Book of Ezekiel - Chapter 21 - Verse 2

The verse "Son of man, set thy face toward Jerusalem, and drop thy word toward the holy places, and prophesy against the land of Israel," from the Book of Ezekiel in the Bible, carries a powerful message of judgment and warning to the people of Israel. In this verse, God instructs Ezekiel, referred to as "Son of man," to focus his attention on Jerusalem, the center of religious and political life in ancient Israel. By calling Ezekiel to "prophesy against the land of Israel," God is expressing His displeasure with the moral and spiritual condition of the nation. The act of dropping thy word toward the holy places signifies that Ezekiel is to deliver God's message of judgment directly to the people in positions of religious authority. Through this directive, God is holding the leaders accountable for their failure to uphold His laws and commandments, and He is warning them of the consequences of their actions. Overall, this verse serves as a reminder of the importance of faithfulness and obedience to God's will in order to avoid His righteous judgment.

With this verse, the prophet Ezekiel is being instructed to focus his attention towards Jerusalem and deliver a message to the holy places within the city. The phrase "Son of man" is a term used throughout the book of Ezekiel to address the prophet himself, emphasizing his humanity and role as a messenger of God. By setting his face towards Jerusalem, Ezekiel is being directed to deliver a prophecy against the land of Israel, specifically towards the people who have strayed from their faith and disobeyed God's commands. In a theological interpretation, this verse highlights the importance of being obedient to God's will and the consequences that can arise when His people turn away from Him. The word study of "prophesy" in this context emphasizes the role of prophets in delivering God's messages and warnings to His people, urging them to repent and turn back to Him. As Ezekiel delivers this prophecy, he is fulfilling his calling as a prophet and serving as a vessel for God's word.