New English Translation
Ezekiel 20:47
47and say to the scrub land of the Negev, ‘Hear the word of the Lord: This is what the sovereign Lord says: Look here, I am about to start a fire in you, and it will devour every green tree and every dry tree in you. The flaming fire will not be extinguished, and the whole surface of the ground from the Negev to the north will be scorched by it.
Ezekiel 20:47 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)And say to the forest of the south, Hear the word of the Lord; Thus saith the Lord God; Behold, I will kindle a fire in thee, and it shall devour every green tree in thee, and every dry tree: the flaming flame shall not be quenched, and all faces from the south to the north shall be burned therein.
- New International Version (NIV)Say to the southern forest: ‘Hear the word of the Lord. This is what the Sovereign Lord says: I am about to set fire to you, and it will consume all your trees, both green and dry. The blazing flame will not be quenched, and every face from south to north will be scorched by it.
- English Standard Version (ESV)Say to the forest of the Negeb, Hear the word of the Lord: Thus says the Lord God, Behold, I will kindle a fire in you, and it shall devour every green tree in you and every dry tree. The blazing flame shall not be quenched, and all faces from south to north shall be scorched by it.
- New King James Version (NKJV)and say to the forest of the South, ‘Hear the word of the Lord! Thus says the Lord God: “Behold, I will kindle a fire in you, and it shall devour every green tree and every dry tree in you; the blazing flame shall not be quenched, and all faces from the south to the north shall be scorched by it.
Context of Ezekiel 20:47
45(21:1) The word of the Lord came to me: 46“Son of man, turn toward the south, and speak out against the south. Prophesy against the open scrub land of the Negev, and say to the scrub land of the Negev, ‘Hear the word of the Lord: This is what the sovereign Lord says: Look here, I am about to start a fire in you, and it will devour every green tree and every dry tree in you. The flaming fire will not be extinguished, and the whole surface of the ground from the Negev to the north will be scorched by it. 48And everyone will see that I, the Lord, have burned it; it will not be extinguished.’” 49Then I said, “O sovereign Lord! They are saying of me, ‘Does he not simply speak in eloquent figures of speech?’”
Read all of Ezekiel 20Ezekiel 20:47 word by word
וְאָֽמַרְתָּ֙ לְיַ֣עַר הַנֶּ֔גֶב שְׁמַ֖ע דְּבַר־יְהוָ֑ה כֹּֽה־אָמַ֣ר אֲדֹנָ֣י יְהוִ֡ה הִנְנִ֣י מַֽצִּית־בְּךָ֣׀ אֵ֡שׁ וְאָכְלָ֣ה בְךָ֣ כָל־עֵֽץ־לַח֩ וְכָל־עֵ֨ץ יָבֵ֤שׁ לֹֽא־תִכְבֶּה֙ לַהֶ֣בֶת שַׁלְהֶ֔בֶת וְנִצְרְבוּ־בָ֥הּ כָּל־פָּנִ֖ים מִנֶּ֥גֶב צָפֽוֹנָה׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- And sayאָמַר'âmar · to sayH559
- to the forestיַ֫עַרya‛ar · woodH3293
- of the southנֶ֫גֶבnegeb · NegebH5045
- Hearשָׁמַעshâma‛ · to hear: hearH8085
- the wordדָּבָרdâbâr · wordH1697
- of the Lordיְהֹוָהyehôvâh · LORDH3068
- the Lordאֲדֹנָי'ădônây · LordH136
- Godיְהֹוִהyehôvih · YHWH/GodH3069
- Behold, I will kindleיָצַתyâtsath · to kindleH3341
- a fireאֵשׁ'êsh · fireH784
- in thee, and it shall devourאָכַל'âkal · to eatH398
- every greenלַחlach · freshH3892
- treeעֵץ‛êts · treeH6086
- in thee, and every dryיָבֵשׁyâbêsh · dryH3002
- the flamingלֶהָבָהlehâbâh lahebeth · flameH3852
- flameשַׁלְהֶ֫בֶתshalhebeth · flameH7957
- shall not be quenchedכָּבָהkâbâh · to quenchH3518
- and all facesפָּנֶהpânîym · faceH6440
- to the northצָפוֹןtsâphôn tsâphôn · northH6828
- shall be burnedצָרַבtsârab · to burnH6866
Commentaries on Ezekiel 20:47
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 47I will kindle a fire - I will send war, "and it shall devour every green tree," the most eminent and substantial of the inhabitants; and every dry tree, the lowest and meanest also. The flaming flame shall not be quenched - The fierce ravages of Nebuchadnezzar and the Chaldeans shall not be stopped till the whole land is ruined. All faces from the south to the north shalt be burned - From the one end of the land to the other there shall be nothing but…Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 45-49Verses 45-49 This paragraph is in the Hebrew text, Septuagint and Vulgate the beginning of Ezekiel 20:46 In this verse occur three Hebrew synonyms for “south,” denoting: (1) the region on the right, Teman 1 Samuel 23:24; (2) the region of dryness, Negeb Joshua 15:4; (3) the region of brightness, Darom Deuteronomy 33:23. The variety of terms helps the force of the application. Chebar is in the north of Babylonia; from the north the Chaldaeans came upon…Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 45-49Verses 45-49 Judah and Jerusalem had been full of people, as a forest of trees, but empty of fruit. God's word prophesies against those who bring not forth the fruits of righteousness. When He will ruin a nation, who or what can save it? The plainest truths were as parables to the people. It is common for those who will not be wrought upon by the word, to blame it.Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 47A green tree usually does not burn easily, but a dry tree catches fire quickly. This judgment fire would be so intense that it would burn all types of trees.Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 45-4945-49. An introductory brief description in enigma of the destruction by fire and sword, detailed more explicitly in Eze 21:1-32.Read the comment
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Ezekiel 20
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
- Tyndale Open Study Notes
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
- Rashi on Tanakh
- Calvin’s Commentaries
- Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
- John Wesley’s Notes
- Darby Translation Notes
- Geneva Bible Translation Notes
- Kingcomments
- Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
- Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
- Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
- Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
- EGW Writings
New English Translation — © 1996-2016 Biblical Studies Press, L.L.C.
Commentaries