Bible Strands
Ezekiel 4:1
“Now you, son of man, take a brick, place it before you, and draw on it the city of Jerusalem.
Berean Standard Bible
Follow its threads on the canvas →
Study note
Setting — God addresses Ezekiel as "son of man" and commands him to take a brick and draw Jerusalem on it. This occurs at the opening of a prophetic sequence detailing the city's impending siege.
The words — לְבֵנָה (le.venah) translates literally to "a brick," and קַח (kach) means "take." These terms ground the divine command in a physical object rather than an abstract vision.
The thread — The use of tangible objects to enact prophecy appears in Hosea 1:2, 1 Samuel 15:27, and 1 Kings 11:30. These passages establish a pattern where physical actions communicate divine messages.
Why it lands — The text requires the reader to observe a concrete sign before any theological conclusion is drawn. It demands attention to the physical preparation for Jerusalem's siege as a direct act of obedience.
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
Thou also, son of man, take thee a tile, and lay it before thee, and pourtray upon it the city, even Jerusalem:
Cross-references
- Hosea 1:2 When the LORD first spoke through Hosea, He told him, “Go, take a prostitute as your wife and have children of adultery, because this land is flagrantly prostituting itself by departing from the LORD.”
- 1 Samuel 15:27 As Samuel turned to go, Saul grabbed the hem of his robe, and it tore.
- 1 Kings 11:30 And Ahijah took hold of the new cloak he was wearing, tore it into twelve pieces,
- Isaiah 20:2 the LORD had already spoken through Isaiah son of Amoz, saying, “Go, remove the sackcloth from your waist and the sandals from your feet.” And Isaiah did so, walking around naked and barefoot.
- Jeremiah 6:6 For this is what the LORD of Hosts says: “Cut down the trees and raise a siege ramp against Jerusalem. This city must be punished; there is nothing but oppression in her midst.
- Jeremiah 13:1 This is what the LORD said to me: “Go and buy yourself a linen loincloth and put it around your waist, but do not let it touch water.”
- Jeremiah 18:2 “Go down at once to the potter’s house, and there I will give you My message.”
- Jeremiah 19:1 This is what the LORD says: “Go and buy a clay jar from a potter. Take some of the elders of the people and leaders of the priests,
- Jeremiah 25:15 This is what the LORD, the God of Israel, said to me: “Take from My hand this cup of the wine of wrath, and make all the nations to whom I send you drink from it.
- Jeremiah 27:2 This is what the LORD said to me: “Make for yourself a yoke out of leather straps and put it on your neck.