Dec 2022 – Written Exposition

General

‘TOGETHER’ AS CHRISTIANS

Posted on 16th Dec 202218th Dec 2025 by writtenexposition

QUICKENED (MADE ALIVE) TOGETHER – EPHESIANS 2:5

Even when we were dead in sins, [God] hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;)

RAISED TOGETHER – EPHESIANS 2:6a

And hath raised us up together,

SEATED TOGETHER – EPHESIANS 2:6b

and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:

GATHERED TOGETHER – MATTHEW 18:20

For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.

STRIVING TOGETHER – PHILIPPIANS 1:27

Only let your conversation be as it becometh the gospel of Christ: that whether I come and see you, or else be absent, I may hear of your affairs, that ye stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel;

TALKING TOGETHER – LUKE 24:14

And they talked together of all these things which had happened.

LIVING TOGETHER – 1 THESSALONIANS 5:10

Who died for us, that, whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with him.

Exposition

OUTLINE OF THE BOOK OF EZEKIEL

Posted on 15th Dec 202218th Dec 2025 by writtenexposition

The precise dates given throughout the book of Ezekiel show that his prophecies centred on a specific major event in the history of Judah, that is, the Fall of Jerusalem in 587 BCE. The book therefore divides into two main sections: prophecies relating to the ten years leading up to the Fall of Jerusalem ( chapters 1-32) and prophecies relating to time after the Fall of Jerusalem (chapters 33-48).

The material is arranged in five blocks:

PART 1 – EZEKIEL’S CALL TO THE PROPHETIC MINISTRY – CHAPTERS 1-3

1:1-3 – Introduction and superscription

1:4-28 – Vision of the glory of YHWH

2:1 – 3:27 – Ezekiel’s Commission

PART 2 – ORACLES OF WARNING TO ISRAEL AND JUDAH – CHAPTERS 4-24

4:1-5:4 – The siege of Jerusalem portrayed in symbolic acts

5:5 – 17 – A prophetic sermon directed against Jerusalem

6:1 – 7: 27 – A prophecy of judgement on the land of Israel

8:1 – 11:25 – A vision of God’s glory leaving the Temple

12:1 – 14:23 – False Prophets

15:1-8 – Jerusalem as a useless charred vine

16:1-63 – Jerusalem as Yahweh’s adulterous wife

17:1-24 – The allegory of two eagles and a vine

18:1-32 – Individual responsibility

19: 1-14 – A lament over the rulers of Israel

20: 1-49 – A review of Israel’s history

21:1-32 – The sword of destruction

22:1- 31 – Sinful Jerusalem

23:1-49 – Two unfaithful sisters

24:1-14 – Sayings on the cooking pot

24:15-27 – The death of Ezekiel’s wife

PART 3 – ORACLES AGAINST THE SURROUNDING NATIONS – CHAPTERS 25-32

25:1-7 – Against Ammon

25:8-11 – Against Moab

25:12-14 – Against Edom

25:15-17 – Against the Philistines

26:1 – 28: 19 – Against Tyre

28:20 -26 – Against Sidon

29:1 – 32:16 – Against Egypt

PART 4 – A MESSAGE OF HOPE AND RESTORATION -CHAPTERS 33-39

33:1-20 – The prophet as watchman

33:21-22 – News of the Fall of Jerusalem

33:23-29 – Prophecy against those who remained in Jerusalem

33:30-33 – God addresses Ezekiel: a prophet whose predictions had been fulfilled

34:1-31 – The false shepherds of Israel and the true shepherd

35:1-15 – Oracle against Edom

36:1-38 – Renewal promised to Israel

37:1 -14 – The valley of dry bones

37: 15-28 – Two sticks – reunification

38:1-39:29 – Oracle against Gog of Magog

PART 5 – THE NEW ISRAEL – CHAPTERS 40-48

40:1 – 43:12 – The vision of a new temple

43:13 – 46:24 – The worship in the new temple

47:1-12 – The life-giving river

47:13-48:35 – The Land and the City

Exposition

WELCOME TO THE BOOK OF EZEKIEL!

Posted on 10th Dec 202218th Dec 2025 by writtenexposition

Welcome to Ezekiel! What are today’s readers to make of this strange book, and of this weird prophet – someone who saw visions of fire, wheels and creatures with multiple wings and faces, and who shaved off his hair with a sword and did not mourn his own wife’s death?

He was one of the writing prophets, men who were convinced that God spoke to them and through them. Their all-holy God controlled not just his own people but also the surrounding pagan nations and would definitely judge sin. Eventually, however, he would restore his people and all creation. When did they write?

These prophets were active for several centuries after the time of King Solomon. Following his death in 931 BCE the kingdom divided into two territories: Israel to the North and Judah in the South.

THE PRE-EXILIC PROPHETS

The prophets addressing Israel (and the approximate dates of their ministries) were;

Jonah c. 780 -753 BCE

Amos c. 765-753 BCE

Hosea c. 755-725 BCE

In 722/721 BCE the Northern nation Israel was taken into captivity in Assyria and the Southern nation, Judah, continued as an independent state.

The early pre-exilic prophets in Judah were:

Micah c. 735-690 BCE

Isaiah c. 740-680 BCE

The late pre-exilic prophets in Judah were:

Nahum c. 630 BCE

Zephaniah c. 625 BCE

Habakkuk c. 607 BCE

Joel c. 590 BCE

Jeremiah c. 627-580 BCE

In 587/586 BCE the city of Jerusalem fell to the Babylonian army and there was a mass deportation of Jews to Babylon .

THE EXILIC PROPHETS

Obadiah ? c. 585 BCE – we do not know when he prophesied.

Ezekiel c. 593-571 BCE

Daniel c. 605-535 BCE

THE POST-EXILIC PROPHETS

Haggai 520 BCE

Zechariah c. 520-500 BCE

Malachi c 420 BCE

Daniel (Dan chp. 1) had been taken to Babylon in 605 BCE when Nebuchadnezzar invaded Judah under King Jehoiakim after defeating the Egyptians at the battle of Carchemish (see Jer 46.) Some years later (597 BCE), ten years before the fall of Jerusalem in 587 and the Exile, Nebuchadnezzar deported King Jehoiachin of Judah and ten thousand of the political and religious elite into captivity in Babylon. Ezekiel was one of those elite. 2 Kings 24:8-16:

8 Jehoiachin was eighteen years old when he began to reign, and he reigned in Jerusalem three months. And his mother’s name was Nehushta, the daughter of Elnathan of Jerusalem.

9 And he did that which was evil in the sight of the LORD, according to all that his father had done.

10 At that time the servants of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came up against Jerusalem, and the city was besieged.

11 And Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came against the city, and his servants did besiege it.

12 And Jehoiachin the king of Judah went out to the king of Babylon, he, and his mother, and his servants, and his princes, and his officers: and the king of Babylon took him in the eighth year of his reign.

13 And he carried out thence all the treasures of the house of the LORD, and the treasures of the king’s house, and cut in pieces all the vessels of gold which Solomon king of Israel had made in the temple of the LORD, as the LORD had said.

14 And he carried away all Jerusalem, and all the princes, and all the mighty men of valour, even ten thousand captives, and all the craftsmen and smiths: none remained, save the poorest sort of the people of the land.

15 And he carried away Jehoiachin to Babylon, and the king’s mother, and the king’s wives, and his officers, and the mighty of the land, those carried he into captivity from Jerusalem to Babylon.

16 And all the men of might, even seven thousand, and craftsmen and smiths a thousand, all that were strong and apt for war, even them the king of Babylon brought captive to Babylon.

Ezekiel was therefore in exile in Babylon during the final siege and fall of Jerusalem. Although based far away in Babylon, he prophesied to the people living back in the homeland, Judah.

Ezekiel wrote in the first person throughout his long and complex book which is is grim and intimidating. He experienced strange visions and often dwelt on God’s wrath. The Book of Ezekiel, however, is quite easy to follow as it is highly organized and precise. The prophet records the dates of sixteen revelations and for eleven of those he gives the year, the month and the day (1:2; 8:1; 20:1; 24:1; 29:1; 29:17; 30:20; 31:1; 32:21; 33:21; 40:1).

Exposition

THE BOOK OF EZEKIEL – BIBLIOGRAPHY

Posted on 10th Dec 202218th Dec 2025 by writtenexposition

BOOKS

Adams, J, 1928, The Hebrew Prophets and Their Message for To-day, T & T Clark, Edinburgh

Anderson, L. 1997, They Smell Like Sheep, Howard Books, New York

Berry, B. 2022, Ezekiel’s Temple, Scripture Teaching Library, Northern Ireland

Biggs, C. R. 1996, The Book of Ezekiel, Epworth Press, London

Bishop, E. F. F. 1962, Prophets of Palestine, Lutterworth Press, Cambridge

Brueggemann, W. and Miller, P. 2000, Texts That Linger, Words That Explode, Fortress Press, Minneapolis

Carro, D., Poe, J. T., Zorzoli, R.O. and Mundo, E. 2009, Comentario Bíblico Mundo Hispano, Casa Bautista of Pubns, El Paso

Carvalho, C. L. and Niskanen, P. V. 2012, Ezekiel, Daniel, Volume 16 in New Collegeville Bible Commentary: Old Testament, Liturgical Press, Collegeville

Christman, A G. R., 2005 What Did Ezekiel See? Brill, Leiden

Cook, S. L. and Patton, C. 2004, Ezekiel’s Hierarchical World: Wrestling with a Tiered Reality, Brill, Boston

Craigie, P. C. 1983, Ezekiel in the Daily Study Bible, Saint Andrew Press, Edinburgh

Davidson, A. B. 1893. The Book of the Prophet Ezekiel, with Notes and Introduction, Cambridge University Press, Cambridge

Davis, E.F., 1989, Swallowing the Scroll : Textuality and Dynamics of Discourse in Ezekiel’s Prophecy, The Almond Press, Sheffield

Davis, M. C. 2014, Living With The Glory Of The Lord: Ezekiel’s Prophecy, John Ritchie Ltd., Kilmarnock

Dempsey, C. J. 2000, The Prophets: a Liberation-Critical Reading, Fortress Press, Minneapolis

Eichrodt, W, 1970, Ezekiel: a Commentary in Old Testament Library, SCM Press, London

Ellison, H. E. 1958, Men Spake from God: Studies in the Hebrew Prophets, Eerdmans, Grand Rapids

Gaebelein, A. C. 1918, The Prophet Ezekiel: An Analytical Exposition, Fleming H. Revell Company, London

Gingrich, R. E. 2005, The Book of Ezekiel in Outline Form, Riverside Printing, Memphis,

Greenberg, M. 1983, Ezekiel 1-20 in The Anchor Yale Bible Commentaries, Doubleday & Company, New York

Haran, M. 1985, Temples and Temple-service in Ancient Israel, Eisenbrauns, Winona Lake

Heaton, E. W. 2001. The Old Testament Prophets: A Short Introduction, Oneworld Publications, London

Hewlett, H. C. 1962, The Companion of the Way, Moody Press, Chicago

Hoeck, A. and Manhardt, L. 2010, Ezekiel, Hebrews, Revelation in Come and See: Catholic Bible Study Series, Emmaus Road Publishing, Steubenville, Ohio

Jeffery, P. 2005, Opening Up Ezekiel’s Visions, Day One Publications, Leominster

Job, J, 1983, Watchman in Babylon: A Study Guide to Ezekiel, Paternoster Press, Exeter

Johnson, A. 1979, The Cultic Prophet and Israel’s Psalmody, University of Wales Press, Cardiff

Johnson, A. R. 1962. The Cultic Prophet in Ancient Israel, University of Wales Press, Cardiff

Johnson, D. 2010, A Commentary on the Book of Ezekiel, Darren Johnson

Kamionkowski , S. T. and Kim, W. (eds) 2010, Bodies, Embodiment, and Theology of the Hebrew Bible, T & T Clark International, New York

Kraus, H-J, 1966. Worship in Israel: A Cultic History of the Old Testament, Basil Blackwell, Oxford

‌Kutsko, J.F., 2000, Between Heaven and Earth : Divine Presence and Absence in the Book of Ezekiel, Eisenbrauns, Winona Lake

Lang, B. 1983. Monotheism and the Prophetic Minority: An Essay in Biblical History and Sociology (Social World of Biblical Antiquity No. 1), Sheffield Academic Press

Legge, D. 2001, Ezekiel: A Study of His Book, Preach The Word, Portadown

Levine, B. A. 1997. In the Presence of the Lord: A Study of Cult and Some Cultic Terms in Ancient Israel (Studies in Judaism in Late Antiquity). Brill Academic, Leiden

Lucas, E. 2002, Ezekiel: A Bible Commentary for Every Day in The People’s Bible Commentary Series, The Bible Reading Fellowship, Oxford

McKeating, H. 1995. Ezekiel, Sheffield Academic Press, Sheffield

Matties, G. 1990, Ezekiel 18 and the Rhetoric of Moral Discourse, Scholars Press, Atlanta

‌Melvin, D.P., 2013, The Interpreting Angel Motif in Prophetic and Apocalyptic Literature. Fortress Press, Minneapolis

Moughtin, S. 2008, Sexual and Marital Metaphors in Hosea, Jeremiah, Isaiah, and Ezekiel, Oxford University Press

Olley, J. W. 2009, Ezekiel: A Commentary Based on Iezekiēl in Codex Vaticanus, Brill, Leiden

Patmore, H.M., 2012, Adam, Satan, and the King of Tyre, Brill., Leiden

Prévost, J. 1997, How to read the Prophets, Continuum, New YorkPower, B. A, 2000, Iconographic Windows to Ezekiel’s World, National Library of Canada, Ottawa

Renz, T. 1999, The Rhetorical Function of the Book of Ezekiel, Brill, Leiden

Riddle, J. 2022, Ezekiel: Coming Back from Exile, John Ritchie Ltd., Kilmarnock

Robinson, T. H. 1948, Prophecy and Prophets in Ancient Israel, Duckworth, London

Rofé, A. 1997, Introduction to the Prophetic Literature, Sheffield Academic Press

Rowley, H. H. 2010. Worship in Ancient Israel: Its Forms and Meaning, Wipf & Stock, Eugene, Oregon

Ruiz, A. and Asurmendi, J. M. 1990, Ezequiel, Editorial Verbo Divino, Navarra

Ruthven, J. M. 2003, The Prophecy That is Shaping History: New Research on Ezekiel’s Vision of the End, Xulon Press, Fairfax

Sanford, W., Hubbard, D. A., Bush, F. W. and Allen, L. C., 1996, Old Testament Survey : the Message, Form, and Background of the Old Testament, W.B. Eerdmans, Grand Rapids

Sawyer, J. F. A, 1993. Prophecy and the Biblical Prophets, Oxford University Press

Strine, C.A., 2013, Sworn Enemies: the Divine Oath, the Book of Ezekiel, and the Polemics of Exile,Walter de Gruyter, Berlin

Taylor, J. B. 1984, Ezekiel in Tyndale Old Testament Commentaries, Inter-Varsity Press, Leicester

‌Tooman, W.A., 2011, Gog of Magog: Reuse of Scripture and Compositional Technique in Ezekiel 38–39, Mohr Siebeck, Tübingen

Toy, C. H. 1899, The Book of the Prophet Ezekiel: A New English Translation with Explanatory Notes and Pictorial Illustrations, Dodd, Mead and Company, New York

Vaughan, P. H. 1974. The Meaning of ‘Bama’ in the Old Testament: A Study of Etymological, Textual and Archaeological Evidence, Cambridge University Press.

Von Rad, G. 1972. The Message of the Prophets, Harper & Row Publishers, New York

Westermann, C. 1991, Basic Forms of Prophetic Speech, Westminster John Knox Press, Cambridge

Wood, A. 2008, Of Wings and Wheels: A Synthetic Study of the Biblical Cherubim (Beihefte zur Zeitschrift für die alttestamentliche Wissenschaft, Bd. 385). De Gruyter, Berlin

‌Yee, G.A., Page, H.R. and Coomber, M.J.M., 2016, The Prophets: Fortress Commentary on the Bible Study Edition. Augsburg Fortress, Minneapolis

JOURNAL ARTICLES

Ackerman, S. 1989, ‘A Marzēaḥ in Ezekiel 8:7-13?’, The Harvard Theological Review, Vol. 82, No. 3, pp. 267-281

Adams, S. L. 2008, ‘Between Text and Sermon: Ezekiel 34: 11-19’, Interpretation, Vol. 62, No. 3, pp. 304-306

Alexander, R. H. 1974, ‘A Fresh Look at Ezekiel 38 and 39’, Journal of the Evangelical Theological Society, Vol. 17, No. 3, p. 932

Allen, L. C. 1989, ‘The Rejected Sceptre in Ezekiel XXI 15b, 18a.’, Vetus Testamentum, Vol. 29, No.1, pp. 67-71

Allen, L. C. 1992, ‘The Structuring of Ezekiel’s Revisionist History Lesson (Ezekiel 20:3-31)’, CBQ, Vol. 54, No. 3, pp. 448-462

Allen, L. C. 1993, ‘The Structure and Intention of Ezekiel 1’, Vetus Testamentum, Vol. 43, No. 2, pp. 145-161

Almalech, M. 2005, ‘Contextual Aspects of the Saying for the Boiling Pot – Ezekiel 24’, paper presented at the 11^th International Early Fall School in Semiotics at Southeast Europe Centre for Semiotic Studies, New Bulgarian University, Sofia

Ameisenowa, Z. 1949, ‘Animal-Headed Gods, Evangelists, Saints and Righteous Men’, Journal of the Warburg and Courtauld Institutes, Vol. 12, pp. 21-45

Arbel, D. 2005, ‘Questions about Eve’s Iniquity, Beauty, and Fall: The “Primal Figure” in Ezekiel 28:11-19 and “Genesis Rabbah” Traditions of Eve’, Journal of Biblical Literature, Vol. 124, No. 4, pp. 641-655

Astour, M. 1976, ‘Ezekiel’s prophecy of Gog and the Cuthean Legend of Naram-Sin’, Journal of Biblical Literature, pp. 567-579

Barrick, W. B. 1982, ‘The Straight-Legged Cherubim of Ezekiel’s Inaugural Vision (Ezekiel 1:7a)’, CBQ, Vol. 44, pp. 543-550

Barrick, W. D. 2007, ‘Eternal Security and Perseverance: Ezekiel 33:12-19, Testamentum Imperium, Vol. 1.

Barrick, W. D. 2007, ‘Ezekiel 33:12-19 and Eternal Security’, paper presented at Evangelical Theological Society, Far West Region Annual Meeting, 20 April.

Berry, G. R. 1915, ‘The Authorship of Ezekiel 40-48’, Journal of Biblical Literature, Vol. 34, No. 1, pp. 17-40

Berry, G. R. 1932, ‘The Title of Ezekiel (1:1-3)’, Journal of Biblical Literature, Vol. 51, No. 1, pp. 54-57

Berry, G. R. 1937, ‘The Glory of Yahweh and the Temple’, Journal of Biblical Literature, Vol. 56, No. 2, pp. 115-117

Berry, G, R. 1939, ‘The Composition of the Book of Ezekiel’, Journal of Biblical Literature, Vol. 58, No. 2, pp. 163-175

Bevan A. A. 1903, ‘The King of Tyre in Ezekiel XXVIII’, Journal of Theological Studies, Vol. 16, pp. 500-505

Block, D. I. 1987, ‘Gog and the Pouring out of the Spirit: Reflections on Ezekiel XXXIX 21-9’, Vetus Testamentum, Vol. 37, No. 3. pp. 257-270

Block, D. I. 1988, ‘Text and Emotion: A Study in the “Corruptions” in Ezekiel’s Inaugural Vision (Ezekiel 1:4-28)’, CBQ, Vol. 50, pp. 418-442

Block, D. I. 1991, ‘Ezekiel’s Boiling Cauldron: A Form-Critical Solution to Ezekiel XXIV 1-14’,Vetus Testamentum, Vol. 41, No. 1, pp. 12-37

Block, D. I, 1992, ‘Beyond the Grave: Ezekiel’s Vision of Death and Afterlife’, Bulletin for Biblical Research’, Vol. 2, pp. 113-141

Block, D. I. 1992, ‘Gog in Prophetic Tradition: A New Look at Ezekiel XXXVIII 17’, Vetus Testamentum, Vol. 42, No. 2, pp.154-172

Blumenthal, D. R. 1979, ‘Ezekiel’s Vision Seen Through the Eyes of a Philosophic Mystic’, Journal of the American Academy of Religion, Vol. 47, No. 3, pp. 417-227

Boadt, L. 1975, ‘The A: B: B: A Chiasm of Identical Roots in Ezekiel’, Vetus Testamentum, Vol. 25, No.4, pp. 693-699

Bowen, N. R. 1999, ‘The Daughters of Your People: Female Prophets in Ezekiel 13:17-23’, Journal of Biblical Literature, Vol. 118, No. 3, pp. 417-433

Bewer, J. A. 1926, ‘On the Text of Ezekiel 7:5-14’, Journal of Biblical Literature, Vol. 45, No. 3/4, pp. 223-231

Brownlee, W. H. 1950, ‘Exorcising the Souls from Ezekiel 13:17-23’, Journal of Biblical Literature, Vol. 69, No. 4, pp. 367-373

Brownlee, W.H. 1958, ‘Ezekiel’s Poetic Indictment of the Shepherds’, The Harvard Theological Review, Vol. 51, No. 4, pp. 191-203

Brownlee, W. H. 1978, ‘Ezekiel’s Parable of the Watchman and the Editing of Ezekiel’, Vetus Testamentum, Vol. 28, No. 4, pp. 392-408

Bunta, S. N. 2007, ‘Yhwh’s Cultic Statue after 597/586 B.C.E.: A Linguistic and Theological Reinterpretation of Ezekiel 28:12’, CBQ, Vol. 69, pp. 223-241

Chapman, C. R. 2007, ‘Sculpted Warriors: Sexuality and the Sacred in the Depiction of Warfare in the Assyrian Palace Reliefs and in Ezekiel 23:14-17’, Lectio Difficilior, Vol. 8, No. 1, pp. 1-19

Christman, A. R. 1999, “What Did Ezekiel See?” – Patristic Exegesis of Ezekiel 1 and Debates about God’s Incomprehensibility’, Pro Ecclesia, Vol. VIII, No. 3, pp. 338-363

Crouch, C. L. 2011, ‘Ezekiel’s Oracles against the Nations in Light of a Royal Ideology of Warfare’, Journal of Biblical Literature, Vol. 130, No. 3, pp 473–492

Coxhead, S. 2008, ‘John Calvin’s Interpretation of Works Righteousness in Ezekiel 18’, The Westminster Theological Journal, Vol. 70, No.2, pp.303-316

Daiches, S. 1905, ‘Ezekiel and the Babylonian Account of the Deluge’, The Jewish Quarterly Review, Vol. 17, No. 3, pp. 441-455

Darr, K. P. 1987, ‘The Wall around Paradise: Ezekielian Ideas about the Future’, Vetus Testamentum, Vol. 37, No. 3, pp. 271-279

Day, L. 2000, ‘Rhetoric and Domestic Violence in Ezekiel 16’, Biblical Interpretation, Vol. 8, No. 3, pp. 205-230

Day, P. L. 2000. ‘The Bitch Had It Coming to Her: Rhetoric and Interpretation in Ezekiel 16’, Biblical Interpretation, Vol. 8, No. 3, pp. 231–254

Day, P. L. 2000, ‘Adulterous Jerusalem’s Imagined Demise: Death of a Metaphor in Ezekiel XVI’, Vetus Testamentum, Vol. L, No. 3, pp. 285-309

Dean, J. 1927, ‘The Date of Ezekiel 40-43’, The American Journal of Semitic Languages and Literatures, Vol. 43, No.3, pp. 231-233

Dever, M. 1998, ‘A Vision of God Ezekiel 1:1–20’, Southern Baptist Journal of Theology, Vol. 2, No. 4, pp. 16-23

Dressler, H. H. P. 1979, ‘The Identification of the Ugaritic DNIL with the Daniel of Ezekiel’, Vetus Testamentum, vol. 29, no. 2, pp. 152-161

Driver, G. R. 1951, ‘Ezekiel’s Inaugural Vision’, Vetus Testamentum, Vol. 1, No. 1, pp. 60-62

Foster, R. S. 1958, ‘A Note on Ezekiel XVII 1-10 and 22-24‘, Vetus Testamentum, Vol. 8, No. 4, pp. 374-379

Fredericks, D. C. 1998, ‘Diglossia, Revelation, and Ezekiel’s Inaugural Rite’, Journal of The Evangelical Theological Society, Vol. 41, No. 2, pp. 189-199

Ganzel, T. ‘The Defilement and Desecration of the Temple in Ezekiel’, Biblica, Vol. 89, No. 3, pp. 369-379

Ganzel, T. 2010, ‘The Descriptions of the Restoration of Israel in Ezekiel’, Vetus Testamentum, Vol. 60, pp. 197-211

Gardiner, F, 1881, ‘The Relation of Ezekiel to the Levitical Law’, Journal of Biblical Literature, Vol.1, pp. 172-205

Garfinkel, S. 1987, ‘Of Thistles and Thorns: a New Approach to Ezekiel II 6’, Vetus Testamentum, Vol. XXXVII, No. 4, pp. 421-137

Gaster. T. H. 1941, ‘Ezekiel and the Mysteries’, Journal of Biblical Literature, Vol. 60, No. 3, pp. 289-310

Gehman, H. S. 1940, ‘The “Burden” of the Prophets’, The Jewish Quarterly Review, Vol. 31, No. 2, pp. 107-121

Geyer, J. B. 1986, ‘Mythology and Culture in the Oracles against the Nations’, Vetus Testamentum, Vol. 36, No. 2, pp. 129-145

Gile, J. 2011, ‘Ezekiel 16 and the Song of Moses: A Prophetic Transformation?’, Journal of Biblical Literature, Vol. 130, No. 1, pp. 87-108

Goerwitz, R. 2003, ‘Long hair or short hair in Ezekiel 44: 20?’, Journal of the American Oriental Society, Vol.123, No. 2, pp. 371-376

Greenberg, M. 1957, ‘Ezekiel 17 And The Policy of Psammetichus II’, Journal of Biblical Literature, Vol. 76, No. 4, pp. 304-309

Greenberg, M. 1958, ‘On Ezekiel’s Dumbness’, Journal of Biblical Literature, Vol. 77, No. 2, pp. 101-105

Greenberg, M. 1968, ‘Idealism and Practicality in Numbers 35: 4-5 and Ezekiel 48’, Journal of the American Oriental Society, Vol. 88, No. 1, pp. 59-66

Greenberg, M. 1983, ‘Ezekiel 17: A Holistic Interpretation’, Journal of the American Oriental Society, Vol. 103, No. 1, pp.149-154

Guillaume, P, 2004, ‘Metamorphosis of a Ferocious Pharaoh’, Biblica, Vol. 85, pp. 232-236

Hahn, S. W. 2004, ‘What Laws Were “Not Good”? A Canonical Approach to the Theological Problem of Ezekiel 20: 25–26’, Journal of Biblical Literature, Vol. 123, No. 2, pp. 201-218

Haupt, P. 1917, ‘Dolly and Buck-Tub in Ezekiel’, Journal of Biblical Literature, Vol. 36, No. 1, pp. 142-145

Hayes, J. H. 1963, ‘The Tradition of Zion’s Inviolability’, Journal of Biblical Literature, Vol. 82, No. 4, pp. 419-426

Heider, G. C. 1988, ‘A Further Turn on Ezekiel’s Baroque Twist in Ezek 20: 25-26’, Journal of Biblical Literature, Vol. 107, No. 4, pp. 721-724

Holladay, W. 1961, ‘On Every High Hill and Under Every Green Tree’, Vetus Testamentum, Vol. 11, No.2, pp.170-176

Houk, C. B. 1971, ‘The Final Redaction of Ezekiel 10’, Journal of Biblical Literature, Vol. 90, No. 1, pp. 42-54

Hullinger, J. M. 2006, ‘The Divine Presence, Uncleanness, and Ezekiel’s Millennial Sacrifices’, Bibliotheca Sacra, Vol. 163, No. 4, pp. 405-422

Hullinger, J. M. 2010, ‘The Function of The Millennial Sacrifices in Ezekiel’s Temple, Part 1’, Bibliotheca Sacra, Vol. 167, No. 1, pp. 40-57

Hullinger, J. M. 2010, ‘The Function of The Millennial Sacrifices in Ezekiel’s Temple, Part 2’, Bibliotheca Sacra, Vol. 167, No. 2, pp. 166-179

Jauhiainen, M. 2008, ‘Turban and Crown Lost and Regained: Ezekiel 21:29-32 and Zechariah’s Zemah’, Journal of Biblical Literature, Vol. 127, No. 3, pp. 501-511

Jolivet, I, 2006, ‘The Ethical Instructions in Ephesians as the Unwritten Statutes and Ordinances of God’s New Temple in Ezekiel’, Restoration Quarterly, Vol. 48, No. 4, pp. 193-210

Kalmanofsky, A. 2011, ‘The Dangerous Sisters of Jeremiah and Ezekiel’, Journal of Biblical Literature, Vol. 130, No. 2, pp. 299-312

Kasher, R. 2009, ‘Haggai and Ezekiel: The Complicated Relations between the Two Prophets’, Vetus Testamentum, Vol. 59, No. 4, pp. 556-582

Kelso, J. L. 1945, ‘Ezekiel’s Parable of the Corroded Copper Caldron’, Journal of Biblical Literature, Vol. 64, No. 3, pp. 391-393

Kennedy J. M. 1991, ‘Hebrew PITHÔN PEH in the Book of Ezekiel’, Vetus Testamentum, Vol. XLI, No. 2, pp. 233-235

King, E. G. 1885, ‘The Prince in Ezekiel’, The Old Testament Student, Vol. 5, No. 3, pp. 111-116

Kingsbury, E. C. 1964, ‘The Prophets and the Council of Yahweh’, Journal of Biblical Literature, Vol. 83, No. 3, pp. 279-286

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Exposition

1 PETER 5:5-14 – CLOSING WORDS

Posted on 3rd Dec 202218th Dec 2025 by writtenexposition

1 Peter 5:5-7 EXHORTATION TO ASSEMBLY MEMBERS

1 Peter 5:8-11 A WARNING ABOUT THE ADVERSARY

1 Peter 5:12-14 FAREWELL AND FINAL GREETINGS

5:5-7 Just as in 3:1, 7 Peter uses the word ‘likewise’ to stay on the same subject but address his remarks to a different group of people. Here he continues with the idea of subordination and, having addressed the elders in v.1, now addresses the ‘younger.’ Although ‘younger’ is masculine Peter possibly has in mind every member of the assembly who was not an elder, rather than just the younger men. He instructs them to be subject to the elders (church leaders).

Without diminishing the leadership role Peter exhorts them all, including elders, to have an attitude of subordination to one another and to ‘clothe’ (egkombóomai) themselves with humility. This word is derived from egkómbōma – an apron or garment with strings that a slave wore when working. Humility (tapeinophrosúnē) is the attitude of lowliness of mind that Christians ought to display toward one another. A similar sentiment using the same word is expressed by the apostle Paul in Eph 4:2; Phil 2:3 and Col 3:12. Peter asserts that this is the will of God by quoting Prov 3:34 LXX. That verse is also quoted in James 4:6; a similar passage which also refers to resisting the devil (4:7) and to humbling oneself before God, who will later exalt (4:10).

The thought changes from humility in relation to others to humility before God. ‘Therefore’ (i.e. because God resists the arrogant but honours the humble) they should also subordinate themselves to God, knowing that he will exalt them in due time. They are to accept that, despite the persecution and uncomfortable situation in which they find themselves, everything is under God’s control (‘powerful hand’). The mighty hand of God is an Old Testament idea: Exod 12:3, 9, 14,16; Deut 9:26; Ezek 20:33.

Divine Provision – God gives grace to the humble.

Divine Promotion – God will exalt the humble in due time.

The contrast is between humbling and raising up. See 1 Sam 2:7-9; Ezek 17:24; Mt 23:12; Lk 1:52; 14:11; 18:14.

5:7 DON’T WORRY

‘Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.’ 1 Peter 5:7 This is not an imperative but a participle following ‘humble yourselves’ (6a). See Psa 55:22.

It is interesting that the apostle Peter employed a term from his former occupation as a fisherman to advise Christians how to handle the cares and worries of daily life. What does ‘casting’ involve? It calls for ‘throwing away’ and ‘letting go.’ This verse falls naturally into two sections; each emphasizing a responsibility. Our part: ‘casting all your care upon him’ and God’s part: ‘he careth for you.’ Let us follow Peter’s advice, bearing in mind those two parts. We do the casting, God does the caring.

The Action: ‘casting’

The Amount: ‘all’

The Advocate ‘on him’

The Affection: ‘he careth’

The Administration: ‘for you’

5:8 STAY AWAKE

‘Be sober’ (nḗphō) – be serious i.e. stay focused

‘Be vigilant’ (grēgoreúō) – stay awake.

Peter knew from experience how difficult it was to stay awake. He fell asleep in the Lord’s hour of need. Grēgoreúō is the word for ‘watch’ in the Gethsemane episode and occurs three times in Mark’s account (14:34, 37, 38).

‘And saith unto them, My soul is exceeding sorrowful unto death: tarry ye here, and watch…..And he cometh, and findeth them sleeping, and saith unto Peter, Simon, sleepest thou? couldest not thou watch one hour? Watch ye and pray, lest ye enter into temptation…’

By the way: The Lord Jesus had asked his disciples to watch and pray with Him in the Garden of Gethsemane, to help him through a difficult time. He was praying and suffering anguish such as no-one has ever suffered and went back to receive encouragement from his friends – but they were asleep. He woke them the first time, but thereafter let them sleep. Jesus had to bear his burden alone. Peter and the others who slept were able to serve him later on but never again did they have the opportunity to watch with Jesus in his hour of agony. The friend you fail today, you may not see again tomorrow. You may never have another opportunity to encourage, or display an act of kindness. Now back to the passage under consideration

5:9 FIGHT THE ADVERSARY

Peter tells them to keep calm and stay awake because there is a serious threat. Peter knew from experience how dangerous Satan was (Lk 22:31). The adversary is like a lion circling to ‘gulp them down’ (katapínō). This word can also mean ‘destroy’ or ‘overwhelm.’ Peter warns the believers about the person, power and purpose of Satan.

His Desire: ‘your adversary’ – He is an enemy.

His Danger: ‘a roaring lion’ – He is a formidable foe. – Psa 22:13

His Disposition: ‘ the devil’ – He slanders and falsely accuses.

His Determination: ‘walketh about’ – He never gives up.- Job 1:7

His Devouring: ‘may devour’

His Defeat: ‘resist stedfast in the faith’

They are to resist the Devil, firm in their faith. Firm and determined opposition is imperative. They are not told how to resist here but see Eph 6:10-13. The reference is most likely to their personal faith rather than faithfulness or the body of truth. A motivating factor in resisting the devil is knowing, as they do, that they have solidarity with other believers. The same kinds of sufferings are being experienced by the worldwide ‘brother hood’ (adelphótēs). Peter sets the suffering of Christian believers in Asia Minor in a global perspective.

‘ World’ – could be earth, inhabited world or world order.

5:10 ‘But’ – they have one who is more than a match for the adversary. He is the ‘God of all grace’ i.e. he gives help in every situation. He is the one who has called them in Christ (see also 1 Pet 1:15; 3:9, 21) to eternal glory. Their trials on earth will be short-lived but their glory will be eternal. Olígos could mean ‘little’ (a bit) but since the contrast here is with eternal glory it must mean a ‘little while.’

Next comes a promise, in the future tense. It is not a prayer. Four strong verbs emphasize their permanent vindication:

RESTORE (katartízō) complete, put back in order. For example, the fishing nets in Mt 4:21.

ESTABLISH (stērízō) make permanent. For example, the great gulf fixed in Lk 16:26.

STRENGTHEN (sthenóō) make strong.

SETTLE (themelióō) to lay on a firm foundation, secure by fixing firmly in place.

5:11 A doxology similar to that in 4:11b.

5:12-14 FAREWELL AND FINAL GREETINGS

‘By Silas’ See my post SILVANUS

For commendation of the bearer of a letter see: 1 Cor 16:10-11; Eph 6:21-22; Col 4:7-9; Tit 3:12-13.

‘Exhorting’ This could be a one word summary of 1 Peter. This letter gives instruction and encouragement to face persecution with hope and patience.

‘Testifying’ bearing witness. What he says carries weight.

‘God’s true grace’ This is the state they will enter at the unveiling of Jesus Christ (1:3). It is authentic, God will certainly fulfil his promises.

‘She who is at Babylon, elect like you, sends you her greetings’

Who was the lady? a) Peter’s wife 1 Cor 9:5? b) the church in the area Peter was writing from? A picturesque description. Compare 2 John 13.

What does ‘Babylon ‘ refer to? It is unlikely that the author was writing from Babylon on the Euphrates as it lay in ruins at that time. It is possible that he wrote from Rome. The city may have been a metaphor for a place of evil ( Rev 14:8; 17:5,18; 18:2. It was the capital of the pagan world. Or. since Babylon would have conjured up the idea of the Dispersion and the Exile in the minds of the Jewish believers the church at Rome was thought to be in Babylon because that was its place of exile. The Christians were sojourners and temporary aliens (1:1, 17;2:11).

‘Marcus my son’ John Mark the Evangelist. Peter had a close relationship with Mark.

The Christians are ‘all’ to greet each other with a kiss of love.

The letter closes with a prayer that this persecuted church will know peace. The peace is in Christ.

Peace as a Gift John 14:27

Peace as a Guard Phil 4:7

Peace as a Guide Col 3:15

Peace as a Goal Heb 12:14

1 PETER BIBLIOGRAPHY

1 PETER – INTRODUCTION

1 PETER – OUTLINE

1 PETER 1:1-2 – COMMENTS

1 PETER 1:3-12 – COMMENTS