Ezekiel 39:17
And, thou son of man, thus saith the Lord GOD; Speak unto every feathered fowl, and to every beast of the field, Assemble yourselves, and come; gather yourselves on every side to my sacrifice that I do sacrifice for you, even a great sacrifice upon the mountains of Israel, that ye may eat flesh, and drink blood.
Ezekiel 39:17 · King James Version
Meaning
This verse from the book of Ezekiel signifies a divine command from the Lord GOD to the son of man, instructing him to address all creatures - from birds to beasts - to gather for a great sacrifice on the mountains of Israel. The call to assemble for the sacrifice symbolizes a significant event foretold in prophecy, demonstrating the power and authority of God over all creation. The act of sacrifice in this context represents a symbolic offering to God, where the creatures are invited to partake in the flesh and blood provided for them. It serves as a metaphor for the ultimate sacrifice of Jesus Christ on the cross for the redemption of humanity, highlighting the themes of obedience, provision, and atonement. This verse serves as a reminder of the divine plan and the importance of fulfilling God's will in accordance with his commandments.
Theological Overview
The theological interpretation of this verse from the book of Ezekiel highlights the concept of God's judgment upon the nations. In this passage, God instructs the prophet Ezekiel to call on all the birds and beasts to gather for a great sacrifice that He will prepare on the mountains of Israel. The sacrifice symbolizes God's judgement and the consequences of disobedience. The imagery of birds and beasts coming to eat flesh and drink blood illustrates the severity of God's judgement upon those who have rebelled against Him. The mention of sacrificing animals also reflects the Old Testament sacrificial system, which was a foreshadowing of the ultimate sacrifice of Jesus Christ on the cross. This verse serves as a stark reminder of the consequences of sin and the importance of obedience to God's commands. It emphasizes the sovereignty and justice of God, as well as the need for repentance and turning back to Him.
Ezekiel 39:17 in other translations
American Standard Version
And thou, son of man, thus saith the Lord Jehovah: Speak unto the birds of every sort, and to every beast of the field, Assemble yourselves, and come; gather yourselves on every side to my sacrifice that I do sacrifice for you, even a great sacrifice upon the mountains of Israel, that ye may eat flesh and drink blood.
World English Bible
You, son of man, thus says the Lord Yahweh: Speak to the birds of every sort, and to every animal of the field, Assemble yourselves, and come; gather yourselves on every side to my sacrifice that I do sacrifice for you, even a great sacrifice on the mountains of Israel, that you may eat flesh and drink blood.
Douay-Rheims
And thou, O son of man, saith the Lord God, say to every fowl, and to all the birds, and to all the beasts of the field: Assemble yourselves, make haste, come together from every side to my victim, which I slay for you, a great victim upon the mountains of Israel: to eat flesh, and drink blood.
Geneva Bible (1599)
And thou sonne of man, thus sayeth the Lord God, Speake vnto euery feathered foule, and to all the beastes of the fielde, Assemble your selues, and come gather your selues on euery side to my sacrifice: for I do sacrifice a great sacrifice for you vpon the mountaines of Israel, that ye may eate flesh, and drinke blood.