Ezekiel

the prophet of the dry bones

Who was Ezekiel?

A priest, son of Buzi. He was a prophet among the exiles of Judah, by the river Chebar, in Babylon. Ezekiel 1:1-3
God asked him to make gestures that announced the fall of Jerusalem, like drawing the besieged city on a clay tablet. Ezekiel 4:1-3
He announced that God himself would care for his sheep and would give his people a new heart. Ezekiel 34:11; Ezekiel 36:26

The name: His name means “God is strong” or “God strengthens.” Catholic Encyclopedia (1909), “Ezekiel”
Occupation: Priest and prophet Ezekiel 1:3; Ezekiel 2:5
Feast day: April 10: Saint Ezekiel, prophet

What the Bible says

Ezekiel 1:1-3

¹Now it came to pass in the thirtieth year, in the fourth month, on the fifth day of the month, when I was in the midst of the captives by the river Chobar, the heavens were opened, and I saw the visions of God. ²On the fifth day of the month, the same was the fifth year of the captivity of king Joachin, ³The word of the Lord came to Ezechiel the priest the son of Bud in the land of the Chaldeans, by the river Chobar: and the hand of the Lord was there upon him.

Ezekiel 4:1-3

¹And thou, O son of man, take thee a tile, and lay it before thee: and draw upon it the plan of the city of Jerusalem. ²And lay siege against it, and build forts, and cast up a mount, and set a camp against it, and place battering rams round about it. ³And take unto thee an iron pan, and set it for a wall of iron between thee and the city: and set thy face resolutely against it, and it shall be besieged, and thou shalt lay siege against it: it is a sign to the house of Israel.

Ezekiel 34:11; Ezekiel 36:26

For thus saith the Lord God: Behold I myself will seek my sheep, and will visit them.

Douay-Rheims Bible (Challoner revision), public domain.

The path of Ezekiel

Before Jesus. In the fifth year of the exile, beside the river Chebar, he had a vision of the glory of the Lord. Ezekiel 1:1-3, 28
Before Jesus. God called him “son of man” and sent him to speak to his people, whether they listened or not. Ezekiel 2:1-5
Before Jesus. In a vision he ate a written scroll, and it tasted sweet as honey. Ezekiel 3:1-3
With Jesus. God made him a watchman for the house of Israel, to warn them on God’s behalf. Ezekiel 3:17
With Jesus. With actions he announced the siege of Jerusalem: he drew the city on a clay tablet and surrounded it with camps. Ezekiel 4:1-3
With Jesus. His wife died suddenly. God asked him not to mourn in the usual way, as a sign for the people. Ezekiel 24:16-18, 24
Afterward. A man who had escaped from Jerusalem brought him the news: the city had fallen. Ezekiel 33:21
Afterward. He announced hope: God himself would care for his sheep, give a new heart and bring the dry bones back to life. Ezekiel 34:11; Ezekiel 36:26; Ezekiel 37:1-14

Words of Ezekiel

“For thus saith the Lord God: Behold I myself will seek my sheep, and will visit them.” Ezekiel 34:11

When he announced that God himself would be the shepherd of his people.

“And I will give you a new heart, and put a new spirit within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and will give you a heart of flesh.” Ezekiel 36:26

When he announced, in God’s name, the return from exile.

“O Lord God, thou knowest.” Ezekiel 37:3

When God asked him whether those dry bones could live again.

“For I desire not the death of him that dieth, saith the Lord God, return ye and live.” Ezekiel 18:32

When he called the people to turn back to God.

What they were like

Obedient: he did the signs God asked of him, even when they were hard. Ezekiel 4:1-3; Ezekiel 24:18
A watchman: he warned the people on God’s behalf. Ezekiel 3:17

The greatest thing they did

He announced that God would give his people a new heart and put his spirit within them. Ezekiel 36:26-27
He announced that God would open the graves of his people and bring them back to their land. Ezekiel 37:12-14

Not to be confused with

Hezekiah was a king of Judah, before the exile. Ezekiel was a priest and prophet in Babylon. 2 Kings 18:1; Ezekiel 1:3

In the Church today

Feast day: April 10, Saint Ezekiel, prophet (commemoration (not on the General Roman Calendar or the U.S. calendar)). Roman Martyrology (2004)

What people ask

What are Ezekiel’s dry bones?

In a vision, God brought a field of dry bones back to life. He explained that they were the people of Israel, who had lost hope. Ezekiel 37:1-11

Why does God call him “son of man”?

It is a formal way of saying “man.” A note in the NAB says it may stress the distance between God and human beings. Ezekiel 2:1; NAB note on Ez 2, 1

What is the river that flows from the Temple?

In a vision, Ezekiel saw water flowing out of the Temple. Wherever it went, everything lived, and trees grew that bore fruit every month. Ezekiel 47:1, 9, 12

What does Ezekiel have to do with the good shepherd?

Ezekiel announced that God himself would shepherd his sheep. Jesus said that he is the good shepherd who lays down his life for them. Ezekiel 34:11-16; John 10:11

His sorrow When he received his mission, he spent seven days stunned among the exiles. Ezekiel 3:15 His wife died suddenly, and at God’s command he did not mourn in…

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Who Ezekiel is connected to

Jesus · the good shepherd · water and Spirit

More people

All the people of the Bible · The Twelve Apostles · Women of the Bible

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