What is the meaning of Ezekiel 20:2? Then • This adverb links directly back to Ezekiel 20:1, where Israel’s elders have just come to inquire of the prophet. God waits until their approach is complete—and “then” He answers. • Similar moments of divine timing reinforce the pattern: “After ten days the word of the LORD came to Jeremiah” (Jeremiah 42:7); “Then the LORD sent Nathan to David” (2 Samuel 12:1). God responds at precisely the right moment, underscoring His sovereign control of events. the word • What reaches Ezekiel is not a feeling or intuition but a clear, verbal revelation—“the word.” Scripture celebrates the power of that spoken word: “So is My word that goes out from My mouth; it will not return to Me empty” (Isaiah 55:11). • Hebrews reminds us that “the word of God is living and active” (Hebrews 4:12). God speaks with intent—to create, correct, and call His people back. of the LORD • The source is unmistakable: Yahweh Himself. This divine origin guarantees truth and authority. As Peter says, “Men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit” (2 Peter 1:21). • Paul echoes the same conviction: “You accepted it…as it truly is, the word of God” (1 Thessalonians 2:13). When Ezekiel hears, he hears the Creator, covenant-Keeper, and Judge. came • The verb stresses initiative. Ezekiel does not seek a private revelation; God seeks him. “The word of the LORD came to Abram in a vision” (Genesis 15:1); “The word of the LORD came to Jonah” (Jonah 1:1). • Whether by vision, voice, or inner prompting, God bridges the gap, proving He is not silent but actively pursuing His people. to me • Revelation is personal. The Almighty singles out Ezekiel—just as He once did Jeremiah (“The word of the LORD came to me,” Jeremiah 1:4) and Amos (Amos 7:14-15). • This personal address commissions Ezekiel as a faithful mouthpiece, reminding every believer that God knows each servant by name. saying • The participle forecasts content. God is about to speak words that will expose sin, recount history, and announce both judgment and hope (the remainder of chapter 20). • Similar openings occur throughout Scripture: “The word that came to Jeremiah from the LORD, saying…” (Jeremiah 30:1-2); “To the angel of the church in Ephesus write: These are the words…” (Revelation 2:1). Each instance prepares the listener for unmistakable divine instruction. summary Ezekiel 20:2 is more than a narrative placeholder; it is a loaded announcement that God Himself is stepping into the moment. By timing (“Then”), by medium (“the word”), by source (“of the LORD”), by action (“came”), by recipient (“to me”), and by purpose (“saying”), the verse assures us that what follows carries absolute authority and personal urgency. God still speaks with perfect timing, unassailable truth, and intimate knowledge of His servants—calling His people to listen, repent, and obey. |
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