Bible Commentaries
Ezekiel 33

Verse 1

the LORD . Hebrew. Jehovah . App-4 ,

Verse 2

Son of man . See note on Ezekiel 2:1 .

children = sons.

a = one.

man. Hebrew. ish, App-14 .

coasts = borders: i.e. one man out from within the border. of their land.

Verse 3

the sword = judgment. Put by Figure of speech Metonymy (of the Effect), App-8 , for that which executes the judgment.

Verse 4

his own head = himself: "head" being put by Figure of speech Synecdoche (of the Part), App-6 , for the whole person.

Verse 5

soul. Hebrew.

nephesh . App-13 .

Verse 6

person = soul. Hebrew. nephesh. App-13 .

iniquity. Hebrew ' avah . App-44 . Not the same as ise verses: Ezekiel 33:13 , Ezekiel 33:15 , Ezekiel 33:18 .

Verse 8

wicked = lawless. Hebrew. rasha '. App-44 . iniquity. Hebrew 'avah App-44 .

Verse 9

in: or, for.

Verse 10

transgressions. Hebrew. pasha . App-44 .

sins . Hebrew. chata . App-44 .

pine away, &c. Ref: to Pentateuch. See notes on Ezekiel 4:12 with Ezekiel 24:23 .

Verse 11

As H live, he. Figure of speech Delete. App-6 .

saith the Lord GOD = [is] Adonai Jehovah's oracle, See note on Ezekiel 2:4 .

turn ye. Note the Figure of speech Epizeuxis . App-6 .

evil. Hebrew. ra'a. App-44 .

why will ye die . . . ? Figure of speech Erotesis . App-6 .

Verse 12

thereby: or, therein.

in the day = when. See App-18 .

for his righteousness = thereby, or therein, in the day, &c.

sinneth . Hebrew. chata '. App-44 .

Verse 13

trust = confide. Hebrew batch App-69 .

righteousnesses = righteous deeds. In Hebrew text it is singular. ("righteousness "); but the margin, with four early printed editions, reads "righteousnesses" (plural) for: or, in. Compare Ezekiel 33:9 .

iniquity. Hebrew ' aval App-44 . Not the same word as in Ezekiel 33:5 , but same as in verses: Ezekiel 33:15 , Ezekiel 33:18 .

for it = thereby, or therein, as in Ezekiel 33:12 ,

Verse 14

that which is . . . right = judgment and righteousness.

Verse 15

restore the pledge , he. Reference to Pentateuch (Exodus 22:26 . Leviticus 6:2 , Leviticus 6:4 , Leviticus 6:5 .Deuteronomy 24:6 , Deuteronomy 24:10-13 , Deuteronomy 24:17 ).

give again. Note the Figure of speech Asyndeton ( App-6 ), hurrying on to the climax at end of verse.

he shall surely live. Reference to Pentateuch (Leviticus 18:5 ).

he shall not die . Note the Figure of speech Pleonasm ( App-6 ), for emphasis.

Verse 16

sins. Hebrew text reads "sin"; but margin, some codices, and four early printed editions, read "sins" (p1.)

Verse 17

the LORD . One of the emendations of the Sopherim , by which they say they changed Jehovah of the primitive text to Adonai. See App-32 .

equal. See note on "pondereth", Proverbs 21:2 .

Verse 18

thereby : or, in them: i.e. in those deeds.

Verse 20

the Lord. Hebrew. Adonai . App-4 .

Verse 21

the twelfth year . . . tenth month . . . fifth day. This is the date of the taking of Jerusalem by Nebuchadnezzar. See Ezekiel 40:1 . The event in the twenty-fifth year is said to be the fourteenth year from the twelfth (i.e. from the tenth month of tho twelfth year to the first month of the twenty-fifth). The prophecies of the preceding chapters were given to Ezekiel in the Land before this twelfth year. See the table on p. 1105, and App-50 .). This was the eleventh year of Zedekiah, in the fourth month and ninth day (Jeremiah 39:1 , Jeremiah 39:2 ; 2 Kings 25:1-4 ).

came unto me. While still in the Land, probably in hiding,

Verse 22

the evening. Doubtless, of the same day of his escape. he that was escaped. As foretold in Ezekiel 24:26 .

my mouth was opened . Compare Ezekiel 24:27 ; Ezekiel 29:21 , i.e. in prophecy.

no more dumb : i. e silent from prophesying, Note the Figure of speech Pleonasm ( App-6 ), to emphasise the fact.

Verse 24

wastes = ruins.

the land of Israel = the soil of Israel. Hebrew ' admath. Not the same word as in Ezekiel 33:28 , which is 'eretz . See note on Ezekiel 11:17 .

Ye eat with the blood = eat over ( 'al ) the blood: i.e. over or near (as the heathen in their necromancy). Reference to Pentateuch (not to Deuteronomy 12:16 (where it is lo = not), but to Leviticus 19:26 (where it is ' al = over), as here, and where it is connected with the idolatrous practices of the heathen.

idols = manufactured gods.

shall ye. ? Note the Figure of speech Protests ( App-6 ).

Verse 26

Ye: i.e. Ye [men]. The verb is masculine.

Ye stand upon your sword = Ye take your stand (first occurrence Genesis 18:8 , Genesis 18:22 ), [leaning] upon, &c. The posture assumed by necromancers waiting for the rites, ye work, &c.: i.e. ye [women] work, &c. The verb is feminine.

Verse 28

the land. Hebrew ' eretz. Not the same word as in Ezekiel 33:24 .

Verse 29

shall they know, he. See note on Ezekiel 6:10 .

Verse 30

against = about.

doors = entrances.

to = with.

Verse 31

as the People cometh: or, according as an assembly cometh together.

shew much love: or, counterfeit lovers. Hebrew ' agabim . See note on next verse.

Verse 32

10. Figure of speech Asterismos . App-6 .

a very lovely song. Hebrew ' agabim = a song for the pipes. Note the Figure of speech Paronomasia (Revelation 6:0; Revelation 6:0 ), with "lovers", in Ezekiel 33:31 .