the word of the LORD came to Ezekiel the priest, the son of Buzi, in the land of the Chaldeans by the Chebar canal, and the hand of the LORD was upon him there.
English Standard Version (ESV)
The phrase "the hand of the LORD was there upon him" signifies more than just inspiration; it points to a powerful, even constraining, divine force that enabled Ezekiel to receive and declare God's message, moving him beyond his own will. This divine empowerment is precisely what allows him, a priest exiled in Babylon, to become God's prophet to his people.
the word of the LORD came to Ezekiel the priest, the son of Buzi, in the land of the Chaldeans by the Chebar canal, and the hand of the LORD was upon him there.
English Standard Version (ESV)
Ezekiel, a priest exiled in Babylon by the Chebar Canal, receives a divine message, indicating a powerful, overwhelming experience of God's presence and will. This encounter, described as the "hand of the Lord" coming upon him, marks the beginning of his prophetic ministry to the captured Israelites, preparing him for the monumental visions that follow.
We often think of 'the word of the Lord' as just information. But for Ezekiel, it was an encounter that changed everything.
In Ezekiel 1:3, the text states, 'the word of the LORD came to Ezekiel.' This wasn't simply a message delivered; it was a divine visitation. The original language and its usage throughout Scripture emphasize that when God's word 'came,' it was a powerful, tangible event. It signified God's direct intervention and presence, imparting not just information, but inspiration, authority, and a compelling spiritual unction. This divine impetus empowered Ezekiel for the monumental task ahead.
Ezekiel wasn't just told what to do; he was divinely equipped. What does 'the hand of the LORD' mean for us?
The verse concludes with 'the hand of the LORD was upon him.' This phrase is a profound symbol of God's active power, His guiding presence, and His empowering grace. It signifies that Ezekiel was not acting on his own will or strength but was under the direct control and influence of the Holy Spirit. This divine empowerment was essential for him to perceive and accurately convey the challenging visions and messages that followed. It's a reminder that God's commission always comes with His equipping power.
Understand the original words
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YHWH · Hebrew Noun
The covenant name of the Creator God of Israel, YHWH, revealing His self-existence, holiness, and faithful relationship with His people.
yad · Hebrew Noun
The divine power, authority, or prophetic anointing placed upon a servant of God, often signifying the compelling call or enabling presence of the Spirit for ministry.
Ezekiel's prophecy begins while he is a captive in Babylon. The historical context of exile, the destruction of Jerusalem, and the spiritual crisis of the people are essential for understanding the weight and urgency of his message.
c. 605 BC
First Deportation to Babylon
Nebuchadnezzar's first siege of Jerusalem results in the deportation of many prominent citizens, including King Jehoiachin and members of the royal family and nobility. This event marks the beginning of the Babylonian exile for many Judeans.
c. 597 BC— this verse
Second Deportation to Babylon
Following another rebellion, Nebuchadnezzar deports a larger group of Judeans, including priests and skilled workers. Ezekiel the priest is among this group, establishing the prophet's presence in the land of the Chaldeans.
c. 587/586 BC
Destruction of Jerusalem and the Temple
Nebuchadnezzar utterly destroys Jerusalem and its Temple, ending the Davidic monarchy and leading to a final, massive deportation of the Judean population. This catastrophic event casts a long shadow over Ezekiel's prophecies.
c. 593 BC
Ezekiel Receives His First Vision
Five years after the second deportation, Ezekiel receives his inaugural vision of God's glory by the Chebar canal, marking the beginning of his prophetic ministry to the exiles in Babylon.
This is the first Old Testament occurrence of 'the word of the LORD came to...' showing the established pattern of God directly commissioning His messengers.
1 Kings 18:46The phrase 'the hand of the LORD was upon him' is used here for Elijah, illustrating the powerful, enabling presence of God that equipped prophets for their tasks.
Isaiah 8:11This passage shows God's strong hand guiding and constraining Isaiah, mirroring how the 'hand of the LORD' empowered Ezekiel to deliver a message he might not otherwise have been able to.
Daniel 10:10Daniel also experiences the 'hand of the LORD' touching him, emphasizing the physical and spiritual impact of God's direct intervention on a prophet.
Luke 3:2This New Testament reference echoes the prophetic formula, showing the continuity of God speaking His word directly to His chosen messengers throughout biblical history.
barnesEzekiel 1:3: "The word of the LORD came expressly unto Ezekiel the priest, the son of Buzi, in the land of the Chaldeans by the river Chebar; and the hand of the LORD was there upon him."
Came expressly - The phrase marks that it was in truth a heaven-sent vision. The hand of the Lord - A phrase in all prophecy implying a "constraining" power, because the spirit "constrains" the prophet independently of his own will.
clarkeEzekiel 1:3: "The word of the LORD came expressly unto Ezekiel the priest, the son of Buzi, in the land of the Chaldeans by the river Chebar; and the hand of the LORD was there upon him."
The hand of the Lord - I was filled with his power, and with the influence of the prophetic spirit.
The phrase "the hand of the LORD was there upon him" signifies more than just inspiration; it points to a powerful, even constraining, divine force that enabled Ezekiel to receive and declare God's message, moving him beyond his own will. This divine empowerment is precisely what allows him, a priest exiled in Babylon, to become God's prophet to his people.
Ezekiel, a priest exiled in Babylon by the Chebar Canal, receives a divine message, indicating a powerful, overwhelming experience of God's presence and will. This encounter, described as the "hand of the Lord" coming upon him, marks the beginning of his prophetic ministry to the captured Israelites, preparing him for the monumental visions that follow.
Ezekiel, a priest exiled in Babylon by the Chebar Canal, receives a divine message, indicating a powerful, overwhelming experience of God's presence and will. This encounter, described as the "hand of the Lord" coming upon him, marks the beginning of his prophetic ministry to the captured Israelites, preparing him for the monumental visions that follow.
"the word of the LORD came to Ezekiel the priest, the son of Buzi, in the land of the Chaldeans by the Chebar canal, and the hand of the LORD was upon him there." — The phrase "the hand of the LORD was there upon him" signifies more than just inspiration; it points to a powerful, even constraining, divine force that enabled Ezekiel to receive and declare God's m…
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Last reviewed October 2026