Ezekiel 25:1

Study note

Setting — The LORD addresses Ezekiel directly, delivering a prophetic message at the moment the oracle against the Ammonites begins. This verse serves as the formal introduction to the judgment declared in Ezekiel 25:2.

The words — The phrase דְבַר־יְהוָה (de.var-Yahweh) literally translates to "word of Yahweh," identifying the message as divine authority. The verb וַיְהִי (va.yehi) means "and it came," marking the sudden arrival of this communication to the prophet.

The thread — This exact formulaic introduction recurs throughout the prophetic corpus, such as Jeremiah 1:4 and 1 Samuel 15:10, to signal the start of a new oracle. It consistently marks the transition from narrative to divine speech.

Why it lands — It requires the reader to recognize the speaker's authority and prepare for the judgment that follows. The verse demands attention to the source of the message rather than the messenger.

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.