Ezekiel 31:1 (KJV)

What does Ezekiel 31:1 mean?

Ezekiel 31:1 marks a specific moment when God’s message comes to the prophet Ezekiel: it is the eleventh year, third month, and first day of the month. The verse sets the exact date and makes clear that what follows is a direct communication from God to Ezekiel.

Ezekiel, a prophet living among the Jewish exiles in Babylon, receives this word from God during a time of crisis for his people. The verse serves as an introduction to a new prophetic message, anchoring it in real historical time and emphasizing its authority as coming from the LORD. This careful dating shows the seriousness and precision with which these messages were recorded.

The Hebrew behind Ezekiel 31:1

• יְהוָה (YHWH, transliterated as "Yahweh" or "the LORD"): This is the personal name of God in the Hebrew Bible, highlighting that the message comes from the God of Israel, not a generic deity.
• דָּבָר (davar, “word”): This word often means a message or communication, not just a single word. Here, it stresses that Ezekiel is receiving a significant message, not just a passing thought.
• שָׁנָה (shanah, “year”), חֹדֶשׁ (chodesh, “month”), שְׁלִישִׁי (shelishi, “third”), אֶחָד (echad, “first”), עָשָׂר (asar, “eleventh”): These words specify the date in Hebrew, showing the importance of timing in prophetic messages and helping readers connect this event to real history.

Why Ezekiel 31:1 matters

• The verse’s precise date helps historians and readers place Ezekiel’s message in the context of the events surrounding the fall of Jerusalem and the exile, making the prophecy more concrete and trustworthy.
• By stating that the “word of the LORD” came to Ezekiel, the verse emphasizes that what follows is not Ezekiel’s own opinion but a message with divine authority.
• This introduction signals a shift to a new section or prophecy, helping readers follow the structure and flow of Ezekiel’s book.