Ezekiel 4:2

Then lay siege against it: Construct a siege wall, build a ramp to it, set up camps against it, and place battering rams around it on all sides.

Berean Standard Bible

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Study note

Setting — God speaks to Ezekiel as "son of man" during a prophetic enactment that precedes the historical military campaign against Jerusalem.

The words — מָצוֹר (ma.Tzor) means "a siege," and שָׁפַכְתָּ (sha.fakh.Ta) translates literally to "you will pour out," both describing the physical construction of military encirclement.

The thread — The specific imagery of siege ramps, battering rams, and complete encirclement recurs in Ezekiel 21:22, Jeremiah 6:6, and Jeremiah 39:1.

Why it lands — The text commands a physical demonstration of total isolation, requiring the reader to confront the inevitability of the city's military collapse.

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

וְנָתַתָּ֨הve./na.ta.Tahand/ you will make עָלֶ֜יהָ'a.Lei./haon/ it מָצ֗וֹרma.Tzora siege וּבָנִ֤יתָu./va.Ni.taand/ you will build עָלֶ֙יהָ֙'a.Lei./haon/ it דָּיֵ֔קda.Yeka siege-wall וְשָׁפַכְתָּ֥ve./sha.fakh.Taand/ you will pour out עָלֶ֖יהָ'a.Lei./haon/ it סֹֽלְלָ֑הso.le.Laha mound וְנָתַתָּ֨הve./na.ta.Tahand/ you will set up עָלֶ֧יהָ'a.Lei./haon/ it מַחֲנ֛וֹתma.cha.Notarmies וְשִׂים־ve./sim-and/ set עָלֶ֥יהָ'a.Lei./haon/ it כָּרִ֖יםka.Rimbattering-rams סָבִֽיב׃sa.Vivall around

King James Version

And lay siege against it, and build a fort against it, and cast a mount against it; set the camp also against it, and set battering rams against it round about.

Cross-references

Ezekiel 21:22 In his right hand appears the portent for Jerusalem, where he is to set up battering rams, to call for the slaughter, to lift a battle cry, to direct the battering rams against the gates, to build a ramp, and to erect a siege wall.
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 39:1 In the ninth year of Zedekiah king of Judah, in the tenth month, Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon marched against Jerusalem with his entire army and laid siege to the city.
Jeremiah 52:4 So in the ninth year of Zedekiah’s reign, on the tenth day of the tenth month, Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon marched against Jerusalem with his entire army. They encamped outside the city and built a siege wall all around it.
Luke 19:42 and said, “If only you had known on this day what would bring you peace! But now it is hidden from your eyes.