Ezekiel 20:45-49·~1 min

A Prophecy against the South

The word of the LORD directs Ezekiel to set his face toward the south and prophesy against the forest of the Negev. God will kindle a fire there that consumes every green and dry tree alike, and its blazing flame will scorch all from south to north so everyone knows the LORD has kindled it. But the people respond by treating Ezekiel as a speaker of riddles rather than hearing the coming judgment.

N⁴⁵ow the word of the LORD came to me, saying, ⁴⁶“Son of man, set your face toward the south, preach against it, and prophesy against the forest of the Negev. ⁴⁷Say to the forest of the Negev: Hear the word of the LORD! This is what the Lord GOD says: I am about to ignite in you a fire, and it will devour all your trees, both green and dry. The blazing flame will not be quenched, and by it every face from south to north will be scorched. ⁴⁸Then all people will see that I, the LORD, have kindled it; it will not be quenched.” ⁴⁹Then I said, “Ah, Lord GOD, they are saying of me, ‘Is he not just telling parables?’”

Section summaryThe chapter closes by turning Ezekiel's face toward the south and announcing a consuming fire against the forestland of the Negev. The fire will burn green and dry trees alike and blaze from south to north so unmistakably that all flesh will know the LORD has kindled it. Yet the people dismiss the prophecy as mere figurative speech, exposing again the dullness that has marked them throughout the chapter.

Role in the chapterThis section ends the chapter by moving from historical review to imminent oracle, showing that present judgment is already kindling despite the people's refusal to take prophecy seriously.