The Boiling Caldron

Ezekiel 24

The Lord gives Ezekiel a parable of a boiling, rusted caldron representing bloodstained Jerusalem under siege by the king of Babylon, and declares that the city's guilt will be purged only by his complete judgment. On the day his wife dies, Ezekiel is forbidden to mourn openly, and his silent grief becomes a sign to the people of how they too will react when the temple and their children are taken from them.

About these editions

The Septuagint (LXX) in Greek, with Charles Thomson’s 1808 and Sir Lancelot Brenton’s 1851 English translations, set beside the King James Version and the Jewish Masoretic text (JPS 1917) where they align, so you can compare the Greek and the Hebrew. All public domain; choose which to show with the controls above.

Thomson 1808Septuagint

Brenton 1851Septuagint

Greek · BrentonSeptuagint

KJV 1769Masoretic

JPS 1917Masoretic

ThomsonAGAIN in the ninth year, in the tenth month, on the tenth day of the month, a word of the Lord came to me, saying,

BrentonAnd the word of the Lord came to me, in the ninth year, in the tenth month, on the tenth day of the month, saying,

GreekΚαὶ ἐγένετο λόγος Κυρίου πρὸς μὲ, ἐν τῷ ἔτει τῷ ἐννάτῳ, ἐν τῷ μηνὶ τῷ δεκάτῳ, δεκάτῃ τοῦ μηνὸς, λέγων,

KJVAgain in the ninth year, in the tenth month, in the tenth day of the month, the word of the LORD came unto me, saying,

JPSAnd the word of the LORD came unto me in the ninth year, in the tenth month, in the tenth day of the month, saying:

ThomsonSon of man write down for thyself for a day, from this day on which the king of Babylon hath determinately set himself against Jerusalem; even from this very day;

BrentonSon of man, write for thyself daily from this day, on which the king of Babylon set himself against Jerusalem, even from this day.

Greekυἱὲ ἀνθρώπου γράψον σεαυτῷ εἰς ἡμέραν ἀπὸ τῆς ἡμέρας ταύτης, ἀφʼ ἧς ἀπηρείσατο βασιλεὺς Βαβυλῶνος ἐπὶ Ἰερουσαλήμ, ἀπὸ τῆς ἡμέρας τῆς σήμερον·

KJVSon of man, write thee the name of the day, even of this same day: the king of Babylon set himself against Jerusalem this same day.

JPS’Son of man, write thee the name of the day, even of this selfsame day; this selfsame day the king of Babylon hath invested Jerusalem.

Thomsonand speak a parable against that provoking family, and thou shalt say to them,

BrentonAnd speak a parable to the provoking house, and thou shalt say to them, Thus saith the Lord; Set on the caldron, and pour water into it:

GreekΚαὶ εἰπὸν ἐπὶ τὸν οἶκον τὸν παραπικραίνοντα παραβολήν, καὶ ἐρεῖς πρὸς αὐτούς Τάδε λέγει Κύριος, ἐπίστησον τὸν λέβητα, καὶ ἔγχεον εἰς αὐτὸν ὕδωρ,

KJVAnd 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:

JPSAnd utter a parable concerning the rebellious house, and say unto them: Thus saith the Lord GOD: Set on the pot, set it on, And also pour water into it;

ThomsonThus saith the Lord: Set on the cauldron and pour water into it; and throw into it the pieces of meat, every choice piece, the flesh of the thigh and the shoulder separated from the bones,

Brentonand put the pieces into it, every prime piece, the leg and shoulder taken off from the bones,

Greekκαὶ ἔμβαλε εἰς αὐτὸν τὰ διχοτομήματα, πᾶν διχοτόμημα καλὸν, σκέλος καὶ ὦμον ἐκσεσαρκισμένα ἀπὸ τῶν ὀστῶν,

KJVGather the pieces thereof into it, even every good piece, the thigh, and the shoulder; fill it with the choice bones.

JPSGather into it the pieces belonging to it, Even every good piece, the thigh, and the shoulder; Fill it with the choice bones.

Thomsonand these of the choicest cattle; and burn the bones under them. It hath boiled and the bones have been sodden in it.

Brentonwhich are taken from choice cattle, and burn the bones under them: her bones are boiled and cooked in the midst of her.

Greekἐξ ἐπιλέκτων κτηνῶν εἰλημμένων· καὶ ὑπόκαιε τὰ ὀστᾶ ὑποκάτω αὐτῶν, ἔζεσε καὶ ἥψηται τὰ ὀστᾶ αὐτῆς ἐν μέσῳ αὐτῆς.

KJVTake 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.

JPSTake the choice of the flock, And pile also the bones under it; Make it boil well, That the bones thereof may also be seethed in the midst of it.

ThomsonTherefore thus saith the Lord: Ah! bloody city! a kettle, in which there is verdigris in its very substance, and that verdigris is not gone out of it. She hath brought it out on every member of her: no lot fell upon her.

BrentonTherefore thus saith the Lord; O bloody city, the caldron in which there is scum, and the scum has not gone out of, she has brought it forth piece by piece, no lot has fallen upon it.

GreekΔιατοῦτο τάδε λέγει Κύριος, ὦ πόλις αἱμάτων, λέβης, ἐν ᾧ ἐστιν ἰὸς ἐν αὐτῷ, καὶ ὁ ἰὸς οὐκ ἐξῆλθεν ἐξ αὐτῆς, κατὰ μέλος αὐτῆς ἐξήνεγκεν, οὐκ ἐπεσεν ἐπʼ αὐτὴν κλῆρος.

KJVWherefore 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.

JPSWherefore thus saith the Lord GOD: Woe to the bloody city, to the pot whose filth is therein, and whose filth is not gone out of it! bring it out piece by piece; no lot is fallen upon it.

ThomsonBecause her blood is in the midst of her; I have ordered it to be poured out on a smooth stone: I have not poured it on the ground for the earth to cover it.

BrentonFor her blood is in the midst of her; I have set it upon a smooth rock: I have not poured it out upon the earth, so that the earth should cover it;

GreekὍτι αἷμα αὐτῆς ἐν μέσῳ αὐτῆς ἐστιν, ἐπὶ λεωπετρίαν τέταχα αὐτό· οὐκ ἐκκέχυκα αὐτὸ ἐπὶ τὴν γῆν, τοῦ καλύψαι ἐπʼ αὐτὸ γῆν,

KJVFor her blood is in the midst of her; she set it upon the top of a rock; she poured it not upon the ground, to cover it with dust;

JPSFor her blood is in the midst of her; she set it upon the bare rock; she poured it not upon the ground, to cover it with dust;

ThomsonThat wrath may be kindled and vengeance executed, I have ordered the blood to be poured out on a smooth stone, that it may not be concealed.

Brentonthat my wrath should come up for complete vengeance to be taken: I set her blood upon a smooth rock, so as not to cover it.

Greekτοῦ ἀναβῆναι θυμὸν εἰς ἐκδίκησιν ἐκδικηθῆναι· δέδωκα τὸ αἷμα αὐτῆς ἐπὶ λεωπετρίαν, τοῦ μὴ καλύψαι αὐτό.

KJVThat it might cause fury to come up to take vengeance; I have set her blood upon the top of a rock, that it should not be covered.

JPSthat it might cause fury to come up, that vengeance might be taken, I have set her blood upon the bare rock, that it should not be covered.

ThomsonTherefore thus saith the Lord, I will enlarge the pile, and

BrentonTherefore thus saith the Lord, I will also make the firebrand great,

GreekΔιατοῦτο τάδε λέγει Κύριος, κᾀγὼ μεγαλυνῶ τὸν δαλόν·

KJVTherefore thus saith the Lord GOD; Woe to the bloody city! I will even make the pile for fire great.

JPSTherefore thus saith the Lord GOD: Woe to the bloody city! I also will make the pile great,

Thomsonheap on wood and cause the fire to burn, that the flesh may be consumed and the broth evaporated:

Brentonand I will multiply the wood, and kindle the fire, that the flesh may be consumed, and the liquor boiled away;

GreekΚαὶ πληθυνῶ τὰ ξύλα, καὶ ἀνακαύσω τὸ πῦρ, ὅπως τακῇ τὰ κρέα, καὶ ἐλαττωθῇ ὁ ζωμὸς,

KJVHeap on wood, kindle the fire, consume the flesh, and spice it well, and let the bones be burned.

JPSheaping on the wood, kindling the fire, that the flesh may be consumed; and preparing the mixture, that the bones also may be burned;

Thomsonand it shall stand on the coals that the brass may be heated red hot and melted in the midst of its impurity and its verdigris quite destroyed;

Brentonand that it may stand upon the coals, that her brass may be thoroughly heated, and be melted in the midst of her filthiness, and her scum may be consumed,

Greekκαὶ στῇ ἐπὶ τοὺς ἄνθρακας, ὅπως προσκαυθῇ καὶ θερμανθῇ ὁ χαλκὸς αὐτῆς, καὶ τακῇ ἐν μέσῳ ἀκαθαρσίας αὐτῆς, καὶ ἐκλίπῃ ὁ ἰὸς αὐτῆς,

KJVThen set it empty upon the coals thereof, that the brass of it may be hot, and may burn, and that the filthiness of it may be molten in it, that the scum of it may be consumed.

JPSthen will I set it empty upon the coals thereof, that it may be hot, and the bottom thereof may burn, and that the impurity of it may be molten in it, that the filth of it may be consumed

Thomsonso that this its abundant verdigris may not proceed from it.

Brentonand her abundant scum may not come forth of her.

Greekκαὶ οὐ μὴ ἐξέλθῃ ἐξ αὐτῆς πολὺς ὁ ἰὸς αὐτῆς. Καταισχυνθήσεται ὁ ἰὸς αὐτῆς,

KJVShe hath wearied herself with lies, and her great scum went not forth out of her: her scum shall be in the fire.

JPS—

Thomson—

BrentonHer scum shall become shameful, because thou didst defile thyself: and what if thou shalt be purged no more until I have accomplished my wrath?

Greekἀνθʼ ὧν ἐμιαίνου σύ· καὶ τί ἐὰν μὴ καθαρισθῇς ἔτι ἕως οὗ ἐμπλήσω τὸν θυμόν μου;

KJVIn thy filthiness is lewdness: because I have purged thee, and thou wast not purged, thou shalt not be purged from thy filthiness any more, till I have caused my fury to rest upon thee.

JPSBecause of thy filthy lewdness, because I have purged thee and thou wast not purged, thou shalt not be purged from thy filthiness any more, till I have satisfied My fury upon thee.

ThomsonI the Lord have spoken. He shall come: and I will act. I will not defer; nor will I shew compassion. According to thy ways and according to thy lusts I will judge thee, saith the Lord, therefore I will judge thee according to thy blood guiltiness; and I will judge thee according to thine inordinate lusts, O corrupt, infamous and very provoking city.

BrentonI the Lord have spoken; and it shall come, and I will do it; I will not delay, neither will I have any mercy: I will judge thee, saith the Lord, according to thy ways, and according to thy devices: therefore will I judge thee according to thy bloodshed, and according to thy devices will I judge thee, thou unclean, notorious, and abundantly provoking one.

GreekἘγὼ Κύριος λελάληκα, καὶ ἥξει, καὶ ποιήσω, οὐ διαστελῶ, οὐδὲ μὴ ἐλεήσω· κατὰ τὰς ὁδούς σου, καὶ κατὰ τὰ ἐνθυμήματά σου κρινῶ σε, λέγει Κύριος· διατοῦτο ἐγὼ κρινῶ σε κατὰ τὰ αἵματά σου, καὶ κατὰ τὰ ἐνθυμήματά σου κρινῶ σε, ἡ ἀκάθαρτος, ἡ ὀνομαστὴ, καὶ πολλὴ τοῦ παραπικραίνειν.

KJVI the LORD have spoken it: it shall come to pass, and I will do it; I will not go back, neither will I spare, neither will I repent; according to thy ways, and according to thy doings, shall they judge thee, saith the Lord GOD.

JPSI the LORD have spoken it; it shall come to pass, and I will do it; I will not go back, neither will I spare, neither will I repent; according to thy ways, and according to thy doings, shall they judge thee, saith the Lord GOD.’ .

ThomsonThen a word of the Lord came to me, saying,

BrentonAnd the word of the Lord came to me, saying,

GreekΚαὶ ἐγένετο λόγος Κυρίου πρὸς μὲ, λέγων,

KJVAlso the word of the LORD came unto me, saying,

JPSAlso the word of the LORD came unto me, saying:

ThomsonSon of man, Behold I take from thee the desires of thine eyes with a stroke. Thou must not mourn, nor utter lamentation.

BrentonSon of man, behold I take from thee the desire of thine eyes by violence: thou shalt not lament, neither shalt thou weep.

Greekυἱὲ ἀνθρώπου, ἰδοὺ ἐγὼ λαμβάνω ἐκ σοῦ τὰ ἐπιθυμήματα τῶν ὀφθαλμῶν σου ἐν παρατάξει, οὐ μὴ κοπῇς, οὐδʼ οὐ μὴ κλαυσθῇς,

KJVSon of man, behold, I take away from thee the desire of thine eyes with a stroke: yet neither shalt thou mourn nor weep, neither shall thy tears run down.

JPS’Son of man, behold, I take away from thee the desire of thine eyes with a stroke; yet neither shalt thou make lamentation nor weep, neither shall thy tears run down.

ThomsonLet sighing for blood and grief of loins be suppressed. Thy hair shall be platted on thy head and thy sandals shall be on thy feet. Thou must not receive comfort from their lips, nor eat funeral bread.

BrentonThou shalt groan for blood, and have mourning upon thy loins; thy hair shall not be braided upon thee, and thy sandals shall be on thy feet; thou shalt in no wise be comforted by their lips, and thou shalt not eat the bread of men.

Greekστεναγμὸς αἵματος, ὀσφύος πένθος ἔσῃ· οὐκ ἔσται τὸ τρίχωμά σου συμπεπλεγμένον ἐπὶ σὲ, καὶ τὰ ὑοιδήματά σου ἐν τοῖς ποσί σου· οὐ μὴ παρακληθῇς ἐν χείλεσιν αὐτῶν, καὶ ἄρτον ἀνδρῶν οὐ μὴ φάγῃς.

KJVForbear to cry, make no mourning for the dead, bind the tire of thine head upon thee, and put on thy shoes upon thy feet, and cover not thy lips, and eat not the bread of men.

JPSSigh in silence; make no mourning for the dead, bind thy headtire upon thee, and put thy shoes upon thy feet, and cover not thine upper lip, and eat not the bread of men.’

ThomsonSo I spoke to the people in the morning as He had ordered me in the evening. And when I did in the morning as I was commanded,

BrentonAnd I spoke to the people in the morning, as he commanded me in the evening, and I did in the morning as it was commanded me.

GreekΚαὶ ἐλάλησα πρὸς τὸν λαὸν τοπρωῒ, ὃν τρόπον ἐνετείλατὸ μοι ἑσπέρας, καὶ ἐποίησα τοπρωῒ, ὃν τρόπον ἐπετάγη μοι.

KJVSo I spake unto the people in the morning: and at even my wife died; and I did in the morning as I was commanded.

JPSSo I spoke unto the people in the morning, and at even my wife died; and I did in the morning as I was commanded.

Thomsonthe people said to me, Why dost thou not tell us what these things mean which thou art doing?

BrentonAnd the people said to me, Wilt thou not tell us what these things are that thou doest?

GreekΚαὶ εἶπε πρὸς μὲ ὁ λαὸς, οὐκ ἀναγγέλλεις ἡμῖν τί ἐστι ταῦτα ἃ σὺ ποιεῖς;

KJVAnd the people said unto me, Wilt thou not tell us what these things are to us, that thou doest so?

JPSAnd the people said unto me: ‘Wilt thou not tell us what these things are to us, that thou doest so?’

ThomsonThereupon I told them, A word of the Lord came to me saying,

BrentonThen I said to them, The word of the Lord came to me, saying,

GreekΚαὶ εἶπα πρὸς αὐτοὺς, λόγος Κυρίου ἐγένετο πρὸς μὲ, λέγων,

KJVThen I answered them, The word of the LORD came unto me, saying,

JPSThen I said unto them: ‘The word of the LORD came unto me, saying:

ThomsonSay to the house of Israel, Thus saith the Lord: Behold I will profane My for which your souls are moved with compassion; and your sons and your daughters whom you left shall fall by the sword:

BrentonSay to the house of Israel, Thus saith the Lord; Behold, I will profane my sanctuary, the boast of your strength, the desire of your eyes, and for which your souls are concerned; and your sons and your daughters, whom ye have left, shall fall by the sword.

Greekεἰπὸν πρὸς τὸν οἶκον τοῦ Ἰσραήλ, Τάδε λέγει Κύριος, ἰδοὺ ἐγὼ βεβηλῶ τὰ ἅγιά μου, φρύαγμα ἰσχύος ὑμῶν, ἐπιθυμήματα ὀφθαλμῶν ὑμῶν, καὶ ὑπὲρ ὧν φείδονται αἱ ψυχαὶ ὑμῶν· καὶ οἱ υἱοὶ ὑμῶν καὶ αἱ θυγατέρες ὑμῶν, οὓς ἐγκατελίπετε, ἐν ῥομφαίᾳ πεσοῦνται.

KJVSpeak unto the house of Israel, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I will profane my sanctuary, the excellency of your strength, the desire of your eyes, and that which your soul pitieth; and your sons and your daughters whom ye have left shall fall by the sword.

JPSSpeak unto the house of Israel: Thus saith the Lord GOD: Behold, I will profane My sanctuary, the pride of your power, the desire of your eyes, and the longing of your soul; and your sons and your daughters whom ye have left behind shall fall by the sword.

Thomsonand you shall do as I have done. You shall not receive comfort from their mouth nor eat funeral bread;

BrentonAnd ye shall do as I have done: ye shall not be comforted at their mouth, and ye shall not eat the bread of men.

GreekΚαὶ ποιήσετε ὃν τρόπον πεποίηκα· ἀπὸ στόματος αὐτῶν οὐ παρακληθήσεσθε, καὶ ἄρτον ἀνδρῶν οὐ φάγεσθε,

KJVAnd ye shall do as I have done: ye shall not cover your lips, nor eat the bread of men.

JPSAnd ye shall do as I have done: ye shall not cover your upper lips, nor eat the bread of men;

Thomsonyour locks of hair shall be on your head, and your sandals on your feet; you shall neither utter lamentations nor shed tears; but shall pine away for your iniquities and exhort one another.

BrentonAnd your hair shall be upon your head, and your shoes on your feet: neither shall ye at all lament or weep; but ye shall pine away in your iniquities, and shall comfort every one his brother.

Greekκαὶ αἱ κόμαι ὑμῶν ἐπὶ τῆς κεφαλῆς ὑμῶν, καὶ τὰ ὑποδήματα ὑμῶν ἐν τοῖς ποσὶν ὑμῶν· οὔτε μὲ κόψησθε, οὔτε μὴ κλαύσητε, καὶ ἐντακήσεσθε ἐν ταῖς ἀδικίαις ὑμῶν, καὶ παρακαλέσετε ἕκαστος τὸν ἀδελφὸν αὐτοῦ.

KJVAnd your tires shall be upon your heads, and your shoes upon your feet: ye shall not mourn nor weep; but ye shall pine away for your iniquities, and mourn one toward another.

JPSand your tires shall be upon your heads, and your shoes upon your feet; ye shall not make lamentation nor weep; but ye shall pine away in your iniquities, and moan one toward another.

ThomsonAnd Ezekiel shall be for a sign to you (according to all that he hath done, you shall do when these things happen), and you shall know that I am the Lord.

BrentonAnd Jezekiel shall be for a sign to you: according to all that I have done shall ye do, when these things shall come; and ye shall know that I am the Lord.

GreekΚαὶ ἔσται Ἰεζεκιὴλ ὑμῖν εἰς τέρας, κατὰ πάντα ὅσα ἐποίησα ποιήσετε, ὅταν ἔλθῃ ταῦτα, καὶ ἐπιγνώσεσθε διότι ἐγὼ Κύριος.

KJVThus Ezekiel is unto you a sign: according to all that he hath done shall ye do: and when this cometh, ye shall know that I am the Lord GOD.

JPSThus shall Ezekiel be unto you a sign; according to all that he hath done shall ye do; when this cometh, then shall ye know that I am the Lord GOD.

ThomsonAnd with regard to thee son of man, will not this be the case? On the day when I take from them their strength-that which was their exultation and boast and the desire of their eyes and the pride of their soul-their sons and their daughters;

BrentonAnd thou, son of man, shall it not be in the day when I take their strength from them, the pride of their boasting, the desires of their eyes, and the pride of their soul, their sons and their daughters,

GreekΚαὶ σύ, υἱὲ ἀνθρώπου, οὐχὶ ἐν τῇ ἡμέρᾳ ὅταν λαμβάνω τὴν ἰσχὺν παρʼ αὐτῶν, τὴν ἔπαρσιν τῆς καυχήσεως αὐτῶν, τὰ ἐπιθυμήματα ὀφθαλμῶν αὐτῶν, καὶ τὴν ἔπαρσιν ψυχῆς αὐτῶν, υἱοὺς αὐτῶν καὶ θυγατέρας αὐτῶν,

KJVAlso, thou son of man, shall it not be in the day when I take from them their strength, the joy of their glory, the desire of their eyes, and that whereupon they set their minds, their sons and their daughters,

JPSAnd thou, son of man, shall it not be in the day when I take from them their stronghold, the joy of their glory, the desire of their eyes, and the yearning of their soul, their sons and their daughters,

Thomsonon that day one who escapeth shall come to thee to tell thee the news;

Brentonthat in that day he that escapes shall come to thee, to tell it thee in thine ears?

Greekἐν τῇ ἡμέρᾳ ἐκείνῃ ἥξει ὁ ἀνασωζόμενος πρὸς σὲ, τοῦ ἀναγγεῖλαί σοι εἰς τὰ ὦτα;

KJVThat he that escapeth in that day shall come unto thee, to cause thee to hear it with thine ears?

JPSthat in that day he that escapeth shall come unto thee, to cause thee to hear it with thine ears?

Thomsonon that day thy mouth shall be opened to him who escapeth. Thou shalt speak and no more be dumb and thou shalt be a sign to them; and they shall know that I am the Lord

BrentonIn that day thy mouth shall be opened to him that escapes; thou shalt speak, and shalt be no longer dumb: and thou shalt be for a sign to them, and they shall know that I am the Lord.

GreekἘν τῇ ἡμέρᾳ ἐκείνῃ διανοιχθήσεται τὸ στόμα σου πρὸς τὸν ἀνασωζόμενον· λαλήσεις, καὶ οὐ μὴ ἀποκωφωθῇς οὐκέτι, καὶ ἔσῃ αὐτοῖς εἰς τέρας, καὶ ἐπιγνώσονται διότι ἐγὼ Κύριος.

KJVIn that day shall thy mouth be opened to him which is escaped, and thou shalt speak, and be no more dumb: and thou shalt be a sign unto them; and they shall know that I am the LORD.

JPSIn that day shall thy mouth be opened together with him that is escaped, and thou shalt speak, and be no more dumb; so shalt thou be a sign unto them; and they shall know that I am the LORD.’