Ezekiel 12:4
New International Version
During the daytime, while they watch, bring out your belongings packed for exile. Then in the evening, while they are watching, go out like those who go into exile.

New Living Translation
Bring your baggage outside during the day so they can watch you. Then in the evening, as they are watching, leave your house as captives do when they begin a long march to distant lands.

English Standard Version
You shall bring out your baggage by day in their sight, as baggage for exile, and you shall go out yourself at evening in their sight, as those do who must go into exile.

Berean Standard Bible
Bring 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.

King James Bible
Then shalt thou bring forth thy stuff by day in their sight, as stuff for removing: and thou shalt go forth at even in their sight, as they that go forth into captivity.

New King James Version
By day you shall bring out your belongings in their sight, as though going into captivity; and at evening you shall go in their sight, like those who go into captivity.

New American Standard Bible
Bring your baggage out by day in their sight, as baggage for exile. Then you shall go out at evening in their sight, as those who are going into exile.

NASB 1995
“Bring your baggage out by day in their sight, as baggage for exile. Then you will go out at evening in their sight, as those going into exile.

NASB 1977
“And bring your baggage out by day in their sight, as baggage for exile. Then you will go out at evening in their sight, as those going into exile.

Legacy Standard Bible
Bring your baggage out by day in their sight, as baggage for exile. Then you will go out at evening in their sight, as those going into exile.

Amplified Bible
Bring your provisions and supplies out during the day as they watch, as provisions and supplies for [going into] exile. Then you shall go out at evening as they watch, as those going into exile.

Christian Standard Bible
During the day, bring out your bags like an exile’s bags while they look on. Then in the evening go out in their sight like those going into exile.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
During the day, bring out your bags like an exile’s bags while they look on. Then in the evening go out in their sight like those going into exile.

American Standard Version
And thou shalt bring forth thy stuff by day in their sight, as stuff for removing; and thou shalt go forth thyself at even in their sight, as when men go forth into exile.

Contemporary English Version
After you have done this, return to your house. Later that evening leave your house as if you were going into exile.

English Revised Version
And thou shalt bring forth thy stuff by day in their sight, as stuff for removing: and thou shalt go forth thyself at even in their sight, as when men go forth into exile.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Let them see you in the daylight. Bring out your bags as if you were going into exile. In the evening let them see you leave like a captive going into exile.

Good News Translation
While it is still daylight, pack your bundle for exile, so that they can see you, and then let them watch you leave in the evening as if you were going into exile.

International Standard Version
"Bring out your luggage, like you're packing to go into exile, and do this during the daytime while they're watching you. Later that evening, leave while they're watching you like someone heading into exile.

Majority Standard Bible
Bring 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.

NET Bible
Bring out your belongings packed for exile during the day while they are watching. And go out at evening, while they are watching, as if for exile.

New Heart English Bible
You shall bring forth your baggage by day in their sight, as baggage for exile; and you shall go forth yourself at even in their sight, as when men go forth into exile.

Webster's Bible Translation
Then shalt thou bring forth thy stuff by day in their sight, as stuff for removing: and thou shalt go forth at evening in their sight, as they that go forth into captivity.

World English Bible
You shall bring out your baggage by day in their sight, as baggage for moving. You shall go out yourself at evening in their sight, as when men go out into exile.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
And you have brought forth your vessels as vessels of removal by day before their eyes, and you go forth in the evening before their eyes, as the goings forth of a removal.

Young's Literal Translation
And thou hast brought forth thy vessels as vessels of removal by day before their eyes, and thou, thou dost go forth at even before their eyes, as the goings forth of a removal.

Smith's Literal Translation
And bring forth thy vessels as vessels of captivity by day, before their eyes: and thou shalt go forth in the evening before their eyes, as the goings forth of captivity.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
And thou shalt bring forth thy furniture as the furniture of one that is removing by day in their sight: and thou shalt go forth in the evening in their presence, as one goeth forth that removeth his dwelling.

Catholic Public Domain Version
And you shall carry your supplies outside, like the supplies of one who is traveling far away, in the daytime in their sight. Then you shall go forth in the evening in their presence, just as one goes forth who is moving far away.

New American Bible
During the day, while they watch, bring out your bag, an exile’s bag. In the evening, again while they watch, go out as if into exile.

New Revised Standard Version
You shall bring out your baggage by day in their sight, as baggage for exile; and you shall go out yourself at evening in their sight, as those do who go into exile.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
Then bring out your belongings by day in their sight, as though they were the necessary things for captivity; and you shall go forth in the evening like those who go forth into captivity.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And bring out your garments as garments of captivity by day in their sight, and go out in the evening as those in captivity
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
And thou shalt bring forth thy stuff by day in their sight, as stuff for exile; and thou shalt go forth thyself at even in their sight, as when men go forth into exile.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And thou shalt carry forth thy baggage, baggage for captivity, by day before their eyes: and thou shalt go forth at even, as a captive goes forth, in their sight.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Signs of the Coming Captivity
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. 5As they watch, dig through the wall and carry your belongings out through it.…

Cross References
Jeremiah 13:19
The cities of the Negev have been shut tight, and no one can open them. All Judah has been carried into exile, wholly taken captive.

2 Kings 25:4-7
Then the city was breached; and though the Chaldeans had surrounded the city, all the men of war fled by night by way of the gate between the two walls near the king’s garden. They headed toward the Arabah, / but the army of the Chaldeans pursued the king and overtook him in the plains of Jericho, and his whole army deserted him. / The Chaldeans seized the king and brought him up to the king of Babylon at Riblah, where they pronounced judgment on him. ...

Jeremiah 52:7-11
Then the city was breached; and though the Chaldeans had surrounded the city, all the men of war fled the city by night by way of the gate between the two walls near the king’s garden. They headed toward the Arabah, / but the army of the Chaldeans pursued the king and overtook Zedekiah in the plains of Jericho, and his whole army deserted him. / The Chaldeans seized the king and brought him up to the king of Babylon at Riblah in the land of Hamath, where he pronounced judgment on Zedekiah. ...

2 Kings 24:12
Jehoiachin king of Judah, his mother, his servants, his commanders, and his officials all surrendered to the king of Babylon. So in the eighth year of his reign, the king of Babylon took him captive.

Jeremiah 39:4-7
When Zedekiah king of Judah and all the soldiers saw them, they fled. They left the city at night by way of the king’s garden, through the gate between the two walls, and they went out along the route to the Arabah. / But the army of the Chaldeans pursued them and overtook Zedekiah in the plains of Jericho. They seized him and brought him up to Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon at Riblah in the land of Hamath, where he pronounced judgment on him. / There at Riblah the king of Babylon slaughtered the sons of Zedekiah before his eyes, and he also killed all the nobles of Judah. ...

2 Kings 25:18-21
The captain of the guard also took away Seraiah the chief priest, Zephaniah the priest of second rank, and the three doorkeepers. / Of those still in the city, he took a court official who had been appointed over the men of war, as well as five royal advisors. He also took the scribe of the captain of the army, who had enlisted the people of the land, and sixty men who were found in the city. / Nebuzaradan captain of the guard took them and brought them to the king of Babylon at Riblah. ...

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.

Jeremiah 29:1-2
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. / (This was after King Jeconiah, the queen mother, the court officials, the officials of Judah and Jerusalem, the craftsmen, and the metalsmiths had been exiled from Jerusalem.)

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 34:3
And you yourself will not escape his grasp, but will surely be captured and delivered into his hand. You will see the king of Babylon eye to eye and speak with him face to face; and you will go to Babylon.

Matthew 24:16-18
then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains. / Let no one on the housetop come down to retrieve anything from his house. / And let no one in the field return for his cloak.

Luke 21:21
Then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains, let those in the city get out, and let those in the country stay out of the city.

Mark 13:14-16
So when you see the abomination of desolation standing where it should not be (let the reader understand), then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains. / Let no one on the housetop go back inside to retrieve anything from his house. / And let no one in the field return for his cloak.

Matthew 24:20
Pray that your flight will not occur in the winter or on the Sabbath.

Luke 17:31
On that day, let no one on the housetop come down to retrieve his possessions. Likewise, let no one in the field return for anything he has left behind.


Treasury of Scripture

Then shall you bring forth your stuff by day in their sight, as stuff for removing: and you shall go forth at even in their sight, as they that go forth into captivity.

at even

Ezekiel 12:12
And the prince that is among them shall bear upon his shoulder in the twilight, and shall go forth: they shall dig through the wall to carry out thereby: he shall cover his face, that he see not the ground with his eyes.

2 Kings 25:4
And the city was broken up, and all the men of war fled by night by the way of the gate between two walls, which is by the king's garden: (now the Chaldees were against the city round about:) and the king went the way toward the plain.

Jeremiah 39:4
And it came to pass, that when Zedekiah the king of Judah saw them, and all the men of war, then they fled, and went forth out of the city by night, by the way of the king's garden, by the gate betwixt the two walls: and he went out the way of the plain.

Jump to Previous
Baggage Belongings Captivity Daytime Evening Exile Eyes Forth Packed Prisoners Removing Sight Stuff Thyself Vessels Watch Watching
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Baggage Belongings Captivity Daytime Evening Exile Eyes Forth Packed Prisoners Removing Sight Stuff Thyself Vessels Watch Watching
Ezekiel 12
1. Under the type of Ezekiel's removing
8. 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














Bring out your baggage
The Hebrew word for "baggage" here is "keli," which can refer to vessels, implements, or equipment. In the context of Ezekiel, it symbolizes the essentials one would take when being forcibly removed from their home. This act is a prophetic sign, a visual sermon to the people of Israel, illustrating the impending judgment and exile due to their disobedience. The act of bringing out baggage signifies preparation for a journey, not of choice, but of necessity and consequence.

by day in their sight
The phrase emphasizes visibility and transparency. Ezekiel's actions are not to be hidden but performed openly, serving as a public demonstration of God's message. The daylight signifies clarity and revelation, leaving no room for misunderstanding. This public act is meant to capture attention and provoke reflection among the Israelites, who are witnessing a physical manifestation of their spiritual reality.

like baggage for exile
The comparison to "baggage for exile" underscores the theme of displacement and loss. Exile in the ancient Near Eastern context was a common consequence of conquest, often involving the forced relocation of populations. This phrase evokes the emotional and physical upheaval associated with being uprooted from one's homeland. It serves as a stark warning to the Israelites of the seriousness of their situation and the reality of God's impending judgment.

Then you are to go out at evening
The timing of "evening" is significant. In the Hebrew culture, evening marks the transition from one day to the next, symbolizing change and the unknown. Ezekiel's departure at this time reflects the uncertainty and fear that accompany exile. It also suggests a sense of urgency and inevitability, as the cover of night often represents danger and the need for haste.

in their sight
Reiterating the importance of visibility, this phrase ensures that the message is not just heard but seen. The repeated emphasis on doing these actions "in their sight" highlights the role of the prophet as a living sign to the people. It reinforces the idea that God's messages are not abstract but tangible and observable, demanding a response from those who witness them.

like those going into exile
This final phrase draws a direct parallel between Ezekiel's symbolic actions and the actual experience of the Israelites. It serves as a prophetic enactment of what is to come, making the abstract concept of exile a concrete reality. The comparison is meant to stir the hearts of the people, urging them to recognize their spiritual exile from God due to sin and to repent before the physical exile becomes their fate.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
Bring out
וְהוֹצֵאתָ֨ (wə·hō·w·ṣê·ṯā)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Conjunctive perfect - second person masculine singular
Strong's 3318: To go, bring, out, direct and proxim

your baggage
כֵלֶ֜יךָ (ḵê·le·ḵā)
Noun - masculine plural construct | second person masculine singular
Strong's 3627: Something prepared, any apparatus

for exile
גוֹלָ֛ה (ḡō·w·lāh)
Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 1473: Exile, exiles

by day,
יוֹמָ֖ם (yō·w·mām)
Adverb
Strong's 3119: Daytime, by day

as they look on.
לְעֵֽינֵיהֶ֑ם (lə·‘ê·nê·hem)
Preposition-l | Noun - cdc | third person masculine plural
Strong's 5869: An eye, a fountain

Then in the evening,
בָעֶ֙רֶב֙ (ḇā·‘e·reḇ)
Preposition-b, Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 6153: Evening

as they look on,
לְעֵ֣ינֵיהֶ֔ם (lə·‘ê·nê·hem)
Preposition-l | Noun - cdc | third person masculine plural
Strong's 5869: An eye, a fountain

go out
תֵּצֵ֤א (tê·ṣê)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine singular
Strong's 3318: To go, bring, out, direct and proxim

like those who go
כְּמוֹצָאֵ֖י (kə·mō·w·ṣā·’ê)
Preposition-k | Noun - masculine plural construct
Strong's 4161: A place or act of going forth, issue, export, source, spring

into exile.
גּוֹלָֽה׃ (gō·w·lāh)
Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 1473: Exile, exiles


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OT Prophets: Ezekiel 12:4 You shall bring forth your stuff (Ezek. Eze Ezk)
Ezekiel 12:3
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