Ezekiel 4: Group Study Handout

How to use: read Ezekiel 4 aloud together, then take the questions in order. One page is enough for an evening.

Overview

Ezekiel is instructed to portray a siege of Jerusalem on a tile (vv. 1-3). He lays on his left side to bear the iniquity of Israel for three hundred ninety days and then on his right side for Judah for forty days (vv. 4-6). During this time, he must set his face toward the siege and prophesy (vv. 7-8). Ezekiel prepares bread using various grains, consuming it over the same duration and baking it using human dung (vv. 9-12). Yahweh explains that this represents how the children of Israel will eat their bread unclean among the nations (vv. 13-15). Finally, Yahweh declares he will break the staff of bread in Jerusalem. The people will experience scarcity and fear as they lack food and water (vv. 16-17).

Key verse

“Moreover lie on your left side, and lay the iniquity of the house of Israel on it. According to the number of the days that you shall lie on it, you shall bear their iniquity.”
Ezekiel 4:4 (WEB)

Outline

Ezekiel 4:1–3 Symbolic Siege of Jerusalem
Ezekiel 4:4–6 Ezekiel's Extended Lying
Ezekiel 4:7–8 Prophecy Against the City
Ezekiel 4:9–12 Unclean Food Preparation
Ezekiel 4:13–15 Symbol of Impurity
Ezekiel 4:16–17 Judgment on Food and Water

Discussion questions

What does Ezekiel do in v1 with the tile he takes?
In v12, what unusual ingredient does Ezekiel use to bake his bread?
Ezekiel's actions in v5 raise a question: why are the iniquities of Israel represented as 'three hundred ninety days'?
What is the meaning of the 'forts' and 'battering rams' mentioned in v2 in relation to Jerusalem?
When have you felt like you were bearing someone else's 'iniquity' as Ezekiel does in v4?

Go deeper

Passages that echo Ezekiel 4: Ezekiel 21, Daniel 1, Ezekiel 12.

Before next time: read Ezekiel 5.