Basics of Ezekiel: What to Watch For as You Read

Ezekiel delivered God's sobering message to exiles in Babylon: the exile wasn't just a temporary setback but divine judgment, yet even in judgment, God was already working toward restoration.

• Ezekiel was a priest by training who received his prophetic call at age 30 while in Babylonian exile
• The exile occurred in three waves (605, 597, and 586 BC), with Ezekiel part of the second deportation
• False prophets claimed the exile would be brief, but God's message through Ezekiel was that judgment had truly come
• The book follows a clear structure: judgment against Judah (ch 1-24), judgment against surrounding nations (ch 25-32), and restoration (ch 33-48)
• God called Ezekiel "son of man" over 90 times, emphasizing his humanity and dependence on divine strength
• Ezekiel used dramatic symbolic acts as visual sermons – lying on his side for hundreds of days, shaving his head, and even refraining from mourning his wife's death
• The vision of dry bones (ch 37) powerfully portrays God's ability to resurrect what appears beyond repair
• The book concludes with visions of a restored temple, purified worship, and a city named "The Lord is There" (Yahweh Shammah)
• Ezekiel's prophecies point forward to Jesus as the Good Shepherd and the gift of the Holy Spirit

If this episode helped bring Ezekiel into focus, please share it with a friend who might need the reminder that God isn't distant, even in exile. Follow the show on YouTube or your favorite podcast app so you don't miss the next episode.

RELATED EPISODES

• The Prophets: Messengers of God's Word in the Bible - Pt.1 

• Journeying Through the Bible: Comprehending the Glory of God

• When Home Is Lost: Understanding the Babylonian Exile

SOURCES

• Carson, D. A., McGregor, L. J., & others. (1994). Ezekiel. In New Bible Commentary: 21st Century Edition (4th ed., p. 717). Inter-Varsity Press.
• MacArthur, J. (Ed.). (n.d.). The MacArthur Study Bible (NIV ed.).
• Ryken, L. (n.d.). Literary Introductions to the Books of the Bible (pp. 264–266). [Kindle edition].
• Youngblood, R. F., Bruce, F. F., & Harrison, R. K. (Eds.). (1995). Nelson’s New Illustrated Bible Dictionary. Thomas Nelson, Inc.

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Note: All scripture references are from the NIV translation unless otherwise indicated.

Chapters

• 0:00 Introduction to Ezekiel's Message
• 9:49 Historical Context of the Exile
• 17:15 Who Was Ezekiel the Prophet?
• 21:15 Structure of Ezekiel's Book

Transcript

Jacqui: 0:12

Greetings listeners. Imagine waking up in a place that's not your home, far from everything familiar, while the people around you keep saying, oh, it's fine, this won't last. That was life in exile for God's people. But God had something very different to say, and he chose Ezekiel to say it. The exile wasn't just a rough patch, it was judgment. And it wasn't over, because even in judgment, god was already working to restore, and what he showed Ezekiel was one of the most vivid, surprising and hope-filled messages in all of Scripture. Well, welcome everyone. I'm your host, Jacqui Adewole, and this is the Bible Basics Podcast, where, weekly, we break down the basics of the Bible into understandable, bite-sized chunks, as is our practice. Let's start by setting the scene. It's the early 6th century BC. God's people have been taken into exile in Babylon. Jerusalem still stands for now, but its days are numbered.

Jacqui: 1:37

Quick review as we mentioned in our earlier episode on the exile, there were three ways of Judah's captivity into Babylon. The first one was in 605 BC, when Daniel and others were taken to serve in the Babylonian palace. The second was in 597 BC, when Ezekiel was among about 10,000 people, mostly leaders and skilled workers, that were taken into captivity. And the final wave came in 586 BC, when Jerusalem was destroyed and the temple was burned. So the book of Ezekiel begins after that second wave, after the judgment had started, but before the city had completely fallen and the people, many were still in denial. Though God said the exile would last 70 years, false prophets were telling them the exile wouldn't last, that God would bring them back quickly. And we see that in Jeremiah, chapter 29, verses 8 through 9, and Ezekiel, chapter 13, verses 6 through 9. But God sent Ezekiel with a sobering message. Quote none of my words will be delayed any longer. Whatever I say will be fulfilled. That's chapter 12, verse 28. So the exile wasn't a scare tactic, it was judgment and it had already begun. But even then, even as the people sit in a foreign land with broken hearts and broken hopes, god isn't done. He promises in chapter 11, verses 17 through 20, I will gather you, I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you. You will be my people. So, yes, judgment had come, but so, had grace, god wasn't abandoning his people, he was preparing to renew them. And here's an important note In the book of Ezekiel, god is primarily speaking to the exiles from Judah, the southern kingdom, but throughout the book he often uses the name Israel. Why? Because in prophetic messages, israel often represents all of God's covenant people, not just a political nation, not just the northern kingdom, but a spiritual identity.

Jacqui: 4:36

Now let's see who Ezekiel was. He was a priest by training, but a prophet by calling. His name in Hebrew means strengthened by God. He grew up in Jerusalem and as a young man he may have known of Jeremiah, who was still prophesying there. Around the age of 25, Ezekiel was taken into exile, part of the second wave of captivity, when leaders and skilled workers were carried off to Babylon. Five years later he was sitting near the Kebar River, a canal deep in Babylonian territory. The river itself wasn't special, but the location was. It was on foreign soil and it was there, far from the temple, far from home, that God showed up. It was on his 30th birthday, the age when priests would traditionally begin their temple service.

Jacqui: 5:47

Ezekiel received this something entirely different a vision, a calling and a message for a people who had lost their way and didn't even realize it. God tells him in chapter 2, verse 4, the people to whom I'm sending you are obstinate and stubborn. And in chapter 2, verse 7, he says whether they listen or not, you must speak, and Ezekiel does, sometimes with words, sometimes with wild symbolic acts, always with intensity. We also get a glimpse into Ezekiel's personal life. He was married, though his wife died young and her death became part of his prophetic message. He had a home in Babylon where the elders would gather to hear him speak, and he was a contemporary of the prophet Daniel. We know this because Ezekiel refers to Daniel by name four times in his own prophecies, and both men were exiled to Babylon during the same general time period, though in different waves. Now that we've met Ezekiel, let's talk about the book itself. Like other prophetic books, ezekiel's revelations from God were delivered to the people of Judah orally and presumably recorded at a later date in this book by the repeated use of terms like speak, say, confront, preach and the like.

Jacqui: 7:45

The book of Ezekiel spans 48 chapters covering about 20 years from roughly 593 to 571 BC. It contains four visions. It begins with a vision of God's glory and ends with a promise a renewed temple, a restored people and a city with a new name. The Lord is there. That's in chapter 48, verse 35. At its core, the book carries three major themes sin, judgment and restoration. You'll notice when you're reading Ezekiel that almost every new message begins with one of two phrases the word of the Lord came to me or the hand of the Lord was upon me. They may sound similar, but they carry different weight or meanings. The word of the Lord came to me introduces spoken messages. God gave Ezekiel to deliver. The hand of the Lord was upon me. That marks moments of intense visionary experience, when Ezekiel is swept up in a spiritual encounter, a vision.

Jacqui: 9:14

The book of Ezekiel may seem overwhelming at first, but it actually follows a very clear structure. It moves through three main sections that help us follow what God is saying. The sections are first messages against Judah and Jerusalem, then there are prophecies of judgment against the surrounding nations and it ends with prophecies of Israel's restoration. Let's look at each one of these three sections separately. The first section opens with Ezekiel's call and then moves into a series of warnings for Judah. It covers chapters 1 through 24. The message is direct God's people have broken covenant, they've rebelled and judgment is coming.

Jacqui: 10:22

Ezekiel delivers God's charges against them, naming their sins with shocking precision. This isn't vague spiritual language, no, no, it's direct, uncomfortable truth. He names specifically Israel's sins Violence and bloodshed, idolatry in God's temple, oppression of the poor and vulnerable, bribery and dishonest gain, sexual immorality and abuse of power and religious leaders failing to guide the people. One of the most heartbreaking moments in this section comes in chapters 10 and 11, when God's glory leaves the temple. The visible presence of God departs from Jerusalem, signaling not just political defeat but deep spiritual loss. Defeat but deep spiritual loss. And let me tell you, Ezekiel doesn't hold back. He names the people's sins plainly, he speaks with deep emotions and he uses powerful, sometimes uncomfortable imagery to call them back to God. For example, in chapters 16 and 23, he describes Judah's unfaithfulness using vivid illustrations, comparing their worship of other gods to the pain of a broken relationship. He used a strong language meant to stir hearts that had grown cold.

Jacqui: 12:01

Now let's move to the second section. After warning Judah, ezekiel turns his attention outward. In chapters 25 through 32, he delivers a series of messages to seven foreign nations that surrounded Israel and that either mocked or harmed them during their time of judgment. These oracles show that God sees all nations, not just Israel, and holds them accountable for pride, violence and injustice. For pride, violence and injustice. And in places like Tyre and Egypt, the pride went so far, it became a kind of idolatry. They treated themselves like gods. The seven nations addressed are Ammon, Moab, Edom, Philistia, tyre, Sidon and Egypt. These chapters remind us no kingdom stands above God's rule and no nation is too big, too old or too far away to escape accountability. And, most importantly, god is sovereign. After the messages of judgment for Judah and the surrounding nations, ezekiel's tone shifts dramatically in chapters 33 through 48. Starting in chapter 33, after the fall of Jerusalem is confirmed, Ezekiel becomes a watchman of hope. His message God is not finished with his people.

Jacqui: 13:53

This final section is filled with visions of restoration, both spiritual and physical. In chapter 36, god promises I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you. That's a promise of inner transformation, not just external change. In chapter 37, Ezekiel sees a valley filled with lifeless skeletons. God asks, son of man, can these bones live? That's chapter 37, verse 3. Can these bones live? That's chapter 37, verse 3. Well, only God knows. But when Ezekiel speaks as instructed, the bones rattle together, flesh appears and breath returns. This powerful vision points to national restoration, spiritual renewal and resurrection. Hope for Israel and beyond.

Jacqui: 14:58

Oh, wow, I just thought of something you might want to jot down. If you're like me, you leave little notes at the beginning of each Bible book. Well, here's a good one for Ezekiel. All throughout the book, god calls Ezekiel son of man. He does that more than 90 times. We just heard one. Son of man, can these bones live? It's not a title of glory here, it's a title of humility. In Hebrew it simply means human. It's God's way of reminding Ezekiel and us that he's just a man, a messenger. The visions might be overwhelming, but the prophet is entirely dependent on God's strength. Later, Jesus uses the same phrase in Matthew 26: 64, but he's referring back to Daniel 7. There the quote son of man is exalted and given everlasting dominion. So in Ezekiel, son of man humbles, but with Jesus it exalts. Okay, back to the text.

Jacqui: 16:13

These last chapters of Ezekiel describe a future temple, a city and land in extraordinary detail. There's a restored priesthood and purified worship. There's a river flowing from the temple, bringing life wherever it goes, and there's a city with a new name Yahweh Shammah. The Lord is there. Scholars have long debated is all of this literal, symbolic, a heavenly picture? Well, we don't know. But what's clear is the heart of the vision God's presence will return. His people will be restored and worship will be re-centered around him alone. This section offers a promise that God will not only bring his people back home, but also make his home among them.

Jacqui: 17:15

Now let's move on to the prophetic imagery that speaks so loud. Much like other Old Testament prophets, ezekiel's message doesn't just come through words. It comes through vivid visions and symbolic actions that are hard to forget. These moments aren't just dramatic. They're deeply meaningful, divinely designed to shake people out of their spiritual complacency and call them back to God. Let's look at a few examples.

Jacqui: 17:48

Let's start with Ezekiel 1. At the very beginning of his ministry, ezekiel sees a heavenly vision that's almost impossible to describe. There are four living creatures, each with four faces human lion, ox and eagle. There are wheels within wheels sparkling like topaz, full of eyes. There's lightning flashes. There's a throne above them and, seated on that throne, a radiant figure surrounded by fire and glory. This is God himself appearing to Ezekiel. After witnessing this, he responds, as you would expect, by falling face down. This vision reveals God's glory, radiant and overwhelming. It reminds the exiles that God's presence isn't limited to the temple in Jerusalem. He's with them even in Babylon. God's presence is not limited to a specific place or building.

Jacqui: 18:58

Next, there was another event when God tells Ezekiel to eat a scroll, Ezekiel ate it and said it tasted quote as sweet as honey. That's chapter 3, verse 3. Taste it quote as sweet as honey. That's chapter 3, verse 3. Even though the message on the scroll was judgment on Israel, the scroll was sweet because it was God's word. In the book of Psalms we see some references that describe the sweet word of God. We see that in Psalm 19:10 and Psalm 119: 103. Interestingly, the apostle John records a similar bittersweet experience with the Word of God in Revelation 10, where John also eats a scroll before prophesying.

Jacqui: 19:46

Now let's look at symbolic acts, as visual sermons, as I call them. Ezekiel is uniquely different from other Old Testament prophets in that his prophecies often come through visual signs. These actions are not just for drama. They are messages in motion. They interrupt, confront and invite reflection. Here are a few examples Ezekiel lies on his side for hundreds of days to represent Israel and Judah's years of rebellion. He shaved his head and beard, dividing the hair to symbolize the fate of Jerusalem's people, burned, struck down or scattered. He refrains from public mourning when his wife dies, symbolizing the fall of the temple and the numbing shock of that loss of the temple and the numbing shock of that loss. And finally, he cooks food over cow poop, representing the defilement the people would face in exile. Ezekiel's methods are intense but the goal is always the same God's message to repent and return.

Jacqui: 21:16

So, moving on in reading Ezekiel, we see that it isn't just a book about exile or judgment. It's a book that points ahead through visions and promises. Here are just a few of the ways Ezekiel connects to the message of Jesus and the hope we have today. In Ezekiel 34, god says I myself will shepherd my people. Then he promises to send one shepherd from the line of David. Jesus later echoes this when he says I am the good shepherd. That's in John 10, 11. He is the fulfillment of that promise.

Jacqui: 22:01

In Ezekiel 36, god promises I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you. That's chapter 36, verse 26. This finds its fulfillment in the gift of the Holy Spirit poured out on all believers in Acts 2. Then resurrection and renewal, that vision of the dry bones we've talked about. It speaks of more than just Israel's return from exile. It points to resurrection power, god breathing life in what looks beyond repair. The Apostle Paul later writes, quote if the spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he will also give life to your mortal bodies. That's Romans 8.11. And finally, god dwelling with his people forever. The book ends with a vision of a new temple and a new city, one where God's presence never leaves again. Chapter 48, verse 35 gives the city a new name. The Lord is there. That same hope shows up in Revelation 21:3. Now, the dwelling of God is with men and he lives with them. Ezekiel reminds us yes, god judges sin, but he never gives up on his people. His goal is always restoration.

Jacqui: 23:43

The book of Ezekiel is a powerful chapter in God's story. It marks the collapse of the old covenant era, a time when the people had broken trust, lost their way and were experiencing the consequences. But that's not where God leaves them. But that's not where God leaves them. Where do you need to be reminded that God has not left you and that he still restores? Maybe there's an area of your life that feels like dry bones, or maybe you've been carrying shame, thinking God is done with you.

Jacqui: 24:17

Ezekiel shows us that's never the end of the story. God is still the good shepherd, he still gives new hearts and he still breathes life into what's been lost. Next time we'll turn the page to a new season in Israel's story the return from exile. We'll meet the prophet Haggai, a voice calling to God's people to rebuild their lives, their priorities and their faith. If this episode helped you bring the story of Ezekiel into focus, would you consider sharing it with a friend you never know who might need the reminder that God isn't distant, even in exile? And if you haven't already follow the show on YouTube or your favorite podcast app, so you don't miss the next episode? Until then, keep reading, keep seeking and keep growing in your faith.