Ezekiel 40:4
in Ezekiel 40“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.”
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
And the man said unto me, Son of man, behold with thine eyes, and hear with thine ears, and set thy heart upon all that I shall show thee; for, to the intent that I may show them unto thee, art thou brought hither: declare all that thou seest to the house of Israel.
KJV
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.
⋯
This verse in Ezekiel 40
Commentary
11 notes on this verseDeclare all that thou seest to the house of Israel - That they may know how to build the second temple, when they shall be restored from their captivity.
This site's exposition
the hand of the LORD was upon me
on Ezekiel 40:1-4
The vision is dated to the twenty-fifth year of the exile, the fourteenth after Jerusalem fell. A man whose appearance was like bronze meets the prophet with a linen cord and a measuring rod. The purpose comes before any measuring: “Report to the house of Israel everything you see”.
This site's exposition
Report to the house of Israel everything you see
Adam Clarke reads the purpose as instruction for building the second temple after the return. Patrick Fairbairn and Carl Keil read the vision as a symbol of God's kingdom, while dispensational writers expect a literal temple in a future age. Ezekiel 43:10 states the aim as shame for sin.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers3 voices
(Chapter XL - Verses 1 onwards) 'In the twenty-fifth year of our exile (or captivity), at the beginning of the year (or in the first month), on the tenth day of the month, fourteen years after the city was struck down (or captured): on that very day, the hand of the Lord was upon me, and He brought me there. In visions (or in a vision) of God, He brought me to the land of Israel, and set me down on a very high mountain, on which was like a city-building, facing southward (or from the south).' And he brought me there: and behold a man, whose appearance was like the appearance of brass (or shining brass); and a line of flax (or masons' line) was in his hand, and a measuring reed in his hand. And he stood in the gate: and he said to me, Son of man, see with your eyes, and hear with your ears, and set your heart upon all that I shall show you (or set in your heart all that I shall show you): for you have been brought (or entered) here for this purpose, and declare (or show) to the house of Israel all that you see. If, in the fifth year of captivity or exile of King Joachin, in the fourth month, in the fifth day of the month, the heavens were opened to the prophet Ezekiel by the river Chebar, and he saw visions of God; and now it is said that in the twenty-fifth year of the same captivity or exile of Jehoiachin, at the beginning of the year, in the tenth month, the hand of the Lord came upon him, and he was brought to the land of Israel and placed on a very high mountain, where he could see the city under construction, facing south; then there is no doubt that his entire prophecy was composed over a period of nineteen years, nine months, and five days of the twentieth year. […]
But it is not enough to command to see with the eyes and hear with the ears; but he added: And place your heart in all things; or, place in your heart all that I will show you. For nothing is of benefit to have seen and heard, unless you place those things that you have seen and heard in the treasure of memory. When, however, he says, 'all things that I will show you', he makes the listener attentive, and he prepares the eyes of the heart, so that he may hold in his memory those things that are to be shown to him, for you have been brought here so that all things may be shown to you.
Son of man, see with your eyes, and hear with your ears (Zech. XI): not with the eyes of the flesh, but with the spirit; not with the ears of the body, but with the soul. Lift up, he says, your eyes, and see that the fields are already white for harvest (John 4:35). And: He who has ears to hear, let him hear (Luke 8:8). The construction of the city is visible, and the order of the ceremonies and priests, and the description of the land can be heard.
The Medieval Church1 voice
A commentator
Gregory the DialogistHomilies on Ezekiel, Book 2, Homily 2 · Written before 604.
proposed
Brought to the testimony of spiritual things, what is it that when it is said: "See with eyes," "your" is added, and when it is subjoined "Hear with ears," "your" is added? But it should be known that the eyes and ears of the body are present even to carnal men, and are in use for them for things that are seen corporeally. But the eyes and ears of the heart belong only to spiritual men, who see invisible things through the intellect, and hear the praise of God without sound. The almighty Lord was seeking these ears when He said: "He who has ears to hear, let him hear." For who in that people could there have been then who did not have ears of the body? But when it is said: "He who has ears to hear, let him hear," it is openly shown that He was seeking those ears which not all could have. Let it be said therefore: "Son of man, see with your eyes, and hear with your ears." Now in the earlier part of our expositions we have already said why the prophet, as often as he is led to see spiritual things, is called son of man. But lest this should slip from mind, I briefly repeat that by this appellation he is always reminded what he is from weakness, lest he be lifted up by the greatness of contemplation. And it should be noted that it is distinctive that he is told, "See with your eyes, hear with your ears," and yet is called son of man. But through these words what else is openly said to him, except: behold spiritual things spiritually, and yet remember your carnal weaknesses? Hence it is also that often one who is more caught up in contemplation happens to be more wearied in temptation; as is wont to happen frequently to certain ones who are making good progress, whose mind, while either compunction affects it or contemplation carries it above itself, temptation also immediately follows, lest it be exalted on account of those things to which it was carried. […]
The Puritans and the Awakening1 voice
And the man said unto me, Son of man,....
3 more voices on this verse
The Puritans and the Awakening1 voice
Thus the Revelation of Jesus Christ was lodged in the hands of John, that he might signify it to the churches, Rev. i. And, because he is to declare it as a message from God, he must therefore be fully apprised of it himself and much affected with it. Note, Those who are to preach God's word to others ought to study it well themselves and set their hearts upon it.
The Nineteenth Century2 voices
WE learn from this text something concerning Ezekiel himself. He was certainly one of the greatest of the Prophets. His visions remind us of those of John, both for their brightness, splendor and number—and yet this eminent Prophet was, nevertheless, styled, "son of man." He is continually called by that name. The title is used over and over again throughout the book of his prophecies—"son of man" to remind him that even the Seer, the Prophet, the Inspired, the man who was indulged with vision upon vision—was still only a man. The best of men are men at the best! Those eyes that are strengthened to behold the cherubim and to gaze upon the stupendous wheels of Providence are still only the eyes of a son of man! The title was used to teach him humility and also to remind him of the condescension of God towards him and to fill him with awe and wonder that he should be chosen from the rest of mankind, though no more than they, to see such wondrous sights withheld from other eyes. To us this wears a very promising aspect, for if God can reveal Himself to one "son of man," why not to another? And if God can speak, as He did speak, so wonderfully through Ezekiel, one son of man, why not through you? Why not through me? For we, too, are sons of men! We have no worthiness or fitness and neither does Ezekiel claim any. He is reminded of his descent—he is still one of the sons of men.
WE learn from this text something concerning Ezekiel himself. He was certainly one of the greatest of the Prophets. His visions remind us of those of John, both for their brightness, splendor and number—and yet this eminent Prophet was, nevertheless, styled, "son of man." He is continually called by that name. The title is used over and over again throughout the book of his prophecies—"son of man" to remind him that even the Seer, the Prophet, the Inspired, the man who was indulged with vision upon vision—was still only a man. The best of men are men at the best!
The words behind it
29 Hebrew wordsEvery Hebrew word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.
| Hebrew | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| וַיְדַבֵּ֨ר | vaydaber | and he spoke | H1696 → | 1141 times |
| אֵלַ֜י | ʾelai | to me | H413 → | 5510 times |
| הָאִ֗ישׁ | haish | the man | H376 → | 1663 times |
| בֶּן־ | ben- | O son of | H1121 → | 4930 times |
| אָדָ֡ם | ʾadam | humankind | H120 → | 551 times |
| רְאֵ֣ה | reeh | see | H7200 → | 1300 times |
| בְעֵינֶיךָ֩ | veeineikha | with eyes your | H5869 → | 887 times |
| וּבְאָזְנֶ֨יךָ | uveazeneikha | and with ears your | H241 → | 187 times |
| שְּׁמָ֜ע | shema' | hear | H8085 → | 1159 times |
| וְשִׂ֣ים | vesim | and set | H7760 → | 584 times |
| לִבְּךָ֗ | libekha | heart your | H3820 → | 595 times |
| לְכֹ֤ל | lekhol | to all | H3605 → | 5413 times |
| אֲשֶׁר־ | ʾasher- | that | H834 → | 5497 times |
| אֲנִי֙ | ʾani | I | H589 → | 874 times |
| מַרְאֶ֣ה | mareh | [am] about to show | H7200 → | 1300 times |
| אוֹתָ֔ךְ | ʾotakh | <obj.> you | H853 → | 10935 times |
| כִּ֛י | ki | for | H3588 → | 4482 times |
| לְמַ֥עַן | lemaan | so as | H4616 → | 272 times |
| הַרְאוֹתְכָ֖ה | harotkhah | to show you | H7200 → | 1300 times |
| הֻבָ֣אתָה | huvatah | you have been brought | H935 → | 2568 times |
| הֵ֑נָּה | henah | hither | H2008 → | |
| הַגֵּ֛ד | haged | tell | H5046 → | 370 times |
| אֶת־ | ʾet- | <obj.> | H853 → | 10935 times |
| כָּל־ | kol- | all | H3605 → | 5413 times |
| אֲשֶׁר־ | ʾasher- | that | H834 → | 5497 times |
| אַתָּ֥ה | ʾatah | you | H859 → | 1094 times |
| רֹאֶ֖ה | roeh | [are] about to see | H7200 → | 1300 times |
| לְבֵ֥ית | leveit | to [the] house of | H1004 → | 2046 times |
| יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃ | yisrael | Israel | H3478 → | 2507 times |
וַיְדַבֵּ֨רand he spoke
vaydaberH1696 →1141 times
אֵלַ֜יto me
ʾelaiH413 →5510 times
הָאִ֗ישׁthe man
haishH376 →1663 times
בֶּן־O son of
ben-H1121 →4930 times
אָדָ֡םhumankind
ʾadamH120 →551 times
רְאֵ֣הsee
reehH7200 →1300 times
בְעֵינֶיךָ֩with eyes your
veeineikhaH5869 →887 times
וּבְאָזְנֶ֨יךָand with ears your
uveazeneikhaH241 →187 times
שְּׁמָ֜עhear
shema'H8085 →1159 times
וְשִׂ֣יםand set
vesimH7760 →584 times
לִבְּךָ֗heart your
libekhaH3820 →595 times
לְכֹ֤לto all
lekholH3605 →5413 times
אֲשֶׁר־that
ʾasher-H834 →5497 times
אֲנִי֙I
ʾaniH589 →874 times
מַרְאֶ֣ה[am] about to show
marehH7200 →1300 times
אוֹתָ֔ךְ<obj.> you
ʾotakhH853 →10935 times
כִּ֛יfor
kiH3588 →4482 times
לְמַ֥עַןso as
lemaanH4616 →272 times
הַרְאוֹתְכָ֖הto show you
harotkhahH7200 →1300 times
הֻבָ֣אתָהyou have been brought
huvatahH935 →2568 times
הֵ֑נָּהhither
henahH2008 →
הַגֵּ֛דtell
hagedH5046 →370 times
אֶת־<obj.>
ʾet-H853 →10935 times
כָּל־all
kol-H3605 →5413 times
אֲשֶׁר־that
ʾasher-H834 →5497 times
אַתָּ֥הyou
ʾatahH859 →1094 times
רֹאֶ֖ה[are] about to see
roehH7200 →1300 times
לְבֵ֥יתto [the] house of
leveitH1004 →2046 times
יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃Israel
yisraelH3478 →2507 times
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
8 stopsEach card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.
Through
Matthew 10:27What I tell you in the dark, speak in the daylight; what is whispered in your ear, proclaim from the housetops.
it leads to
- Acts 5:20
“Go, stand in the temple courts and tell the people the full message of this new life.”
- John 16:13
However, when the Spirit of truth comes, He will guide you into all truth. For He will not speak on His own, but He will speak what He hears, and He will declare to…
- John 16:1
“I have told you these things so that you will not fall away.
- Proverbs 1:20–23
Wisdom calls out in the street, she lifts her voice in the square;
- Acts 5:20
Through
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…
it leads to
- Deuteronomy 4:2
You must not add to or subtract from what I command you, so that you may keep the commandments of the LORD your God that I am giving you.
- Matthew 28:20
and teaching them to obey all that I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”
- Acts 20:27
For I did not shrink back from declaring to you the whole will of God.
- Jeremiah 19:14
Then Jeremiah returned from Topheth, where the LORD had sent him to prophesy, and he stood in the courtyard of the house of the LORD and proclaimed to all the people,
- Deuteronomy 4:2
Where this verse is studied
On this page
Studies4
About Ezekiel

This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Carl Friedrich Keil, Biblical Commentary on the Prophecies of Ezekiel; Charles Spurgeon, The Metropolitan Tabernacle Pulpit, Sermon No. 1578: “Taught That We May Teach” (lightly modernized text, CCEL edition); Gregory the Dialogist, Homilies on Ezekiel, Book 2, Homily 2; Jerome, Commentary on Ezekiel; John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament (1748-1763); Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible and Patrick Fairbairn, An Exposition of Ezekiel.
