What is the meaning of Ezekiel 24:15? Then The simple adverb “Then” anchors verse 15 in a real moment of time. • It looks back to verse 1, where the precise date—“the ninth year, the tenth month, on the tenth day”—is recorded, reminding us that God’s revelations happen on the calendar of history (cf. Luke 3:1). • It follows immediately after the parable of the boiling pot (vv. 3-14), showing that God does not leave His warnings hanging; He moves straight to the next word when His people need it (compare Jeremiah 37:6-7, which likewise begins, “Then the word of the LORD came…”). • It signals urgency. No pause, no delay—just as Jesus moved “then” from teaching to healing (Matthew 8:13-14), the Lord presses Ezekiel into the next prophetic act without hesitation. the word of the LORD Here is the heart of the verse: what follows is not Ezekiel’s idea but God’s own speech. • The phrase carries absolute authority, exactly as in Genesis 15:1 and Isaiah 38:4. • Scripture never speaks of “a” word but “the” word; it is singular, definitive, and inerrant (Psalm 18:30; John 17:17). • Every time Ezekiel uses it (more than fifty times), the reader is reminded that God’s words, once spoken, cannot fail (Numbers 23:19). came to me God’s word travels, so to speak, to a specific person. • This underscores God’s gracious initiative: Ezekiel does not climb to heaven; heaven stoops to him (Ezekiel 1:3; cf. Revelation 1:1). • It personalizes the message. The Lord entrusts His prophet with news that will shatter Ezekiel’s own life (vv. 16-18), just as Hosea was called into a painful marriage for the sake of God’s people (Hosea 1:2-3). • It reminds us that revelation is relational; God speaks to people so they can speak to others (2 Peter 1:21; Acts 4:20). saying, The comma hints that the sentence is only beginning; verse 15 is a doorway into the dramatic sign-act that follows. • What God will “say” next involves the sudden death of Ezekiel’s wife, making the prophet a living lesson (vv. 16-24). • The word “saying” points to content and purpose, just as in Genesis 1:3—when God speaks, something happens. • Every divine “saying” demands a human response: belief, obedience, or, tragically, rebellion (Deuteronomy 30:19; James 1:22-24). summary Ezekiel 24:15 may look like a simple introductory line, yet every part is loaded with meaning. “Then” roots the verse in real time; “the word of the LORD” declares infallible authority; “came to me” shows God’s personal, gracious initiative; and “saying,” prepares us for a weighty message. Before we ever read what God will say, the verse itself reminds us that His timing is perfect, His voice is sovereign, His approach is intimate, and His words demand our full attention and obedience. |
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