Bible Strands
Ezekiel 17:2
“Son of man, pose a riddle; speak a parable to the house of Israel
Berean Standard Bible
Follow its threads on the canvas →
Study note
Setting — The Lord addresses Ezekiel as "son of man" and commands him to deliver a riddle and parable to the house of Israel. This directive follows the initial prophetic commission recorded in Ezekiel 17:1.
The words — The Hebrew חִידָה (chidah) and מָשָׁל (mashal) translate literally to "riddle" and "parable." These terms specify the symbolic literary forms Ezekiel must employ to convey the upcoming message.
The thread — The prophetic use of parables reappears in Ezekiel 20:49 and is later quoted in Matthew 13:35 regarding Jesus' teaching method. The genre parallels the political allegory structure seen in Judges 9:8.
Why it lands — The text requires Ezekiel to transmit a metaphorical message to Israel without alteration. Readers must accept that prophetic communication often operates through encoded imagery rather than direct statement.
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, put forth a riddle, and speak a parable unto the house of Israel;
Cross-references
- Ezekiel 20:49 Then I said, “Ah, Lord GOD, they are saying of me, ‘Is he not just telling parables?’”
- Matthew 13:35 So was fulfilled what was spoken through the prophet: “I will open My mouth in parables; I will utter things hidden since the foundation of the world.”
- Judges 9:8 One day the trees set out to anoint a king for themselves. They said to the olive tree, ‘Reign over us.’
- Judges 14:12 “Let me tell you a riddle,” Samson said to them. “If you can solve it for me within the seven days of the feast, I will give you thirty linen garments and thirty sets of clothes.
- 2 Samuel 12:1 Then the LORD sent Nathan to David, and when he arrived, he said, “There were two men in a certain city, one rich and the other poor.
- Ezekiel 24:3 Now speak a parable to this rebellious house and tell them that this is what the Lord GOD says: ‘Put the pot on the fire; put it on and pour in the water.
- Hosea 12:10 I spoke through the prophets and multiplied their visions; I gave parables through the prophets.
- Matthew 13:13 This is why I speak to them in parables: ‘Though seeing, they do not see; though hearing, they do not hear or understand.’
- Mark 4:33 With many such parables Jesus spoke the word to them, to the extent that they could understand.
- 1 Corinthians 13:12 Now we see but a dim reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.