Ezekiel 2:10
New International Version
which he unrolled before me. On both sides of it were written words of lament and mourning and woe.

New Living Translation
which he unrolled. And I saw that both sides were covered with funeral songs, words of sorrow, and pronouncements of doom.

English Standard Version
And he spread it before me. And it had writing on the front and on the back, and there were written on it words of lamentation and mourning and woe.

Berean Standard Bible
which He unrolled before me. And written on the front and back of it were words of lamentation, mourning, and woe.

King James Bible
And he spread it before me; and it was written within and without: and there was written therein lamentations, and mourning, and woe.

New King James Version
Then He spread it before me; and there was writing on the inside and on the outside, and written on it were lamentations and mourning and woe.

New American Standard Bible
When He spread it out before me, it was written on the front and back, and written on it were songs of mourning, sighing, and woe.

NASB 1995
When He spread it out before me, it was written on the front and back, and written on it were lamentations, mourning and woe.

NASB 1977
When He spread it out before me, it was written on the front and back; and written on it were lamentations, mourning and woe.

Legacy Standard Bible
Then He spread it out before me, and it was written on the front and back, and written on it were lamentations, sighing, and woe.

Amplified Bible
And He spread it before me, and it was written on the front and on the back, and written on it were [words of] lamentation (funeral songs) and mourning and woe.

Christian Standard Bible
When he unrolled it before me, it was written on the front and back; words of lamentation, mourning, and woe were written on it.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
When He unrolled it before me, it was written on the front and back; words of lamentation, mourning, and woe were written on it.

American Standard Version
and he spread it before me: and it was written within and without; and there were written therein lamentations, and mourning, and woe.

Contemporary English Version
The hand opened the scroll, and both sides of it were filled with words of sadness, mourning, and grief.

English Revised Version
And he spread it before me; and it was written within and without: and there was written therein lamentations, and mourning, and woe.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
He spread the scroll in front of me. There was writing on the front and back. There were funeral songs, songs of mourning, and horrible things written on it.

Good News Translation
The hand unrolled the scroll, and I saw that there was writing on both sides--cries of grief were written there, and wails and groans.

International Standard Version
being unrolled right in front of me! Written on both sides were lamentations, mourning, and cries of grief.

Majority Standard Bible
which He unrolled before me. And written on the front and back of it were words of lamentation, mourning, and woe.

NET Bible
He unrolled it before me, and it had writing on the front and back; written on it were laments, mourning, and woe.

New Heart English Bible
And he spread it before me, and it was written on the front and on the back. And written on it were lamentations, and mourning, and woe.

Webster's Bible Translation
And he spread it before me: and it was written within and without: and there was written in it lamentations, and mourning, and woe.

World English Bible
He spread it before me. It was written within and without; and lamentations, mourning, and woe were written in it.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
and He spreads it before me, and it is written in front and behind, and written on it [are] lamentations, and mourning, and woe!

Young's Literal Translation
and He spreadeth it before me, and it is written in front and behind, and written on it are lamentations, and mourning, and woe!

Smith's Literal Translation
And he will spread it out before me: and it was written the face and the back side: and written upon it lamentations, sighing, and Wo.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
and he spread it before me, and it was written within and without: and there were written in it lamentations, and canticles, and woe.

Catholic Public Domain Version
And he spread it out before me, and there was writing on the inside and on the outside. And there were written in it lamentations, and verses, and woes.

New American Bible
He unrolled it before me; it was covered with writing front and back. Written on it was: Lamentation, wailing, woe!

New Revised Standard Version
He spread it before me; it had writing on the front and on the back, and written on it were words of lamentation and mourning and woe.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
And he spread it before me; and it was written within and without; and there were written in it chants, woes, and lamentations.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And he unrolled it in front of me, and it was written on its front and on its back, and there were written in it wailings and funeral dirges and lamentations
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
and He spread it before me, and it was written within and without; and there was written therein lamentations, and moaning, and woe.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And he unrolled it before me: and in it the front and the back were written upon: and there was written in it Lamentation, and mournful song, and woe.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Ezekiel's Call
9Then I looked and saw a hand reaching out to me, and in it was a scroll, 10which He unrolled before me. And written on the front and back of it were words of lamentation, mourning, and woe.

Cross References
Revelation 5:1-3
Then I saw a scroll in the right hand of the One seated on the throne. It had writing on both sides and was sealed with seven seals. / And I saw a mighty angel proclaiming in a loud voice, “Who is worthy to break the seals and open the scroll?” / But no one in heaven or on earth or under the earth was able to open the scroll or look inside it.

Revelation 10:8-10
Then the voice that I had heard from heaven spoke to me again, saying, “Go, take the small scroll that lies open in the hand of the angel standing on the sea and on the land.” / And I went to the angel and said, “Give me the small scroll.” “Take it and eat it,” he said. “It will make your stomach bitter, but in your mouth it will be as sweet as honey.” / So I took the small scroll from the angel’s hand and ate it, and it was as sweet as honey in my mouth. But when I had eaten it, my stomach turned bitter.

Jeremiah 36:2
“Take a scroll and write on it all the words I have spoken to you concerning Israel, Judah, and all the nations, from the day I first spoke to you during the reign of Josiah until today.

Zechariah 5:1-3
Again I lifted up my eyes and saw before me a flying scroll. / “What do you see?” asked the angel. “I see a flying scroll,” I replied, “twenty cubits long and ten cubits wide.” / Then he told me, “This is the curse that is going out over the face of all the land, for according to one side of the scroll, every thief will be removed; and according to the other side, every perjurer will be removed.

Isaiah 30:8
Go now, write it on a tablet in their presence and inscribe it on a scroll; it will be for the days to come, a witness forever and ever.

Revelation 6:14
The sky receded like a scroll being rolled up, and every mountain and island was moved from its place.

Daniel 12:4
But you, Daniel, shut up these words and seal the book until the time of the end. Many will roam to and fro, and knowledge will increase.”

Jeremiah 15:16
Your words were found, and I ate them. Your words became my joy and my heart’s delight. For I bear Your name, O LORD God of Hosts.

Revelation 1:11
saying, “Write on a scroll what you see and send it to the seven churches: to Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia, and Laodicea.”

Isaiah 8:1
Then the LORD said to me, “Take a large scroll and write on it with an ordinary stylus: Maher-shalal-hash-baz.

Revelation 20:12
And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne. And books were opened, and one of them was the Book of Life. And the dead were judged according to their deeds, as recorded in the books.

Jeremiah 36:23
And as soon as Jehudi had read three or four columns, Jehoiakim would cut them off with a scribe’s knife and throw them into the firepot, until the entire scroll had been consumed by the fire.

Habakkuk 2:2
Then the LORD answered me: “Write down this vision and clearly inscribe it on tablets, so that a herald may run with it.

Revelation 22:18-19
I testify to everyone who hears the words of prophecy in this book: If anyone adds to them, God will add to him the plagues described in this book. / And if anyone takes away from the words of this book of prophecy, God will take away his share in the tree of life and the holy city, which are described in this book.

Isaiah 29:11-12
And the entire vision will be to you like the words sealed in a scroll. If it is handed to someone to read, he will say, “I cannot, because it is sealed.” / Or if the scroll is handed to one unable to read, he will say, “I cannot read.”


Treasury of Scripture

And he spread it before me; and it was written within and without: and there was written therein lamentations, and mourning, and woe.

spread

Isaiah 30:8-11
Now go, write it before them in a table, and note it in a book, that it may be for the time to come for ever and ever: …

Habakkuk 2:2
And the LORD answered me, and said, Write the vision, and make it plain upon tables, that he may run that readeth it.

was written within.

Isaiah 3:11
Woe unto the wicked! it shall be ill with him: for the reward of his hands shall be given him.

Jeremiah 36:29-32
And thou shalt say to Jehoiakim king of Judah, Thus saith the LORD; Thou hast burned this roll, saying, Why hast thou written therein, saying, The king of Babylon shall certainly come and destroy this land, and shall cause to cease from thence man and beast? …

Revelation 8:13
And I beheld, and heard an angel flying through the midst of heaven, saying with a loud voice, Woe, woe, woe, to the inhabiters of the earth by reason of the other voices of the trumpet of the three angels, which are yet to sound!

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Ezekiel 2
1. Ezekiel's commission
6. His instruction
9. The scroll of his heavy prophecy














And He spread it before me
This phrase indicates a divine action, where God Himself is revealing something significant to Ezekiel. The Hebrew root for "spread" is "פָּרַשׂ" (paras), which can mean to unfold or display. This act of spreading signifies the openness and transparency of God's message. In a historical context, scrolls were often unrolled to reveal their contents, symbolizing the unveiling of divine truth. The act of God spreading the scroll before Ezekiel emphasizes the importance and urgency of the message being delivered.

and it was written on the front and back
The detail that the scroll was written on both sides is significant. In ancient times, scrolls were typically written on one side due to the texture of the papyrus or parchment. A scroll written on both sides indicates a fullness or completeness of the message, suggesting that nothing is left out. This could symbolize the comprehensive nature of God's judgment and the thoroughness of His communication. Theologically, it underscores the idea that God's word is all-encompassing and leaves no room for misunderstanding.

And it contained words of lamentation, mourning, and woe
The content of the scroll is described with three powerful terms: "lamentation," "mourning," and "woe." The Hebrew words used here are "קִינָה" (qinah) for lamentation, "אֵבֶל" (evel) for mourning, and "הוֹי" (hoy) for woe. These words convey a deep sense of sorrow and impending judgment. "Lamentation" refers to a dirge or a song of sorrow, often associated with funerals or great loss. "Mourning" indicates a period of grief and reflection, a response to the recognition of sin and its consequences. "Woe" is an expression of distress and impending doom, often used by prophets to announce divine judgment. Together, these words paint a picture of the severe and somber message that Ezekiel is tasked with delivering. Historically, this reflects the dire situation of Israel at the time, facing the consequences of their rebellion against God. Spiritually, it serves as a warning to all believers about the seriousness of sin and the reality of divine justice.

(10) He spread it before me.--The roll was given to the prophet open, as the book in Revelation 10:8, that he might first see it all as a whole, before becoming thoroughly possessed with it in detail. What he saw was "lamentations, and mourning, and woe;" in other words, this was the whole character of the message he was commissioned to bear until the great judgment in the destruction of Jerusalem and the Temple should be fulfilled, when, after Ezekiel 33, his prophecies assume a consolatory character. (See Introduction, VI)

Verse 10. - It was written within and without. Commonly such rolls, whether of vellum or papyrus, were written on one side only. This, like the tables of stone (Exodus 32:15), was written, as a symbol of the fulness of its message, on both sides. And as he looked at the roll thus "spread before" him, he saw that it was no evangel, no glad tidings, that he had thus to identify with his work, but one from first to last of lamentations, and mourning, and woe. Jeremiah had been known as the prophet of weeping, and was about this time (probably a little later) writing his own Lamentations (the Hebrew title of the book, however, is simply its first words) over the fall of Jerusalem. Ezekiel's work was to be of a like nature. The word meets us again (Ezekiel 19:1, 14; Ezekiel 26:17; Ezekiel 27:2, 32; Ezekiel 28:12; Ezekiel 32:2, 16) as the keynote of his writings. Out of such a book, though the glad tidings were to come afterwards, his own prophetic work was to be evolved.



Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
which He unrolled
וַיִּפְרֹ֤שׂ (way·yip̄·rōś)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 6566: To break apart, disperse

before me.
לְפָנַ֔י (lə·p̄ā·nay)
Preposition-l | Noun - masculine plural construct | first person common singular
Strong's 6440: The face

And written
כְתוּבָ֖ה (ḵə·ṯū·ḇāh)
Verb - Qal - QalPassParticiple - feminine singular
Strong's 3789: To grave, to write

on the front
פָּנִ֣ים (pā·nîm)
Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 6440: The face

and back
וְאָח֑וֹר (wə·’ā·ḥō·wr)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 268: The hinder part, behind, backward, the West

of it
אֵלֶ֔יהָ (’ê·le·hā)
Preposition | third person feminine singular
Strong's 413: Near, with, among, to

[were] words of lamentation,
קִנִ֥ים (qi·nîm)
Noun - feminine plural
Strong's 7015: An elegy, dirge

mourning,
וָהֶ֖גֶה (wā·he·ḡeh)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 1899: A rumbling, growling, moaning

and woe.
וָהִֽי׃ (wā·hî)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 1958: Lamentation, wailing


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OT Prophets: Ezekiel 2:10 He spread it before me: and it (Ezek. Eze Ezk)
Ezekiel 2:9
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