Outline of Ezekiel: The glory departs and returns

The LORD reveals His sovereign glory in exile and prepares Ezekiel to hear His word.

God addresses a priest in exile 1:1–3 · Living creatures emerge from the fiery cloud 1:4–14 · The wheels move with the creatures 1:15–21 · The vision rises to the LORD’s glory 1:22–28

The Spirit raises Ezekiel to receive God’s word and speak it faithfully despite Israel’s rebellion.

The Spirit enables the prophet to stand 2:1–2 · A messenger is sent to rebellious Israel 2:3–5 · Fear must not silence the message 2:6–7 · Receive the message before speaking it 2:8–10

God equips Ezekiel to speak His word and holds him responsible to warn the people faithfully.

Eat, receive and speak the word 3:1–11 · The prophet sits overwhelmed among the exiles 3:12–15 · The watchman must sound the warning 3:16–21 · God governs the prophet’s speech 3:22–27

Ezekiel’s enacted signs announce Jerusalem’s siege, guilt, hunger and defilement in exile.

A brick depicts Jerusalem under siege 4:1–3 · Assigned days portray the people’s iniquity 4:4–8 · Rations and fuel picture deprivation 4:9–15 · The LORD explains the coming hunger 4:16–17

Jerusalem’s privileges cannot shield her from the judgment her rebellion and defiled worship deserve.

Divided hair portrays devastation 5:1–4 · The privileged city has rebelled 5:5–10 · The defiled sanctuary brings no protection 5:11–12 · God will carry out His announced judgment 5:13–17

The LORD destroys idolatrous worship but preserves survivors who remember Him and grieve over their sin.

The worship sites and their idols are destroyed 6:1–7 · Survivors remember and grieve 6:8–10 · Lament the judgment across the land 6:11–14

The LORD’s approaching judgment strips away the false security of wealth, power and religious privilege.

The end comes upon the whole land 7:1–9 · Ordinary securities collapse 7:10–18 · Wealth and sacred treasures cannot save 7:19–22 · Violence leads to conquest and failed counsel 7:23–27

The LORD sees the idolatry and violence that His people hide and exposes their guilt within His own sanctuary.

The vision exposes an idol at the entrance 8:1–6 · Hidden worship is visible to the LORD 8:7–13 · False worship reaches the temple’s courts 8:14–16 · Idolatry and violence provoke judgment 8:17–18

The LORD judges Jerusalem’s great guilt while marking those who grieve over its abominations for protection.

A mark distinguishes those who grieve over sin 9:1–4 · The judgment begins at the sanctuary 9:5–7 · The LORD answers Ezekiel’s plea 9:8–11

The LORD orders judgment upon the city and moves His glory away from the temple threshold.

Coals are taken for judgment on Jerusalem 10:1–8 · The cherubim and wheels move together 10:9–17 · The glory reaches the east gate 10:18–19 · The creatures are identified as cherubim 10:20–22

The LORD judges false security, promises His scattered people inward renewal, and withdraws His glory from the city.

The city cannot protect its wicked leaders 11:1–13 · The scattered receive a promise of renewal 11:14–21 · The glory departs and the vision is reported 11:22–25

God’s signs announce exile and distress, and His word will come true despite dismissive proverbs.

Ezekiel acts out departure into exile 12:1–7 · The prince and people will be taken away 12:8–16 · Food is eaten in fear 12:17–20 · The LORD answers dismissive proverbs 12:21–28

The LORD exposes invented prophecies and rescues His people from deceptive promises and practices.

Invented visions cannot speak for God 13:1–7 · False peace is a wall that will collapse 13:8–16 · The LORD frees people from deceptive snares 13:17–23

The LORD demands repentance from hidden idolatry and shows why Jerusalem’s judgment is just.

Repent of the idols held in the heart 14:1–11 · Righteous neighbors cannot shelter a rebellious land 14:12–20 · The survivors’ conduct will vindicate the judgment 14:21–23

Jerusalem’s unfaithfulness makes her liable to judgment despite her privileged place among the nations.

Burned vine wood has no useful strength 15:1–5 · Jerusalem’s unfaithfulness brings desolation 15:6–8

Jerusalem has betrayed the LORD’s generous care, yet He promises atonement and an everlasting covenant.

The LORD gives life, beauty and covenant care 16:1–14 · Jerusalem turns His gifts into instruments of betrayal 16:15–34 · The LORD announces exposure and judgment 16:35–43 · Comparison with her sisters removes pride 16:44–52 · God promises restoration, covenant and atonement 16:53–63

Judah’s ruler cannot escape his broken oath, but the LORD will establish the kingdom human rulers cannot secure.

The vine turns from the eagle that planted it 17:1–10 · The LORD explains the broken political oath 17:11–18 · Treason against the oath brings divine judgment 17:19–21 · The LORD plants a shoot that becomes a cedar 17:22–24

The LORD judges justly, rejects excuses based on ancestry and calls each hearer to repent and live.

God rejects the excuse of inherited circumstances 18:1–4 · Three generations illustrate personal responsibility 18:5–20 · Present repentance or rebellion matters 18:21–24 · The LORD is just and calls Israel to turn 18:25–32

Judah’s royal strength collapses in captivity, and the loss must be mourned rather than denied.

The first royal lion is carried to Egypt 19:1–4 · A second royal lion is taken to Babylon 19:5–9 · The royal vine loses its scepter-bearing branches 19:10–14

Israel repeats its ancestors’ rebellion, yet the LORD will purify His people and make His holiness known.

The LORD recalls rebellion in Egypt 20:1–9 · Two wilderness generations reject His commands 20:10–26 · The present generation continues the same sins 20:27–31 · The LORD rules, gathers and purges 20:32–38 · Mercy produces accepted worship and repentance 20:39–44 · A forest fire announces coming devastation 20:45–49

The LORD brings judgment upon Jerusalem and its ruler; neither royal privilege nor neighboring power can resist Him.

The sword is drawn against Jerusalem 21:1–7 · The sharpened sword threatens the royal scepter 21:8–17 · Babylon’s road leads to the guilty city 21:18–24 · The profane ruler loses his crown 21:25–27 · False assurances cannot stop the final reckoning 21:28–32

The LORD exposes Jerusalem’s pervasive injustice and brings judgment upon a society that has forgotten Him.

Confront the city with its guilt 22:1–16 · The city becomes a furnace 22:17–22 · Every part of society shares in corruption 22:23–31

Samaria and Jerusalem abandon the LORD for idols and foreign powers, and their chosen lovers become their judges.

Samaria’s chosen alliance ends in conquest 23:1–10 · Jerusalem exceeds the same unfaithfulness 23:11–21 · The lovers become instruments of judgment 23:22–35 · The sisters’ guilt is declared and judged 23:36–49

The siege confirms God’s warning, and Ezekiel’s bereavement becomes a sign of the sanctuary’s coming loss.

Record the day the siege begins 24:1–2 · The boiling pot exposes a bloodstained city 24:3–14 · Ezekiel obeys amid bereavement 24:15–18 · The sign announces the sanctuary’s loss 24:19–24 · The fugitive’s news will end the speech restriction 24:25–27

The LORD answers the neighbors’ contempt and vengeance by bringing judgment upon them.

Ammon’s delight in Judah’s ruin is answered 25:1–7 · Moab’s contempt cannot protect it 25:8–11 · Edom’s vengeance meets divine retribution 25:12–14 · Philistia’s persistent hostility is judged 25:15–17

Tyre welcomes Jerusalem’s fall as an opportunity for gain, but the LORD announces its own devastation.

Tyre’s gloating brings the LORD against it 26:1–6 · The siege dismantles the city’s strength 26:7–14 · The coastlands tremble and lament 26:15–18 · The proud city descends to the Pit 26:19–21

Tyre’s wealth and international reach cannot prevent the ruin that brings its trading partners to grief.

Tyre boasts in its magnificent ship 27:1–11 · Trading partners fill the ship with wealth 27:12–25 · The overloaded world of commerce collapses 27:26–36

The LORD humbles Tyre’s self-exalting ruler, judges Sidon and promises security to His scattered people.

The ruler’s divine claims meet mortal judgment 28:1–10 · Splendor gives way to expulsion 28:11–19 · Sidon faces the LORD’s judgment 28:20–23 · The scattered people are gathered securely 28:24–26

The LORD humbles Egypt’s proud ruler and removes the false security Israel has sought in Egypt.

The river monster and the broken reed 29:1–9 · Egypt is scattered and restored in lowliness 29:10–16 · Babylon receives Egypt as wages 29:17–20 · Strength and a vindicated message are promised 29:21

The LORD brings Egypt and its allies under judgment and places the sword in Babylon’s hand.

Egypt’s day of doom approaches 30:1–9 · Babylon is named as the instrument 30:10–12 · Cities and idols come under judgment 30:13–19 · Pharaoh’s arms break while Babylon’s strengthen 30:20–26

Assyria’s fall warns Pharaoh that greatness received from God cannot protect a proud empire from judgment.

Assyria is pictured as a magnificent cedar 31:1–9 · Pride brings the cedar down 31:10–14 · Pharaoh will join the fallen powers 31:15–18

The LORD brings Pharaoh’s power to an end and places Egypt among the nations that once spread terror.

Pharaoh’s power is caught and cast down 32:1–6 · Egypt’s downfall darkens the scene and shakes the nations 32:7–16 · Egypt is consigned to the realm of the dead 32:17–21 · The fallen powers surround it 32:22–30 · Pharaoh shares their fate 32:31–32

The fall confirms Ezekiel’s warning; God calls His people to repent and obey rather than merely enjoy listening.

The watchman must sound the warning 33:1–9 · Turn from evil and live 33:10–20 · News confirms the city’s fall 33:21–22 · Ancestry cannot excuse continuing evil 33:23–29 · Listening without obedience is exposed 33:30–33

The LORD judges self-serving shepherds, rescues His scattered sheep and places them under His promised shepherd.

The shepherds have fed themselves 34:1–10 · The LORD seeks and tends His sheep 34:11–16 · The LORD judges between sheep 34:17–22 · One shepherd brings covenant peace 34:23–31

Edom’s hatred, violence and claim upon God’s people and land bring a corresponding judgment upon Mount Seir.

Mount Seir’s hostility brings desolation 35:1–9 · The claim to seize the land challenges the LORD 35:10–13 · Rejoicing over ruin meets a matching judgment 35:14–15

The LORD restores His people, cleanses them and gives His Spirit so that His holy name is known among the nations.

The mountains will support a restored people 36:1–15 · Sin and exile have dishonored God’s name 36:16–21 · God gives cleansing, a new heart and His Spirit 36:22–28 · Restoration produces humble remembrance 36:29–36 · The LORD answers prayer for a multiplied people 36:37–38

God raises a hopeless people to life by His Spirit and unites them under His servant David in lasting peace.

Dry bones receive life at God’s command 37:1–10 · The vision answers Israel’s despair 37:11–14 · Two sticks become the sign of one people 37:15–23 · One shepherd and an everlasting covenant 37:24–28

Gog’s vast alliance cannot overturn God’s purpose; the LORD defeats the aggressor and displays His holiness.

The LORD summons Gog and his allies 38:1–9 · Gog devises an evil plan 38:10–13 · The attack will display God’s holiness 38:14–16 · The LORD overwhelms the invaders 38:17–23

The LORD destroys Gog’s power, vindicates His holy name and assures His people of restored fellowship by His Spirit.

Gog’s power is broken 39:1–8 · Weapons burn and the dead are buried 39:9–16 · The fallen army becomes a feast 39:17–20 · The nations learn the meaning of the exile 39:21–24 · Mercy restores fellowship and gives the Spirit 39:25–29

The LORD shows Ezekiel an ordered sanctuary and commands him to report the vision to the house of Israel.

Ezekiel is brought to see and report 40:1–4 · The wall and eastern gate are measured 40:5–16 · The outer court and its other gates are surveyed 40:17–27 · The inner court’s gates repeat the pattern 40:28–37 · Provision is made for sacrifices and priests 40:38–46 · The tour reaches the altar and temple portico 40:47–49

The measured rooms, boundaries and decoration present a sanctuary ordered for the LORD’s holy presence.

The sanctuary and Most Holy Place are measured 41:1–4 · Rooms and buildings surround the temple 41:5–15 · Cherubim and palms decorate the interior 41:16–20 · The table and doors complete the description 41:21–26

The chambers and enclosing wall distinguish the sanctuary’s holy service from the common space around it.

The chambers are measured 42:1–12 · Holy offerings and garments receive proper care 42:13–14 · The enclosing boundary is measured 42:15–20

The LORD fills the temple with His glory and appoints holiness and atonement for His people’s accepted worship.

The glory returns through the eastern gate 43:1–5 · The LORD promises an undefiled dwelling 43:6–9 · The vision calls for repentance and obedience 43:10–12 · The altar is measured 43:13–17 · The altar is consecrated for accepted offerings 43:18–27

The LORD excludes defilement, distinguishes faithful priestly service and provides for those who minister before Him.

The eastern outer gate remains shut 44:1–3 · Defilement must be excluded 44:4–9 · Unfaithful Levites bear consequences 44:10–14 · Faithful priests minister and teach 44:15–27 · The LORD provides their inheritance 44:28–31

The LORD provides for holy worship and requires rulers to protect His people from oppression and dishonest dealing.

The land provides for worship and community 45:1–8 · Rulers must practice justice 45:9–12 · The people and prince provide the offerings 45:13–17 · Purification and feasts are appointed 45:18–25

The LORD orders the worship of prince and people while forbidding the ruler to dispossess those entrusted to him.

Prince and people worship at appointed times 46:1–12 · A morning offering is appointed 46:13–15 · The people’s inheritance is protected 46:16–18 · The kitchens preserve distinctions of holy service 46:19–24

The LORD gives life through His sanctuary’s waters and a shared inheritance that includes resident foreigners.

The sanctuary’s stream becomes a deep river 47:1–6 · The river brings life and healing 47:7–12 · The LORD defines the inheritance 47:13–20 · Resident foreigners share in the inheritance 47:21–23

The restored people receive their appointed inheritance, and the city’s final name declares the LORD’s abiding presence.

Seven tribes receive the northern portions 48:1–7 · The central district provides for worship and life 48:8–22 · Five tribes receive the southern portions 48:23–29 · The city bears the promise of God’s presence 48:30–35