Ezekiel 1–5
The Holy Bible interpreted through Divine Principle insight and the words of True Father.
This study page begins Ezekiel with chapters 1 through 5. Commentary is attached where the text strongly reflects Divine Principle themes such as the transcendent glory of God in exile, the calling of a prophet to a rebellious house, the eating of Heaven’s scroll, the watchman responsibility, and the embodied sign-acts announcing Jerusalem’s judgment.
1:1–3 Now it came to pass... as I was among the captives by the river of Chebar, that the heavens were opened, and I saw visions of God... the word of the LORD came expressly unto Ezekiel the priest...
1:4–14 And I looked, and, behold, a whirlwind came out of the north... also out of the midst thereof came the likeness of four living creatures... they had the likeness of a man... every one had four faces, and every one had four wings... and they ran and returned as the appearance of a flash of lightning.
1:15–21 Now as I beheld the living creatures, behold one wheel upon the earth... the appearance of the wheels and their work was like unto the colour of a beryl... and their rings were full of eyes round about... for the spirit of the living creature was in the wheels.
1:22–28 And the likeness of the firmament... was as the colour of the terrible crystal... and above the firmament... the likeness of a throne... and upon the likeness of the throne was the likeness as the appearance of a man above upon it... This was the appearance of the likeness of the glory of the LORD. And when I saw it, I fell upon my face...
2:1–5 And he said unto me, Son of man, stand upon thy feet, and I will speak unto thee... I send thee to the children of Israel, to a rebellious nation... and thou shalt say unto them, Thus saith the Lord GOD. And they, whether they will hear, or whether they will forbear... yet shall know that there hath been a prophet among them.
2:6–10 And thou, son of man, be not afraid of them... though briers and thorns be with thee... neither be afraid of their words... Open thy mouth, and eat that I give thee. And when I looked, behold, an hand was sent unto me; and, lo, a roll of a book was therein... and there was written therein lamentations, and mourning, and woe.
Ezekiel is addressed as son of man and sent to a rebellious house. Divine Principle strongly resonates because Heaven’s messenger is not commissioned based on the likelihood of easy acceptance, but because the truth must stand publicly before a people regardless of their response.
The scroll full of lamentation, mourning, and woe must first be received inwardly. True Father often emphasized that the one who bears Heaven’s word must digest it personally before speaking it outwardly to others.
3:1–3 Moreover he said unto me, Son of man, eat that thou findest; eat this roll... Then did I eat it; and it was in my mouth as honey for sweetness.
3:4–11 And he said unto me... go, get thee unto the house of Israel, and speak with my words unto them... surely, had I sent thee to them, they would have hearkened unto thee. But the house of Israel will not hearken unto thee... behold, I have made thy face strong against their faces...
3:12–15 Then the spirit took me up... Then I came to them of the captivity at Telabib... and I sat where they sat, and remained there astonished among them seven days.
3:16–21 And it came to pass at the end of seven days... Son of man, I have made thee a watchman... When I say unto the wicked, Thou shalt surely die... if thou dost not speak to warn the wicked... his blood will I require at thine hand...
3:22–27 And the hand of the LORD was there upon me... behold, the glory of the LORD stood there... Then the spirit entered into me... I will make thy tongue cleave to the roof of thy mouth... But when I speak with thee, I will open thy mouth...
The scroll is sweet in the mouth even though its contents are severe. Divine Principle strongly resonates because Heaven’s truth can be inwardly life-giving to the prophet even when it brings outward confrontation and grief in history.
The watchman passage is one of the central responsibility texts in Ezekiel. It strongly resonates because providence always includes human responsibility to warn, testify, and stand publicly for Heaven’s word. Silence in the face of known danger becomes shared responsibility.
Ezekiel’s speech is controlled by Heaven itself. True Father often emphasized that the true messenger is not meant to speak casually from emotion or ego, but to speak when God opens the mouth and withhold when God withholds.
4:1–3 Thou also, son of man, take thee a tile, and lay it before thee, and portray upon it the city, even Jerusalem: And lay siege against it... Moreover take thou unto thee an iron pan... and set thy face against it, and it shall be besieged...
4:4–8 Lie thou also upon thy left side, and lay the iniquity of the house of Israel upon it... three hundred and ninety days... and forty days for the house of Judah... I have laid upon thee the years of their iniquity...
4:9–17 Take thou also unto thee wheat, and barley... and make thee bread thereof... and thou shalt eat it by weight... and drink water by measure... even thus shall the children of Israel eat their defiled bread among the Gentiles...
Ezekiel 4 turns prophecy into lived symbol. Divine Principle strongly resonates because a central figure may bear and display the condition of a people’s iniquity through visible indemnity-like acts. The message is not merely spoken but embodied.
The rationed bread and measured water show the humiliation and hardship of the coming judgment. True Father often emphasized that when Heaven’s order is violated over long ages, the result is not only spiritual confusion but concrete suffering in daily life.
5:1–4 And thou, son of man, take thee a sharp knife... cause it to pass upon thine head and upon thy beard... then take thee balances to weigh... A third part shalt thou burn in the fire... and a third part shalt thou smite about it with a knife... and a third part thou shalt scatter in the wind...
5:5–12 Thus saith the Lord GOD; This is Jerusalem: I have set it in the midst of the nations... But she hath changed my judgments into wickedness more than the nations... therefore the fathers shall eat the sons... and I will execute judgments in thee...
5:13–17 Thus shall mine anger be accomplished... I the LORD have spoken it... So will I send upon you famine and evil beasts... and the sword will I bring upon thee.
The shaving and dividing of the hair continues Ezekiel’s severe sign-acts. Divine Principle strongly resonates because the chosen center is being measured and judged with precision. Providence is not careless; Heaven weighs the condition of the people and their outcome accordingly.
The shock of the chapter is that Jerusalem, set in the midst of the nations, became more rebellious than the nations around her. True Father often emphasized that a central position before God brings greater responsibility, and therefore greater consequence when that responsibility is betrayed.
Ezekiel opens not in the temple city but among exiles, and yet the heavens open there. Divine Principle strongly resonates because God’s sovereignty is not trapped inside one outward structure. Even in a fallen, displaced condition, Heaven can reveal its living order, movement, and government.
The climax is the appearance of the likeness of the glory of the LORD above the throne. True Father often emphasized that no matter how confused history becomes, God remains the sovereign center above all created movement and all providential change.