Ezekiel 4:8
New International Version
I will tie you up with ropes so that you cannot turn from one side to the other until you have finished the days of your siege.

New Living Translation
I will tie you up with ropes so you won’t be able to turn from side to side until the days of your siege have been completed.

English Standard Version
And behold, I will place cords upon you, so that you cannot turn from one side to the other, till you have completed the days of your siege.

Berean Standard Bible
Now behold, I will tie you up with ropes so you cannot turn from side to side until you have finished the days of your siege.

King James Bible
And, behold, I will lay bands upon thee, and thou shalt not turn thee from one side to another, till thou hast ended the days of thy siege.

New King James Version
And surely I will restrain you so that you cannot turn from one side to another till you have ended the days of your siege.

New American Standard Bible
Now behold, I will put ropes around you so that you cannot turn from your one side to your other until you have completed the days of your siege.

NASB 1995
“Now behold, I will put ropes on you so that you cannot turn from one side to the other until you have completed the days of your siege.

NASB 1977
“Now behold, I will put ropes on you so that you cannot turn from one side to the other, until you have completed the days of your siege.

Legacy Standard Bible
Now behold, I will set ropes upon you so that you cannot turn from one side to the other until you have completed the days of your siege.

Amplified Bible
Now behold, I will put ropes on you so that you cannot turn from one side to the other until you have completed the days of your siege.

Christian Standard Bible
Be aware that I will put cords on you so you cannot turn from side to side until you have finished the days of your siege.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Be aware that I will put cords on you so you cannot turn from side to side until you have finished the days of your siege.”

American Standard Version
And, behold, I lay bands upon thee, and thou shalt not turn thee from one side to the other, till thou hast accomplished the days of thy siege.

Contemporary English Version
I will tie you up, so you can't leave until your attack has ended.

English Revised Version
And, behold, I lay bands upon thee, and thou shalt not turn thee from one side to another, till thou hast accomplished the days of thy siege.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
I will tie you up with ropes so that you will not be able to turn from one side to the other until you have finished attacking [Jerusalem].

Good News Translation
I will tie you up so that you cannot turn from one side to the other until the siege is over.

International Standard Version
Look! I'll tie you up so that you're unable to turn from one side to the other until you've completed your siege."

Majority Standard Bible
Now behold, I will tie you up with ropes so you cannot turn from side to side until you have finished the days of your siege.

NET Bible
Look here, I will tie you up with ropes, so you cannot turn from one side to the other until you complete the days of your siege.

New Heart English Bible
Look, I lay bands on you, and you shall not turn you from one side to the other, until you have accomplished the days of your siege.

Webster's Bible Translation
And behold, I will lay bands upon thee, and thou shalt not turn thee from one side to another, till thou hast ended the days of thy siege.

World English Bible
Behold, I put ropes on you, and you shall not turn yourself from one side to the other, until you have accomplished the days of your siege.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
And behold, I have put thick bands on you, and you do not turn from side to side until your completing the days of your siege.

Young's Literal Translation
And lo, I have put on thee thick bands, and thou dost not turn from side to side till thy completing the days of thy siege.

Smith's Literal Translation
And behold, I gave bands upon thee, and thou shalt not turn from thy side to thy side, even to thy finishing the days of thy siege.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
Behold I have encompassed thee with bands: and thou shalt not turn thyself from one side to the other, till thou hast ended the days of thy siege.

Catholic Public Domain Version
Behold, I have surrounded you with chains. And you shall not turn yourself from one side to the other side, until you have completed the days of your siege.

New American Bible
See, I bind you with ropes so that you cannot turn from one side to the other until you have completed the days of your siege.

New Revised Standard Version
See, I am putting cords on you so that you cannot turn from one side to the other until you have completed the days of your siege.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
And behold, I have laid chains upon you, and you shall not turn from one side to another until you have completed the days of your siege.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
Behold, I cast chains upon you and you shall not turn from your side to your other side, until the days of your siege will be fulfilled
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
And, behold, I lay bands upon thee, and thou shalt not turn thee from one side to another, till thou hast accomplished the days of thy siege.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And, behold, I have prepared bonds for thee, land thou mayest not turn from thy one side to the other, until the days of thy siege shall be accomplished.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
A Sign of Jerusalem's Siege
7You must turn your face toward the siege of Jerusalem with your arm bared, and prophesy against it. 8Now behold, I will tie you up with ropes so you cannot turn from side to side until you have finished the days of your siege.

Cross References
Jeremiah 13:21
What will you say when He sets over you close allies whom you yourself trained? Will not pangs of anguish grip you, as they do a woman in labor?

2 Kings 25:7
And they slaughtered the sons of Zedekiah before his eyes. Then they put out his eyes, bound him with bronze shackles, and took him to Babylon.

Jeremiah 39:7
Then he put out Zedekiah’s eyes and bound him with bronze chains to take him to Babylon.

Jeremiah 52:11
Then he put out Zedekiah’s eyes, bound him with bronze shackles, and took him to Babylon, where he kept him in custody until his dying day.

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.

Lamentations 3:7
He has walled me in so I cannot escape; He has weighed me down with chains.

Daniel 10:8-10
So I was left alone, gazing at this great vision. No strength remained in me; my face grew deathly pale, and I was powerless. / I heard the sound of his words, and as I listened, I fell into a deep sleep, with my face to the ground. / Suddenly, a hand touched me and set me trembling on my hands and knees.

Hosea 3:4
For the Israelites must live many days without king or prince, without sacrifice or sacred pillar, and without ephod or idol.

2 Chronicles 36:6
Then Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came up against Jehoiakim and bound him with bronze shackles to take him to Babylon.

Jeremiah 32:3
For Zedekiah king of Judah had imprisoned him, saying: “Why are you prophesying like this? You claim that the LORD says, ‘Behold, I am about to deliver this city into the hand of the king of Babylon, and he will capture it.

Acts 21:11
Coming over to us, he took Paul’s belt, bound his own feet and hands, and said, “The Holy Spirit says: ‘In this way the Jews of Jerusalem will bind the owner of this belt and hand him over to the Gentiles.’”

Acts 9:8-9
Saul got up from the ground, but when he opened his eyes he could not see a thing. So they led him by the hand into Damascus. / For three days he was without sight, and he did not eat or drink anything.

Matthew 27:2
They bound Him, led Him away, and handed Him over to Pilate the governor.

John 18:12
Then the band of soldiers, with its commander and the officers of the Jews, arrested Jesus and bound Him.

Acts 12:6
On the night before Herod was to bring him to trial, Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains, with sentries standing guard at the entrance to the prison.


Treasury of Scripture

And, behold, I will lay bands on you, and you shall not turn you from one side to another, till you have ended the days of your siege.

I will

Ezekiel 3:25
But thou, O son of man, behold, they shall put bands upon thee, and shall bind thee with them, and thou shalt not go out among them:

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Accomplished Bands Completed Completing Cords Ended Lay Ropes Side Siege Stretched Thick Thyself Tie Turn Turning
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Accomplished Bands Completed Completing Cords Ended Lay Ropes Side Siege Stretched Thick Thyself Tie Turn Turning
Ezekiel 4
1. Under type of a siege is shown the time from the defection of Jeroboam to captivity
9. By the provision of the siege, is shown the hardness of the famine














I will tie you up with ropes
This phrase signifies God's direct intervention in the life of Ezekiel, symbolizing the binding nature of divine commands. The Hebrew root for "tie" (אָסַר, 'asar) often implies binding or imprisoning, suggesting that Ezekiel's actions are not of his own volition but are compelled by God's will. This act of binding can be seen as a metaphor for the constraints placed upon the prophet, emphasizing the seriousness and inevitability of the message he is to deliver. Historically, prophets often faced physical and spiritual constraints as they carried out God's directives, highlighting the weight of their divine mission.

so that you cannot turn
This phrase underscores the totality of Ezekiel's commitment to his prophetic role. The inability to "turn" (שׁוּב, shuv) indicates a lack of freedom to deviate from God's instructions. In the broader scriptural context, turning often implies repentance or change of direction, but here it signifies the steadfastness required of Ezekiel. The prophet's immobility serves as a powerful symbol of the unchanging nature of God's judgment upon Israel. It reflects the historical reality of the Babylonian exile, where the people of Israel were unable to escape the consequences of their actions.

from one side to the other
This phrase illustrates the specific and deliberate nature of Ezekiel's prophetic actions. The act of lying on one side and then the other is a symbolic representation of the divided kingdom of Israel and Judah. The historical context of the divided monarchy is crucial here, as it reflects the fractured state of God's people. Ezekiel's actions serve as a visual prophecy, a living parable of the impending judgment and the hope of eventual restoration. The phrase also emphasizes the completeness of God's message, covering all aspects of the nation's sin and the comprehensive nature of divine justice.

until you have completed the days of your siege
This final phrase speaks to the endurance and perseverance required of Ezekiel. The "days of your siege" refer to the symbolic representation of the Babylonian siege of Jerusalem. The Hebrew word for "completed" (כָּלָה, kalah) implies bringing something to its full end or conclusion. This completion signifies the fulfillment of God's prophetic word, reinforcing the certainty of His plans. The historical siege of Jerusalem was a pivotal event in Israel's history, marking a period of intense suffering and reflection. Ezekiel's role in enacting this prophecy serves as a reminder of the faithfulness required in the face of adversity and the ultimate sovereignty of God over the affairs of nations.

(8) I will lay bands upon thee.--See on Ezekiel 3:25. This is a fresh feature of the unrelenting character of the judgment foretold: God's power should interpose to keep the prophet to his work. Not only pity, but even human weakness and weariness, should be excluded from interfering. The prophet is spoken of as besieging the city, because he is doing so in figure.

Verse 8. - I will lay bands upon thee, etc. The words point to the supernatural constraint which would support the prophet in a position as trying as that of an Indian yogi or a Stylite monk. He would himself be powerless to move (exceptis excipiendis, as before) from the prescribed position. There is, perhaps, a reference to Ezekiel 3:25. The people would have "put bands" upon the prophet to hinder his work; Jehovah will "put bands" upon him to help, nay, to constrain, him to finish it.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
Now behold,
וְהִנֵּ֛ה (wə·hin·nêh)
Conjunctive waw | Interjection
Strong's 2009: Lo! behold!

I will tie you up
נָתַ֥תִּי (nā·ṯat·tî)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - first person common singular
Strong's 5414: To give, put, set

with ropes
עֲבוֹתִ֑ים (‘ă·ḇō·w·ṯîm)
Noun - common plural
Strong's 5688: Something intwined, a string, wreath, foliage

so you cannot
וְלֹֽא־ (wə·lō-)
Conjunctive waw | Adverb - Negative particle
Strong's 3808: Not, no

turn
תֵהָפֵ֤ךְ (ṯê·hā·p̄êḵ)
Verb - Nifal - Imperfect - second person masculine singular
Strong's 2015: To turn about, over, to change, overturn, return, pervert

from side
מִֽצִּדְּךָ֙ (miṣ·ṣid·də·ḵā)
Preposition-m | Noun - masculine singular construct | second person masculine singular
Strong's 6654: A side, an adversary

to
אֶל־ (’el-)
Preposition
Strong's 413: Near, with, among, to

side
צִדֶּ֔ךָ (ṣid·de·ḵā)
Noun - masculine singular construct | second person masculine singular
Strong's 6654: A side, an adversary

until
עַד־ (‘aḏ-)
Preposition
Strong's 5704: As far as, even to, up to, until, while

you have finished
כַּלּוֹתְךָ֖ (kal·lō·wṯ·ḵā)
Verb - Piel - Infinitive construct | second person masculine singular
Strong's 3615: To be complete, at an end, finished, accomplished, or spent

the days
יְמֵ֥י (yə·mê)
Noun - masculine plural construct
Strong's 3117: A day

of your siege.
מְצוּרֶֽךָ׃ (mə·ṣū·re·ḵā)
Noun - masculine singular construct | second person masculine singular
Strong's 4692: Something hemming in, a mound, a siege, distress, a fastness


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OT Prophets: Ezekiel 4:8 Behold I lay bands on you (Ezek. Eze Ezk)
Ezekiel 4:7
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