Ezekiel 21:6
But you, son of man, groan! Groan before their eyes with a broken heart and bitter grief.
But you, son of man,
The term "son of man" is a title used frequently for Ezekiel, emphasizing his humanity and role as a representative of the people. It underscores the prophet's connection to the human condition and his role as a mediator between God and Israel. This title is also significant in the New Testament, where it is used by Jesus to refer to Himself, highlighting His incarnation and identification with humanity (e.g., Matthew 8:20).

groan!
The command to "groan" indicates a deep, visceral response to the impending judgment. This expression of anguish is not just a personal reaction but a prophetic act symbolizing the sorrow and pain that will befall the people. Groaning is often associated with lamentation and mourning in the Bible, reflecting the gravity of the situation (Romans 8:22-23).

Groan before their eyes
Ezekiel is instructed to perform this act publicly, serving as a visible sign to the people. This prophetic action is meant to capture attention and convey the seriousness of God's message. Public demonstrations by prophets were common in the Old Testament, serving as tangible illustrations of divine warnings (e.g., Jeremiah 19:1-11).

with a broken heart
The phrase "broken heart" conveys profound emotional distress and sorrow. It reflects God's own grief over the sin and impending judgment of His people. This imagery is consistent with the biblical theme of God's compassion and desire for repentance (Psalm 34:18).

and bitter grief.
"Bitter grief" emphasizes the intensity of the sorrow Ezekiel is to express. This mirrors the deep lamentation that will be experienced by the people when judgment comes. The use of "bitter" suggests a sense of regret and loss, akin to the bitterness of the Israelites' experience in exile (Lamentations 1:4).

Persons / Places / Events
1. Ezekiel
A prophet called by God to deliver His messages to the Israelites during their exile in Babylon. Known for his vivid visions and symbolic actions.

2. Son of Man
A title used frequently in Ezekiel, emphasizing his humanity and role as a representative of the people before God.

3. Israelites
The people of God who are in exile due to their disobedience and idolatry. They are the primary audience of Ezekiel's prophecies.

4. Babylon
The place of exile for the Israelites, representing both physical captivity and spiritual desolation.

5. God's Judgment
The overarching theme of this chapter, where God communicates His impending judgment on Jerusalem and the surrounding nations.
Teaching Points
The Role of the Prophet
Prophets are called to not only speak God's words but also to embody His emotions. Ezekiel's groaning is a physical manifestation of God's grief over sin.

The Weight of Sin
Sin leads to deep sorrow and brokenness, not only for those who commit it but also for those who witness its consequences. We must recognize the gravity of sin in our lives.

Empathy and Intercession
Like Ezekiel, believers are called to empathize with the lost and intercede for them. Our hearts should break for what breaks God's heart.

Public Witness
Ezekiel's public display of grief serves as a witness to others. Our lives should visibly reflect our faith and convictions, even in sorrow.

Hope in Judgment
While judgment is certain, it is also a call to repentance and restoration. God's ultimate desire is for His people to return to Him.
Bible Study Questions
1. How does Ezekiel's role as a "son of man" inform our understanding of his prophetic ministry and its relevance to us today?

2. In what ways can we, like Ezekiel, express genuine sorrow for the sins of our community or nation?

3. How do the themes of judgment and lament in Ezekiel 21:6 connect with the broader account of God's redemptive plan in the Bible?

4. What practical steps can we take to ensure our lives are a public witness to God's truth and compassion?

5. How can we balance the message of God's judgment with the hope of His mercy and restoration in our conversations with others?
Connections to Other Scriptures
Jeremiah 9:1
Jeremiah also expresses deep sorrow for the sins and impending judgment on Israel, similar to Ezekiel's groaning.

Lamentations 1:16
Reflects the deep grief and lamentation over Jerusalem's destruction, paralleling Ezekiel's expression of sorrow.

Matthew 23:37
Jesus laments over Jerusalem, showing continuity in God's sorrow over His people's rebellion.
Irresistible SlaughterJ.D. Davies Ezekiel 21:1-17
Sighing Because of Sorrowful TidingsH. Melvill, B. D.Ezekiel 21:6-7
The Sign of SighingJ.R. Thomson Ezekiel 21:6, 7
People
Ammonites, Ezekiel
Places
Babylon, Jerusalem, Negeb, Rabbah
Topics
Bent, Bitter, Bitterness, Body, Breaking, Broken, Grief, Groan, Heart, Loins, Sigh, Sight, Sounds, Thighs, Yea
Dictionary of Bible Themes
Ezekiel 21:6

     5799   bitterness
     5952   sorrow

Ezekiel 21:6-7

     5801   brokenness
     5970   unhappiness

Library
Scriptures Showing the Sin and Danger of Joining with Wicked and Ungodly Men.
Scriptures Showing The Sin And Danger Of Joining With Wicked And Ungodly Men. When the Lord is punishing such a people against whom he hath a controversy, and a notable controversy, every one that is found shall be thrust through: and every one joined with them shall fall, Isa. xiii. 15. They partake in their judgment, not only because in a common calamity all shares, (as in Ezek. xxi. 3.) but chiefly because joined with and partakers with these whom God is pursuing; even as the strangers that join
Hugh Binning—The Works of the Rev. Hugh Binning

Light for them that Sit in Darkness;
OR, A DISCOURSE OF JESUS CHRIST: AND THAT HE UNDERTOOK TO ACCOMPLISH BY HIMSELF THE ETERNAL REDEMPTION OF SINNERS: ALSO, HOW THE LORD JESUS ADDRESSED HIMSELF TO THIS WORK; WITH UNDENIABLE DEMONSTRATIONS THAT HE PERFORMED THE SAME. OBJECTIONS TO THE CONTRARY ANSWERED. 'Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us.'--Galatians 3:13. by John Bunyan--1674 ADVERTISEMENT BY THE EDITOR. This solemn and searching treatise was first published in 1674, a copy of which is in
John Bunyan—The Works of John Bunyan Volumes 1-3

Sundry Sharp Reproofs
This doctrine draws up a charge against several sorts: 1 Those that think themselves good Christians, yet have not learned this art of holy mourning. Luther calls mourning a rare herb'. Men have tears to shed for other things, but have none to spare for their sins. There are many murmurers, but few mourners. Most are like the stony ground which lacked moisture' (Luke 8:6). We have many cry out of hard times, but they are not sensible of hard hearts. Hot and dry is the worst temper of the body. Sure
Thomas Watson—The Beatitudes: An Exposition of Matthew 5:1-12

Saurin -- Paul Before Felix and Drusilla
Jacques Saurin, the famous French Protestant preacher of the seventeenth century, was born at Nismes in 1677. He studied at Geneva and was appointed to the Walloon Church in London in 1701. The scene of his great life work was, however, the Hague, where he settled in 1705. He has been compared with Bossuet, tho he never attained the graceful style and subtilty which characterize the "Eagle of Meaux." The story is told of the famous scholar Le Clerc that he long refused to hear Saurin preach, on the
Grenville Kleiser—The world's great sermons, Volume 3

Ezekiel
To a modern taste, Ezekiel does not appeal anything like so powerfully as Isaiah or Jeremiah. He has neither the majesty of the one nor the tenderness and passion of the other. There is much in him that is fantastic, and much that is ritualistic. His imaginations border sometimes on the grotesque and sometimes on the mechanical. Yet he is a historical figure of the first importance; it was very largely from him that Judaism received the ecclesiastical impulse by which for centuries it was powerfully
John Edgar McFadyen—Introduction to the Old Testament

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