Ezekiel 24: Ezekiel Becomes a Sign

In the ninth year, in the tenth month, on the tenth day, God told Ezekiel to write down the name of the day, because the king of Babylon drew close to Jerusalem that very day. God gave Ezekiel a parable about a cooking pot set on the fire, a picture of Jerusalem under siege, whose rust would not come off. Then God told Ezekiel that he would take away the desire of his eyes, his dear wife, but that Ezekiel should not mourn in the usual public way. Ezekiel spoke to the people in the morning, and in the evening his wife died. The next morning he did as he was commanded. When the people asked what this meant, Ezekiel told them that God would take away the temple, the desire of their eyes, and that they would be too stunned to mourn in the usual way. Ezekiel would be a sign to them. When a survivor came with the news, Ezekiel's mouth would be opened, and they would know that God is Yahweh.

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Read Ezekiel 24

World English Bible · 27 verses

¹ Again, in the ninth year, in the tenth month, in the tenth day of the month, Yahweh’s word came to me, saying,This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
² “Son of man, write the name of the day, this same day. The king of Babylon drew close to Jerusalem this same day.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
³ Utter a parable to the rebellious house, and tell them, ‘The Lord Yahweh says, “Put the cauldron on the fire. Put it on, and also pour water into it.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
⁴ Gather its pieces into it, even every good piece: the thigh and the shoulder. Fill it with the choice bones.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
⁵ Take the choice of the flock, and also a pile of wood for the bones under the cauldron. Make it boil well. Yes, let its bones be boiled within it.”This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
⁶ “‘Therefore the Lord Yahweh says: “Woe to the bloody city, to the cauldron whose rust is in it, and whose rust hasn’t gone out of it! Take out of it piece after piece without casting lots for it.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
⁷ “‘“For the blood she shed is in the middle of her. She set it on the bare rock. She didn’t pour it on the ground, to cover it with dust.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
⁸ That it may cause wrath to come up to take vengeance, I have set her blood on the bare rock, that it should not be covered.”This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
⁹ “‘Therefore the Lord Yahweh says: “Woe to the bloody city! I also will make the pile great.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
¹⁰ Heap on the wood. Make the fire hot. Boil the meat well. Make the broth thick, and let the bones be burned.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
¹¹ Then set it empty on its coals, that it may be hot, and its bronze may burn, and that its filthiness may be molten in it, that its rust may be consumed.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
¹² She is weary with toil; yet her great rust, rust by fire, doesn’t leave her.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
¹³ “‘“In your filthiness is lewdness. Because I have cleansed you and you weren’t cleansed, you won’t be cleansed from your filthiness any more, until I have caused my wrath toward you to rest.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
¹⁴ “‘“I, Yahweh, have spoken it. It will happen, and I will do it. I won’t go back. I won’t spare. I won’t repent. According to your ways and according to your doings, they will judge you,” says the Lord Yahweh.’”This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
¹⁵ Also Yahweh’s word came to me, saying,This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
¹⁶ “Son of man, behold, I will take away from you the desire of your eyes with one stroke; yet you shall neither mourn nor weep, neither shall your tears run down.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
¹⁷ Sigh, but not aloud. Make no mourning for the dead. Bind your headdress on you, and put your sandals on your feet. Don’t cover your lips, and don’t eat mourner’s bread.”This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
¹⁸ So I spoke to the people in the morning, and at evening my wife died. So I did in the morning as I was commanded.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
¹⁹ The people asked me, “Won’t you tell us what these things mean to us, that you act like this?”This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
²⁰ Then I said to them, “Yahweh’s word came to me, saying,This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
²¹ ‘Speak to the house of Israel, “The Lord Yahweh says: ‘Behold, I will profane my sanctuary, the pride of your power, the desire of your eyes, and that which your soul pities; and your sons and your daughters whom you have left behind will fall by the sword.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
²² You will do as I have done. You won’t cover your lips or eat mourner’s bread.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
²³ Your turbans will be on your heads, and your sandals on your feet. You won’t mourn or weep; but you will pine away in your iniquities, and moan one toward another.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
²⁴ Thus Ezekiel will be a sign to you; according to all that he has done, you will do. When this comes, then you will know that I am the Lord Yahweh.’”’”This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
²⁵ “You, son of man, shouldn’t it be in the day when I take from them their strength, the joy of their glory, the desire of their eyes, and that whereupon they set their heart—their sons and their daughters—This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
²⁶ that in that day he who escapes will come to you, to cause you to hear it with your ears?This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
²⁷ In that day your mouth will be opened to him who has escaped, and you will speak and be no more mute. So you will be a sign to them. Then they will know that I am Yahweh.”This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.

Scripture: World English Bible, public domain, eBible.org

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Ezekiel 24 · Preschool

Write Down the Day

Name Date

Color Ezekiel writing. God knows every day!

Can you find these in the picture? Circle each one!

Bible Verse

“Son of man, write the name of the day, this same day. The king of Babylon drew close to Jerusalem this same day.

Ezekiel 24:2 (WEB)

Prayer

Thank You, God, for making me!

Take It Home

Read the verse aloud. Say: God told Ezekiel to write down the day. On that day, an army came near Jerusalem. God knew exactly what was happening, even far away. God knows every day of our lives too. Let's thank God for always knowing and caring.

Open Grade 4 on its own page

Ezekiel 24 · Grade 4

The Desire of Your Eyes

Name Date

Read and Think

In the ninth year, in the tenth month, on the tenth day, God told Ezekiel to write down the name of the day. The king of Babylon had drawn close to Jerusalem that very day. Ezekiel was hundreds of miles away in Babylon, but God knew exactly what was happening.

God gave a parable about a pot on the fire. Jerusalem was like a pot whose rust would not come off, a picture of a city that would not be cleansed of its sin. Then God told Ezekiel that he would take away the desire of his eyes, his beloved wife. Ezekiel was not to mourn in the usual public way. He spoke to the people in the morning, and in the evening his wife died. The next morning he obeyed.

The people asked what his actions meant. Ezekiel explained that God would take away the temple, the desire of their eyes. When it fell, they would be too stunned to mourn in the usual way. Ezekiel would be a sign to them. When a survivor came with the news, his mouth would be opened, and they would know that God is Yahweh.

Show What You Know

Why did God tell Ezekiel to write down the name of the day?
What did the rusty pot picture?
What was the desire of the people's eyes?
What would happen when the survivor came?

Word Bank Fill-In

Use the word bank to fill in each blank.

Godrusteyestenthfire

In the ninth year, in the month, on the tenth day, God told Ezekiel to write down the name of the day.
Ezekiel was hundreds of miles away in Babylon, but knew exactly what was happening.
God gave a parable about a pot on the .
Jerusalem was like a pot whose would not come off, a picture of a city that would not be cleansed of its sin.
Then God told Ezekiel that he would take away the desire of his , his beloved wife.

Think About It

Ezekiel obeyed God even in a time of deep sorrow. How can God help people when they lose someone they love?
God knew what was happening in Jerusalem while Ezekiel was far away. How does it comfort you that God sees everything that happens?

Memory Verse

Thus Ezekiel will be a sign to you; according to all that he has done, you will do. When this comes, then you will know that I am the Lord Yahweh.’”’”

Ezekiel 24:24 (WEB)

Copy It

Prayer

Dear God, thank You for comfort in sad times. Help me . Amen.

Take It Home

For families: talk about these together.

Why did Ezekiel not mourn in the usual way?
When is it hard for you to obey God?

Open Grade 5 on its own page

Ezekiel 24 · Grade 5

A Sign in Sorrow

Name Date

Read and Think

Ezekiel 24 marks a turning point in the book. In the ninth year, on the tenth day of the tenth month, God told Ezekiel to write the name of the day, this same day. The king of Babylon drew close to Jerusalem this same day. From exile, Ezekiel recorded what God revealed hundreds of miles away.

God then gave a parable of a cooking pot. The choice pieces of meat inside recalled the leaders' earlier boast in chapter 11 that they were the meat, safe in the cauldron. But the pot was rusty, and its rust would not leave it even under fire. God said he had tried to cleanse Jerusalem, and she would not be cleansed. The siege would expose the corruption that repeated warnings had failed to remove.

The most personal moment in the book follows. God told Ezekiel he would take away the desire of his eyes, his wife, and that Ezekiel must not mourn in the customary public ways. So I spoke to the people in the morning, and at evening my wife died. Ezekiel's grief was real; God permitted him to sigh, but not aloud. His restraint became a sign. The temple, the desire of the people's eyes, would fall, and their shock would be too deep for ordinary mourning. In the New Testament, 2 Corinthians 1:4 says God comforts us in all our affliction, that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction.

Show What You Know

Why was writing down the date significant?
How does the pot parable connect to chapter 11?
What did Ezekiel's restrained mourning signify?
What New Testament verse speaks of God comforting us in affliction?

Crossword

Across

Put the ____ on the fire

Down

Yahweh’s ____ came to me
So you will be a ____ to them

Think About It

Ezekiel's ministry cost him deeply. What does his obedience in grief teach about trusting God in hard times?
God allowed Ezekiel to sigh quietly. Why is it important to know that God sees our sorrow?

Memory Verse

Thus Ezekiel will be a sign to you; according to all that he has done, you will do. When this comes, then you will know that I am the Lord Yahweh.’”’”

Ezekiel 24:24 (WEB)

Copy It

Prayer

Dear God, thank You for comfort in sad times. Help me . Amen.

Take It Home

For families: talk about these together.

How can your hard times help others?
How does 2 Corinthians 1:4 connect to Ezekiel 24?
What is one way you could live out this chapter this week?

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Ezekiel 24: Ezekiel Becomes a Sign

Read Ezekiel 24

Worksheets

Write Down the Day

Prayer

Take It Home

God Knows the Day

Trace the Words

Match the Pictures

Mini Maze

Draw It

Prayer

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Remember This Day

Trace the Words

Match the Pictures

Ezekiel Becomes a Sign

Prayer

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A Very Sad Day

Read the Story

Show What You Know

Word Search

Prayer

Take It Home

A Sign for the People

Read the Story

Answer the Questions

Ezekiel Becomes a Sign

Word Search

Prayer

Take It Home

The Desire of Your Eyes

Read and Think

Show What You Know

Word Bank Fill-In

Think About It

Copy It

Prayer

Take It Home

A Sign in Sorrow

Read and Think

Show What You Know

Crossword

Think About It

Copy It

Prayer

Take It Home

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