Ezekiel 5:1 NIV

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Ezekiel 5:1-4

We have here the sign by which the utter destruction of Jerusalem is set forth; and here, as before, the prophet is himself the sign, that the people might see how much he affected himself with, and interested himself in, the case of Jerusalem, and how it lay to his heart, even when he foretold the desolations of it. He was so much concerned about it as to take what was done to it as done to himself, so far was he from desiring the woeful day. I. He must shave off the hair of his head and... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Ezekiel 5:1

And thou, son of man, take thee a sharp knife ,.... Or, "sword" F13 חרב "gladium", V. L. Pagninus, Montanus, Junius & Tremellius, Polanus, Starckius. . The word signifies any sharp instrument, by which anything is cut off, or cut asunder; what is here meant is explained by the following: take thee a barber's razor . The Septuagint and Arabic versions read this in conjunction with the former, thus, "take thee a knife", or "sword, sharper than a barber's razor"; and so the... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Ezekiel 5:1-4

Take thee a sharp knife - Among the Israelites, and indeed among most ancient nations, there were very few edge-tools. The sword was the chief; and this was used as a knife, a razor, etc., according to its different length and sharpness. It is likely that only one kind of instrument is here intended; a knife or short sword, to be employed as a razor. Here is a new emblem produced, in order to mark out the coming evils. The prophet represents the Jewish nation. His hair, the people. ... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Ezekiel 5:1

Verse 1 By another vision God confirms what he had lately taught concerning the siege of Jerusalem. For he orders the Prophet to shave the hairs off his head and his beard, then to distribute them into three parts, and to weigh them in a balance. He mentions a just balance, that equity may be preserved, and that one portion may not surpass another. There is no doubt that by the hairs he understands the inhabitants of Jerusalem, as by the head he understands the seat itself of their... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Ezekiel 5:1

Take thee a barber's razor, etc. The series of symbolic acts is carried further. Recollections of Isaiah and Leviticus mingle strangely in the prophet's mind. The former had made the "razor" the symbol of the devastation wrought by an invading army ( Isaiah 7:20 ). The latter had forbidden its use for the head and beard of the priests (Le Leviticus 19:27 ; Leviticus 21:5 ). Once again Ezekiel is commanded to do a forbidden thing as a symbolic act. He is, for the moment, the... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Ezekiel 5:1-4

A barber's razor. The coming siege and destruction of Jerusalem are described under the image of the prophet shaving his head and then disposing of his hair in various ways. The razor stands for the Divine judgment, the hair for the people, the different treatment of the hair for the difference in the doom of the people. I. DIVINE JUDGMENT IS KEEN AS A RAZOR . Some judgments crush, others cut. The latter do not dispose of their victims at a blow. More is reserved for the... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Ezekiel 5:1-4

The prophetic office involves self-sacrifice. The prophet in every age has to be himself a sign. It is not so much what he says, not so much what he does, but what he is, that impresses others. In this enterprise character is everything. Ezekiel was a servant of God to the very core. He completely identified himself with the nation. Its misery became his misery. Thus he became a type and symbol of the Saviour; and, in his measure, suffered vicariously for the people. I. THE ... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Ezekiel 5:1-4

The sword of the Divine judgment. "And thou, son of man, take thee a sharp knife, take thee a barber's razor," etc. In this paragraph the prophet represents both Jehovah and the people. In taking the sharp sword he represents the former; and in having his hair shaved off, the latter. Notice— I. THE EXERCISE OF THE DIVINE JUDGMENT . "And thou, son of man, take thee a sharp sword, as a barber's razor thou shalt take it, and cause it to pass upon thy head and upon thy beard."... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Ezekiel 5:1

Translate it: take thee a sharp sword, for a barber’s razor thou shalt take it thee. Even if the action were literal, the use of an actual sword would best enforce the symbolic meaning. The “head” represents the chief city, the “hair” the inhabitants - its ornament and glory - the “hair cut from the head” the exiles cast forth from their homes. It adds to the force of the representation that “to shave the head” was a token of mourning Job 1:20, and was forbidden to the priests Leviticus 21:5.... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Ezekiel 5:1

Ezekiel 5:1. Take thee a sharp knife, take thee a barber’s razor The latter expression explains the former; and cause it to pass upon thy head, &c. Hair being then accounted an ornament, and baldness a token of sorrow, therefore shaving denoted calamity or desolation. “Among the Arabs,” says Harmer, chap. 6. observ. 23, “there cannot be a greater stamp of infamy than to cut off any one’s beard: and many among them would prefer death to this kind of punishment. And as they would think... read more

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Ezekiel 5:1-4

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Ezekiel 5:1

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Ezekiel 5:1-4

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Ezekiel 5:1

The Pulpit Commentary - Ezekiel 5:1

The Pulpit Commentary - Ezekiel 5:1-4

The Pulpit Commentary - Ezekiel 5:1-4

The Pulpit Commentary - Ezekiel 5:1-4

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Ezekiel 5:1

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Ezekiel 5:1

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