The verse emphasizes the exact day this vision occurred—the tenth day of the first month—which was the very day the Israelites were instructed to select the Passover lamb, a powerful reminder of God's redemptive plan even amidst their exile. This precise timing signals that what follows isn't just a description of a building, but a profound revelation about God's restored covenant and enduring faithfulness.
In the twenty-fifth year of our exile, at the beginning of the year, on the tenth day of the month, in the fourteenth year after the city was struck down, on that very day, the hand of the LORD was upon me, and he brought me to the city.
English Standard Version (ESV)
After years of prophesying judgment following Jerusalem's destruction, Ezekiel receives a divine vision. In the twenty-fifth year of exile, on a significant date marking the start of the religious year and the preparation for Passover, the LORD's power overcomes Ezekiel, transporting him in spirit to the ruins of Jerusalem. This marks the beginning of a new prophetic phase, shifting from judgment to a detailed vision of a future, glorious temple and city.
Imagine living decades after your home was destroyed, your people scattered. Ezekiel's vision begins not with triumph, but with a stark reminder of where they are.
This vision arrives precisely 25 years after Ezekiel and King Jehoiachin were exiled, and 14 years after Jerusalem and the glorious Temple were utterly destroyed by the Babylonians. The date – the tenth day of the first month, the beginning of the year – is significant. It aligns with the day the Passover lamb was chosen, a symbol of God's deliverance. Yet, here it marks a time of deep reflection on judgment. The 'hand of the LORD' that 'was upon me' signifies God's powerful, active presence, not for immediate rescue, but to reveal a future hope in the midst of their despair. This isn't just a date; it's a signpost pointing from utter devastation towards a promised renewal.
Did Ezekiel literally teleport to Jerusalem? The text is clear: God's power is at work, but it's a journey of the spirit, not the body.
The phrase 'the hand of the LORD was upon me, and he brought me thither' describes a divine, supernatural experience. This was not a physical relocation of Ezekiel's body from Babylon to Jerusalem. Instead, through the power of the Holy Spirit, God gave Ezekiel a vivid, in-depth vision. He was 'in the visions of God' (as stated in verse 2), which means his mind and spirit were transported to see the future Temple and city as if he were physically present. This visionary state allowed God to reveal meticulously detailed plans and prophecies that would offer profound hope and instruction to the exiled people.
Ask a follow-up
Even after the ultimate betrayal of God's covenant, evidenced by the destruction of His own Temple, God reveals a plan for future glory.
The destruction of Jerusalem and the Temple was a devastating consequence of Israel's repeated unfaithfulness and sin. Yet, this vision, arriving 14 years after this catastrophe, is not about the past failure. It's about God's unwavering commitment to His people and His purposes. The detailed, almost impossibly grand measurements of the future Temple and city are symbols of God's ultimate restoration and the perfection of His reign. It points to a time when God's presence will dwell fully among His people, in a way that eclipses the former glory, signifying a renewed covenant and ultimate redemption.
Understand the original words
galut · Hebrew Noun
A state of forced residence away from one's homeland, frequently used in the Bible to describe the judgment of God upon Israel for their covenant unfaithfulness. It carries themes of separation, discipline, and the hope of eventual restoration.
yad YHWH · Hebrew Noun
A metaphorical expression indicating the divine enablement, control, or prophetic anointing by Yahweh upon a person. It denotes that the individual is under the direct authority and power of God for a specific task.
This prophecy is set precisely in the context of exile, 14 years after the utter destruction of Jerusalem and its Temple. The detailed vision of a new Temple serves as a powerful message of hope and future restoration for the disheartened exiles.
605 BC
First Deportation to Babylon
King Jehoiakim of Judah is taken captive to Babylon, marking the beginning of the Babylonian exile for many Judeans, including the prophet Daniel.
597 BC
Second Deportation to Babylon
King Jehoiachin (Jeconiah) and thousands of Judeans, including the prophet Ezekiel, are exiled to Babylon. This marks the start of Ezekiel's 25th year of captivity mentioned in the text.
587/586 BC— this verse
Fall of Jerusalem
The Babylonians conquer Jerusalem, destroy the Temple, and exile a significant portion of the remaining population. This event occurred 14 years before Ezekiel's vision.
c. 571 BC
Ezekiel's Vision of the New Temple
In the 25th year of his exile, on the Day of Atonement, Ezekiel receives a vision of a restored Temple and city, offering hope for future restoration.
539 BC
Cyrus the Great Conquers Babylon
The Persian Empire under Cyrus the Great overthrows the Babylonian Empire, paving the way for the Jewish return from exile.
516 BC
Completion of the Second Temple
After returning from exile, the Jewish people complete the rebuilding of the Temple in Jerusalem, though it differs in grandeur from Solomon's Temple and Ezekiel's vision.
This passage describes the initial divine encounter and prophetic commissioning of Ezekiel, mirroring the powerful 'hand of the LORD' that comes upon him in chapter 40 to initiate a new vision.
Isaiah 6:1-8Similar to Ezekiel's experience, Isaiah is brought into a divine encounter where he receives a weighty message, emphasizing God's presence and calling even in times of judgment and exile.
Jeremiah 31:38-40This prophecy foretells a future restoration and rebuilding of Jerusalem and its temple, echoing the hopeful vision Ezekiel receives after the city's destruction.
Ezekiel 37:1-14The vision of the dry bones coming to life parallels Ezekiel's experience in chapter 40 by demonstrating God's power to bring life and restoration to a seemingly dead nation and its spiritual center.
Revelation 21:10-27The vision of the New Jerusalem and its glorious temple in Revelation shares thematic similarities with Ezekiel's temple vision, representing God's ultimate dwelling with His people in a perfected, holy city.
clarkeEzekiel 40:1: "In the five and twentieth year of our captivity, in the beginning of the year, in the tenth day of the month, in the fourteenth year after that the city was smitten, in the selfsame day the hand of the LORD was upon me, and brought me thither."
In the five and twentieth year of our captivity - According to the date here given, this prophecy was delivered on Tuesday, April 20, A.M. 3430, in the twenty-fifth year of the captivity of Jeconiah, and fourteen years after the taking of…
jfbEzekiel 40:1: "In the five and twentieth year of our captivity, in the beginning of the year, in the tenth day of the month, in the fourteenth year after that the city was smitten, in the selfsame day the hand of the LORD was upon me, and brought me thither."
CHAPTER 40Eze 40:1-49. The Remaining Chapters, the Fortieth through Forty-eighth, Give an Ideal Picture of the Restored Jewish Temple.The arrangements as to the land and the temple are, in many particulars, different from those subsisting…
The verse emphasizes the exact day this vision occurred—the tenth day of the first month—which was the very day the Israelites were instructed to select the Passover lamb, a powerful reminder of God's redemptive plan even amidst their exile. This precise timing signals that what follows isn't just a description of a building, but a profound revelation about God's restored covenant and enduring faithfulness.
After years of prophesying judgment following Jerusalem's destruction, Ezekiel receives a divine vision. In the twenty-fifth year of exile, on a significant date marking the start of the religious year and the preparation for Passover, the LORD's power overcomes Ezekiel, transporting him in spirit to the ruins of Jerusalem. This marks the beginning of a new prophetic phase, shifting from judgment to a detailed vision of a future, glorious temple and city.
After years of prophesying judgment following Jerusalem's destruction, Ezekiel receives a divine vision. In the twenty-fifth year of exile, on a significant date marking the start of the religious year and the preparation for Passover, the LORD's power overcomes Ezekiel, transporting him in spirit to the ruins of Jerusalem. This marks the beginning of a new prophetic phase, shifting from judgment to a detailed vision of a future, glorious temple and city.
"In the twenty-fifth year of our exile, at the beginning of the year, on the tenth day of the month, in the fourteenth year after the city was struck down, on that very day, the hand of the LORD was upon me, and he brought me to the city." — The verse emphasizes the exact day this vision occurred—the tenth day of the first month—which was the very day the Israelites were instructed to select the Passover lamb, a powerful reminder of Go…
Get the original Greek and Hebrew, verse-by-verse context, and related passages inside the app.
Last reviewed October 2026
