Ezekiel 11 · Verse 3

Ezekiel 11:3

Which say, It is not near; let us build houses: this city is the caldron, and we be the flesh.
Ezekiel 11:3, King James Version

Ezekiel 11:3 in other translations

BSBThey are saying, ‘Is not the time near to build houses? The city is the cooking pot, and we are the meat.’
WEBwho say, ‘The time is not near to build houses. This is the cauldron, and we are the meat.’
ASVthat say, The time is not near to build houses: this city is the caldron, and we are the flesh.
YLTwho are saying, It is not near--to build houses, it is the pot, and we the flesh.
DARBYwho say, It is not the time to build houses: this is the cauldron, and we are the flesh.
BBEWho say, This is not the time for building houses: this town is the cooking-pot and we are the flesh.
WebsterWho say, It is not near; let us build houses: this city is the caldron, and we are the flesh.

What does Ezekiel 11:3 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
3. It is not near--namely, the destruction of the city; therefore "let us build houses," as if there was no fear. But the Hebrew opposes English Version, which would require the infinitive absolute. Rather, "Not at hand is the building of houses." They sneer at Jeremiah's letter to the captives, among whom Ezekiel lived (Jr 29:5). "Build ye houses, and dwell in them," that is, do not fancy, as many persuade you, that your sojourn in Babylon is to be short; it will be for seventy years (Jr 25:11, 12; 29:10); therefore build houses and settle quietly there. The scorners in Jerusalem reply, Those far off in exile may build if they please, but it is too remote a concern for us to trouble ourselves about [Fairbairn], (Compare Eze 12:22, 27; 2Pe 3:4). this city ... caldron ... we ... flesh--sneering at Jr 1:13, when he compared the city to a caldron with its mouth towards the north. "Let Jerusalem be so if you will, and we the flesh, exposed to the raging foe from the north, still its fortifications will secure us from the flame of war outside; the city must stand for our sakes, just as the pot exists for the safety of the flesh in it." In opposition to this God says (Eze 11:11), "This city shall not be your caldron, to defend you in it from the foe outside: nay, ye shall be driven out of your imaginary sanctuary and slain in the border of the land." "But," says God, in Eze 11:7, "your slain are the flesh, and this city the caldron; but (not as you fancy, shall ye be kept safe inside) I will bring you forth out of the midst of it"; and again, in Eze 24:3, "Though not a caldron in your sense, Jerusalem shall be so in the sense of its being exposed to a consuming foe, and you yourselves in it and with it."

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 3 It is not near - That is, the threatened invasion. This city is the caldron, and we be the flesh - See the vision of the seething pot, Jer 1:13. These infidels seem to say: "We will run all risks, we will abide in the city. Though it be the caldron, and we the flesh, yet we will share its fate: if it perish, we will perish with it." Or they may allude to the above prediction of Jeremiah, in order to ridicule it: "We were to have been boiled long ago: but the fulfillment of that prediction is not near yet."

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Ezekiel 11:1-13

Divine judgments against the wicked at Jerusalem. (Ezek 11:1-13) Divine favour towards those in captivity. (Ezek 11:14-21) The Divine presence forsakes the city. (Ezek 11:22-25) Verses 1-13 Where Satan cannot persuade men to look upon the judgment to come as uncertain, he gains his point by persuading them to look upon it as at a distance. These wretched rulers dare to say, We are as safe in this city as flesh in a…

Read the full comment on Ezekiel 11:1-13 →

Ezekiel 11:3 in the original Hebrew

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

הָאֹ֣מְרִ֔יםha.'O.me.Rimwho sayH559
לֹ֥אlo'notH3808
בְקָר֖וֹבve.ka.Rov[is] in [the] near [future]H7138
בְּנ֣וֹתbe.Notto buildH1129
בָּתִּ֑יםba.TimhousesH1004
הִ֣יאhi'itH1931
הַסִּ֔ירha.Sir[is] the potH5518
וַאֲנַ֖חְנוּva.'a.Nach.nuand weH587
הַבָּשָֽׂר\׃ha.ba.Sar[are] the meatH1320

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for Ezekiel 11:3

  • Ezekiel 12:22

    Son of man, what is that proverb that ye have in the land of Israel, saying, The days are prolonged, and every vision faileth?

  • Ezekiel 12:27

    Son of man, behold, they of the house of Israel say, The vision that he seeth is for many days to come, and he prophesieth of the times that are far off.

  • Ezekiel 24:3-14

    And utter a parable unto the rebellious house, and say unto them, Thus saith the Lord God; Set on a pot, set it on, and also pour water into it: Gather the pieces thereof into it, even every good piece, the thigh, and the shoulder; fill it with the choice bones. Take the choice of the flock, and burn also the bones under it, and make it boil well, and let them seethe the bones of it therein. Wherefore thus saith the Lord God; Woe to the bloody city, to the pot whose scum is therein, and whose scum is not gone out of it! bring it out piece by piece; let no lot fall upon it. …

  • Amos 6:5

    That chant to the sound of the viol, and invent to themselves instruments of musick, like David;

  • 2 Peter 3:4

    And saying, Where is the promise of his coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation.

  • Isaiah 5:19

    That say, Let him make speed, and hasten his work, that we may see it: and let the counsel of the Holy One of Israel draw nigh and come, that we may know it!

  • Ezekiel 11:7-11

    Therefore thus saith the Lord God; Your slain whom ye have laid in the midst of it, they are the flesh, and this city is the caldron: but I will bring you forth out of the midst of it. Ye have feared the sword; and I will bring a sword upon you, saith the Lord God. And I will bring you out of the midst thereof, and deliver you into the hands of strangers, and will execute judgments among you. Ye shall fall by the sword; I will judge you in the border of Israel; and ye shall know that I am the Lord. …

  • Ezekiel 7:7

    The morning is come unto thee, O thou that dwellest in the land: the time is come, the day of trouble is near, and not the sounding again of the mountains.

  • Jeremiah 1:11-13

    Moreover the word of the Lord came unto me, saying, Jeremiah, what seest thou? And I said, I see a rod of an almond tree. Then said the Lord unto me, Thou hast well seen: for I will hasten my word to perform it. And the word of the Lord came unto me the second time, saying, What seest thou? And I said, I see a seething pot; and the face thereof is toward the north.

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
It is not, etc. or, It is not for us to build houses near.
7:7; 12:22,27; Isa 5:19; Jer 1:11,12; Am 6:5; 2Pe 3:4
this city.
7-11; 24:3-14; Jer 1:13

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • Ezekiel 11:2

    Then said he unto me, Son of man, these are the men that devise mischief, and give wicked counsel in this city:

  • Ezekiel 11:3

    Which say, It is not near; let us build houses: this city is the caldron, and we be the flesh.

  • Ezekiel 11:4

    Therefore prophesy against them, prophesy, O son of man.

Read all of Ezekiel 11

Ezekiel 11:3 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Los cuales dicen: No será tan presto: edifiquemos casas: ésta será la caldera, y nosotros la carne.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		qui disent: Ce n’est pas le moment de bâtir des maisons; elle est la marmite, et nous sommes la chair.
German
Elberfelder 1871		die da sprechen: Es ist nicht an der Zeit Häuser zu bauen sie ist der Topf, und wir sind das Fleisch
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		dicentes: Nonne dudum ædificatæ sunt domus? hæc est lebes, nos autem carnes.