And I did so as I was commanded: I brought forth my stuff by day, as stuff for captivity, and in the even I digged through the wall with mine hand; I brought it forth in the twilight, and I bare it upon my shoulder in their sight.

EZEKIEL 12:7KJV
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Ezekiel 12:7 (KJV)

What does Ezekiel 12:7 mean?

Ezekiel 12:7 describes how the prophet Ezekiel obeyed God’s instructions by publicly acting out the role of someone going into exile, gathering his belongings during the day and digging through a wall at night to carry them away in front of the people. This dramatic action was meant to be a visible sign to the people of Israel about the coming captivity.

In this verse, Ezekiel himself is speaking, describing how he followed God’s command exactly as given. The setting is Jerusalem, where Ezekiel acts out this scene to warn his fellow exiles and the people still in the city about the future fall of Jerusalem and their own coming exile. The verse shows Ezekiel’s obedience and the seriousness of God’s warning through a real-life demonstration.

The Hebrew behind Ezekiel 12:7

  • "stuff" (כֵּלִי, keliy): This word refers to personal belongings or equipment. Ezekiel’s use of "keliy" emphasizes that he is packing up his everyday possessions, not just symbolic items, making the warning very concrete.
  • "captivity" (גּוֹלָה, golah): This word means exile or being carried away. By using "golah," the verse makes clear that Ezekiel’s actions are about forced removal from home, not just a journey.
  • "digged" (חָתַר, chathar): This verb means to dig or break through. Ezekiel’s digging through the wall is a vivid, physical act showing desperation and urgency, underlining the seriousness of the coming exile.

Why Ezekiel 12:7 matters

  • Ezekiel 12:7 clears up that Ezekiel’s actions were not just symbolic but were real, physical demonstrations carried out in public for everyone to see, making God’s warning unmistakable.
  • The verse emphasizes Ezekiel’s obedience, showing that he did exactly as God commanded, which highlights the importance of faithfully delivering God’s message even when it is difficult or strange.
  • This verse connects to the wider passage by setting up the explanation that follows, where God tells the people what Ezekiel’s actions mean, helping the audience understand the reality and inevitability of the coming exile.

Where else these words appear

“twilight” Hebrew H5939 · used in 4 verses

  • Genesis 15:17 And it came to pass, that, when the sun went down, and it was dark, behold a smoking furnace, and a burning lamp that passed between those pieces.
  • Ezekiel 12:6 In their sight shalt thou bear it upon thy shoulders, and carry it forth in the twilight: thou shalt cover thy face, that thou see not the ground: for I have set thee for a sign unto the house of Israel.
  • Ezekiel 12:12 And the prince that is among them shall bear upon his shoulder in the twilight, and shall go forth: they shall dig through the wall to carry out thereby: he shall cover his face, that he see not the ground with his eyes.

“digged” Hebrew H2864 · used in 7 verses

  • Job 24:16 In the dark they dig through houses, which they had marked for themselves in the daytime: they know not the light.
  • Ezekiel 12:5 Dig thou through the wall in their sight, and carry out thereby.
  • Amos 9:2 Though they dig into hell, thence shall mine hand take them; though they climb up to heaven, thence will I bring them down:

“captivity” Hebrew H1473 · used in 41 verses

  • 2 Kings 24:15 And he carried away Jehoiachin to Babylon, and the king's mother, and the king's wives, and his officers, and the mighty of the land, those carried he into captivity from Jerusalem to Babylon.
  • Ezra 10:8 And that whosoever would not come within three days, according to the counsel of the princes and the elders, all his substance should be forfeited, and himself separated from the congregation of those that had been carried away.
  • Jeremiah 49:3 Howl, O Heshbon, for Ai is spoiled: cry, ye daughters of Rabbah, gird you with sackcloth; lament, and run to and fro by the hedges; for their king shall go into captivity, and his priests and his princes together.

“day” Hebrew H3119 · used in 50 verses

  • Exodus 13:21 And the LORD went before them by day in a pillar of a cloud, to lead them the way; and by night in a pillar of fire, to give them light; to go by day and night:
  • Nehemiah 1:6 Let thine ear now be attentive, and thine eyes open, that thou mayest hear the prayer of thy servant, which I pray before thee now, day and night, for the children of Israel thy servants, and confess the sins of the children of Israel, which we have sinned against thee: both I and my father's house have sinned.
  • Isaiah 4:5 And the LORD will create upon every dwelling place of mount Zion, and upon her assemblies, a cloud and smoke by day, and the shining of a flaming fire by night: for upon all the glory shall be a defence.