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<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "//www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="//www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><head><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8" /><meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1" /><title>Ezekiel 20:45 Now the word of the LORD came to me, saying,</title><link rel="canonical" href="https://biblehub.com/ezekiel/20-45.htm" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="/new9.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><meta property="og:image" content="https://biblehub.com/visuals/8/26_Ezk_20_45.jpg" /><meta property="og:title" content="Ezekiel 20:45 - A Prophecy Against the South" /><meta property="og:site_name" content="Bible Hub" /><meta property="og:description" content="Now the word of the LORD came to me, saying," /><script type="application/javascript" src="https://scripts.webcontentassessor.com/scripts/8a2459b64f9cac8122fc7f2eac4409c8555fac9383016db59c4c26e3d5b8b157"></script><script 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src="/bmc/ezekiel/20-45.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></td></tr></table></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable3"><tr><td><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center" id="announce"><tr><td><div id="l1"><div id="breadcrumbs"><a href="/">Bible</a> > <a href="/ezekiel/">Ezekiel</a> > <a href="/ezekiel/20.htm">Chapter 20</a> > Verse 45</div><div id="anc"><iframe src="/anc.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></div><div id="anc2"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><iframe src="/anc2.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></div><div id="ad1"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><iframe src="/ad5.htm" width="100%" height="48" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></td></tr></table><div id="movebox2"><table border="0" align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tr><td><div id="topheading"><a href="/ezekiel/20-44.htm" title="Ezekiel 20:44">◄</a> Ezekiel 20:45 <a href="/ezekiel/20-46.htm" title="Ezekiel 20:46">►</a></div></tr></table></div><div align="center" class="maintable2"><table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><div id="topverse"> <a href="#audio" class="clickchap2" title="Context and Audio Bible"> Audio </a> <a href="#crossref" class="clickchap2" title="Cross References"> Cross </a> <a href="#study" class="clickchap2" title="Study Bible"> Study </a> <a href="#commentary" class="clickchap2" title="Commentary"> Comm </a> <a href="#lexicon" class="clickchap2" title="Lexicon"> Heb </a> </div><div id="leftbox"><div class="padleft"><div class="vheadingv"><b>Verse</b><a href="/bsb/ezekiel/20.htm" class="clickchap" style="color:#001320" title="Click any translation name for full chapter">  (Click for Chapter)</a></div><div id="par"><span class="versiontext"><a href="/niv/ezekiel/20.htm">New International Version</a></span><br />The word of the LORD came to me:<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nlt/ezekiel/20.htm">New Living Translation</a></span><br />Then this message came to me from the LORD:<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/esv/ezekiel/20.htm">English Standard Version</a></span><br />And the word of the LORD came to me:<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/bsb/ezekiel/20.htm">Berean Standard Bible</a></span><br />Now the word of the LORD came to me, saying,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/kjv/ezekiel/20.htm">King James Bible</a></span><br />Moreover the word of the LORD came unto me, saying,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nkjv/ezekiel/20.htm">New King James Version</a></span><br />Furthermore the word of the LORD came to me, saying,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb_/ezekiel/20.htm">New American Standard Bible</a></span><br />Now the word of the LORD came to me, saying,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb/ezekiel/20.htm">NASB 1995</a></span><br />Now the word of the LORD came to me, saying,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb77/ezekiel/20.htm">NASB 1977 </a></span><br />Now the word of the LORD came to me saying,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsb/ezekiel/20.htm">Legacy Standard Bible </a></span><br />Now the word of Yahweh came to me, saying,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/amp/ezekiel/20.htm">Amplified Bible</a></span><br />Now the word of the LORD came to me, saying,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/csb/ezekiel/20.htm">Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />The word of the LORD came to me:<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hcsb/ezekiel/20.htm">Holman Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />The word of the LORD came to me: &#8220<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/asv/ezekiel/20.htm">American Standard Version</a></span><br />And the word of Jehovah came unto me, saying,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cev/ezekiel/20.htm">Contemporary English Version</a></span><br />The LORD said, <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/erv/ezekiel/20.htm">English Revised Version</a></span><br />And the word of the LORD came unto me, saying,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gwt/ezekiel/20.htm">GOD'S WORD® Translation</a></span><br />The LORD spoke his word to me. He said,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gnt/ezekiel/20.htm">Good News Translation</a></span><br />The LORD spoke to me. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/isv/ezekiel/20.htm">International Standard Version</a></span><br /> This message came to me from the LORD: <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/msb/ezekiel/20.htm">Majority Standard Bible</a></span><br />Now the word of the LORD came to me, saying,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/net/ezekiel/20.htm">NET Bible</a></span><br />The word of the LORD came to me:<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nheb/ezekiel/20.htm">New Heart English Bible</a></span><br />The word of the LORD came to me, saying,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/wbt/ezekiel/20.htm">Webster's Bible Translation</a></span><br />Moreover the word of the LORD came to me, saying,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/web/ezekiel/20.htm">World English Bible</a></span><br />Yahweh’s word came to me, saying, <div class="vheading2"><b>Literal Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsv/ezekiel/20.htm">Literal Standard Version</a></span><br />And there is a word of YHWH to me, saying,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/ylt/ezekiel/20.htm">Young's Literal Translation</a></span><br /> And there is a word of Jehovah unto me, saying,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/slt/ezekiel/20.htm">Smith's Literal Translation</a></span><br />And the word of Jehovah will be to me, saying,<div class="vheading2"><b>Catholic Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/drb/ezekiel/20.htm">Douay-Rheims Bible</a></span><br />And the word of the Lord came to me, saying : <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cpdv/ezekiel/20.htm">Catholic Public Domain Version</a></span><br />And the word of the Lord came to me, saying:<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nabre/ezekiel/20.htm">New American Bible</a></span><br />The word of the LORD came to me:<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nrsvce/ezekiel/20.htm">New Revised Standard Version</a></span><br />The word of the LORD came to me:<div class="vheading2"><b>Translations from Aramaic</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lamsa/ezekiel/20.htm">Lamsa Bible</a></span><br />Moreover the word of the LORD came unto me, saying,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hpbt/ezekiel/20.htm">Peshitta Holy Bible Translated</a></span><br />And the word of LORD JEHOVAH was upon me, saying:<div class="vheading2"><b>OT Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/jps/ezekiel/20.htm">JPS Tanakh 1917</a></span><br />And the word of the LORD came unto me, saying:<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/sep/ezekiel/20.htm">Brenton Septuagint Translation</a></span><br />And the word of the Lord came to me, saying,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/parallel/ezekiel/20-45.htm">Additional Translations ...</a></span></div></div></div><div id="centbox"><div class="padcent"><a name="audio" id="audio"></a><div class="vheadingv"><b>Audio Bible</b></div><iframe width="100%" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/vET3Gmwku4s?start=5565" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe><span class="p"><br /><br /><br /></span><div class="vheadingv"><b>Context</b></div><span class="hdg"><a href="/bsb/ezekiel/20.htm">A Prophecy Against the South</a></span><br> <span class="reftext">45</span><span class="highl"><a href="/hebrew/1697.htm" title="1697: ḏə·ḇar- (N-msc) -- Speech, word. From dabar; a word; by implication, a matter or thing; adverbially, a cause.">Now the word</a> <a href="/hebrew/3068.htm" title="3068: Yah·weh (N-proper-ms) -- The proper name of the God of Israel. From hayah; self-Existent or Eternal; Jehovah, Jewish national name of God.">of the LORD</a> <a href="/hebrew/1961.htm" title="1961: way·hî (Conj-w:: V-Qal-ConsecImperf-3ms) -- To fall out, come to pass, become, be. A primitive root; to exist, i.e. Be or become, come to pass.">came</a> <a href="/hebrew/413.htm" title="413: ’ê·lay (Prep:: 1cs) -- To, into, towards. ">to me,</a> <a href="/hebrew/559.htm" title="559: lê·mōr (Prep-l:: V-Qal-Inf) -- To utter, say. A primitive root; to say.">saying,</a> </span><span class="reftext">46</span>“Son of man, set your face toward the south, preach against it, and prophesy against the forest of the Negev.…<div class="cred"><a href="//berean.bible">Berean Standard Bible</a> · <a href="//berean.bible/downloads.htm">Download</a></div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="crossref" id="crossref"></a><div class="vheading">Cross References</div><div id="crf"><span class="crossverse"><a href="/jeremiah/21-14.htm">Jeremiah 21:14</a></span><br />I will punish you as your deeds deserve, declares the LORD. I will kindle a fire in your forest that will consume everything around you.’”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/isaiah/66-15.htm">Isaiah 66:15-16</a></span><br />For behold, the LORD will come with fire—His chariots are like a whirlwind—to execute His anger with fury and His rebuke with flames of fire. / For by fire and by His sword, the LORD will execute judgment on all flesh, and many will be slain by the LORD.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/jeremiah/4-4.htm">Jeremiah 4:4</a></span><br />Circumcise yourselves to the LORD, and remove the foreskins of your hearts, O men of Judah and people of Jerusalem. Otherwise, My wrath will break out like fire and burn with no one to extinguish it, because of your evil deeds.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/isaiah/10-17.htm">Isaiah 10:17-18</a></span><br />And the Light of Israel will become a fire, and its Holy One a flame. In a single day it will burn and devour Assyria’s thorns and thistles. / The splendor of its forests and orchards, both soul and body, it will completely destroy, as a sickness consumes a man.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/jeremiah/7-20.htm">Jeremiah 7:20</a></span><br />Therefore this is what the Lord GOD says: Behold, My anger and My fury will be poured out on this place, on man and beast, on the trees of the field and the produce of the land, and it will burn and not be extinguished.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/isaiah/5-24.htm">Isaiah 5:24-25</a></span><br />Therefore, as a tongue of fire consumes the straw, and as dry grass shrivels in the flame, so their roots will decay and their blossoms will blow away like dust; for they have rejected the instruction of the LORD of Hosts and despised the word of the Holy One of Israel. / Therefore the anger of the LORD burns against His people; His hand is raised against them to strike them down. The mountains quake, and the corpses lie like refuse in the streets. Despite all this, His anger is not turned away; His hand is still upraised.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/jeremiah/11-16.htm">Jeremiah 11:16-17</a></span><br />The LORD once called you a flourishing olive tree, beautiful with well-formed fruit. But with a mighty roar He will set it on fire, and its branches will be consumed. / The LORD of Hosts, who planted you, has decreed disaster against you on account of the evil that the house of Israel and the house of Judah have brought upon themselves, provoking Me to anger by burning incense to Baal.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/isaiah/9-18.htm">Isaiah 9:18-19</a></span><br />For wickedness burns like a fire that consumes the thorns and briers and kindles the forest thickets, which roll upward in billows of smoke. / By the wrath of the LORD of Hosts the land is scorched, and the people are fuel for the fire. No man even spares his brother.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/jeremiah/17-27.htm">Jeremiah 17:27</a></span><br />But if you do not listen to Me to keep the Sabbath day holy by not carrying a load while entering the gates of Jerusalem on the Sabbath day, then I will kindle an unquenchable fire in its gates to consume the citadels of Jerusalem.’”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/isaiah/30-27.htm">Isaiah 30:27-30</a></span><br />Behold, the Name of the LORD comes from afar, with burning anger and dense smoke. His lips are full of fury, and His tongue is like a consuming fire. / His breath is like a rushing torrent that rises to the neck. He comes to sift the nations in a sieve of destruction; He bridles the jaws of the peoples to lead them astray. / You will sing as on the night of a holy festival, and your heart will rejoice like one who walks to the music of a flute, going up to the mountain of the LORD, to the Rock of Israel. ...<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/matthew/3-10.htm">Matthew 3:10-12</a></span><br />The axe lies ready at the root of the trees, and every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire. / I baptize you with water for repentance, but after me will come One more powerful than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire. / His winnowing fork is in His hand to clear His threshing floor and to gather His wheat into the barn; but He will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/luke/3-9.htm">Luke 3:9</a></span><br />The axe lies ready at the root of the trees, and every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/revelation/8-7.htm">Revelation 8:7</a></span><br />Then the first angel sounded his trumpet, and hail and fire mixed with blood were hurled down upon the earth. A third of the earth was burned up, along with a third of the trees and all the green grass.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/2_thessalonians/1-7.htm">2 Thessalonians 1:7-8</a></span><br />and to grant relief to you who are oppressed and to us as well. This will take place when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with His mighty angels / in blazing fire, inflicting vengeance on those who do not know God and do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/hebrews/12-29.htm">Hebrews 12:29</a></span><br />“For our God is a consuming fire.”</div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="tsk" id="tsk"><div class="vheading">Treasury of Scripture</div><p class="tsk2">Moreover the word of the LORD came to me, saying,</p><p class="hdg">Moreover.</p><div class="vheading">Jump to Previous</div><a href="/ezekiel/20-27.htm">Moreover</a> <a href="/ezekiel/20-2.htm">Word</a><div class="vheading2">Jump to Next</div><a href="/ezekiel/22-1.htm">Moreover</a> <a href="/ezekiel/20-46.htm">Word</a><div class="vheading2">Ezekiel 20</div><span class="reftext">1. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/ezekiel/20-1.htm">God refuses to be consulted by the elders of Israel</a></span><br><span class="reftext">4. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/ezekiel/20-4.htm">He shows the story of their rebellions in Egypt</a></span><br><span class="reftext">19. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/ezekiel/20-19.htm">in the desert</a></span><br><span class="reftext">27. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/ezekiel/20-27.htm">and in the land</a></span><br><span class="reftext">33. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/ezekiel/20-33.htm">He promises to gather them by the Gospel</a></span><br><span class="reftext">45. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/ezekiel/20-45.htm">Under the name of a forest he shows the destruction of Jerusalem</a></span><br></div></div><div id="mdd"><div align="center"><div class="bot2"><table align="center" width="100%"><tr><td><div align="center"> <script id="3d27ed63fc4348d5b062c4527ae09445"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=51ce25d5-1a8c-424a-8695-4bd48c750f35&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script> <script id="b817b7107f1d4a7997da1b3c33457e03"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=cb0edd8b-b416-47eb-8c6d-3cc96561f7e8&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-2'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-0' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-3'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-1' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div><br /><br />  <div align="center" id='div-gpt-ad-1531425649696-0'> </div><br /><br /> <ins class="adsbygoogle" style="display:inline-block;width:200px;height:200px" data-ad-client="ca-pub-3753401421161123" data-ad-slot="3592799687"></ins> <script> (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); </script> <br /><br /> </div> </td></tr></table></div></div></div><div id="combox"><div class="padcom"><a name="study" id="study"></a><div class="vheading"><table width="100%"><tr><td width="99%" valign="top"><a href="/study/ezekiel/20.htm">Study Bible</a></td><td width="1%" valign="top"><a href="/study/ezekiel/" title="Book Summary and Study">Book ◦</a> <a href="/study/chapters/ezekiel/20.htm" title="Chapter summary and Study">Chapter </a></tr></table></div><b>Now the word of the LORD came to me, saying,</b><br>This phrase introduces a divine revelation to the prophet Ezekiel, emphasizing the direct communication between God and His chosen messenger. In the context of Ezekiel's ministry, this phrase underscores the authority and authenticity of the message that follows. Ezekiel, a prophet during the Babylonian exile, often received visions and words from God to convey to the Israelites. This direct communication is a hallmark of prophetic literature, where God reveals His will and intentions to His people through His prophets. The phrase also highlights the personal nature of God's interaction with Ezekiel, indicating a relationship where God entrusts His words to the prophet. This is consistent with other instances in the Old Testament where prophets like Isaiah and Jeremiah receive direct messages from God. The phrase sets the stage for the subsequent message, which often contains elements of warning, judgment, or hope.<div class="vheading2">Persons / Places / Events</div>1. <b><a href="/topical/e/ezekiel.htm">Ezekiel</a></b><br>A prophet and priest during the Babylonian exile, Ezekiel is the recipient of God's word and is tasked with delivering messages of judgment and hope to the Israelites.<br><br>2. <b><a href="/topical/t/the_lord.htm">The LORD (Yahweh)</a></b><br>The covenant God of Israel, who communicates His will and judgments through His prophets.<br><br>3. <b><a href="/topical/b/babylonian_exile.htm">Babylonian Exile</a></b><br>The historical context in which Ezekiel prophesied, where the Israelites were in captivity due to their disobedience to God.<div class="vheading2">Teaching Points</div><b><a href="/topical/t/the_role_of_prophets.htm">The Role of Prophets</a></b><br>Prophets are chosen by God to deliver His messages, often in times of crisis or judgment. Understanding their role helps us appreciate the gravity and authority of their words.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/g/god's_communication.htm">God's Communication</a></b><br>God speaks to His people through various means, including direct revelation to prophets. This underscores the importance of being attentive to God's word in our lives.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/j/judgment_and_hope.htm">Judgment and Hope</a></b><br>While Ezekiel often speaks of judgment, his messages also contain hope for restoration. This duality reminds us of God's justice and mercy.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/o/obedience_to_god's_word.htm">Obedience to God's Word</a></b><br>The Israelites' exile was a result of disobedience. This serves as a warning to us about the consequences of straying from God's commands.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/f/faithfulness_in_adversity.htm">Faithfulness in Adversity</a></b><br>Ezekiel's faithfulness in delivering God's message despite difficult circumstances encourages us to remain steadfast in our own trials.<div class="vheading2">Lists and Questions</div><a href="/top10/lessons_from_ezekiel_20.htm">Top 10 Lessons from Ezekiel 20</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/is_there_evidence_for_cycles_in_ezekiel_20.htm">Historically and archaeologically, is there evidence to support the repeated cycles of rebellion and divine judgment described throughout Ezekiel 20?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/how_to_resolve_exodus_33_contradictions.htm">How do we address potential contradictions or editing in Exodus 33 when compared to other Pentateuch texts describing Moses's encounters with God?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/does_elijah's_challenge_align_with_monotheism.htm">How does Elijah's challenge to the prophets of Baal in 1 Kings 18:21-24 align or conflict with other biblical teachings on monotheism?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/what_is_dictation_theory.htm">What is the Dictation Theory of biblical inspiration?</a><a name="commentary" id="commentary"></a><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/ellicott/ezekiel/20.htm">Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers</a></div>(45) <span class= "bld">Toward the south.</span>--The parable of <a href="/context/ezekiel/20-45.htm" title="Moreover the word of the LORD came to me, saying,">Ezekiel 20:45-48</a> forms what might be called the text of the discourse in Ezekiel 21. The word south, here occurring three times, is represented in the Hebrew by three separate words, which mean, by their derivation, respectively, "on the right hand" (the orientals always supposing themselves to face the east when they speak of the points of the compass)," the brilliant or <span class= "ital">"</span>mid-day direction," and "the dry land," a common name for the south of Palestine. Judaea is spoken of as "the south," because, although actually nearly west from Babylon, it could only be approached by the Babylonians from the north, on account of the great intervening desert. Hence the prophets always speak of the armies of Babylon as coming from the north (see Note on <a href="/ezekiel/1-4.htm" title="And I looked, and, behold, a whirlwind came out of the north, a great cloud, and a fire enfolding itself, and a brightness was about it, and out of the middle thereof as the color of amber, out of the middle of the fire.">Ezekiel 1:4</a>; <a href="/context/jeremiah/1-14.htm" title="Then the LORD said to me, Out of the north an evil shall break forth on all the inhabitants of the land.">Jeremiah 1:14-15</a>, &c.).<p><span class= "bld">The forest of the south field, </span>might be originally a mere poetic description of the land; but the figure is developed in the following verses, to make the forest the nation, and its trees the people which compose it.<p><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/pulpit/ezekiel/20.htm">Pulpit Commentary</a></div><span class="cmt_sub_title">Verse 45.</span> - In the Hebrew the verses that follow form the opening of the next chapter. The Authorized Version follows the LXX., the Vulgate, and Luther. The section has clearly no connection with what has preceded, and, though fragmentary in its character, seems by the words, "set thy face," to connect itself with <a href="/ezekiel/21-2.htm">Ezekiel 21:2</a>, and to lead up to it. The words of ver. 45 imply, as always, an interval of silence and repose. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/commentaries/ezekiel/20-45.htm">Parallel Commentaries ...</a></span><span class="p"><br /><br /><br /></span><a name="lexicon" id="lexicon"></a><div class="vheading">Hebrew</div><span class="word">Now the word</span><br /><span class="heb">דְבַר־</span> <span class="translit">(ḏə·ḇar-)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - masculine singular construct<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_1697.htm">Strong's 1697: </a> </span><span class="str2">A word, a matter, thing, a cause</span><br /><br /><span class="word">of the LORD</span><br /><span class="heb">יְהוָ֖ה</span> <span class="translit">(Yah·weh)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - proper - masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_3068.htm">Strong's 3068: </a> </span><span class="str2">LORD -- the proper name of the God of Israel</span><br /><br /><span class="word">came</span><br /><span class="heb">וַיְהִ֥י</span> <span class="translit">(way·hî)</span><br /><span class="parse">Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_1961.htm">Strong's 1961: </a> </span><span class="str2">To fall out, come to pass, become, be</span><br /><br /><span class="word">to me,</span><br /><span class="heb">אֵלַ֥י</span> <span class="translit">(’ê·lay)</span><br /><span class="parse">Preposition | first person common singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_413.htm">Strong's 413: </a> </span><span class="str2">Near, with, among, to</span><br /><br /><span class="word">saying,</span><br /><span class="heb">לֵאמֹֽר׃</span> <span class="translit">(lê·mōr)</span><br /><span class="parse">Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_559.htm">Strong's 559: </a> </span><span class="str2">To utter, say</span><br /><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><div class="vheading">Links</div><a href="/niv/ezekiel/20-45.htm">Ezekiel 20:45 NIV</a><br /><a href="/nlt/ezekiel/20-45.htm">Ezekiel 20:45 NLT</a><br /><a href="/esv/ezekiel/20-45.htm">Ezekiel 20:45 ESV</a><br /><a href="/nasb/ezekiel/20-45.htm">Ezekiel 20:45 NASB</a><br /><a href="/kjv/ezekiel/20-45.htm">Ezekiel 20:45 KJV</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="//bibleapps.com/ezekiel/20-45.htm">Ezekiel 20:45 BibleApps.com</a><br /><a href="//bibliaparalela.com/ezekiel/20-45.htm">Ezekiel 20:45 Biblia Paralela</a><br /><a href="//holybible.com.cn/ezekiel/20-45.htm">Ezekiel 20:45 Chinese Bible</a><br /><a href="//saintebible.com/ezekiel/20-45.htm">Ezekiel 20:45 French Bible</a><br /><a href="/catholic/ezekiel/20-45.htm">Ezekiel 20:45 Catholic Bible</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/ezekiel/20-45.htm">OT Prophets: Ezekiel 20:45 The word of Yahweh came to me (Ezek. Eze Ezk) </a></div></div></td></tr></table></div><div id="left"><a href="/ezekiel/20-44.htm" onmouseover='lft.src="/leftgif.png"' onmouseout='lft.src="/left.png"' title="Ezekiel 20:44"><img src="/left.png" name="lft" border="0" alt="Ezekiel 20:44" /></a></div><div id="right"><a href="/ezekiel/20-46.htm" onmouseover='rght.src="/rightgif.png"' onmouseout='rght.src="/right.png"' title="Ezekiel 20:46"><img src="/right.png" name="rght" border="0" alt="Ezekiel 20:46" /></a></div><div id="botleft"><a href="#" onmouseover='botleft.src="/botleftgif.png"' onmouseout='botleft.src="/botleft.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botleft.png" name="botleft" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="botright"><a href="#" onmouseover='botright.src="/botrightgif.png"' onmouseout='botright.src="/botright.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botright.png" name="botright" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="bot"><iframe width="100%" height="1500" scrolling="no" src="/botmenubhnew2.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></div></td></tr></table></div></body></html>