Ezekiel
An exiled priest who saw God’s glory by a river in Babylon, and a valley of bones come to life.
Old Testament · c. 593–571 BC · Ezekiel · Also known as Son of man, Son of Buzi
About Ezekiel
Ezekiel was a priest taken to Babylon with the first exiles. By the river Chebar "the heavens were opened, and I saw visions of God": living creatures, wheels within wheels, and a throne of glory. God called him "son of man," made him a watchman for Israel, and gave him a scroll to eat that tasted "as honey for sweetness." He acted out strange signs of Jerusalem’s coming siege. After the city fell, he spoke of hope: a new heart, a new spirit, and a valley of dry bones that rose up, "an exceeding great army," when the breath of God entered them.
Ezekiel prophesied to exiles in Babylon while Jeremiah was still in Jerusalem. His visions are vivid and symbolic, and later Jewish and Christian writers, including the book of Revelation, echo them. God calls him "son of man" over ninety times.
The story
Visions by the river
Among the captives by the river Chebar, "the heavens were opened, and I saw visions of God." A whirlwind of fire, four living creatures, wheels "as it were a wheel in the middle of a wheel," and above them a throne with a figure surrounded by brightness like a rainbow. "This was the appearance of the likeness of the glory of the LORD."
Ezekiel 1:1-28
Sweet as honey
God gave Ezekiel a scroll written front and back with "lamentations, and mourning, and woe," and said, "eat this roll." "Then did I eat it; and it was in my mouth as honey for sweetness." He was sent as a watchman: "hear the word at my mouth, and give them warning from me."
Ezekiel 2:9–3:17
Can these bones live?
God set Ezekiel in a valley full of very dry bones. "Son of man, can these bones live? And I answered, O Lord GOD, thou knowest." "O ye dry bones, hear the word of the LORD." There was a rattling, bone came to bone, flesh covered them, "and the breath came into them, and they lived, and stood up upon their feet, an exceeding great army."
Ezekiel 37:1-14
A new heart
God promised the scattered people: "A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh."
Ezekiel 36:24-28
Key moments
- Visions of God: By the river Chebar. (Ezekiel 1:1)
- Eats the scroll: "As honey for sweetness." (Ezekiel 3:3)
- Made a watchman: To warn Israel. (Ezekiel 3:17)
- A new heart promised: "A new spirit." (Ezekiel 36:26)
- The valley of dry bones: "Can these bones live?" (Ezekiel 37:3)
Questions about Ezekiel
In meetBible these answers are given in Ezekiel’s voice. They are written by hand and checked against Scripture.
What did the dry bones mean?
God explained it himself: "Son of man, these bones are the whole house of Israel: behold, they say, Our bones are dried, and our hope is lost." His promise was that he would open their graves, "put my spirit in you, and ye shall live," and bring them home. It was a picture of a defeated, exiled people raised to life by God’s breath and Spirit.
Why does God call you "son of man"?
God addresses me this way again and again: "Son of man, stand upon thy feet, and I will speak unto thee." In Hebrew it means a human being, a mortal, perhaps reminding me of my smallness before God’s glory. Scripture doesn’t explain the choice. Jesus later used "the Son of man" for himself, in a fuller sense drawn from Daniel 7.
Connected people
- Jeremiah: Fellow prophet of the exile
- Daniel: Named by Ezekiel
- Noah: Named by Ezekiel
- Job: Named by Ezekiel
- Nebuchadnezzar: King of the exile
Read it yourself
Start with Ezekiel 1; 3; 37.