Eze 11:3-12 | NETfull | STEP | They say, ‘The time is not near to build houses; the city is a cooking pot and we are the meat in it.’

Ezekiel 11:3-12

3 They say, ^{▼▼ The Hebrew verb may mean “think” in this context. This content of what they say (or think) represents their point of view.} ‘The time is not near to build houses; ^{▼▼ The expression build houses may mean “establish families” (Deut 25:9; Ruth 4:11; Prov 24:27).} the city ^{▼▼ Heb “she” or “it”; the feminine pronoun refers here to Jerusalem.} is a cooking pot ^{▼▼ Jerusalem is also compared to a pot in Ezek 24:3–8. The siege of the city is pictured as heating up the pot.} and we are the meat in it.’ 4 Therefore, prophesy against them! Prophesy, son of man!”

5 Then the Spirit of the Lord came ^{▼▼ Heb “fell.”} upon me and said to me, “Say: This is what the Lord says: ‘This is what you are thinking, ^{▼▼ The Hebrew verb commonly means “to say,” but may also mean “to think” (see also v. 3).} O house of Israel; I know what goes through your minds. ^{▼▼ Heb “I know the steps of your spirits.”} 6 You have killed many people in this city; you have filled its streets with corpses.’ 7 Therefore, this is what the sovereign Lord says: ‘The corpses you have dumped ^{▼▼ Heb “placed.”} in the midst of the city ^{▼▼ Heb “in its midst.”} are the meat, and this city ^{▼▼ Heb “she/it.” See v. 3.} is the cooking pot, but I will take you out of it. ^{▼▼ Many of the versions read “I will bring you out” (active) rather than “he brought out” (the reading of MT).} 8 You fear the sword, so the sword I will bring against you,’ declares the sovereign Lord. 9 ‘But I will take you out of the city. ^{▼▼ Heb “its midst.”} And I will hand you over to foreigners. I will execute judgments on you. 10 You will die by the sword; I will judge you at the border of Israel. Then you will know that I am the Lord. 11 This city will not be a cooking pot for you, and you will not ^{▼▼ The Hebrew text does not have the negative particle, but it is implied. The negative particle in the previous line does double duty here.} be meat within it; I will judge you at the border of Israel. 12 Then you will know that I am the Lord, whose statutes you have not followed and whose regulations you have not carried out. Instead you have behaved according to the regulations of the nations around you!’”