Ezekiel 40:4

“Son of man,” he said to me, “look with your eyes, hear with your ears, and pay attention to everything I am going to show you, for that is why you have been brought here. Report to the house of Israel everything you see.”

Berean Standard Bible

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Study note

Setting — A man resembling bronze stands in the temple gateway holding a linen cord and measuring rod. He addresses Ezekiel, commanding him to observe and listen so he can report everything to the house of Israel.

The words — רְאֵה (re'eh) means "see" and is paired with בְּ/אָזְנֶי/ךָ (be'azneka) "with your ears," forming a direct command to perceive visually and audibly. The address בֶּן־אָדָם (ben-adam) literally translates to "son of humankind."

The thread — This directive to observe and report appears in Ezekiel 44:5 and Jeremiah 26:2, where the Lord similarly commands the prophet to listen carefully and deliver the spoken words to the people.

Why it lands — The text demands active sensory engagement and faithful transmission of the vision to Israel. It requires the reader to accept the role of a witness who records and conveys what is shown without alteration.

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

וַיְדַבֵּ֨רva/y.da.Berand/ he spoke אֵלַ֜י'e.La/ito/ me הָאִ֗ישׁha./'Ishthe/ man בֶּן־ben-O son of אָדָ֡ם'a.Damhumankind רְאֵ֣הre.'Ehsee בְעֵינֶיךָ֩ve./'ei.nei./Khawith/ eyes/ your וּבְאָזְנֶ֨יךָu./ve./'a.ze.Nei./khaand/ with/ ears/ your שְּׁמָ֜עshe.Ma'hear וְשִׂ֣יםve./Simand/ set לִבְּךָ֗li.be./Khaheart/ your לְכֹ֤לle./Kholto/ all אֲשֶׁר־'a.Sher-that אֲנִי֙'a.NiI מַרְאֶ֣הmar.'Eh[am] about to show אוֹתָ֔ךְ'o.Ta/kh<obj.>/ you כִּ֛יkifor לְמַ֥עַןle.Ma.'anso as הַרְאוֹתְכָ֖הhar.'ot./Khahto show/ you הֻבָ֣אתָהhu.Va.tahyou have been brought הֵ֑נָּהHe.nahhither הַגֵּ֛דha.Gedtell אֶת־'et-<obj.>כָּל־kol-all אֲשֶׁר־'a.Sher-that אַתָּ֥ה'a.Tahyou רֹאֶ֖הro.'Eh[are] about to see לְבֵ֥יתle./Veitto/ [the] house of יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃Yis.ra.'ElIsrael

King James Version

And the man said unto me, Son of man, behold with thine eyes, and hear with thine ears, and set thine heart upon all that I shall shew thee; for to the intent that I might shew them unto thee art thou brought hither: declare all that thou seest to the house of Israel.

Cross-references

Ezekiel 44:5 The LORD said to me: “Son of man, pay attention; look carefully with your eyes and listen closely with your ears to everything I tell you concerning all the statutes and laws of the house of the LORD. Take careful note of the entrance to the temple, along with all the exits of the sanctuary.
Jeremiah 26:2 “This is what the LORD says: Stand in the courtyard of the house of the LORD and speak all the words I have commanded you to speak to all the cities of Judah who come to worship there. Do not omit a word.
Ezekiel 2:7 But speak My words to them, whether they listen or refuse to listen, for they are rebellious.
Ezekiel 43:10 As for you, son of man, describe the temple to the people of Israel, so that they may be ashamed of their iniquities. Let them measure the plan,
Matthew 10:27 What I tell you in the dark, speak in the daylight; what is whispered in your ear, proclaim from the housetops.
Ezekiel 2:1 “Son of man,” He said to me, “stand up on your feet and I will speak to you.”
Ezekiel 3:17 “Son of man, I have made you a watchman for the house of Israel. Whenever you hear a word from My mouth, give them a warning from Me.
Matthew 13:9 He who has ears, let him hear.”
Isaiah 21:10 O my people, crushed on the threshing floor, I tell you what I have heard from the LORD of Hosts, the God of Israel.
Matthew 13:51 Have you understood all these things?” “Yes,” they answered.