The name “Ezekiel” means “God strengthens.”
The etymology? In Hebrew “el” is one of God’s Names, also meaning “to be strong.” Plus the verb “chazaq,” meaning “to prevail,” a battle term. In fact, “chazaq” is translated these ways in the King James Bible: “strong” 48 times, “repair” 47 times, “hold” 37 times, “strengthened” 28 times, “strengthen” 14 times, “harden” 13 times, “prevail” 10 times, “encourage” 9 times, “take” 9 times, “courage” 8 times, “caught” 5 times , “stronger” 5 times, and “hold” 5 more times. A pretty consistent range of meanings.
What a name!
As far as I can tell (amazingly) the proper noun Ezekiel is only used in the Bible two times, both in the Book that bears his name.
We learn almost immediately (Ezekiel 1:3) that the man was a “priest.” Here’s the verse: “The word of the LORD came expressly unto Ezekiel the priest, the son of Buzi, in the land of the Chaldeans by the river Chebar; and the hand of the LORD was there upon him.”
Also among the Prophets of the Bible … Jeremiah and Zechariah and John the Baptist were sons of priests, therefore Priests themselves!
Ezekiel was 30 years old when he began his ministry, Ezekiel 1:1 tells us this. That’s when all Israel’s priest began their “life work,” according to Numbers 4:1-3. They begin serving at age 30 and retired at age 50. Why so young? Apparently in order to teach (mentor) the younger priests.
Ezekiel probably knew the Prophet Jeremiah personally. As well as Daniel.
There were three different times that Babylon “deported” the Jews to her strange, foreign land. In 606 BC and in 597 BC and again in 586 BC. The so-called “mass” deportation would have been the one that occurred in 586 BC, then the city of Jerusalem was sacked and the Temple destroyed.
Ezekiel was taken captive in that first raid, in 606 BC. The scholars give 2 Kings 24:14-16 as a proof Text here. “And he (King Nebuchadnezzar) carried away all Jerusalem, and all the princes, and all the mighty men of valour, even ten thousand captives, and all the craftsmen and smiths: none remained, save the poorest sort of the people of the land. And he carried away Jehoiachin to Babylon, and the king’s mother, and the king’s wives, and his officers, and the mighty of the land, those carried he into captivity from Jerusalem to Babylon. And all the men of might, even seven thousand, and craftsmen and smiths a thousand, all that were strong and apt for war, even them the king of Babylon brought captive to Babylon.”
So … Ezekiel has already been in Babylon for years before the final fall of Jerusalem. Around twenty years, if my math is correct.
Therefore Ezekiel would have been considered among the “intelligentsia” of Judah, at the time! The “cream of the crop,” so to speak. This practice is called “selective deportation,” taking all the potential leaders of a land first! Her most profitable citizens!
Then let me say this, when I think of Ezekiel the word “obedient” surfaces. Seems he did everything God asked of him, for all the years of his ministry!
Some strange (unusual) things too, one might add.
In reality … Ezekiel “acted out” a number of his sermons! Maybe his culture too had become more visually oriented than audibly oriented! Ours certainly has. A sad commentary alone!
And of course we will learn more about Ezekiel the MAN as we study the MESSAGE God delivered through him, chapter after chapter, for a total of 48 chapters in all.
True, a man and his message can never be separated!
Phillips Brooks, an American preacher of bygone years, defined preaching as “God delivering his Word … through human personality!” Not word for word here, but close.
I am excited … about a Book of Scripture thousands of years old!
Let’s learn … together … these next few weeks.
— Dr. Mike Bagwell