What Does Ezekiel 6:2 Mean in the King James?
Son of man, set thy face toward the mountains of Israel, and prophesy against them,
The analysis reads the King James wording.
King James Version The King James Version, first published in 1611. Selah Verse shows the standard text.
THE KEY
The prophet is told to aim his face and speech at the mountains themselves, making the place the object of judgment rather than mere scenery.
THE MEANING
Here, attention is set toward what stands elevated and entrenched, and speech is sent directly toward it. The next line does not soften the confrontation: it names a sword against the mountains and the destruction of their high places.
THE ROOT
הִנָּבֵא
hinnāvēʾ
GROWS FROM
נבא
n-b-ʾ
to prophesy, to speak as a prophet
“prophesy” in this verse is hinnāvēʾ. This root connects the act of prophesying with the prophet and the prophecy. Here, the striking feature is the address: the mountains themselves receive the word, and the next verse makes its force explicit.
ALSO GROWS
navi: One who prophesies
נָבִיא
The noun names the speaker whose role is expressed by the verb in this verse.
nevu’ah: A prophetic utterance or message
נְבוּאָה
This branch names the message that is directed toward the mountains.
פָּנֶיךָ
panecha
GROWS FROM
פנה
p-n-h
to turn, face, or direct oneself toward
The root connects face with turning: setting the face is an act of orientation, not just visual contact. The next clause sends the prophetic address in that same direction, so the mountains are addressed directly.
ALSO GROWS
panah: To turn or direct oneself toward something
פָּנָה
Its action sense shows how a face can express deliberate direction.
panim: The face or presence of a person
פָּנִים
The face carries the person’s orientation into the scene; here that orientation is set toward the mountains.
THE PATTERN
The prophetic word can address the land itself as witness or target when human rebellion is brought into view.
Also, thou son of man, prophesy unto the mountains of Israel, and say, Ye mountains of Israel, hear the word of the LORD:Hear ye, O mountains, the LORD’s controversy, and ye strong foundations of the earth: for the LORD hath a controversy with his people, and he will plead with Israel.O earth, earth, earth, hear the word of the LORD.THE THREAD
Again he said unto me, Prophesy upon these bones, and say unto them, O ye dry bones, hear the word of the LORD.The same root נבא (n-b-ʾ), “to prophesy,” appears in the command to speak to the dry bones. Here the mountains receive the word; there, bones do, both scenes direct prophetic speech toward what appears fixed and unable to answer.
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