Curated lists of commentaries and theological works.

Illustration by Gustave Doré of the vision of the Valley of the Dry Bones (Ezekiel 37:4-5)
Old Testament

The Book of Ezekiel

Illustration by Gustave Doré of the vision of the Valley of the Dry Bones (Ezekiel 37:4-5)

Book Facts

Author:Ezekiel, priest and prophet¹
Date Written:Approximately 593-571 BC²
Original Audience:Jewish exiles in Babylon³
Literary Genre:Prophetic literature/apocalyptic⁴
Testament:Old Testament
Canonical Order:26
Chapters:48
Key Themes:
God's glory and holiness⁵Divine judgment and restoration⁶Individual responsibility⁷Covenant renewal and transformation⁸
Jesus Theme:

Jesus as the Good Shepherd who seeks the lost (Psalm 23:1; Ezekiel 34:11-16; John 10:11)⁹; Jesus as the cornerstone of God's new temple (Psalm 118:22; Ezekiel 40-48; Ephesians 2:20)¹⁰

What Makes Ezekiel Essential for Understanding God's Glory and Covenant Restoration?

The book of Ezekiel stands as one of the most visually dramatic and theologically profound prophetic works in Scripture, written by Ezekiel the priest-prophet during the Babylonian exile between 593-571 BC.¹¹ Ezekiel was among the first wave of Jewish exiles taken to Babylon in 597 BC along with King Jehoiachin, and he began his prophetic ministry five years into exile when he received his extraordinary inaugural vision by the Kebar River.¹² The book addresses the Jewish exiles in Babylon who were struggling with questions about God's faithfulness, the meaning of their suffering, and whether they had a future as God's covenant people.¹³ The historical context encompasses the final years of Judah's independence, the destruction of Jerusalem and the temple in 586 BC, and the early decades of Babylonian captivity when hope seemed lost.¹⁴ Ezekiel's unique dual role as both priest and prophet gives him special insight into the temple's significance and the nature of God's holiness, while his exile experience allows him to address the spiritual and emotional needs of displaced people. The book serves to vindicate God's righteousness in judgment while promising ultimate restoration and renewal for His covenant people.

Ezekiel Commentaries

Ezekial

Ezekial

Margaret S. Odell

Ezekiel

Ezekiel

Iain Duguid

Ezekiel

Ezekiel

Lamar Cooper

Ezekiel 1-19

Ezekiel 1-19

Leslie C. Allen

Ezekiel 20-48

Ezekiel 20-48

Leslie C. Allen

Ezekiel, Daniel

Ezekiel, Daniel

Eugene Carpenter, David Thompson

How Does Ezekiel Present God's Glory, Judgment, and Promise of Restoration?

The book opens with Ezekiel's overwhelming vision of God's throne-chariot, establishing the central theme of divine glory that permeates the entire work and demonstrates that God's presence is not confined to the Jerusalem temple.¹⁵ Ezekiel employs vivid symbolic actions, dramatic visions, and powerful oracles to communicate God's messages, including lying on his side for over a year, eating food cooked over dung, and having his hair cut and divided to represent Jerusalem's fate. The prophet's ministry divides into three major phases: oracles of judgment against Judah and Jerusalem (chapters 1-24), oracles against foreign nations (chapters 25-32), and oracles of hope and restoration (chapters 33-48). Central to Ezekiel's theology is the concept of individual responsibility before God, challenging the popular notion that people suffer only for their ancestors' sins while emphasizing personal accountability for covenant faithfulness.¹⁶ The book's latter section presents some of Scripture's most detailed promises of restoration, including the vision of dry bones coming to life, the reunification of Israel and Judah, and the elaborate description of a new temple where God's glory returns to dwell among His people. Throughout the work, the phrase "they will know that I am the LORD" appears over 60 times, emphasizing that both judgment and restoration serve to reveal God's character and vindicate His reputation among the nations.

Key Themes in Ezekiel:

  • The overwhelming glory and holiness of God (Ezekiel 1:26-28, 43:1-5)

  • Divine judgment on covenant unfaithfulness and idolatry (Ezekiel 8-11, 16, 23)

  • Individual responsibility and accountability before God (Ezekiel 18:1-32, 33:10-20)

  • God's reputation and name among the nations (Ezekiel 36:16-23, 39:7)

  • The promise of spiritual transformation and new hearts (Ezekiel 11:19-20, 36:24-28)

  • Restoration of Israel and the land (Ezekiel 37:1-28, 47:1-12)

  • The vision of God's new temple and renewed worship (Ezekiel 40-48)

Why Does Ezekiel Remain Crucial for Understanding God's Character and Future Hope?

Ezekiel's enduring significance lies in its powerful testimony to God's unwavering commitment to His covenant promises despite human unfaithfulness, providing hope for believers facing exile, displacement, or spiritual desolation. The book offers contemporary Christians profound insights into God's holiness and the serious nature of sin while simultaneously revealing His compassionate heart for restoration and renewal. Ezekiel's emphasis on individual responsibility speaks directly to modern believers, emphasizing that each person stands accountable before God while also being invited into personal relationship with Him through spiritual transformation. The prophet's vision of dry bones coming to life has become one of Scripture's most powerful images of resurrection hope, speaking to both physical resurrection and spiritual renewal that God brings to seemingly hopeless situations. Throughout church history, Ezekiel has provided theological foundation for understanding God's glory, the nature of true worship, and the promise of ultimate restoration that finds fulfillment in Christ and the new covenant. For contemporary believers, the book offers essential perspective on God's sovereignty over nations and history, encouragement for those experiencing spiritual dryness or displacement, and confident hope in God's power to bring life from death and restoration from ruin, ultimately pointing to the perfect restoration found in Jesus Christ and His eternal kingdom.

FAQs

What is the significance of Ezekiel's vision of God's throne-chariot?+

The throne-chariot vision (chapters 1 and 10) reveals God's mobility and sovereignty, showing that His presence is not confined to the Jerusalem temple. The vision emphasizes God's transcendence while demonstrating His ability to be present with His people even in exile.

Why does Ezekiel perform such unusual symbolic actions?+

Ezekiel's dramatic symbolic acts serve as prophetic signs to capture attention and communicate God's messages in memorable ways. These actions helped the exiles understand the severity of Jerusalem's situation and the certainty of God's pronouncements.

What does Ezekiel teach about individual responsibility?+

Ezekiel 18 emphasizes that each person is accountable for their own actions rather than being condemned for ancestral sins. This doctrine provides hope for personal repentance and renewal while maintaining the importance of covenant faithfulness.

How should we understand Ezekiel's vision of the new temple (chapters 40-48)?+

The temple vision likely represents the ultimate restoration of God's presence among His people. Some interpret it literally as a future physical temple, while others see it symbolically as representing the perfect worship and communion between God and His people fulfilled in Christ.

What is the meaning of the valley of dry bones vision?+

The dry bones vision (chapter 37) symbolizes Israel's spiritual death in exile and God's power to restore national life. It serves as a powerful image of resurrection hope and demonstrates God's ability to bring life from apparent death, both nationally and individually.

Citations & References

¹ Daniel I. Block, The Book of Ezekiel: Chapters 1-24 (Eerdmans, 1997), 8-10.

² Iain M. Duguid, Ezekiel (NIV Application Commentary, Zondervan, 1999), 25-27.

³ Margaret S. Odell, Ezekiel (Smyth & Helwys, 2005), 15-17.

⁴ Paul M. Joyce, Ezekiel: A Commentary (T&T Clark, 2007), 35-37.

⁵ Christopher J.H. Wright, The Message of Ezekiel (InterVarsity Press, 2001), 45-47.

⁶ Lamar Eugene Cooper, Ezekiel (New American Commentary, B&H Academic, 1994), 30-32.

⁷ Leslie C. Allen, Ezekiel 1-19 (Word Biblical Commentary, Thomas Nelson, 1994), 40-42.

⁸ Moshe Greenberg, Ezekiel 1-20 (Anchor Bible, Doubleday, 1983), 25-27.

⁹ John B. Taylor, Ezekiel (Tyndale Old Testament Commentaries, InterVarsity Press, 2009), 55-57.

¹⁰ Ralph H. Alexander, Ezekiel (Moody Press, 2008), 20-22.

¹¹ Block, Book of Ezekiel: Chapters 1-24, 12-14.

¹² Duguid, Ezekiel, 28-30.

¹³ Odell, Ezekiel, 18-20.

¹⁴ Joyce, Ezekiel: A Commentary, 40-42.

¹⁵ Wright, Message of Ezekiel, 50-52.

¹⁶ Cooper, Ezekiel, 185-187.

Study Bibles with Ezekiel Notes

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