel, may mourn on account of the fire that the LORD has ignited. / You shall not go outside the entrance to the Tent of Meeting, or you will die, for the LORD’s anointing oil is on you.” So they did as Moses instructed.

2 Samuel 15:30
But David continued up the Mount of Olives, weeping as he went up. His head was covered, and he was walking barefoot. And all the people with him covered their heads and went up, weeping as they went.

Isaiah 20:2-4
the LORD had already spoken through Isaiah son of Amoz, saying, “Go, remove the sackcloth from your waist and the sandals from your feet.” And Isaiah did so, walking around naked and barefoot. / Then the LORD said, “Just as My servant Isaiah has gone naked and barefoot for three years as a sign and omen against Egypt and Cush, / so the king of Assyria will lead away the captives of Egypt and the exiles of Cush, young and old alike, naked and barefoot, with bared buttocks—to Egypt’s shame.

Jeremiah 47:5
The people of Gaza will shave their heads in mourning; Ashkelon will be silenced. O remnant of their valley, how long will you gash yourself?

Micah 1:8
Because of this I will lament and wail; I will walk barefoot and naked. I will howl like a jackal and mourn like an ostrich.

Amos 8:10
I will turn your feasts into mourning and all your songs into lamentation. I will cause everyone to wear sackcloth and every head to be shaved. I will make it like a time of mourning for an only son, and its outcome like a bitter day.

Job 1:20
Then Job stood up, tore his robe, and shaved his head. He fell to the ground and worshiped,

Lamentations 2:10
The elders of the Daughter of Zion sit on the ground in silence. They have thrown dust on their heads and put on sackcloth. The young women of Jerusalem have bowed their heads to the ground.

1 Corinthians 7:29-31
What I am saying, brothers, is that the time is short. From now on those who have wives should live as if they had none; / those who weep, as if they did not; those who are joyful, as if they were not; those who make a purchase, as if they had nothing; / and those who use the things of this world, as if not dependent on them. For this world in its present form is passing away.

Matthew 24:17-18
Let no one on the housetop come down to retrieve anything from his house. / And let no one in the field return for his cloak.

Luke 17:31-32
On that day, let no one on the housetop come down to retrieve his possessions. Likewise, let no one in the field return for anything he has left behind. / Remember Lot’s wife!

1 Thessalonians 4:13
Brothers, we do not want you to be uninformed about those who sleep in death, so that you will not grieve like the rest, who are without hope.

John 16:20
Truly, truly, I tell you, you will weep and wail while the world rejoices. You will grieve, but your grief will turn to joy.

Revelation 18:19
Then they will throw dust on their heads as they weep and mourn and cry out: “Woe, woe to the great city, where all who had ships on the sea were enriched by her wealth! For in a single hour she has been destroyed.”


Treasury of Scripture

And you shall do as I have done: you shall not cover your lips, nor eat the bread of men.

Ezekiel 24:16,17
Son of man, behold, I take away from thee the desire of thine eyes with a stroke: yet neither shalt thou mourn nor weep, neither shall thy tears run down…

Job 27:15
Those that remain of him shall be buried in death: and his widows shall not weep.

Psalm 78:64
Their priests fell by the sword; and their widows made no lamentation.

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Beard Bread Cover Covered Covering Customary Eat Face Food Grief Lips Mourners Mustache Part Upper
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Beard Bread Cover Covered Covering Customary Eat Face Food Grief Lips Mourners Mustache Part Upper
Ezekiel 24
1. Under the parable of a boiling pot
6. is shown the irrevocable destruction of Jerusalem
15. By the sign of Ezekiel not mourning for the death of his wife
19. is shown the calamity of the Jews to be beyond all sorrow














Then you will do as I have done:
This phrase refers to the actions of Ezekiel, who was commanded by God to act as a sign to the people of Israel. Ezekiel's actions were often symbolic, serving as a living parable to convey God's messages. In this context, God instructed Ezekiel not to mourn publicly for his deceased wife, symbolizing the coming judgment on Jerusalem and the Temple, where traditional mourning would be inappropriate due to the severity of the calamity. This reflects the prophetic role of Ezekiel, where his life and actions were used to communicate divine truths.

You will not cover your lips:
Covering the lips was a traditional mourning practice in ancient Near Eastern cultures, including Israel. It involved covering the lower part of the face as a sign of grief and respect for the dead. By instructing the people not to cover their lips, God was indicating that the destruction of Jerusalem would be so overwhelming that traditional expressions of mourning would be inadequate. This command underscores the depth of the impending judgment and the need for the people to recognize the seriousness of their situation.

or eat the bread of mourners:
The "bread of mourners" refers to the food provided to those in mourning, often by friends and family, as a means of support and comfort. This practice is mentioned in other parts of the Bible, such as Hosea 9:4, where it is associated with impurity. By prohibiting the consumption of this bread, God was emphasizing that the coming disaster would leave no room for customary mourning rituals. This also highlights the theme of divine judgment, where normal life and its comforts are disrupted. The absence of mourning practices points to the totality of the loss and the need for repentance rather than ritual.

Persons / Places / Events
1. Ezekiel
A prophet of God, called to deliver messages of judgment and hope to the Israelites during their Babylonian exile.

2. Israelites
The people of God who are in exile due to their disobedience and idolatry.

3. Babylonian Exile
The period when the Israelites were taken captive by Babylon, serving as a backdrop for Ezekiel's prophecies.

4. Jerusalem
The city whose impending destruction is being prophesied by Ezekiel.

5. God
The sovereign Lord who communicates His will and judgment through the prophet Ezekiel.
Teaching Points
Understanding Divine Judgment
God's instructions to Ezekiel symbolize the severity of His judgment. The absence of traditional mourning signifies the depth of the calamity that has befallen Jerusalem.

Obedience in Difficult Times
Ezekiel's actions demonstrate obedience to God even when it defies cultural norms. Believers are called to prioritize God's commands over societal expectations.

The Role of a Prophet
Ezekiel's life serves as a living message to the people. Christians are reminded that their lives should reflect God's truth and serve as a testimony to others.

Hope Beyond Judgment
While the immediate context is one of judgment, the broader account of Ezekiel includes promises of restoration. Believers can find hope in God's ultimate plan for redemption.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
Then you will do
וַעֲשִׂיתֶ֖ם (wa·‘ă·śî·ṯem)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - second person masculine plural
Strong's 6213: To do, make

as
כַּאֲשֶׁ֣ר (ka·’ă·šer)
Preposition-k | Pronoun - relative
Strong's 834: Who, which, what, that, when, where, how, because, in order that

I have done:
עָשִׂ֑יתִי (‘ā·śî·ṯî)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - first person common singular
Strong's 6213: To do, make

You will not
לֹ֣א (lō)
Adverb - Negative particle
Strong's 3808: Not, no

cover
תַעְט֔וּ (ṯa‘·ṭū)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine plural
Strong's 5844: To wrap oneself, enwrap, envelop oneself

[your] lips
שָׂפָם֙ (śā·p̄ām)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 8222: The beard

or eat
תֹאכֵֽלוּ׃ (ṯō·ḵê·lū)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine plural
Strong's 398: To eat

the bread
וְלֶ֥חֶם (wə·le·ḥem)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 3899: Food, bread, grain

of mourners.
אֲנָשִׁ֖ים (’ă·nā·šîm)
Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 376: A man as an individual, a male person


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OT Prophets: Ezekiel 24:22 You shall do as I have done: (Ezek. Eze Ezk)
Ezekiel 24:21
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