Verse (Click for Chapter) New International Version “Therefore, son of man, pack your belongings for exile and in the daytime, as they watch, set out and go from where you are to another place. Perhaps they will understand, though they are a rebellious people. New Living Translation “So now, son of man, pretend you are being sent into exile. Pack the few items an exile could carry, and leave your home to go somewhere else. Do this right in front of the people so they can see you. For perhaps they will pay attention to this, even though they are such rebels. English Standard Version As for you, son of man, prepare for yourself an exile’s baggage, and go into exile by day in their sight. You shall go like an exile from your place to another place in their sight. Perhaps they will understand, though they are a rebellious house. Berean Standard Bible Therefore, son of man, pack your bags for exile. In broad daylight, set out from your place and go to another as they watch. Perhaps they will understand, though they are a rebellious house. Berean Literal Bible And you, son of man, take up for yourself vessels for exile, and go into exile by day before their eyes; and you will go into exile from your place to another place before their eyes. Perhaps they will see, though they are a house of rebellion. King James Bible Therefore, thou son of man, prepare thee stuff for removing, and remove by day in their sight; and thou shalt remove from thy place to another place in their sight: it may be they will consider, though they be a rebellious house. New King James Version “Therefore, son of man, prepare your belongings for captivity, and go into captivity by day in their sight. You shall go from your place into captivity to another place in their sight. It may be that they will consider, though they are a rebellious house. New American Standard Bible So as for you, son of man, prepare for yourself baggage for exile and go into exile by day in their sight; that is, go into exile from your place to another place in their sight. Perhaps they will understand, though they are a rebellious house. NASB 1995 “Therefore, son of man, prepare for yourself baggage for exile and go into exile by day in their sight; even go into exile from your place to another place in their sight. Perhaps they will understand though they are a rebellious house. NASB 1977 “Therefore, son of man, prepare for yourself baggage for exile and go into exile by day in their sight; even go into exile from your place to another place in their sight. Perhaps they will understand though they are a rebellious house. Legacy Standard Bible Now as for you, son of man, prepare for yourself baggage for exile and go into exile by day in their sight; even go into exile from your place to another place in their sight. Perhaps they will see, though they are a rebellious house. Amplified Bible Therefore, son of man, prepare your belongings for exile, and move into exile during the day when they will see you; even go into exile from your place to another place as they watch. Perhaps they will understand even though they are a rebellious people. Berean Annotated Bible Therefore, son of man, pack your bags for exile. In broad daylight, set out from your place and go to another as they watch. Perhaps they will understand, though they are a rebellious house. Christian Standard Bible “Now you, son of man, get your bags ready for exile and go into exile in their sight during the day. You will go into exile from your place to another place while they watch; perhaps they will understand, though they are a rebellious house. Holman Christian Standard Bible Son of man, get your bags ready for exile and go into exile in their sight during the day. You will go into exile from your place to another place while they watch; perhaps they will understand, though they are a rebellious house. American Standard Version Therefore, thou son of man, prepare thee stuff for removing, and remove by day in their sight; and thou shalt remove from thy place to another place in their sight: it may be they will consider, though they are a rebellious house. Contemporary English Version So before it gets dark, here is what I want you to do. Pack a few things as though you were going to be taken away as a prisoner. Then go outside where everyone can see you and walk around from place to place. Maybe as they watch, they will realize what rebels they are. English Revised Version Therefore, thou son of man, prepare thee stuff for removing, and remove by day in their sight; and thou shalt remove from thy place to another place in their sight: it may be they will consider, though they be a rebellious house. GOD'S WORD® Translation "Son of man, pack your bags as if you were going into exile. Let the people see you leave in the daylight. March like a captive from your place to another place as they watch. Maybe they will understand, even though they are rebellious people. Good News Translation "Now, mortal man, pack a bundle just as a refugee would and start out before nightfall. Let everyone see you leaving and going to another place. Maybe those rebels will notice you. International Standard Version "So now, Son of Man, you are to prepare your luggage for a trip into exile, and then you are to leave during the daytime so they see you leaving. Leave from your place to another while they're watching. Then perhaps they'll realize that they're a rebellious house. NET Bible "Therefore, son of man, pack up your belongings as if for exile. During the day, while they are watching, pretend to go into exile. Go from where you live to another place. Perhaps they will understand, although they are a rebellious house. New Heart English Bible Therefore, you son of man, prepare your stuff for moving, and move by day in their sight; and you shall move from your place to another place in their sight: it may be they will consider, though they are a rebellious house. Webster's Bible Translation Therefore, thou son of man, prepare thee stuff for removing, and remove by day in their sight; and thou shalt remove from thy place to another place in their sight; it may be they will consider, though they are a rebellious house. Majority Text Translations Majority Standard BibleTherefore, son of man, pack your bags for exile. In broad daylight, set out from your place and go to another as they watch. Perhaps they will understand, though they are a rebellious house. World English Bible “Therefore, you son of man, prepare your baggage for moving, and move by day in their sight. You shall move from your place to another place in their sight. It may be they will consider, though they are a rebellious house. Literal Translations Literal Standard VersionAnd you, son of man, make your vessels of removal, and remove by day before their eyes, and you have removed from your place to another place before their eyes, it may be they consider, for they [are] a house of rebellion. Berean Literal Bible And you, son of man, take up for yourself vessels for exile, and go into exile by day before their eyes; and you will go into exile from your place to another place before their eyes. Perhaps they will see, though they are a house of rebellion. Young's Literal Translation And thou, son of man, make to thee vessels of removal, and remove by day before their eyes, and thou hast removed from thy place unto another place before their eyes, it may be they consider, for a rebellious house they are. Smith's Literal Translation And thou Son of man, make to thee vessels of captivity and emigrate by day before their eyes; and emigrating from thy place to another place before their eyes; perhaps they will see if they are a house of contradiction. Catholic Translations Douay-Rheims BibleThou, therefore, O son of man, prepare thee all necessaries for removing, and remove by day in their sight: and thou shalt remove out of thy place to another place in their sight, if so be they will regard it: for they are a provoking house. Catholic Public Domain Version As for you, then, son of man, prepare for yourself the supplies for traveling far away, and travel away in the daytime in their sight. And you shall travel from your place to another place in their sight, so that perhaps they may consider it. For they are a provoking house. New American Bible Now, son of man, during the day while they watch, pack a bag for exile, and again while they watch, go into exile from your place to another place; perhaps they will see that they are a rebellious house. New Revised Standard Version for they are a rebellious house. Therefore, mortal, prepare for yourself an exile’s baggage, and go into exile by day in their sight; you shall go like an exile from your place to another place in their sight. Perhaps they will understand, though they are a rebellious house. Translations from Aramaic Lamsa BibleTherefore, Son of man, prepare for yourself the things which are necessary for captivity, and go into the captivity by day in their sight; go from your own place to another place, so that they may see, because they are a rebellious house. Peshitta Holy Bible Translated But you, son of man, make for yourself garments of captivity and be taken captive by day in their sight from your place to another place, that they will see, for they are a rebellious house OT Translations JPS Tanakh 1917Therefore, thou son of man, prepare thee stuff for exile, and remove as though for exile by day in their sight; and thou shalt remove from thy place to another place in their sight; it may be they will perceive, for they are a rebellious house. Brenton Septuagint Translation Thou therefore, son of man, prepare thyself baggage for going into captivity by day in their sight; and thou shalt be led into captivity from thy place into another place in their sight; that they may see that it is a provoking house. Additional Translations ... Audio Bible Context Signs of the Coming Captivity…2“Son of man, you are living in a rebellious house. They have eyes to see but do not see, and ears to hear but do not hear, for they are a rebellious house. 3Therefore, son of man, pack your bags for exile. In broad daylight, set out from your place and go to another as they watch. Perhaps they will understand, though they are a rebellious house. 4Bring out your baggage for exile by day, as they watch. Then in the evening, as they watch, go out like those who go into exile.… Cross References Therefore, son of man, Ezekiel 2:1 “Son of man,” He said to me, “stand up on your feet and I will speak to you.” Ezekiel 3:1 “Son of man,” He said to me, “eat what you find here. Eat this scroll, then go and speak to the house of Israel.” Jeremiah 1:17 Get yourself ready. Stand up and tell them everything that I command you. Do not be intimidated by them, or I will terrify you before them. pack your bags for exile. Jeremiah 46:19 Pack your bags for exile, O daughter dwelling in Egypt! For Memphis will be laid waste, destroyed and uninhabited. Jeremiah 52:15 Then Nebuzaradan captain of the guard carried into exile some of the poorest people and those who remained in the city, along with the deserters who had defected to the king of Babylon and the rest of the craftsmen. In broad daylight, 2 Samuel 12:12 You have acted in secret, but I will do this thing in broad daylight before all Israel.’” Jeremiah 15:8 I will make their widows more numerous than the sand of the sea. I will bring a destroyer at noon against the mothers of young men. I will suddenly bring upon them anguish and dismay. Psalm 91:6 nor the pestilence that stalks in the darkness, nor the calamity that destroys at noon. set out from your place and go to another Jeremiah 24:5 “This is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says: ‘Like these good figs, so I regard as good the exiles from Judah, whom I have sent away from this place to the land of the Chaldeans. 2 Kings 25:21 There at Riblah in the land of Hamath, the king of Babylon struck them down and put them to death. So Judah was taken into exile, away from its own land. Deuteronomy 28:64 Then the LORD will scatter you among all the nations, from one end of the earth to the other, and there you will worship other gods, gods of wood and stone, which neither you nor your fathers have known. as they watch. Jeremiah 19:10-11 Then you are to shatter the jar in the presence of the men who accompany you, / and you are to proclaim to them that this is what the LORD of Hosts says: I will shatter this nation and this city, like one shatters a potter’s jar that can never again be repaired. They will bury the dead in Topheth until there is no more room to bury them. Ezekiel 24:24 ‘Thus Ezekiel will be a sign for you; you will do everything that he has done. When this happens, you will know that I am the Lord GOD.’ Isaiah 20:3 Then the LORD said, “Just as My servant Isaiah has gone naked and barefoot for three years as a sign and omen against Egypt and Cush, Perhaps they will understand, Daniel 12:10 Many will be purified, made spotless, and refined, but the wicked will continue to act wickedly. None of the wicked will understand, but the wise will understand. Jeremiah 36:3 Perhaps when the people of Judah hear about all the calamity I plan to bring upon them, each of them will turn from his wicked way. Then I will forgive their iniquity and their sin.” Treasury of Scripture Therefore, you son of man, prepare you stuff for removing, and remove by day in their sight; and you shall remove from your place to another place in their sight: it may be they will consider, though they be a rebellious house. prepare Ezekiel 11:10-12 Ye shall fall by the sword; I will judge you in the border of Israel; and ye shall know that I am the LORD… Ezekiel 4:1 Thou also, son of man, take thee a tile, and lay it before thee, and pourtray upon it the city, even Jerusalem: Jeremiah 13:1 Thus saith the LORD unto me, Go and get thee a linen girdle, and put it upon thy loins, and put it not in water. stuff. it may Ezekiel 33:11 Say unto them, As I live, saith the Lord GOD, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked; but that the wicked turn from his way and live: turn ye, turn ye from your evil ways; for why will ye die, O house of Israel? Deuteronomy 5:29 O that there were such an heart in them, that they would fear me, and keep all my commandments always, that it might be well with them, and with their children for ever! Deuteronomy 32:29 O that they were wise, that they understood this, that they would consider their latter end! Jump to Previous Baggage Belongings Consider Daytime Exile Eyes House Pack Perceive Perhaps Prepare Ready Rebellious Remove Removing Sight Stuff Understand Vessels WatchJump to Next Baggage Belongings Consider Daytime Exile Eyes House Pack Perceive Perhaps Prepare Ready Rebellious Remove Removing Sight Stuff Understand Vessels WatchEzekiel 12 1. Under the type of Ezekiel's removing8. is shown the captivity of Zedekiah 17. Ezekiel's trembling shows the Jews' desolation 21. The Jews' presumptuous proverb is reproved 26. The speediness of the vision Therefore, son of man, The term "son of man" is a title used frequently for Ezekiel, emphasizing his humanity and role as a representative of the people. It is also a title Jesus uses for Himself in the New Testament, highlighting His identification with humanity (Matthew 8:20). pack your bags for exile. In broad daylight, set out from your place and go to another as they watch. Perhaps they will understand, though they are a rebellious house. Persons / Places / Events 1. EzekielA prophet called by God to deliver His messages to the Israelites during their Babylonian exile. Known for his symbolic actions and visions. 2. Israelites The rebellious house referred to in the passage, who were in exile due to their disobedience to God. 3. Babylonian Exile The period when the Israelites were taken captive by Babylon, serving as a backdrop for Ezekiel's prophecies. Teaching Points Symbolic Actions as Prophetic MessagesEzekiel's actions were meant to visually communicate God's message. Consider how God might use actions in our lives to convey His truth to others. Understanding Rebellion The Israelites' rebellion is a cautionary tale. Reflect on areas of personal rebellion against God and seek repentance. Obedience in Uncertainty Ezekiel obeyed God's command to act out the exile. Trusting God in uncertain times is crucial for spiritual growth. Hope for Understanding Despite the Israelites' rebellion, there was hope they might understand. Never underestimate the power of God's message to change hearts. Living as Exiles As Christians, we are called to live as exiles in this world, maintaining our focus on our heavenly home. Bible Study Questions and Answers 1. What is the meaning of Ezekiel 12:3?2. How does Ezekiel 12:3 illustrate the importance of obedience to God's commands? 3. What does Ezekiel's action in 12:3 teach about prophetic symbolism? 4. How can Ezekiel 12:3 inspire us to prepare for spiritual challenges today? 5. What connections exist between Ezekiel 12:3 and other prophetic actions in Scripture? 6. How might we "act out" our faith as Ezekiel did in 12:3? 7. What does Ezekiel 12:3 reveal about God's communication through symbolic actions? 8. How does Ezekiel 12:3 challenge our understanding of prophecy? 9. Why does God instruct Ezekiel to perform symbolic acts in Ezekiel 12:3? 10. What are the top 10 Lessons from Ezekiel 12? 11. How can we confirm Ezekiel’s dramatic acts in Ezekiel 12:3–7 if no archaeological or historical records corroborate these public demonstrations? 12. In Ezekiel 3:17-18, how is the idea of divine responsibility for warning others reconciled with free will and personal accountability? 13. How can 1 Chronicles 17:11-14 speak of an eternal throne for David's line when the historical monarchy in Judah ended? 14. In Ezekiel 3:24-26, can the sudden and temporary muteness be explained naturally or does it conflict with known medical facts? What Does Ezekiel 12:3 Mean Therefore, son of man• “Therefore” links back to 12:2, where the Lord laments that Israel has “eyes but do not see” and “ears but do not hear,” tying the new command directly to their spiritual dullness (cf. Isaiah 6:9–10; Matthew 13:14–15). • “Son of man” reminds Ezekiel of his prophetic assignment—a mortal spokesman representing the Lord’s message (Ezekiel 2:1–7; 3:17). • By repeating the title, God underscores both His authority and Ezekiel’s accountability, just as Paul later speaks of being “an ambassador in chains” (Ephesians 6:20). Pack your bags for exile • The prophet is told to prepare literal “exile baggage,” signaling that judgment is not abstract; deportation is imminent (2 Kings 25:8–11; Jeremiah 39:9). • This acted parable echoes earlier sign-acts like Ezekiel lying on his side (Ezekiel 4:4–8) and Hosea marrying Gomer (Hosea 1:2)—tangible pictures that make divine warnings unforgettable. • God employs everyday objects so no one can brush off the message as mere rhetoric (Ezekiel 24:24). In broad daylight • Performing the sign openly strips away excuses: Israel cannot claim ignorance when judgment falls (John 18:20). • Light exposes deeds (John 3:19–21); here it exposes unbelief. • It also contrasts with the eventual night escape of King Zedekiah, who fled under cover of darkness and was still captured (2 Kings 25:3–7). Set out from your place • Ezekiel must leave his own home, dramatizing the uprooting that will touch every family (Jeremiah 10:17–18). • The act embodies the loss of security that sin brings—echoing Adam and Eve’s expulsion from Eden (Genesis 3:23–24). • It foreshadows the scattering later described in Ezekiel 36:19. Go to another as they watch • Moving “as they watch” turns the prophet into a living billboard for God’s word (1 Corinthians 4:9). • The exile destination is unspecified, mirroring the uncertainty captives would feel when Babylon marched them away (Psalm 137:1). • Public visibility also fulfills Deuteronomy 28:37, where Israel would become “an object of horror” before the nations. Perhaps they will understand • The Lord still holds out hope: visual preaching might pierce hard hearts (Jeremiah 26:3). • His patience matches 2 Peter 3:9—He is “not wanting anyone to perish,” even when judgment is deserved. • The “perhaps” highlights human responsibility; the sign forces a choice to heed or ignore (Joshua 24:15). Though they are a rebellious house • God’s realism about their stubbornness echoes Exodus 32:9 and Stephen’s indictment, “You stiff-necked people” (Acts 7:51). • Yet discipline will serve a purpose: “Then they will know that I am the LORD” appears repeatedly (Ezekiel 12:15–16; 6:7). • Rebellion never cancels covenant; chastening prepares the way for future restoration (Ezekiel 37:21–28). summary Ezekiel 12:3 is a vivid, enacted sermon. God commands His prophet to pack, move, and display exile gear in daylight so the watching, rebellious nation sees judgment coming and still has opportunity to repent. The sign declares that sin uproots, God speaks plainly, and even in discipline the door of mercy remains open for those who will finally “understand.” (3) Prepare thee stuff for removing.--The same words are translated in Jeremiah 46:19, "Furnish thyself to go into captivity." Stuff includes all that an emigrant would require, clothes, utensils, &c.; and "removing" is the same word as is translated captivity in Ezekiel 12:4. The symbolical action was that of one preparing to leave his home to go into captivity. The prophet is to make his preparations during the day, and to carry forth his stuff (Ezekiel 12:7), but not himself to go forth until even (Ezekiel 12:4). The action seems to be that of one who must abandon his home, using the whole day to carry out all he can with the purpose of saving it, and then himself leaving the house when the day is done.Verses 3-7. - Prepare thee stuff for removing, etc.; better, equipment for a journey, with the implied thought that it is the journey of one going into exile. "Bag and baggage," all the household goods which an exile could take with him (Exodus 12:11, 34 may supply an illustration), were to be brought out in broad daylight and piled up opposite his door. Then in the twilight (Revised Version, in the dark, and so in vers. 7, 12) he was to go forth, not by the door of his house, but by breaking through the wall (with such walls as those of Ezekiel 13:11 the process would not be difficult), as a man might do who was escaping secretly from a city through the gates of which he dared not pass (ver. 5), and was to start with his travelling chattels upon his shoulder. Lastly (ver. 6), as the strangest feature of all, he was to go forth with his face covered, as one who wished to avoid recognition, as one also who could not see one step of the way before him. This, it is intimated, would startle even the most careless, and in this way he would become, as he had been before in like symbolic acts (Ezekiel 4, 5.), as Isaiah (Isaiah 20:2) and Jeremiah (Jeremiah 27:2) had been before him, a sign unto the house of Israel.Parallel Commentaries ... Hebrew Therefore,וְאַתָּ֣ה (wə·’at·tāh) Conjunctive waw | Pronoun - second person masculine singular Strong's 859: Thou and thee, ye and you son בֶן־ (ḇen-) Noun - masculine singular construct Strong's 1121: A son of man, אָדָ֗ם (’ā·ḏām) Noun - masculine singular Strong's 120: Ruddy, a human being pack עֲשֵׂ֤ה (‘ă·śêh) Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine singular Strong's 6213: To do, make your bags כְּלֵ֣י (kə·lê) Noun - masculine plural construct Strong's 3627: Something prepared, any apparatus for exile. גוֹלָ֔ה (ḡō·w·lāh) Noun - feminine singular Strong's 1473: Exile, exiles In broad daylight, יוֹמָ֖ם (yō·w·mām) Adverb Strong's 3119: Daytime, by day set out and go וְגָלִ֨יתָ (wə·ḡā·lî·ṯā) Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - second person masculine singular Strong's 1540: To denude, to exile, to reveal from your place מִמְּקוֹמְךָ֜ (mim·mə·qō·wm·ḵā) Preposition-m | Noun - masculine singular construct | second person masculine singular Strong's 4725: A standing, a spot, a condition to אֶל־ (’el-) Preposition Strong's 413: Near, with, among, to another אַחֵר֙ (’a·ḥêr) Adjective - masculine singular Strong's 312: Hinder, next, other as they look on. לְעֵ֣ינֵיהֶ֔ם (lə·‘ê·nê·hem) Preposition-l | Noun - cdc | third person masculine plural Strong's 5869: An eye, a fountain Perhaps אוּלַ֣י (’ū·lay) Adverb Strong's 194: Perhaps they will understand, יִרְא֔וּ (yir·’ū) Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine plural Strong's 7200: To see though כִּ֛י (kî) Conjunction Strong's 3588: A relative conjunction they הֵֽמָּה׃ (hêm·māh) Pronoun - third person masculine plural Strong's 1992: They are a rebellious מְרִ֖י (mə·rî) Noun - masculine singular Strong's 4805: Bitterness, rebellion, bitter, rebellious house. בֵּ֥ית (bêṯ) Noun - masculine singular construct Strong's 1004: A house Links Ezekiel 12:3 NIVEzekiel 12:3 NLT Ezekiel 12:3 ESV Ezekiel 12:3 NASB Ezekiel 12:3 KJV Ezekiel 12:3 BibleApps.com Ezekiel 12:3 Biblia Paralela Ezekiel 12:3 Chinese Bible Ezekiel 12:3 French Bible Ezekiel 12:3 Catholic Bible OT Prophets: Ezekiel 12:3 Therefore you son of man prepare you (Ezek. 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