Bible Strands
Ezekiel 3:25
And you, son of man, they will tie with ropes, and you will be bound so that you cannot go out among the people.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — God speaks through the Spirit to Ezekiel immediately after lifting him to his feet and commanding him to shut himself inside his house.
The words — עֲבוֹתִים (a.vo.Tim) means “ropes,” and וַ/אֲסָר֖וּ/ךָ (va./'a.sa.Ru./kha) translates literally as “and they will bind you.”
The thread — This imagery of divine restraint reappears in Ezekiel 4:8, where God again ties the prophet with ropes to symbolize siege conditions. The New Testament later uses similar binding language to describe future physical restraint, such as in John 21:18.
Why it lands — The text demands recognition that God’s messengers may be physically and vocally restricted while carrying out their commission. Readers must acknowledge that divine instruction sometimes operates through enforced helplessness rather than active ministry.
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
But thou, O son of man, behold, they shall put bands upon thee, and shall bind thee with them, and thou shalt not go out among them:
Cross-references
- Ezekiel 4:8 Now behold, I will tie you up with ropes so you cannot turn from side to side until you have finished the days of your siege.
- Mark 3:21 When His family heard about this, they went out to take custody of Him, saying, “He is out of His mind.”
- John 21:18 Truly, truly, I tell you, when you were young, you dressed yourself and walked where you wanted; but when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will dress you and lead you where you do not want to go.”
- Acts 9:16 I will show him how much he must suffer for My name.”
- Acts 20:23 I only know that in town after town the Holy Spirit warns me that chains and afflictions await me.
- Acts 21:11 Coming over to us, he took Paul’s belt, bound his own feet and hands, and said, “The Holy Spirit says: ‘In this way the Jews of Jerusalem will bind the owner of this belt and hand him over to the Gentiles.’”