Ezekiel – Chapter 11

Old Testament25 Verses

Chapter Summary

Chapter 11 of Ezekiel begins: "And the spirit lifted me up, and brought me into the east gate of the house of the Lord, which looketh towards the rising of the sun: and…" Across its 25 verses, two threads run through the text: sin and divine judgment and family and covenant relationships. Taken as a whole, the chapter forms one movement in the account, preparing what follows and completing what came before.

1And the spirit lifted me up, and brought me into the east gate of the house of the Lord, which looketh towards the rising of the sun: and behold in the entry of the gate five and twenty men: and I saw in the midst of them Jezonias the son of Azur, and Pheltias the son of Banaias, princes of the people.

2And he said to me: Son of man, these are the men that study iniquity, and frame a wicked counsel in this city,

3Saying: Were not houses lately built? This city is the caldron, and we the flesh.

4Therefore prophesy against them, prophesy, thou son of man.

5And the spirit of the Lord fell upon me, and said to me: Speak: Thus saith the Lord: Thus have you spoken, O house of Israel, for I know the thoughts of your heart.

6You have killed a great many in this city, and you have filled the streets thereof with the slain.

7Therefore thus saith the Lord God: Your slain, whom you have laid in the midst thereof, they are the flesh, all this is the caldron: and I will bring you forth out of the midst thereof.

8You have feared the sword, and I will bring the sword upon you, saith the Lord God.

9And I will cast you out of the midst thereof, and I will deliver you into the hand of the enemies, and I will execute judgments upon you.

10You shall fall by the sword: I will judge you in the borders of Israel, and you shall know that I am the Lord.

11This shall not be as a caldron to you, and you shall not be as flesh in the midst thereof: I will judge you in the borders of Israel.

12And you shall know that I am the Lord: because you have not walked in my commandments, and have not done my judgments, but you have done according to the judgments of the nations that are round about you.

13And it came to pass, when I prophesied, that Pheltias the son of Banaias died: and I fell down upon my face, and I cried with a loud voice: and said: Alas, alas, alas, O Lord God: wilt thou make an end of all the remnant of Israel?

14And the word of the Lord came to me, saying:

15Son of man, thy brethren, thy brethren, thy kinsmen, and all the house of Israel, all they to whom the inhabitants of Jerusalem have said: Get ye far from the Lord, the land is given in possession to us.

16Therefore thus saith the Lord God: Because I have removed them far off among the Gentiles, and because I have scattered them among the countries: I will be to them a little sanctuary in the countries whither they are come.

17Therefore speak to them: Thus saith the Lord God: I will gather you from among the peoples, and assemble you out of the countries wherein you are scattered, and I will give you the land of Israel.

18And they shall go in thither, and shall take away all the scandals, and all the abominations thereof from thence.

19And I will give them one heart, and will put a new spirit in their bowels: and I will take away the stony heart out of their flesh, and will give them a heart of flesh:

20That they may walk in my commandments, and keep my judgments, and do them: and that they may be my people, and I may be their God.

21But as for them whose heart walketh after their scandals and abominations, I will lay their way upon their head, saith the Lord God.

22And the cherubims lifted up their wings, and the wheels with them: and the glory of the God of Israel was over them.

23And the glory of the Lord went up from the midst of the city, and stood over the mount that is on the east side of the city.

24And the spirit lifted me up, and brought me into Chaldea, to them of the captivity, in vision, by the spirit of God: and the vision which I had seen was taken up from me.

25And I spoke to them of the captivity all the words of the Lord, which he had shewn me.

Important Verses in Ezekiel 11

And the spirit of the Lord fell upon me, and said to me: Speak: Thus saith the Lord: Thus have you spoken, O house of Israel, for I know the thoughts of your heart.

Ezekiel 11:5

You have feared the sword, and I will bring the sword upon you, saith the Lord God.

Ezekiel 11:8

Therefore speak to them: Thus saith the Lord God: I will gather you from among the peoples, and assemble you out of the countries wherein you are scattered, and I will give you the land of Israel.

Ezekiel 11:17

But as for them whose heart walketh after their scandals and abominations, I will lay their way upon their head, saith the Lord God.

Ezekiel 11:21

Historical Context

Ezekiel belongs to the Old Testament and was composed for the exiles in Babylon, moved from despair to hope of restoration. Chapter 11 of 48 belongs to the early movement of the book, where the narrative or argument is still unfolding. It is a prophetic oracle addressed to Israel in a moment of covenant crisis or renewal with 25 verses in the Douay-Rheims translation. It opens with the line: "And the spirit lifted me up, and brought me into the east gate of the house of the Lord, which looketh towards the…" The chapter ends with: "And I spoke to them of the captivity all the words of the Lord, which he had shewn me. " In terms of historical background, Ezekiel was deported to Babylon in 597 BC and prophesied among the exiles through astonishing visions: God's throne-chariot, the departure of His glory from the Temple, the valley of dry bones brought to life, and a new… Scholarly and ecclesial tradition places the composition of Ezekiel around About 593-571 BC, in Babylon.

Who Wrote It

The prophet Ezekiel, priest and exile

When It Was Written

About 593-571 BC, in Babylon

Catholic Commentary

At the literal level, this oracle names the sins, judgments, or promises relevant to its original hearers. A pivotal line is verse 5: "And the spirit of the Lord fell upon me, and said to me: Speak: Thus saith the Lord: Thus have you spoken, O house of Israel, for I know the thoughts of your…" The passage repeatedly touches on sin and divine judgment.

Catholic exegesis reads Ezekiel 11 within the unity of Scripture and Tradition. Ezekiel's visions inform Catholic understanding of heaven and liturgy (CIC 1137). St. Bede the Venerable and other Fathers of the Church saw in texts like this a preparation for or reflection of Christ, the center of revelation (CIC 1814).

For Christians today, the chapter's lesson is clear: Sin has real consequences, but God's judgment always aims at conversion and restoration.. The Church invites us to receive this word not as antiquarian information but as living Scripture proclaimed at Mass and prayed in lectio divina.

Main Teachings

  • Sin has real consequences, but God's judgment always aims at conversion and restoration.
  • The family is the first school of faith, where love, obedience, and forgiveness are learned.
  • The Holy Spirit is the giver of life who animates creation, the prophets, and the Church.

Reflection for Today

In Ezekiel Chapter 11, the Church invites us to listen attentively to God's Word within the broader narrative of judgment, restoration, and God's glory.

The Second Vatican Council reminded the faithful that Scripture should permeate Catholic spirituality (Dei Verbum, 21-26). Ezekiel Chapter 11 supports that call by drawing attention to humility before the mystery of God within the wider message that God will give His people a new heart.

As you continue through Ezekiel, carry this chapter's lesson into your family, parish, and work. Catholic faith is always ecclesial—God speaks to us as members of Christ's Body, not as isolated individuals.

💡Catholic Reflection • Church Teachings

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Ezekiel Chapter 11 about?

Ezekiel 11 contains 25 verses. It opens with "And the spirit lifted me up, and brought me into the east gate of the house of the Lord, which looketh towards the…" and closes with "And I spoke to them of the captivity all the words of the Lord, which he had shewn me. ". The book as a whole is prophetic visions and oracles.

What is a key verse in Ezekiel 11?

One of the most significant verses is verse 5: "And the spirit of the Lord fell upon me, and said to me: Speak: Thus saith the Lord: Thus have you spoken, O house of Israel, for I know the thoughts of your heart." It is often cited in Catholic teaching and preaching.

Who wrote Ezekiel and when?

The prophet Ezekiel, priest and exile. About 593-571 BC, in Babylon.

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