New International Version Groan quietly; do not mourn for the dead. Keep your turban fastened and your sandals on your feet; do not cover your mustache and beard or eat the customary food of mourners.” New Living Translation Groan silently, but let there be no wailing at her grave. Do not uncover your head or take off your sandals. Do not perform the usual rituals of mourning or accept any food brought to you by consoling friends.” English Standard Version Sigh, but not aloud; make no mourning for the dead. Bind on your turban, and put your shoes on your feet; do not cover your lips, nor eat the bread of men.” Berean Standard Bible Groan quietly; do not mourn for the dead. Put on your turban and strap your sandals on your feet; do not cover your lips or eat the bread of mourners.” Berean Literal Bible Groan, keep silent, you shall make no mourning for the dead. Bind your turban on you, and place your sandals on your feet; do not put a wrap over the lip, and the bread of men do not eat.” King James Bible Forbear to cry, make no mourning for the dead, bind the tire of thine head upon thee, and put on thy shoes upon thy feet, and cover not thy lips, and eat not the bread of men. New King James Version Sigh in silence, make no mourning for the dead; bind your turban on your head, and put your sandals on your feet; do not cover your lips, and do not eat man’s bread of sorrow.” New American Standard Bible Groan silently; do no mourning for the dead. Bind on your turban and put your sandals on your feet, and do not cover your mustache, and do not eat the bread of other people.” NASB 1995 “Groan silently; make no mourning for the dead. Bind on your turban and put your shoes on your feet, and do not cover your mustache and do not eat the bread of men.” NASB 1977 “Groan silently; make no mourning for the dead. Bind on your turban, and put your shoes on your feet, and do not cover your mustache, and do not eat the bread of men.” Legacy Standard Bible Groan silently; make no mourning for the dead. Bind on your headdress and put your shoes on your feet and do not cover your mustache and do not eat the bread of men.” Amplified Bible Sigh and groan in silence; do not mourn for the dead. Bind on your turban and put your sandals on your feet, and do not cover your mustache or eat the bread of [mourners furnished by other] men.” Berean Annotated Bible Groan quietly; do not mourn for the dead. Put on your turban and strap your sandals on your feet; do not cover your lips or eat the bread of mourners. Christian Standard Bible Groan quietly; do not observe mourning rites for the dead. Put on your turban and strap your sandals on your feet; do not cover your mustache or eat the bread of mourners.” Holman Christian Standard Bible Groan quietly; do not observe mourning rites for the dead. Put on your turban and strap your sandals on your feet; do not cover your mustache or eat the bread of mourners.” American Standard Version Sigh, but not aloud, make no mourning for the dead; bind thy headtire upon thee, and put thy shoes upon thy feet, and cover not thy lips, and eat not the bread of men. Contemporary English Version Mourn in silence and don't show that you are grieving. Don't remove your turban or take off your sandals; don't cover your face to show your sorrow, or eat the food that mourners eat." English Revised Version Sigh, but not aloud; make no mourning for the dead, bind thy headtire upon thee, and put thy shoes upon thy feet, and cover not thy lips, and eat not the bread of men. GOD'S WORD® Translation Groan silently. Don't grieve for the person who dies. Tie on your turban, and put on your sandals. Don't cover your face or eat the food that mourners eat." Good News Translation Don't let your sobbing be heard. Do not go bareheaded or barefoot as a sign of mourning. Don't cover your face or eat the food that mourners eat." International Standard Version You are to weep in silence, but you are not to participate in mourning rituals. You are to keep your turban on your head and your sandals on your feet. You are not to cover your mouth or eat what your comforters bring to you." NET Bible Groan in silence for the dead, but do not perform mourning rites. Bind on your turban and put your sandals on your feet. Do not cover your lip and do not eat food brought by others." New Heart English Bible Sigh, but not aloud, make no mourning for the dead; bind your headdress on you, and put your shoes on your feet, and do not cover your lips, and do not eat men's bread." Webster's Bible Translation Forbear to cry, make no mourning for the dead, bind the tire of thy head upon thee, and put on thy shoes upon thy feet, and cover not thy lips, and eat not the bread of men. Majority Text Translations Majority Standard BibleGroan quietly; do not mourn for the dead. Put on your turban and strap your sandals on your feet; do not cover your lips or eat the bread of mourners.” World English Bible Sigh, but not aloud. Make no mourning for the dead. Bind your headdress on you, and put your sandals on your feet. Don’t cover your lips, and don’t eat mourner’s bread.” Literal Translations Literal Standard VersionCease to groan [and] make no mourning [for] the dead, bind your headdress on yourself, and put your shoes on your feet, and you do not cover over the upper lip, and you do not eat [the] bread of men.” Berean Literal Bible Groan, keep silent, you shall make no mourning for the dead. Bind your turban on you, and place your sandals on your feet; do not put a wrap over the lip, and the bread of men do not eat.” Young's Literal Translation Cease to groan, for the dead thou dost make no mourning, thy bonnet bind on thee, and thy shoes thou dost put on thy feet, and thou dost not cover over the upper lip, and bread of men thou dost not eat.' Smith's Literal Translation Be silent to the sighing of blood, thou shalt not make mourning for the dead; bind thy head-dress upon thee, and thou shalt put thy shoes upon thy feet, and thou shalt not cover over the mustachios, and the bread of men thou shalt not eat. Catholic Translations Douay-Rheims BibleSigh in silence, make no mourning for the dead: let the tire of thy head be upon thee, and thy shoes on thy feet, and cover not thy face, nor eat the meat of mourners. Catholic Public Domain Version Groan silently; you shall make no mourning for the dead. Let the band of your crown be on you, and let your shoes be on your feet. And you shall not cover your face, nor shall you eat the food of those who mourn.” New American Bible Groan, moan for the dead, but make no public lament; bind on your turban, put your sandals on your feet, but do not cover your beard or eat the bread of mourners. New Revised Standard Version Sigh, but not aloud; make no mourning for the dead. Bind on your turban, and put your sandals on your feet; do not cover your upper lip or eat the bread of mourners. Translations from Aramaic Lamsa BibleForbear to cry, make no mourning for the dead, put on your robe and put shoes on your feet; and do not cover your lips nor eat the bread provided for you. Peshitta Holy Bible Translated Howl! Be pained at the blood of the dead, and you shall not make a house of weeping, and your garment gird upon you, and your shoes put on your feet, and you shall not cover over your lips, and the bread of the children of men you shall not eat” OT Translations JPS Tanakh 1917Sigh in silence; make no mourning for the dead, bind thy headtire upon thee, and put thy shoes upon thy feet, and cover not thine upper lip, and eat not the bread of men.' Brenton Septuagint Translation Thou shalt groan for blood, and have mourning upon thy loins; thy hair shall not be braided upon thee, and thy sandals shall be on thy feet; thou shalt in no wise be comforted by their lips, and thou shalt not eat the bread of men. Additional Translations ... Audio Bible (Voice ▾ Musical ▾) Context Ezekiel's Wife Dies…16“Son of man, behold, I am about to take away the desire of your eyes with a fatal blow. But you must not mourn or weep or let your tears flow. 17Groan quietly; do not mourn for the dead. Put on your turban and strap your sandals on your feet; do not cover your lips or eat the bread of mourners.” 18So I spoke to the people in the morning, and in the evening my wife died. And the next morning I did as I had been commanded.… Cross References Groan quietly; Psalm 39:2-3 I was speechless and still; I remained silent, even from speaking good, and my sorrow was stirred. / My heart grew hot within me; as I mused, the fire burned. Then I spoke with my tongue: Ezekiel 21:6-7 But you, son of man, groan! Groan before their eyes with a broken heart and bitter grief. / And when they ask, ‘Why are you groaning?’ you are to say, ‘Because of the news that is coming. Every heart will melt, and every hand will go limp. Every spirit will faint, and every knee will turn to water.’ Yes, it is coming and it will surely happen, declares the Lord GOD.” Psalm 38:8-9 I am numb and badly crushed; I groan in anguish of heart. / O Lord, my every desire is before You; my groaning is not hidden from You. do not mourn for the dead. Leviticus 10:6-7 Then Moses said to Aaron and his sons Eleazar and Ithamar, “Do not let your hair become disheveled and do not tear your garments, or else you will die, and the LORD will be angry with the whole congregation. But your brothers, the whole house of Israel, may mourn on account of the fire that the LORD has ignited. / You shall not go outside the entrance to the Tent of Meeting, or you will die, for the LORD’s anointing oil is on you.” So they did as Moses instructed. Leviticus 21:10-12 The priest who is highest among his brothers, who has had the anointing oil poured on his head and has been ordained to wear the priestly garments, must not let his hair hang loose or tear his garments. / He must not go near any dead body; he must not defile himself, even for his father or mother. / He must not leave or desecrate the sanctuary of his God, for the consecration of the anointing oil of his God is on him. I am the LORD. Jeremiah 16:5-6 Indeed, this is what the LORD says: “Do not enter a house where there is a funeral meal. Do not go to mourn or show sympathy, for I have removed from this people My peace, My loving devotion, and My compassion,” declares the LORD. / “Both great and small will die in this land. They will not be buried or mourned, nor will anyone cut himself or shave his head for them. Put on your turban and strap your sandals on your feet; Exodus 12:11 This is how you are to eat it: You must be fully dressed for travel, with your sandals on your feet and your staff in your hand. You are to eat in haste; it is the LORD’s Passover. Leviticus 8:9 Moses also put the turban on Aaron’s head and set the gold plate, the holy diadem, on the front of the turban, as the LORD had commanded him. Leviticus 16:4 He is to wear the sacred linen tunic, with linen undergarments. He must tie a linen sash around him and put on the linen turban. These are holy garments, and he must bathe himself with water before he wears them. do not cover your lips Micah 3:7 Then the seers will be ashamed and the diviners will be disgraced. They will all cover their mouths because there is no answer from God.” Leviticus 13:45 A diseased person must wear torn clothes and let his hair hang loose, and he must cover his mouth and cry out, ‘Unclean, unclean!’ Job 21:5 Look at me and be appalled; put your hand over your mouth. or eat the bread of mourners.” Hosea 9:4 They will not pour out wine offerings to the LORD, and their sacrifices will not please Him, but will be to them like the bread of mourners; all who eat will be defiled. For their bread will be for themselves; it will not enter the house of the LORD. Jeremiah 16:7 No food will be offered to comfort those who mourn the dead; not even a cup of consolation will be given for the loss of a father or mother. Deuteronomy 26:14 I have not eaten any of the sacred portion while in mourning, or removed any of it while unclean, or offered any of it for the dead. I have obeyed the LORD my God; I have done everything You commanded me. 2 Samuel 12:20 Then David got up from the ground, washed and anointed himself, changed his clothes, and went into the house of the LORD and worshiped. Then he went to his own house, and at his request they set food before him, and he ate. Treasury of Scripture Forbear to cry, make no mourning for the dead, bind the tire of your head on you, and put on your shoes on your feet, and cover not your lips, and eat not the bread of men. Forbear to cry. Psalm 37:7 Rest in the LORD, and wait patiently for him: fret not thyself because of him who prospereth in his way, because of the man who bringeth wicked devices to pass. Psalm 39:9 I was dumb, I opened not my mouth; because thou didst it. Psalm 46:10 Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth. make Jeremiah 16:4-7 They shall die of grievous deaths; they shall not be lamented; neither shall they be buried; but they shall be as dung upon the face of the earth: and they shall be consumed by the sword, and by famine; and their carcases shall be meat for the fowls of heaven, and for the beasts of the earth… bind Ezekiel 24:23 And your tires shall be upon your heads, and your shoes upon your feet: ye shall not mourn nor weep; but ye shall pine away for your iniquities, and mourn one toward another. Leviticus 10:6 And Moses said unto Aaron, and unto Eleazar and unto Ithamar, his sons, Uncover not your heads, neither rend your clothes; lest ye die, and lest wrath come upon all the people: but let your brethren, the whole house of Israel, bewail the burning which the LORD hath kindled. Leviticus 21:10 And he that is the high priest among his brethren, upon whose head the anointing oil was poured, and that is consecrated to put on the garments, shall not uncover his head, nor rend his clothes; put 2 Samuel 15:30 And David went up by the ascent of mount Olivet, and wept as he went up, and had his head covered, and he went barefoot: and all the people that was with him covered every man his head, and they went up, weeping as they went up. cover Ezekiel 24:22 And ye shall do as I have done: ye shall not cover your lips, nor eat the bread of men. Leviticus 13:45 And the leper in whom the plague is, his clothes shall be rent, and his head bare, and he shall put a covering upon his upper lip, and shall cry, Unclean, unclean. Micah 3:7 Then shall the seers be ashamed, and the diviners confounded: yea, they shall all cover their lips; for there is no answer of God. lips [heb] upper lip, and so ver. Hosea 9:4 They shall not offer wine offerings to the LORD, neither shall they be pleasing unto him: their sacrifices shall be unto them as the bread of mourners; all that eat thereof shall be polluted: for their bread for their soul shall not come into the house of the LORD. the bread of men. Jeremiah 16:7 Neither shall men tear themselves for them in mourning, to comfort them for the dead; neither shall men give them the cup of consolation to drink for their father or for their mother. Jump to Previous Aloud Beard Bind Bread Cease Cover Covered Cry Customary Dead Eat Face Fastened Feet Food Forbear Grief Groan Head Head-Dress Lips Mourn Mourners Mourning Part Quietly Sandals Shoes Sigh Silence Sorrow Sound Tire Upper WeepingJump to Next Aloud Beard Bind Bread Cease Cover Covered Cry Customary Dead Eat Face Fastened Feet Food Forbear Grief Groan Head Head-Dress Lips Mourn Mourners Mourning Part Quietly Sandals Shoes Sigh Silence Sorrow Sound Tire Upper WeepingEzekiel 24 1. Under the parable of a boiling pot6. is shown the irrevocable destruction of Jerusalem 15. By the sign of Ezekiel not mourning for the death of his wife 19. is shown the calamity of the Jews to be beyond all sorrow Groan quietly; Ezekiel was to bear his grief inwardly over the death of his wife. His restrained sorrow became a sign of the greater disaster soon to fall on Jerusalem. Psa 39:2-3 I was speechless and still; I remained silent… do not mourn for the dead. He was forbidden the customary public rites of mourning because the people would soon face devastation so complete that they would be stunned beyond ordinary expressions of grief. Lev 10:6-7 Then Moses said to Aaron and his sons Eleazar and Ithamar,… Put on your turban and strap your sandals on your feet; Rather than adopting the appearance of a mourner, Ezekiel was to remain dressed for daily life. His conduct showed that Jerusalem’s survivors would be forced to endure their loss without the normal time, customs, or support associated with mourning. Exo 12:11 This is how you are to eat it: You must be fully dressed… do not cover your lips He was not to hide his face or display the silence of bereavement. The absence of outward mourning underscored the shock and humiliation that would accompany God’s judgment. Mic 3:7 Then the seers will be ashamed, and the diviners… or eat the bread of mourners.” He was not to receive the customary food brought to comfort the bereaved. When Jerusalem fell, its people would lack both the means and the occasion for such consolations. Hos 9:4 They will not pour out wine offerings to the LORD… Persons / Places / Events 1. EzekielA prophet of God, called to deliver messages of judgment and hope to the Israelites during their Babylonian exile. 2. Israelites The people of God who are in exile due to their disobedience and idolatry. 3. Babylon The place of exile for the Israelites, representing judgment and separation from their homeland. 4. Jerusalem The city whose impending destruction is symbolized by Ezekiel's actions and God's message. 5. God The sovereign Lord who commands Ezekiel and communicates His will through him. Teaching Points Obedience in Unconventional WaysEzekiel is called to obey God in a manner that defies cultural norms. As believers, we must be prepared to follow God's commands even when they challenge societal expectations. Symbolic Actions as Prophetic Messages Ezekiel's actions serve as a living parable. Our lives, too, can be a testimony to God's truth when we live in obedience to His word. The Cost of Discipleship Just as Ezekiel was asked to forgo traditional mourning, we may be called to sacrifice personal comforts or customs for the sake of God's kingdom. Hope Beyond Judgment While Ezekiel's actions symbolize judgment, they also point to the hope of restoration. In Christ, we find hope beyond our circumstances and the promise of eternal life. Bible Study Questions and Answers 1. What is the meaning of Ezekiel 24:17?2. How does Ezekiel 24:17 illustrate obedience to God's difficult commands in our lives? 3. What does "do not mourn" in Ezekiel 24:17 teach about trusting God? 4. How can Ezekiel's response in 24:17 inspire our reactions to personal loss? 5. What scriptural connections exist between Ezekiel 24:17 and Jesus' teachings on suffering? 6. How can we apply Ezekiel 24:17's lessons to modern-day trials and tribulations? 7. Why does Ezekiel 24:17 command not to mourn openly for the dead? 8. How does Ezekiel 24:17 reflect God's judgment on Israel? 9. What is the significance of Ezekiel's actions in Ezekiel 24:17? 10. What are the top 10 Lessons from Ezekiel 24? (17) The tire of thine head.--This might be either the covering for the head usually worn by the people (see Ezekiel 24:23), or the special "mitre of fine linen" (Exodus 39:28) provided for the priests; but as the peculiar priestly garments were worn only when the priests were on duty within the tabernacle (Leviticus 6:10-11), it is not likely that Ezekiel used them in his captivity. The priests were expressly allowed to mourn for their nearest relations (Leviticus 21:2-3), and Ezekiel is therefore here made an exception. Among the ordinary signs of mourning was the covering of the head (2Samuel 15:30; Jeremiah 14:3), the sprinkling of dust upon it (Ezekiel 27:30; 1Samuel 4:12; 2Samuel 15:32), going barefoot (1Samuel 15:30; Isaiah 20:2), and covering the lips, or lower part of the face (Micah 3:7). All these things are now forbidden to the prophet in his sorrow. . . . Ezekiel’s muted, disciplined response to the death of his beloved wife becomes a living parable. God commands inward groaning but outward composure, everyday dress, readiness to move, uncovered lips, and abstinence from condolence meals. Each detail prefigures the coming destruction of Jerusalem, when stunned survivors will have no chance to lament. By obeying, Ezekiel shows that God’s word is supreme, personal grief must yield to divine purpose, and hope ultimately rests not in earthly rituals but in the Lord who brings both judgment and restoration. Parallel Commentaries ... Hebrew Groanהֵאָנֵ֣ק ׀ (hê·’ā·nêq) Verb - Nifal - Infinitive construct Strong's 602: To cry, groan quietly; דֹּ֗ם (dōm) Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine singular Strong's 1826: To be dumb, to be astonished, to stop, to perish do not לֹֽא־ (lō-) Adverb - Negative particle Strong's 3808: Not, no mourn אֵ֣בֶל (’ê·ḇel) Noun - masculine singular Strong's 60: Lamentation for the dead. מֵתִים֙ (mê·ṯîm) Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine plural Strong's 4191: To die, to kill Put חֲב֣וֹשׁ (ḥă·ḇō·wōš) Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine singular Strong's 2280: To wrap firmly, to stop, to rule on עָלֶ֔יךָ (‘ā·le·ḵā) Preposition | second person masculine singular Strong's 5921: Above, over, upon, against your turban פְאֵֽרְךָ֙ (p̄ə·’ê·rə·ḵā) Noun - masculine singular construct | second person masculine singular Strong's 6287: An embellishment, fancy head-dress and strap תָּשִׂ֣ים (tā·śîm) Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine singular Strong's 7760: Put -- to put, place, set your sandals וּנְעָלֶ֖יךָ (ū·nə·‘ā·le·ḵā) Conjunctive waw | Noun - feminine plural construct | second person masculine singular Strong's 5275: A sandal tongue, a sandal, slipper on your feet; בְּרַגְלֶ֑יךָ (bə·raḡ·le·ḵā) Preposition-b | Noun - fdc | second person masculine singular Strong's 7272: A foot, a step, the pudenda do not וְלֹ֤א (wə·lō) Conjunctive waw | Adverb - Negative particle Strong's 3808: Not, no cover תַעְטֶה֙ (ṯa‘·ṭeh) Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine singular Strong's 5844: To wrap oneself, enwrap, envelop oneself [your] lips שָׂפָ֔ם (śā·p̄ām) Noun - masculine singular Strong's 8222: The beard or eat תֹאכֵֽל׃ (ṯō·ḵêl) Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine singular Strong's 398: To eat the bread וְלֶ֥חֶם (wə·le·ḥem) Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular construct Strong's 3899: Food, bread, grain of mourners.” אֲנָשִׁ֖ים (’ă·nā·šîm) Noun - masculine plural Strong's 376: A man as an individual, a male person Additonal Resources Ezekiel 24:17 Blue Letter BibleEzekiel 24:17 Bible Gateway Ezekiel 24:17 Bible.com Ezekiel 24:17 NIV |
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