Ezekiel 24:1-27
A Boiling Pot
Read the passage
1In the ninth year, on the tenth day of the tenth month, the word of the LORD came to me, saying,
2“Son of man, write down today’s date, for on this very day the king of Babylon has laid siege to Jerusalem.
3Now speak a parable to this rebellious house and tell them that this is what the Lord GOD says: ‘Put the pot on the fire; put it on and pour in the water.
4Put in the pieces of meat, every good piece—thigh and shoulder—fill it with choice bones.
5Take the choicest of the flock and pile the fuel beneath it. Bring it to a boil and cook the bones in it.’
6Therefore this is what the Lord GOD says: ‘Woe to the city of bloodshed, to the pot now rusted, whose rust will not come off! Empty it piece by piece; cast no lots for its contents.
7For the blood she shed is still within her; she poured it out on the bare rock; she did not pour it on the ground to cover it with dust.
8In order to stir up wrath and take vengeance, I have placed her blood on the bare rock, so that it would not be covered.’
9Yes, this is what the Lord GOD says: ‘Woe to the city of bloodshed! I, too, will pile the kindling high.
10Pile on the logs and kindle the fire; cook the meat well and mix in the spices; let the bones be burned.
11Set the empty pot on its coals until it becomes hot and its copper glows. Then its impurity will melt within; its rust will be consumed.
12It has frustrated every effort; its thick rust has not been removed, even by the fire.
13Because of the indecency of your uncleanness I tried to cleanse you, but you would not be purified from your filthiness. You will not be pure again until My wrath against you has subsided.
14I, the LORD, have spoken; the time is coming, and I will act. I will not refrain or show pity, nor will I relent. I will judge you according to your ways and deeds,’ declares the Lord GOD.”
15Then the word of the LORD came to me, saying,
16“Son of man, behold, I am about to take away the desire of your eyes with a fatal blow. But you must not mourn or weep or let your tears flow.
17Groan quietly; do not mourn for the dead. Put on your turban and strap your sandals on your feet; do not cover your lips or eat the bread of mourners.”
18So I spoke to the people in the morning, and in the evening my wife died. And the next morning I did as I had been commanded.
19Then the people asked me, “Won’t you tell us what these things you are doing mean to us?”
20So I answered them, “The word of the LORD came to me, saying:
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.
24‘Thus Ezekiel will be a sign for you; you will do everything that he has done. When this happens, you will know that I am the Lord GOD.’
25And you, son of man, know that on the day I take away their stronghold, their pride and joy—the desire of their eyes which uplifted their souls—and their sons and daughters as well,
26on that day a fugitive will come and tell you the news.
27On that day your mouth will be opened to him who has escaped; you will speak and no longer be mute. So you will be a sign to them, and they will know that I am the LORD.”
Berean Standard Bible
Read aloud
On the very day Babylon begins its siege of Jerusalem, God tells Ezekiel to write down the date and speak a parable. A pot is to be filled with water, choice meat, and bones and brought to a boil. The date marks the arrival of the disaster Ezekiel has been warning about.
Jerusalem is the rusted pot, a city of bloodshed whose impurity will not come off. Its contents must be emptied piece by piece, and the empty pot heated until its copper glows. But even the fire has not removed its thick rust. God says He tried to cleanse the city, but it would not be purified. Now He will act according to its ways and deeds.
God then tells Ezekiel that He is about to take away the desire of his eyes with a fatal blow. Ezekiel must groan quietly, without the usual outward mourning: he is to keep his turban and sandals on, leave his lips uncovered, and not eat the bread of mourners. He speaks to the people that morning. His wife dies in the evening, and the next morning he does as commanded.
When the people ask what this means for them, Ezekiel explains that God will desecrate His sanctuary, the delight of their eyes. Their sons and daughters left in Jerusalem will fall by the sword. They too will forgo the usual mourning, groaning among themselves and wasting away because of their sins.
A fugitive will come with news of the loss. Then Ezekiel’s mouth will be opened, and he will no longer be mute. Through both his grief and his speech, he will be a sign to the people, and they will know that the LORD is God.
Questions
1 When did the LORD give the sign of the pot?
AnswerHe gave it on the day Babylon began the siege of Jerusalem.
2 What did the pot represent?
AnswerThe pot represented Jerusalem under judgment.
3 What happened to Ezekiel's wife?
AnswerShe died in the evening, and Ezekiel followed God's instructions about how to respond.
4 What would the temple be to the people?
AnswerIt would be profaned even though it was the delight of their eyes.
What This Means for Us
This sign should not be used to tell grieving people that their sorrow is faithless. Ezekiel's private loss serves a unique prophetic purpose during Jerusalem's final crisis.
The boiling pot confronts the fantasy that cherished things are automatically safe. Grieve what is precious, receive help when loss comes, and let sober warnings move us toward compassion rather than speculation.
Prayer
LORD, be near to those who face sudden loss. Give us compassion for grief, wisdom with difficult warnings, and courage to confront the false security that keeps us from repentance and care. Amen.
Your reading
Keep your place.
Save this passage to your private reading history.
Sign in to save your reading