Bible Strands
Ezekiel 11:15
“Son of man, your brothers—your relatives, your fellow exiles, and the whole house of Israel—are those of whom the people of Jerusalem have said, ‘They are far away from the LORD; this land has been given to us as a possession.’
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — The Lord addresses Ezekiel as “Son of man” during a prophetic declaration concerning the exiled community and Jerusalem’s inhabitants. This moment occurs immediately after God commands Ezekiel to speak against the residents who claim divine favor.
The words — The text uses אָדָם ('adam, “humankind”) and גְאֻלָּתֶךָ (ge'ullatekha, “your redemption”) alongside אַחֶיךָ ('aCheikha, “your brothers”) to define the familial and covenantal ties between the prophet, his exiled kin, and the people remaining in Jerusalem.
The thread — The Jerusalem residents’ claim to exclusive land possession appears in Ezekiel 33:24, where they cite Abraham’s single inheritance. Parallel arrogance surfaces in Isaiah 65:5 and Isaiah 66:5, where people demand separation, declare personal holiness, and persecute those who tremble at God’s word.
Why it lands — The verse states that geographic displacement does not nullify divine ownership or covenant accountability. It requires readers to reject territorial entitlement and recognize that God’s presence and judgment operate beyond physical borders.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Hebrew words
King James Version
Son of man, thy brethren, even thy brethren, the men of thy kindred, and all the house of Israel wholly, are they unto whom the inhabitants of Jerusalem have said, Get you far from the Lord: unto us is this land given in possession.
Cross-references
- Ezekiel 33:24 “Son of man, those living in the ruins in the land of Israel are saying, ‘Abraham was only one man, yet he possessed the land. But we are many; surely the land has been given to us as a possession.’
- Isaiah 65:5 They say, ‘Keep to yourself; do not come near me, for I am holier than you!’ Such people are smoke in My nostrils, a fire that burns all day long.
- Isaiah 66:5 You who tremble at His word, hear the word of the LORD: “Your brothers who hate you and exclude you because of My name have said, ‘Let the LORD be glorified that we may see your joy!’ But they will be put to shame.”
- Jeremiah 24:1 After Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon had carried away Jeconiah son of Jehoiakim king of Judah, as well as the officials of Judah and the craftsmen and metalsmiths from Jerusalem, and had brought them to Babylon, the LORD showed me two baskets of figs placed in front of the temple of the LORD.
- John 16:2 They will put you out of the synagogues. In fact, a time is coming when anyone who kills you will think he is offering a service to God.