BOOK 26 OF 66 · MAJOR PROPHETS · KING JAMES BIBLE

Ezekiel 11

Ezekiel book home•Chapter 11 of 48•25 verses

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Ezekiel 11 Overview

Ezekiel sees twenty-five leaders giving wicked counsel in Jerusalem, receives an oracle against them, and witnesses Pelatiah’s death. Yet the LORD promises to be a sanctuary to the scattered exiles, gather them again, give them one heart and a new spirit, while the glory leaves the city and stands on the mountain east of Jerusalem.

EzekielBook

11Chapter

25Verses

Major ProphetsDivision

Before you read Ezekiel 11

Coming from

The throne-chariot vision from chapter 1 reappears inside the temple judgment scene. Fire is taken from among the cherubim, Ezekiel explicitly identifies the living creatures as cherubim, and the glory of the LORD moves from the temple threshold to stand over the cherubim as departure progresses.

In this chapter

Leads into

Ezekiel acts out exile by carrying baggage through a wall and covering his face, then explains that the sign concerns Jerusalem’s prince and people. A second sign portrays trembling meals, and the LORD rejects popular sayings that prophetic visions will be delayed or fail: His word will be performed without further postponement.

Key understandingExplore deeper

The chapter combines judgment on Jerusalem’s leadership with one of Ezekiel’s first major restoration promises. Those left in the city despise the exiles as far from the LORD, but God says He Himself has been a little sanctuary to the scattered people.

The promise of one heart and a new spirit anticipates the fuller new-heart and Spirit language of Ezekiel 36. It is a restoration promise producing covenant faithfulness, not a statement that obedience earns eternal life.

Major truths in this chapterExplore deeper

Geographic closeness to the temple did not equal closeness to God

The exiles viewed as cast off are told that the LORD Himself has been their sanctuary.

Corrupt counsel can strengthen people in false security

Jerusalem’s leaders minimize the danger and are held accountable for the bloodshed in the city.

God’s restoration reaches the inner person

He promises not merely relocation to the land but a changed heart and spirit toward His statutes.

Connections to the rest of ScriptureExplore deeper

Deuteronomy 30:1-6

Moses had promised gathering after dispersion and inner renewal that would turn Israel’s heart toward the LORD.

Ezekiel 36:24-28

The later restoration oracle expands the promise of a new heart and spirit and explicitly includes God’s Spirit.

Acts 1:9-12

The Mount of Olives lies east of Jerusalem; Ezekiel’s glory departure over the eastern mountain creates a striking canonical geography, though Acts does not state that Jesus’ ascension is a direct fulfillment of this vision.

What is clear, and where care is neededExplore deeper

Do not make the new-heart promise a works-based salvation formula.

The LORD is the one who gathers, gives, removes, and renews; the resulting obedience belongs to covenant restoration.

Do not claim Ezekiel 11 explicitly predicts the ascension of Christ from the Mount of Olives.

The geographic echo is noteworthy, but the chapter’s direct subject is the departure of the LORD’s glory from judged Jerusalem.

Read Ezekiel 11 watching for…

the wicked counsel of Jerusalem’s leaders

Pelatiah’s death and Ezekiel’s intercession

the LORD as a sanctuary to the exiles

the promise of one heart and a new spirit

the glory standing on the mountain east of the city

Chapter outline3 sections

1-13Jerusalem’s princes give wicked counsel, and judgment is spoken against them 14-21The scattered are promised a sanctuary, regathering, and a new heart while idolaters are judged 22-25The glory of the LORD leaves the city and Ezekiel reports the vision to the captives

Moreover the spirit lifted me up, and brought me unto the east gate of the LORD's house, which looketh eastward: and behold at the door of the gate five and twenty men; among whom I saw Jaazaniah the son of Azur, and Pelatiah the son of Benaiah, princes of the people.

Then said he unto me, Son of man, these are the men that devise mischief, and give wicked counsel in this city:

Which say, It is not near; let us build houses: this city is the caldron, and we be the flesh.

Therefore prophesy against them, prophesy, O son of man.

And the Spirit of the LORD fell upon me, and said unto me, Speak; Thus saith the LORD; Thus have ye said, O house of Israel: for I know the things that come into your mind, every one of them.

Ye have multiplied your slain in this city, and ye have filled the streets thereof with the slain.

Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD; Your slain whom ye have laid in the midst of it, they are the flesh, and this city is the caldron: but I will bring you forth out of the midst of it.

Ye have feared the sword; and I will bring a sword upon you, saith the Lord GOD.

And I will bring you out of the midst thereof, and deliver you into the hands of strangers, and will execute judgments among you.

Ye shall fall by the sword; I will judge you in the border of Israel; and ye shall know that I am the LORD.

This city shall not be your caldron, neither shall ye be the flesh in the midst thereof; but I will judge you in the border of Israel:

And ye shall know that I am the LORD: for ye have not walked in my statutes, neither executed my judgments, but have done after the manners of the heathen that are round about you.

And it came to pass, when I prophesied, that Pelatiah the son of Benaiah died. Then fell I down upon my face, and cried with a loud voice, and said, Ah Lord GOD! wilt thou make a full end of the remnant of Israel?

Again the word of the LORD came unto me, saying,

Son of man, thy brethren, even thy brethren, the men of thy kindred, and all the house of Israel wholly, are they unto whom the inhabitants of Jerusalem have said, Get you far from the LORD: unto us is this land given in possession.

Therefore say, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Although I have cast them far off among the heathen, and although I have scattered them among the countries, yet will I be to them as a little sanctuary in the countries where they shall come.

Therefore say, Thus saith the Lord GOD; I will even gather you from the people, and assemble you out of the countries where ye have been scattered, and I will give you the land of Israel.

And they shall come thither, and they shall take away all the detestable things thereof and all the abominations thereof from thence.

And I will give them one heart, and I will put a new spirit within you; and I will take the stony heart out of their flesh, and will give them an heart of flesh:

That they may walk in my statutes, and keep mine ordinances, and do them: and they shall be my people, and I will be their God.

But as for them whose heart walketh after the heart of their detestable things and their abominations, I will recompense their way upon their own heads, saith the Lord GOD.

Then did the cherubims lift up their wings, and the wheels beside them; and the glory of the God of Israel was over them above.

And the glory of the LORD went up from the midst of the city, and stood upon the mountain which is on the east side of the city.

Afterwards the spirit took me up, and brought me in a vision by the Spirit of God into Chaldea, to them of the captivity. So the vision that I had seen went up from me.

Then I spake unto them of the captivity all the things that the LORD had shewed me.