In brief
Ezekiel, son of Buzi, is a priest carried into captivity in Babylon with King Jehoiachin. He receives his calling by the Chebar River, in the midst of visions of Yahweh’s glory. God appoints him a watchman over the house of Israel. He announces judgment, then restoration: a valley of bones that comes to life, a people brought together, a river flowing from the sanctuary. He is remembered as a prophet in exile, bearer of hope for new life.
What does the name Ezekiel mean?
The name Ezekiel corresponds to the Hebrew Yechezqel, generally understood as “God strengthens” or “may God make strong.” The Bible gives no explanation of this name. It specifies that he is the son of Buzi, the priest (Ezekiel 1:3).
The story of Ezekiel
A Vision by the Chebar River
Ezekiel 1:1-28Among the captives by the Chebar River, in the land of the Chaldeans, the heavens open and Ezekiel sees visions of God. He sees a great cloud, fire, four living creatures, wheels full of eyes and a throne. He describes a brilliant light, an image of Yahweh’s glory. At the sight, he falls on his face and hears a voice speaking.
The Scroll and the Watchman
Ezekiel 3:1-21God tells him to eat a scroll, which is as sweet as honey in his mouth, then to go and speak to the house of Israel, who are hard of forehead and stiff of heart. After seven days of stunned silence among the exiles, the word of Yahweh comes to him: he makes him a watchman and tells him to warn the wicked and the righteous.
The Valley of Bones
Ezekiel 37:1-14Yahweh sets Ezekiel down in the middle of a valley full of very dry bones and asks him, “Can these bones live?” Ezekiel answers that God knows. He prophesies over the bones, which come together, are covered with flesh and receive breath: an exceedingly great army stands up. These bones represent the whole house of Israel.
One People, a Covenant of Peace
Ezekiel 37:15-28God tells Ezekiel to take two sticks, one for Judah and one for Joseph, and join them together in his hand. This announces that Israel will no longer be two kingdoms. God promises to cleanse his people, to give them his servant David as king, to make an everlasting covenant of peace and to set his sanctuary among them.
The River Flowing From the Sanctuary
Ezekiel 47:1-12Ezekiel sees water flowing out from under the threshold of the house, toward the east. It becomes a river so deep that it cannot be crossed. Wherever it flows, the sea becomes fresh and everything lives. Along its banks grow all kinds of fruit trees whose leaves do not wither, because the waters flow out from the sanctuary.
What Ezekiel teaches us
- God meets his people even in exile: Ezekiel receives his visions by a river in Babylon, far from the temple.
- God’s word is sweet as honey, even when the message to carry is hard: Ezekiel must first receive it in order to pass it on.
- Being a watchman means warning faithfully: each person remains responsible for their response, but the messenger for his own.
- God gives life where everything seems dead: asked about the dry bones, the human answer is “you know.”
- When God restores, it is his Spirit who gives life: “I will put my Spirit in you, and you will live.”
Key verses
“Son of man, I have made you a watchman to the house of Israel. Therefore hear the word from my mouth, and warn them from me.” The prophet’s mission is to listen to God, then to warn.
“Son of man, can these bones live? I answered, Lord Yahweh, you know.” Ezekiel does not pretend to know. He leaves the situation with God, who alone is able to give life.
“I will put my Spirit in you, and you will live.” God promises restoration by his Spirit: new life does not come from human effort, but from his action.
“Everything will live wherever the river comes.” The river flowing from the sanctuary brings healing and life wherever it goes. The image points to the blessing that flows from God’s presence.
Sermons about Ezekiel
Frequently asked questions
Why did God choose Ezekiel?
The Bible gives no particular reason. It presents Ezekiel as the son of Buzi, a priest, among the captives by the Chebar (Ezekiel 1:3). God sends him to a people who are hard of forehead and stiff of heart, so that they may at least know that a prophet has been among them.
What does the name Ezekiel mean?
The name Ezekiel corresponds to the Hebrew Yechezqel, generally understood as “God strengthens” or “may God make strong.” The Bible gives no explanation of this name. In the book, God most often calls him “son of man.”
Where can I find Ezekiel’s story in the Bible?
It is found in the book of Ezekiel, which has forty-eight chapters. Chapter 1 tells the vision of Yahweh’s glory, chapter 3 his mission as watchman, chapter 37 the valley of bones and chapter 47 the river flowing from the sanctuary.