Ezekiel 4:1 NIV

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Ezekiel 4:1-8

The prophet is here ordered to represent to himself and others by signs which would be proper and powerful to strike the fancy and to affect the mind, the siege of Jerusalem; and this amounted to a prediction. I. He was ordered to engrave a draught of Jerusalem upon a tile, Ezek. 4:1. It was Jerusalem's honour that while she kept her integrity God had graven her upon the palms of his hands (Isa. 49:16), and the names of the tribes were engraven in precious stones on the breast-plate of the... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Ezekiel 4:1

Thou also, son of man, take thee a tile ,.... Or "brick" F26 לבנה "laterem", V. L. Pagninus, Montanus, Junius & Tremellius, Polanus. Piscator. . The Targum renders it, a "stone"; but a tile or brick, especially one that is not dried and burned, but green, is more fit to cut in it the figure of a city. Some think that this was ordered because cities are built of brick; or to show the weakness of the city of Jerusalem, how easily it might be demolished; and Jerom thinks there was... read more

Adam Clarke

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

Take thee a tile - A tile, such as we use in covering houses, will give us but a very inadequate notion of those used anciently; and also appear very insufficient for the figures which the prophet was commanded to pourtray on it. A brick is most undoubtedly meant; yet, even the larger dimensions here, as to thickness, will not help us through the difficulty, unless we have recourse to the ancients, who have spoken of the dimensions of the bricks commonly used in building. Palladius, De Re... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Ezekiel 4:1

Verse 1 Here God begins to speak more openly by means of his servant, and not to speak only, but to signify by an outward symbol what he wishes to be uttered by his mouth. Hence he orders the Prophet to paint Jerusalem on a brick Take therefore, he says, a brick, and place it in thy sight: then paint on it a city, even Jerusalem This is one command: then erect a tower against it. He describes the form of ancient warfare; for then when they wished to besiege cities, they erected mounds from... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Ezekiel 4:1

The first sign in this method of unspoken prophecy was to indicate to the exiles of Tel-Abib that which they were unwilling to believe The day of uncertain hopes and fears, of delusive dreams and promises ( Jeremiah 27:16 ; Jeremiah 28:1-3 ; Jeremiah 29:21 ), was nearly over. The siege of Jerusalem in spite of Zedekiab's Egyptian alliance, was a thing decreed. Four years before it came—we are now between the fourth month of the fifth year ( Ezekiel 1:2 ) and the sixth month of the... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Ezekiel 4:1-2

A pictorial sermon. The method of this prophecy is as instructive as the substance of it. Let us, therefore, consider this by itself. I. IT WAS NOVEL . Hitherto prophets had usually preached by word of mouth, though indeed occasionally they had given visible illustrations of their sermons. Thus Jeremiah had worn a symbolical yoke of iron ( Jeremiah 28:10 ). But to draw a picture on a tile was a new method of prophecy. The pulpit is generally too conservative of old methods, too... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Ezekiel 4:1-8

Vicarious suffering. Every true prophet is a forerunner of Jesus Christ. We do not detract from the work of the Saviour—we magnify it—when we discern that the same kind of work (though not equal in measure or effectiveness) had been done by the prophets. Ezekiel was called of God, not only to teach heavenly doctrine, but also to suffer for the people. "Thou shalt bear their iniquities." No one can be a faithful servant of God who does not suffer for the cause he serves. Suffering is the... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Ezekiel 4:1-17

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Ezekiel 4:1-17

The siege of Jerusalem and the sufferings of the people symbolized. "Thou also, son of man, take thee a tile, and lay it before thee, and portray upon it the city, even Jerusalem," etc. This chapter presents difficulties to the student. There is the question whether it is to be understood literally or metaphorically; or, more correctly, whether the things here set forth were really done or were only visional. The commands given in Ezekiel 4:1-3 might have been literally executed; but the... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Ezekiel 4:1

A tile - Rather, a brick. Sun-dried or kiln-burned bricks were from very early times used for building walls throughout the plain of Mesopotamia. The bricks of Nineveh and Babylon are sometimes stamped with what appears to be the device of the king in whose reign they were made, and often covered with a kind of enamel on which various scenes are portrayed. Among the subjects depicted on such bricks discovered at Nimroud are castles and forts. read more

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Ezekiel 4:1-8

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Ezekiel 4:1

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

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Ezekiel 4:1

The Pulpit Commentary - Ezekiel 4:1

The Pulpit Commentary - Ezekiel 4:1-2

The Pulpit Commentary - Ezekiel 4:1-8

The Pulpit Commentary - Ezekiel 4:1-17

The Pulpit Commentary - Ezekiel 4:1-17

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Ezekiel 4:1

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