Verse (Click for Chapter) New International Version “Then lie on your left side and put the sin of the people of Israel upon yourself. You are to bear their sin for the number of days you lie on your side. New Living Translation “Now lie on your left side and place the sins of Israel on yourself. You are to bear their sins for the number of days you lie there on your side. English Standard Version “Then lie on your left side, and place the punishment of the house of Israel upon it. For the number of the days that you lie on it, you shall bear their punishment. Berean Standard Bible Then lie down on your left side and place the iniquity of the house of Israel upon yourself. You are to bear their iniquity for the number of days you lie on your side. Berean Literal Bible And you, lie down upon your left side, and set the iniquity of the house of Israel upon it—for the number of the days that you lay down on it, you shall bear their iniquity. King James Bible Lie thou also upon thy left side, and lay the iniquity of the house of Israel upon it: according to the number of the days that thou shalt lie upon it thou shalt bear their iniquity. New King James Version “Lie also on your left side, and lay the iniquity of the house of Israel upon it. According to the number of the days that you lie on it, you shall bear their iniquity. New American Standard Bible “Then you are to lie down on your left side and put the wrongdoing of the house of Israel on it; you shall bear their wrongdoing for the number of days that you lie on it. NASB 1995 “As for you, lie down on your left side and lay the iniquity of the house of Israel on it; you shall bear their iniquity for the number of days that you lie on it. NASB 1977 “As for you, lie down on your left side, and lay the iniquity of the house of Israel on it; you shall bear their iniquity for the number of days that you lie on it. Legacy Standard Bible “Now as for you, lie down on your left side and lay the iniquity of the house of Israel on it; you shall bear their iniquity for the number of days that you lie on it. Amplified Bible “Then lie down on your left side (toward the north) to bear [symbolically] the wickedness and punishment of the house of Israel. You shall bear their wickedness and punishment for the number of days that you lie on your side. Berean Annotated Bible Then lie down on your left side and place the iniquity of the house of Israel (he wrestles with God) upon yourself. You are to bear their iniquity for the number of days you lie on your side. Christian Standard Bible “Then lie down on your left side and place the iniquity of the house of Israel on it. You will bear their iniquity for the number of days you lie on your side. Holman Christian Standard Bible Then lie down on your left side and place the iniquity of the house of Israel on it. You will bear their iniquity for the number of days you lie on your side. American Standard Version Moreover lie thou upon thy left side, and lay the iniquity of the house of Israel upon it; according to the number of the days that thou shalt lie upon it, thou shalt bear their iniquity. English Revised Version Moreover lie thou upon thy left side, and lay the iniquity of the house of Israel upon it: according to the number of the days that thou shalt lie upon it, thou shalt bear their iniquity. GOD'S WORD® Translation "Then lie on your left side and take the punishment of the nation of Israel yourself. You will bear its punishment as many days as you lie on that side. International Standard Version "Now as for you, you are to sleep on your left side, symbolically bearing the punishment of the house of Israel while you're counting the days you'll be sleeping on your left side to bear symbolically the punishment for their sin. NET Bible "Also for your part lie on your left side and place the iniquity of the house of Israel on it. For the number of days you lie on your side you will bear their iniquity. New Heart English Bible "Moreover lie on your left side, and lay the iniquity of the house of Israel on it; according to the number of the days that you shall lie on it, you shall bear their iniquity. Webster's Bible Translation Lie thou also upon thy left side, and lay the iniquity of the house of Israel upon it: according to the number of the days that thou shalt lie upon it thou shalt bear their iniquity. Majority Text Translations Majority Standard BibleThen lie down on your left side and place the iniquity of the house of Israel upon yourself. You are to bear their iniquity for the number of days you lie on your side. World English Bible “Moreover lie on your left side, and lay the iniquity of the house of Israel on it. According to the number of the days that you shall lie on it, you shall bear their iniquity. Literal Translations Literal Standard VersionAnd you, lie on your left side, and you have placed the iniquity of the house of Israel on it; the number of the days that you lie on it, you bear their iniquity. Berean Literal Bible And you, lie down upon your left side, and set the iniquity of the house of Israel upon it—for the number of the days that you lay down on it, you shall bear their iniquity. Young's Literal Translation 'And thou, lie on thy left side, and thou hast placed the iniquity of the house of Israel on it; the number of the days that thou liest on it, thou bearest their iniquity. Smith's Literal Translation And lie thou upon thy left side, and put the iniquity of the house of Israel upon it: the number of days which thou shalt lie upon it thou shalt lift up their iniquity. Catholic Translations Douay-Rheims BibleAnd thou shalt sleep upon thy left side, and shalt lay the iniquities of the house of Israel upon it, according to the number of the days that thou shalt sleep upon it, and thou shalt take upon thee their iniquity. Catholic Public Domain Version And you shall sleep on your left side. And you shall place the iniquities of the house of Israel on it by the number of days that you will sleep on it. And you shall take upon yourself their iniquity. New American Bible Then lie down on your left side, while I place the guilt of the house of Israel upon you. As many days as you lie like this, you shall bear their guilt. New Revised Standard Version Then lie on your left side, and place the punishment of the house of Israel upon it; you shall bear their punishment for the number of the days that you lie there. Translations from Aramaic Lamsa BibleThen lie upon your left side, and lay the iniquity of the house of Israel upon that side; according to the number of days that you shall lie upon it, you shall bear their iniquity. Peshitta Holy Bible Translated And you lie on your left side, and set the evil of the household of Israel against it for the number of the days that you lie against it. You shall bear their evil OT Translations JPS Tanakh 1917Moreover lie thou upon thy left side, and lay the iniquity of the house of Israel upon it; according to the number of the days that thou shalt lie upon it, thou shalt bear their iniquity. Brenton Septuagint Translation And thou shalt lie upon thy left side, and lay the iniquities of the house of Israel upon it, according to the number of the hundred and fifty days during which thou shalt lie upon it: and thou shalt bear their iniquities. Additional Translations ... Audio Bible Context A Sign of Jerusalem's Siege…3Then take an iron plate and set it up as an iron wall between yourself and the city. Turn your face toward it so that it is under siege, and besiege it. This will be a sign to the house of Israel. 4Then lie down on your left side and place the iniquity of the house of Israel upon yourself. You are to bear their iniquity for the number of days you lie on your side. 5For I have assigned to you 390 days, according to the number of years of their iniquity. So you shall bear the iniquity of the house of Israel.… Cross References Then lie down on your left side Isaiah 20:2-4 the LORD had already spoken through Isaiah son of Amoz, saying, “Go, remove the sackcloth from your waist and the sandals from your feet.” And Isaiah did so, walking around naked and barefoot. / 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, / so the king of Assyria will lead away the captives of Egypt and the exiles of Cush, young and old alike, naked and barefoot, with bared buttocks—to Egypt’s shame. Jeremiah 13:1-11 This is what the LORD said to me: “Go and buy yourself a linen loincloth and put it around your waist, but do not let it touch water.” / So I bought a loincloth in accordance with the word of the LORD, and I put it around my waist. / Then the word of the LORD came to me a second time: … Jeremiah 27:2-3 This is what the LORD said to me: “Make for yourself a yoke out of leather straps and put it on your neck. / Send word to the kings of Edom, Moab, Ammon, Tyre, and Sidon through the envoys who have come to Jerusalem to Zedekiah king of Judah. and place the iniquity of the house of Israel upon yourself. Isaiah 53:6 We all like sheep have gone astray, each one has turned to his own way; and the LORD has laid upon Him the iniquity of us all. Leviticus 16:21-22 Then he is to lay both hands on the head of the live goat and confess over it all the iniquities and rebellious acts of the Israelites in regard to all their sins. He is to put them on the goat’s head and send it away into the wilderness by the hand of a man appointed for the task. / The goat will carry on itself all their iniquities into a solitary place, and the man will release it into the wilderness. Exodus 34:7 maintaining loving devotion to a thousand generations, forgiving iniquity, transgression, and sin. Yet He will by no means leave the guilty unpunished; He will visit the iniquity of the fathers on their children and grandchildren to the third and fourth generations.” You are to bear their iniquity Lamentations 5:7 Our fathers sinned and are no more, but we bear their punishment. Isaiah 53:11-12 After the anguish of His soul, He will see the light of life and be satisfied. By His knowledge My righteous Servant will justify many, and He will bear their iniquities. / Therefore I will allot Him a portion with the great, and He will divide the spoils with the strong, because He has poured out His life unto death, and He was numbered with the transgressors. Yet He bore the sin of many and made intercession for the transgressors. 1 Peter 2:24 He Himself bore our sins in His body on the tree, so that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. “By His stripes you are healed.” for the number of days you lie on your side. Numbers 14:34 In keeping with the forty days you spied out the land, you shall bear your guilt forty years—a year for each day—and you will experience My alienation. Daniel 12:11-12 And from the time the daily sacrifice is abolished and the abomination of desolation set up, there will be 1,290 days. / Blessed is he who waits and reaches the end of the 1,335 days. Revelation 11:3 And I will empower my two witnesses, and they will prophesy for 1,260 days, clothed in sackcloth.” Leviticus 26:18 And if after all this you will not obey Me, I will proceed to punish you sevenfold for your sins. Leviticus 26:21 If you walk in hostility toward Me and refuse to obey Me, I will multiply your plagues seven times, according to your sins. Leviticus 26:24 then I will act with hostility toward you, and I will strike you sevenfold for your sins. Leviticus 26:28 then I will walk in fury against you, and I, even I, will punish you sevenfold for your sins. Treasury of Scripture Lie you also on your left side, and lay the iniquity of the house of Israel on it: according to the number of the days that you shall lie on it you shall bear their iniquity. upon Ezekiel 4:5,8 For I have laid upon thee the years of their iniquity, according to the number of the days, three hundred and ninety days: so shalt thou bear the iniquity of the house of Israel… and lay 2 Kings 17:21-23 For he rent Israel from the house of David; and they made Jeroboam the son of Nebat king: and Jeroboam drave Israel from following the LORD, and made them sin a great sin… thou shalt bear Leviticus 10:17 Wherefore have ye not eaten the sin offering in the holy place, seeing it is most holy, and God hath given it you to bear the iniquity of the congregation, to make atonement for them before the LORD? Leviticus 16:22 And the goat shall bear upon him all their iniquities unto a land not inhabited: and he shall let go the goat in the wilderness. Numbers 14:34 After the number of the days in which ye searched the land, even forty days, each day for a year, shall ye bear your iniquities, even forty years, and ye shall know my breach of promise. Jump to Previous Bear Bearest Children House Iniquity Israel Lie Moreover Placed Punishment Side Sin Stretched StretchingJump to Next Bear Bearest Children House Iniquity Israel Lie Moreover Placed Punishment Side Sin Stretched StretchingEzekiel 4 1. Under type of a siege is shown the time from the defection of Jeroboam to captivity9. By the provision of the siege, is shown the hardness of the famine Then lie down on your left side This action is symbolic and prophetic, representing the burden of sin that Israel has accumulated. Lying on the left side signifies the northern kingdom of Israel, which had fallen into idolatry and was exiled by the Assyrians in 722 BC. The left side may also indicate the direction of the northern kingdom in relation to Jerusalem. Prophets often used symbolic acts to convey God's messages, as seen in Isaiah 20:2-4 and Jeremiah 13:1-11. and place the iniquity of the house of Israel upon yourself. You are to bear their iniquity for the number of days you lie on your side. Persons / Places / Events 1. EzekielA prophet called by God to deliver His messages to the Israelites during their Babylonian exile. Known for his symbolic and often dramatic prophetic acts. 2. House of Israel Refers to the northern kingdom of Israel, which had been taken into captivity by the Assyrians due to their persistent idolatry and disobedience to God. 3. Babylonian Exile The period when the Israelites were taken captive by Babylon, serving as a backdrop for Ezekiel's prophecies and symbolic actions. 4. Symbolic Act Ezekiel's act of lying on his side represents the bearing of Israel's iniquity, a physical demonstration of the spiritual burden of their sins. 5. Iniquity Refers to the sin and rebellion of the Israelites against God, which led to their judgment and exile. Teaching Points Symbolism in ProphecyEzekiel's actions are a vivid reminder of how God uses symbols to communicate deeper spiritual truths. We should seek to understand the spiritual realities behind biblical symbols. Bearing Burdens Just as Ezekiel bore the iniquity of Israel, we are called to bear one another's burdens, fulfilling the law of Christ (Galatians 6:2). Consequences of Sin The iniquity of Israel led to their exile, reminding us that sin has real consequences, both individually and corporately. Intercessory Role Ezekiel's act can be seen as a form of intercession, pointing to the importance of standing in the gap for others in prayer and action. Faithfulness in Obedience Ezekiel's willingness to perform this difficult task demonstrates the importance of obedience to God's call, even when it is challenging or uncomfortable. Bible Study Questions and Answers 1. What is the meaning of Ezekiel 4:4?2. How does Ezekiel 4:4 illustrate God's message through symbolic actions? 3. What is the significance of Ezekiel lying on his left side? 4. How can we discern God's will through unconventional methods like in Ezekiel 4:4? 5. How does Ezekiel 4:4 connect to other prophetic actions in Scripture? 6. What personal sacrifices might God ask of us to fulfill His purposes? 7. Why did God command Ezekiel to lie on his left side for 390 days? 8. What is the significance of the 390 days in Ezekiel 4:4? 9. How does Ezekiel 4:4 relate to the punishment of Israel? 10. What are the top 10 Lessons from Ezekiel 4? 11. Ezekiel 4:4–5: How could someone realistically lie on one side for 390 days without serious health complications or interruptions? 12. What does the Bible say about mime? 13. Why does Malachi 4's emphasis on judgment seem to conflict with other biblical passages that portray God's grace and mercy toward evildoers? 14. How consistent is Elisha's symbolic act in 2 Kings 13:14–19 with other biblical prophecies, and does it question divine sovereignty? What Does Ezekiel 4:4 Mean Then lie down on your left side• God gives Ezekiel a concrete, physical command: “lie down.” This is not visionary language but an action the prophet literally performed (Ezekiel 4:5–8). • Similar sign-acts appear elsewhere—Isaiah walked barefoot (Isaiah 20:2–3), Jeremiah wore an ox yoke (Jeremiah 27:2). Such vivid obedience captures the audience’s attention and underscores that God’s word is meant to shape real life, not remain abstract. • The “left side” points to the northern kingdom, Israel. Later, Ezekiel will lie on his right side for Judah (Ezekiel 4:6), showing God’s equal concern for both branches of His covenant people. and place the iniquity of the house of Israel upon yourself • Ezekiel is told to “place” or “lay” sin upon himself, echoing Leviticus 16:21, where the high priest lays Israel’s sins on the scapegoat. • This act dramatizes substitution—an innocent party identifying with the guilty. Isaiah foretold One on whom “the LORD has laid the iniquity of us all” (Isaiah 53:6). Ezekiel becomes a living preview of that redemptive principle. • The assignment highlights how seriously God views sin: it must be borne. No amount of ritual or rhetoric can remove guilt unless someone carries it away (Hebrews 9:22–28; 2 Corinthians 5:21). You are to bear their iniquity • “Bear” implies both representation and burden (Numbers 14:34; Psalm 38:4). Ezekiel shoulders the weight that rightly belongs to the nation. • While the people continue in rebellion, the prophet silently suffers. This underscores the costliness of intercession—standing in the gap is never cheap (Ezekiel 22:30). • The pattern ultimately culminates in Christ, who “Himself bore our sins in His body on the tree” (1 Peter 2:24). Ezekiel’s uncomfortable posture foreshadows the cross, reminding readers that salvation is secured through sacrificial love. for the number of days you lie on your side • God quantifies the sign: “I have assigned you 390 days” for Israel and, afterward, 40 for Judah (Ezekiel 4:5–6). • Each day equals a year of coming judgment (Numbers 14:34). Israel’s long-standing idolatry (from the divided kingdom onward) will reap 390 years of consequences; Judah’s shorter, yet stubborn, disobedience earns 40. • Ezekiel’s persistent posture—day after day, month after month—makes God’s timetable visible. His unbroken obedience reassures the exiles that the LORD rules history down to the very calendar (Daniel 9:2). • The extended duration also showcases divine patience. The same God who numbered the years of chastening is willing to number the years of restoration (Jeremiah 29:10–14). summary Ezekiel 4:4 calls the prophet to live out the gospel in advance: lying on his left side, he physically reenacts Israel’s guilt and God’s righteous judgment. The command affirms that sin is real, must be borne, and will be judged over a definite span of years. Yet within the sign lies hope—God appoints a finite period for punishment and hints at a greater Substitute who will finally and fully bear iniquity. (4) Lie thou also upon thy left side.--Here a fresh feature of this symbolical prophecy begins, while the former siege is still continued (Ezekiel 4:7).Lay the iniquity of the house of Israel upon it.--The expression, to bear the iniquity of any one, is common in Scripture to denote the suffering of the punishment due to sin. (See, among many other passages, Ezekiel 18:19-20; Ezekiel 23:35; Leviticus 19:8; Numbers 14:34; Isaiah 53:12.) It is clear, therefore, that Ezekiel is here to represent the people as enduring the Divine judgment upon their sins. This may seem inconsistent with his representing at the same time the besiegers of Jerusalem, the instruments in the Divine hand for inflicting that punishment; but such inconsistencies are common enough in all symbolic representations, and neither offend nor in any way mar the effect of the representation. "The house of Israel" is here expressly distinguished from "the house of Judah," and means the ten tribes. They are symbolised by the prophet's lying on his left side, because it was the Oriental habit to look to the east when describing the points of the compass, and the northern kingdom was therefore on the left. . . . Verse 4. - Lie thou also upon thy left side, etc. We find the explanation of the attitude in Ezekiel 16:46. Samaria was on the "left hand," i.e. to the north, as a man looked to the east. So the same word yamin is both "the south" (1 Samuel 23:19, 24; Psalm 84:12) and "the right hand." Here, accordingly, the "house of Israel" is taken in its specific sense, as the northern kingdom as distinguished from the "house of Judah" in ver. 6. Thou shalt bear their iniquity; ie., as in all similar passages (Exodus 28:43; Leviticus 5:17; Leviticus 7:18; Numbers 18:1, et al.), the punishment of their iniquity. The words so taken will help us to understand the numerical symbolism of the words that followed. The prophet was by this act to identify himself with both divisions of the nation, by representing in this strange form at once the severity and the limits of their punishment. I adopt, without any hesitation, the view that we have here the record of a fact, and not of a vision narrated. The object of the act was to startle men and make them wonder. As week after week went on this, exceptis excipiendis, was to be Ezekiel's permanent attitude, as of one crushed to the very ground, prostrate under the burden thus laid upon him, as impersonating his people.Parallel Commentaries ... Hebrew Then lie downשְׁכַב֙ (šə·ḵaḇ) Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine singular Strong's 7901: To lie down on עַל־ (‘al-) Preposition Strong's 5921: Above, over, upon, against your left הַשְּׂמָאלִ֔י (haś·śə·mā·lî) Article | Adjective - masculine singular Strong's 8042: Situated on the left side side צִדְּךָ֣ (ṣid·də·ḵā) Noun - masculine singular construct | second person masculine singular Strong's 6654: A side, an adversary and place וְשַׂמְתָּ֛ (wə·śam·tā) Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - second person masculine singular Strong's 7760: Put -- to put, place, set the iniquity עֲוֺ֥ן (‘ă·wōn) Noun - common singular construct Strong's 5771: Iniquity, guilt, punishment for iniquity of the house בֵּֽית־ (bêṯ-) Noun - masculine singular construct Strong's 1004: A house of Israel יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל (yiś·rā·’êl) Noun - proper - masculine singular Strong's 3478: Israel -- 'God strives', another name of Jacob and his desc upon yourself. עָלָ֑יו (‘ā·lāw) Preposition | third person masculine singular Strong's 5921: Above, over, upon, against You are to bear תִּשָּׂ֖א (tiś·śā) Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine singular Strong's 5375: To lift, carry, take their iniquity עֲוֺנָֽם׃ (‘ă·wō·nām) Noun - common singular construct | third person masculine plural Strong's 5771: Iniquity, guilt, punishment for iniquity for the number מִסְפַּ֤ר (mis·par) Noun - masculine singular construct Strong's 4557: A number, definite, indefinite, narration of days הַיָּמִים֙ (hay·yā·mîm) Article | Noun - masculine plural Strong's 3117: A day you lie on your side. תִּשְׁכַּ֣ב (tiš·kaḇ) Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine singular Strong's 7901: To lie down Links Ezekiel 4:4 NIVEzekiel 4:4 NLT Ezekiel 4:4 ESV Ezekiel 4:4 NASB Ezekiel 4:4 KJV Ezekiel 4:4 BibleApps.com Ezekiel 4:4 Biblia Paralela Ezekiel 4:4 Chinese Bible Ezekiel 4:4 French Bible Ezekiel 4:4 Catholic Bible OT Prophets: Ezekiel 4:4 Moreover lie you on your left side (Ezek. 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