Son of man, set thy face toward Jerusalem, and drop thy word toward the holy places, and prophesy against the land of Israel,

EZEKIEL 21:2KJV
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Ezekiel 21:2 (KJV)

What does Ezekiel 21:2 mean?

Ezekiel 21:2 records God instructing Ezekiel to turn toward Jerusalem and speak a message of warning against the city, its sacred places, and the whole land of Israel. The verse sets up Ezekiel as a messenger who must announce coming judgment, not just for Jerusalem but for all of Israel.

In this verse, God addresses Ezekiel as "son of man" and commands him to face Jerusalem, speak ("drop thy word") toward its holy places, and prophesy against the land. The setting is during the Babylonian exile, with Ezekiel living among fellow exiles. God is making it clear that the warning is not just for the city but for the entire nation, including its religious centers.

The Hebrew behind Ezekiel 21:2

  • "Drop" (נָטַף, nāṭaf): This word means to let words fall like drops, often used for prophetic speech that comes forcefully or steadily. It suggests Ezekiel's message is to be delivered with weight and seriousness, not casually.
  • "Holy places" (מִקְדָּשִׁים, miqdāshīm): This word refers to sacred sites, likely including the temple and other places considered holy in Jerusalem. The warning is not just political but also spiritual, addressing the nation's religious life.
  • "Prophesy" (נָבָא, nāvā): This word means to speak as a prophet, delivering a message from God. The command highlights Ezekiel’s role as a spokesperson for God, not sharing his own opinions.

Why Ezekiel 21:2 matters

  • The verse clarifies that the coming judgment is comprehensive, targeting not only the city of Jerusalem but also its religious institutions and the whole land of Israel.
  • By specifying "holy places," Ezekiel 21:2 shows that even the most sacred parts of Israel are not exempt from accountability, challenging any sense of false security.
  • This verse sets the stage for the rest of the chapter, where the reasons and details of the judgment are explained, helping readers understand the seriousness of the situation facing Israel.

Where else these words appear

“drop” Hebrew H5197 · used in 14 verses

  • Judges 5:4 LORD, when thou wentest out of Seir, when thou marchedst out of the field of Edom, the earth trembled, and the heavens dropped, the clouds also dropped water.
  • Song of Solomon 4:11 Thy lips, O my spouse, drop as the honeycomb: honey and milk are under thy tongue; and the smell of thy garments is like the smell of Lebanon.
  • Joel 3:18 And it shall come to pass in that day, that the mountains shall drop down new wine, and the hills shall flow with milk, and all the rivers of Judah shall flow with waters, and a fountain shall come forth of the house of the LORD, and shall water the valley of Shittim.

“places” Hebrew H4720 · used in 71 verses

  • Exodus 15:17 Thou shalt bring them in, and plant them in the mountain of thine inheritance, in the place, O LORD, which thou hast made for thee to dwell in, in the Sanctuary, O Lord, which thy hands have established.
  • Nehemiah 10:39 For the children of Israel and the children of Levi shall bring the offering of the corn, of the new wine, and the oil, unto the chambers, where are the vessels of the sanctuary, and the priests that minister, and the porters, and the singers: and we will not forsake the house of our God.
  • Ezekiel 28:18 Thou hast defiled thy sanctuaries by the multitude of thine iniquities, by the iniquity of thy traffick; therefore will I bring forth a fire from the midst of thee, it shall devour thee, and I will bring thee to ashes upon the earth in the sight of all them that behold thee.

“prophesy” Hebrew H5012 · used in 102 verses

  • Numbers 11:25 And the LORD came down in a cloud, and spake unto him, and took of the spirit that was upon him, and gave it unto the seventy elders: and it came to pass, that, when the spirit rested upon them, they prophesied, and did not cease.
  • Jeremiah 20:1 Now Pashur the son of Immer the priest, who was also chief governor in the house of the LORD, heard that Jeremiah prophesied these things.
  • Ezekiel 13:2 Son of man, prophesy against the prophets of Israel that prophesy, and say thou unto them that prophesy out of their own hearts, Hear ye the word of the LORD;