This verse establishes the pivotal moment for Ezekiel to declare divine insight for the exiles.
“In the twelfth year, in the twelfth month, on the first of the month, the word of the Lord came to me, saying,” (v.1). This verse opens with a specific historical timestamp, indicating when the prophet Ezekiel received a new message from the Lord. Historically, this “twelfth year” is likely the twelfth year after King Jehoiachin’s captivity, placing Ezekiel’s prophecy around 585 BC. At this point, Ezekiel was among the Jewish exiles in Babylon, where he received divine revelations concerning the fate of nations and the future hope for the people of Israel (2 Peter 1:20-21). Although the text does not identify the exact city where this prophecy was delivered, most of Ezekiel’s recorded oracles took place near the River Chebar in Babylon, a region that lay in Mesopotamia (modern-day Iraq) and served as the center of the exilic community.
“…the word of the Lord came to me, saying,” (v.1) underscores that Ezekiel’s role is to convey a message directly from God rather than voicing his own personal opinions. This sets the stage for the prophecy against Pharaoh and Egypt that follows in later verses (Ezekiel 32:2). At this point in biblical history, Pharaohs of Egypt had long been recognized powers, going back to around 3100 BC in Egypt’s earliest dynasties. By Ezekiel’s time, the kings of Egypt had frequently come into conflict with both Israelite and Babylonian powers, and God used His prophets to warn them of impending judgment. This solemn reminder reveals that even mighty nations must answer to the sovereign Lord of history (Romans 14:12).
Furthermore, this verse highlights God’s continuous communication with His people, even when they found themselves exiled far from their homeland. Ezekiel’s entire ministry (593-571 BC) testifies that the Lord remains faithful and speaks to sustain His people. The precise dating of these words also reflects the seriousness of the message, showing that God’s plans interweave with actual events in history (Romans 15:4). By tying the prophecy to a specific time, Scripture demonstrates the reliability and authority of God’s word throughout all generations.
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Ezekiel 32:1 meaning
“In the twelfth year, in the twelfth month, on the first of the month, the word of the Lord came to me, saying,” (v.1). This verse opens with a specific historical timestamp, indicating when the prophet Ezekiel received a new message from the Lord. Historically, this “twelfth year” is likely the twelfth year after King Jehoiachin’s captivity, placing Ezekiel’s prophecy around 585 BC. At this point, Ezekiel was among the Jewish exiles in Babylon, where he received divine revelations concerning the fate of nations and the future hope for the people of Israel (2 Peter 1:20-21). Although the text does not identify the exact city where this prophecy was delivered, most of Ezekiel’s recorded oracles took place near the River Chebar in Babylon, a region that lay in Mesopotamia (modern-day Iraq) and served as the center of the exilic community.
“…the word of the Lord came to me, saying,” (v.1) underscores that Ezekiel’s role is to convey a message directly from God rather than voicing his own personal opinions. This sets the stage for the prophecy against Pharaoh and Egypt that follows in later verses (Ezekiel 32:2). At this point in biblical history, Pharaohs of Egypt had long been recognized powers, going back to around 3100 BC in Egypt’s earliest dynasties. By Ezekiel’s time, the kings of Egypt had frequently come into conflict with both Israelite and Babylonian powers, and God used His prophets to warn them of impending judgment. This solemn reminder reveals that even mighty nations must answer to the sovereign Lord of history (Romans 14:12).
Furthermore, this verse highlights God’s continuous communication with His people, even when they found themselves exiled far from their homeland. Ezekiel’s entire ministry (593-571 BC) testifies that the Lord remains faithful and speaks to sustain His people. The precise dating of these words also reflects the seriousness of the message, showing that God’s plans interweave with actual events in history (Romans 15:4). By tying the prophecy to a specific time, Scripture demonstrates the reliability and authority of God’s word throughout all generations.