Ezekiel 1:3 the word of the LORD came directly to Ezekiel the priest, the son of Buzi, in the land of the Chaldeans by the River Kebar. And there the LORD's hand was upon him.

◄ Ezekiel 1:3 ►

New International Version
the word of the LORD came to Ezekiel the priest, the son of Buzi, by the Kebar River in the land of the Babylonians. There the hand of the LORD was on him.

New Living Translation
(The LORD gave this message to Ezekiel son of Buzi, a priest, beside the Kebar River in the land of the Babylonians, and he felt the hand of the LORD take hold of him.)

English Standard Version
the word of the LORD came to Ezekiel the priest, the son of Buzi, in the land of the Chaldeans by the Chebar canal, and the hand of the LORD was upon him there.

Berean Standard Bible
the word of the LORD came directly to Ezekiel the priest, the son of Buzi, in the land of the Chaldeans by the River Kebar. And there the LORD’s hand was upon him.

King James Bible
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.

New King James Version
the word of the LORD came expressly to Ezekiel the priest, the son of Buzi, in the land of the Chaldeans by the River Chebar; and the hand of the LORD was upon him there.

New American Standard Bible
the word of the LORD came expressly to Ezekiel the priest, son of Buzi, in the land of the Chaldeans by the river Chebar; and there the hand of the LORD came upon him.)

NASB 1995
the word of the LORD came expressly to Ezekiel the priest, son of Buzi, in the land of the Chaldeans by the river Chebar; and there the hand of the LORD came upon him.)

NASB 1977
the word of the LORD came expressly to Ezekiel the priest, son of Buzi, in the land of the Chaldeans by the river Chebar; and there the hand of the LORD came upon him.)

Legacy Standard Bible
the word of Yahweh came expressly to Ezekiel the priest, son of Buzi, in the land of the Chaldeans by the river Chebar; and there the hand of Yahweh came upon him.)

Amplified Bible
the word of the LORD came expressly to Ezekiel the priest, the son of Buzi, in the land of the Chaldeans by the River Chebar; and the hand of the LORD came upon him there.)

Christian Standard Bible
the word of the LORD came directly to the priest Ezekiel son of Buzi, in the land of the Chaldeans by the Chebar Canal. The LORD’s hand was on him there.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
the word of the LORD came directly to Ezekiel the priest, the son of Buzi, in the land of the Chaldeans by the Chebar Canal. And the LORD’s hand was on him there.

American Standard Version
the word of Jehovah came expressly unto Ezekiel the priest, the son of Buzi, in the land of the Chaldeans by the river Chebar; and the hand of Jehovah was there upon him.

English Revised Version
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.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
the LORD spoke his word to the priest Ezekiel, son of Buzi, in Babylon by the Chebar River. The power of the LORD came over Ezekiel.

Good News Translation
There in Babylonia beside the Chebar River, I heard the LORD speak to me, and I felt his power.

International Standard Version
a message from the LORD came directly to Buzi's son Ezekiel, the priest, by the Chebar River in the land of the Chaldeans. The hand of the LORD rested upon him there.

Majority Standard Bible
the word of the LORD came directly to Ezekiel the priest, the son of Buzi, in the land of the Chaldeans by the River Kebar. And there the LORD?s hand was upon him.

NET Bible
the word of the LORD came to the priest Ezekiel the son of Buzi, at the Kebar River in the land of the Babylonians. The hand of the LORD came on him there).

New Heart English Bible
the word of the LORD came to Ezekiel the priest, the son of Buzi, in the land of the Chaldeans by the river Chebar; and the hand of the LORD came upon me.

Webster's Bible Translation
The word of the LORD came expressly to Ezekiel the priest, the son of Buzi, in the land of the Chaldeans by the river Kebar; and the hand of the LORD was there upon him.

World English Bible
Yahweh’s word came to Ezekiel the priest, the son of Buzi, in the land of the Chaldeans by the river Chebar; and Yahweh’s hand was there on him.

Literal Translations

Literal Standard Version
the word of YHWH has certainly been to Ezekiel son of Buzi the priest, in the land of the Chaldeans, by the river Chebar, and there is on him there a hand of YHWH.

Young's Literal Translation
hath the word of Jehovah certainly been unto Ezekiel son of Buzi the priest, in the land of the Chaldeans, by the river Chebar, and there is on him there a hand of Jehovah.

Smith's Literal Translation
The word of Jehovah being, was to Jehezhel, son of Buzi, the priest, in the land of the Chaldean by the river Chebar; and the hand of Jehovah will be there upon him.

Catholic Translations

Douay-Rheims Bible
The word of the Lord came to Ezechiel the priest the son of Bud in the land of the Chaldeans, by the river Chobar: and the hand of the Lord was there upon him.

Catholic Public Domain Version
the word of the Lord came to Ezekiel, a priest, the son of Buzi, in the land of the Chaldeans, next to the river Chebar. And the hand of the Lord was over him there.

New American Bible
the word of the LORD came to the priest Ezekiel, the son of Buzi, in the land of the Chaldeans by the river Chebar. There the hand of the LORD came upon him.

New Revised Standard Version
the word of the LORD came to the priest Ezekiel son of Buzi, in the land of the Chaldeans by the river Chebar; and the hand of the LORD was on him there.

Translations from Aramaic

Lamsa Bible
The word of the LORD carne to 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 me.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
The word of LORD JEHOVAH came to Khezekiel, son of Buzi, the Priest

OT Translations

JPS Tanakh 1917
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.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And the word of the Lord came to Jezekiel the priest, the son of Buzi, in the land of the Chaldeans, by the river of Chobar; and the hand of the Lord was upon me.

Additional Translations ...

Audio Bible

Context

Ezekiel's Vision by the River Kebar
…2On the fifth day of the month—it was the fifth year of the exile of King Jehoiachin— 3the word of the LORD came directly to Ezekiel the priest, the son of Buzi, in the land of the Chaldeans by the River Kebar. And there the LORD’s hand was upon him.

Berean Standard Bible · Download

Cross References

Jeremiah 1:2
The word of the LORD came to Jeremiah in the thirteenth year of the reign of Josiah son of Amon king of Judah,

2 Kings 24:17-20
Then the king of Babylon made Mattaniah, Jehoiachin’s uncle, king in his place and changed his name to Zedekiah. / Zedekiah was twenty-one years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem eleven years. His mother’s name was Hamutal daughter of Jeremiah; she was from Libnah. / And Zedekiah did evil in the sight of the LORD, just as Jehoiakim had done. ...

Daniel 1:1-2
In the third year of the reign of Jehoiakim king of Judah, Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came to Jerusalem and besieged it. / And the Lord delivered into his hand Jehoiakim king of Judah, along with some of the articles from the house of God. He carried these off to the land of Shinar, to the house of his god, where he put them in the treasury of his god.

2 Chronicles 36:10
In the spring, King Nebuchadnezzar summoned Jehoiachin and brought him to Babylon, along with the articles of value from the house of the LORD. And he made Jehoiachin’s relative Zedekiah king over Judah and Jerusalem.

Jeremiah 29:1
This is the text of the letter that Jeremiah the prophet sent from Jerusalem to the surviving elders among the exiles and to the priests, the prophets, and all the others Nebuchadnezzar had carried into exile from Jerusalem to Babylon.

2 Kings 25:8-12
On the seventh day of the fifth month, in the nineteenth year of Nebuchadnezzar’s reign over Babylon, Nebuzaradan captain of the guard, a servant of the king of Babylon, entered Jerusalem. / He burned down the house of the LORD, the royal palace, and all the houses of Jerusalem—every significant building. / And the whole army of the Chaldeans under the captain of the guard broke down the walls around Jerusalem. ...

Daniel 10:4
On the twenty-fourth day of the first month, as I was standing on the bank of the great river, the Tigris,

Jeremiah 1:4
The word of the LORD came to me, saying:

2 Kings 24:15-16
Nebuchadnezzar carried away Jehoiachin to Babylon, as well as the king’s mother, his wives, his officials, and the leading men of the land. He took them into exile from Jerusalem to Babylon. / The king of Babylon also brought into exile to Babylon all seven thousand men of valor and a thousand craftsmen and metalsmiths—all strong and fit for battle.

Jeremiah 24:1
After Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon had carried away Jeconiah son of Jehoiakim king of Judah, as well as the officials of Judah and the craftsmen and metalsmiths from Jerusalem, and had brought them to Babylon, the LORD showed me two baskets of figs placed in front of the temple of the LORD.

2 Chronicles 36:20-21
Those who escaped the sword were carried by Nebuchadnezzar into exile in Babylon, and they became servants to him and his sons until the kingdom of Persia came to power. / So the land enjoyed its Sabbath rest all the days of the desolation, until seventy years were completed, in fulfillment of the word of the LORD spoken through Jeremiah.

Daniel 9:2
in the first year of his reign, I, Daniel, understood from the sacred books, according to the word of the LORD to Jeremiah the prophet, that the desolation of Jerusalem would last seventy years.

Jeremiah 28:1
In the fifth month of that same year, the fourth year, near the beginning of the reign of King Zedekiah of Judah, the prophet Hananiah son of Azzur, who was from Gibeon, said to me in the house of the LORD in the presence of the priests and all the people:

2 Kings 25:27-30
On the twenty-seventh day of the twelfth month of the thirty-seventh year of the exile of Judah’s King Jehoiachin, in the year Evil-merodach became king of Babylon, he released King Jehoiachin of Judah from prison. / And he spoke kindly to Jehoiachin and set his throne above the thrones of the other kings who were with him in Babylon. / So Jehoiachin changed out of his prison clothes, and he dined regularly at the king’s table for the rest of his life. ...

Jeremiah 32:1-2
This is the word that came to Jeremiah from the LORD in the tenth year of Zedekiah king of Judah, which was the eighteenth year of Nebuchadnezzar. / At that time the army of the king of Babylon was besieging Jerusalem, and Jeremiah the prophet was imprisoned in the courtyard of the guard, which was in the palace of the king of Judah.

Treasury of Scripture

The word of the LORD came expressly to 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 on him.

word

Jeremiah 1:2,4
To whom the word of the LORD came in the days of Josiah the son of Amon king of Judah, in the thirteenth year of his reign…

Hosea 1:1
The word of the LORD that came unto Hosea, the son of Beeri, in the days of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah, kings of Judah, and in the days of Jeroboam the son of Joash, king of Israel.

Joel 1:1
The word of the LORD that came to Joel the son of Pethuel.

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Ezekiel 1

1. The time of Ezekiel's prophecy at Chebar.
4. His vision of four cherubim;
15. of the four wheels;
26. and of the glory of God.

Berean Study Bible

The word of the LORD
This phrase signifies divine communication, a central theme in the prophetic literature of the Bible. In Hebrew, "word" is "dabar," which implies not just spoken words but also actions and events. The "LORD" is "YHWH," the covenant name of God, emphasizing His eternal and unchanging nature. This phrase underscores the authority and authenticity of the message Ezekiel is about to deliver, as it originates from God Himself, the ultimate source of truth and revelation.

came to Ezekiel
The verb "came" indicates an active movement of God's word towards the prophet, suggesting divine initiative and intentionality. Ezekiel, whose name means "God strengthens," is chosen as a vessel for God's message. This highlights the personal nature of God's call and the empowerment that accompanies it. Ezekiel's role as a prophet is not self-appointed but divinely ordained, reflecting the biblical principle that true prophecy originates from God.

the priest
Ezekiel's identification as a priest is significant, as it connects him to the Levitical tradition and the temple service. This background provides him with a deep understanding of the religious and ceremonial aspects of Israel's faith, which is evident in his prophecies. The dual role of priest and prophet in Ezekiel's life illustrates the merging of worship and proclamation, emphasizing the holistic nature of his ministry.

the son of Buzi
This genealogical detail roots Ezekiel in a specific family line, providing historical and cultural context. While little is known about Buzi, the mention of his name serves to authenticate Ezekiel's identity and heritage. It also reflects the biblical tradition of tracing lineage, which often underscores the continuity of God's work through generations.

in the land of the Chaldeans
This phrase situates Ezekiel's ministry geographically and historically. The Chaldeans, synonymous with Babylonians, were the dominant power during Ezekiel's time. This setting in exile highlights the theme of God's presence and activity even outside the Promised Land. It serves as a reminder that God's sovereignty extends beyond geographical boundaries and that His purposes can be fulfilled in any context.

by the Kebar River
The Kebar River, likely a canal near Babylon, is the physical location where Ezekiel receives his vision. This detail emphasizes the reality of the exile experience, as the Jewish people were displaced from their homeland. The river setting may also symbolize a place of reflection and revelation, where God meets His people in their distress and communicates His plans for restoration.

And there the hand of the LORD was upon him
The "hand of the LORD" is a metaphor for God's power and presence. In Hebrew, "hand" (yad) often signifies strength and authority. This phrase indicates that Ezekiel is under divine influence and control, prepared to receive and convey God's message. It reassures the reader of God's active involvement in the unfolding of His divine will, providing comfort and assurance of His guidance and support.

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

(3) Came expressly.--Or, came certainly, with the fullest proof of reality. In the original there is simply the ordinary form of the repetition of the verb for the sake of emphasis. The prophet mentions his own name only here and in Ezekiel 24:24.

The hand of the Lord was there upon him.--A form of expression to indicate that special power and influence which the Spirit exercised over the prophets at times when they were called to become the means of the Divine communications. (Comp. 1Kings 18:46, and Ezekiel 3:22; Ezekiel 37:1; see also Daniel 8:18; Daniel 10:10; Revelation 1:17.) It is noticeable that Ezekiel here speaks of himself in the third person, while in Ezekiel 1:1, and always after this, he uses the first person. It had been suggested that this, together with the mention of his own name, may indicate the insertion of these two verses on a revision of his work by the prophet. . . .

Pulpit Commentary

Verse 3. - The word of the Lord came expressly, etc.; literally, coming, there come the word of the Lord; the iteration having (as commonly in this combination in Hebrew) the force of emphasis. The phrase stands, as elsewhere, for the conscious inspiration which made men feel that Jehovah had indeed spoken unto them, and that they had a message from him to deliver. To give parallel passages would be to copy several pages from a concordance, but it may not be without interest to note its first (Genesis 15:1) and last (Malachi 1:1) occurrences in the Old Testament, and its reappearance in the New Testament (Luke 3:2). Unto Ezekiel. We note the transition from the first person to the third; but it does not give sufficient ground for rejecting either ver. 1 or ver. 2, 3 as an interpolation. (For the prophet's name, which appears only here and in Ezekiel 24:24, see Introduction; and for "land of Chaldeans," note on ver. 1.) The hand of the Lord. Here again we haw a phrase of frequent occurrence, used of Elijah (1 Kings 18:46), of Elisha (2 Kings 3:15), of Daniel (Daniel 8:18; Daniel 10:10), of Isaiah (Isaiah 8:11), of St. John (Revelation 1:17). The "hand" of the Lord is the natural symbol of his power, and the phrase seems to be used to add to the consciousness of inspiration, that of a constraining, irresistible power. Ezekiel continually uses it (Ezekiel 3:14, 22; Ezekiel 8:1; Ezekiel 33:22; Ezekiel 37:1; Ezekiel 40:1).

Parallel Commentaries ...

Hebrew

the word
דְבַר־ (ḏə·ḇar-)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 1697: A word, a matter, thing, a cause

of the LORD
יְ֠הוָה (Yah·weh)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3068: LORD -- the proper name of the God of Israel

came
הָיֹ֣ה (hā·yōh)
Verb - Qal - Infinitive absolute
Strong's 1961: To fall out, come to pass, become, be

directly
הָיָ֣ה (hā·yāh)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 1961: To fall out, come to pass, become, be

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

Ezekiel
יְחֶזְקֵ֨אל (yə·ḥez·qêl)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3168: Ezekiel -- 'God strengthens', two Israelites

the priest,
הַכֹּהֵ֛ן (hak·kō·hên)
Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 3548: Priest

the son
בֶּן־ (ben-)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 1121: A son

of Buzi,
בּוּזִ֧י (bū·zî)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 941: Buzi -- the father of Ezekiel

in the land
בְּאֶ֥רֶץ (bə·’e·reṣ)
Preposition-b | Noun - feminine singular construct
Strong's 776: Earth, land

of the Chaldeans
כַּשְׂדִּ֖ים (kaś·dîm)
Noun - proper - masculine plural
Strong's 3778: Chaldeans -- a region of southern Babylon and its inhab

by
עַל־ (‘al-)
Preposition
Strong's 5921: Above, over, upon, against

the Kebar
כְּבָ֑ר (kə·ḇār)
Noun - proper - feminine singular
Strong's 3529: Chebar -- a river of Babylon

River.
נְהַר־ (nə·har-)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 5104: A stream, prosperity

And there
שָׁ֖ם (šām)
Adverb
Strong's 8033: There, then, thither

the LORD’s
יְהוָֽה׃ (Yah·weh)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3068: LORD -- the proper name of the God of Israel

hand
יַד־ (yaḏ-)
Noun - feminine singular construct
Strong's 3027: A hand

was
וַתְּהִ֥י (wat·tə·hî)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person feminine singular
Strong's 1961: To fall out, come to pass, become, be

upon him.
עָלָ֛יו (‘ā·lāw)
Preposition | third person masculine singular
Strong's 5921: Above, over, upon, against

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OT Prophets: Ezekiel 1:3 The word of Yahweh came expressly (Ezek. Eze Ezk)