Ezekiel the prophet; vision of the throne-chariot (merkavah); son of Buzi; captivity in Babylon; prophecies concerning Jerusalem, Israel, Gog and Magog; wheels within wheels; the glory of the Lord (Shekinah); restoration of the temple; dry bones vision (Ezekiel 37).
THEOLOGICAL ANALYSIS
1. QUESTION
Who was Ezekiel, according to the textual evidence provided?
2. PRIMARY TEXTUAL EVIDENCE
"The word of the LORD came expressly unto Ezekiel the priest, the son of Buzi, in the land of the Chaldeans by the river Chebar; and the hand of the LORD was there upon him."
— Ezekiel 1:3 (KJV)
3. LINGUISTIC/HISTORICAL DATA
From the text provided, the following can be stated:
- Name: Ezekiel
- Occupation/Role: Priest (Hebrew: כֹּהֵן, kohen)
- Patronymic: Son of Buzi
- Location during prophetic activity: "In the land of the Chaldeans by the river Chebar" — indicating he was among the Jewish exiles in Babylon
- Prophetic call: "The word of the LORD came expressly unto" him; "the hand of the LORD was there upon him" — indicating he received divine revelation
The reference to "the land of the Chaldeans" (Ezekiel 1:3) corresponds with the Babylonian exile context seen in other retrieved texts (cf. Jeremiah 39:7; 52:11 regarding Zedekiah's captivity to Babylon).
4. SCHOLARLY POSITIONS
The retrieved texts do not contain scholarly commentary or interpretive discussion regarding Ezekiel's identity. The textual evidence is limited to the self-identification in Ezekiel 1:3.
5. SOURCES
6. CONSENSUS INDICATOR
CLEAR but LIMITED: The textual evidence directly identifies Ezekiel as a priest, the son of Buzi, who received prophetic revelation while in Babylonian exile. No additional biographical details (dates, tribe, fuller ministry context) are available from the retrieved sources.
Ezekiel 1:3 (KJV) — score 0.570
The word of the LORD came expressly unto Ezekiel the priest, the son of Buzi, in the land of the Chaldeans by the river Chebar; and the hand of the LORD was there upon him.
Isaiah 1:1 (KJV) — score 0.559
The vision of Isaiah the son of Amoz, which he saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem in the days of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah, kings of Judah.
Acts 8:28 (KJV) — score 0.534
Was returning, and sitting in his chariot read Esaias the prophet.
Ezekiel 10:19 (KJV) — score 0.514
And the cherubims lifted up their wings, and mounted up from the earth in my sight: when they went out, the wheels also were beside them, and every one stood at the door of the east gate of the LORD'S house; and the glory of the God of Israel was over them above.
Ezekiel 11:22 (KJV) — score 0.513
¶ Then did the cherubims lift up their wings, and the wheels beside them; and the glory of the God of Israel was over them above.
Jeremiah 39:7 (KJV) — score 0.508
Moreover he put out Zedekiah's eyes, and bound him with chains, to carry him to Babylon.
Isaiah 13:1 (KJV) — score 0.504
The burden of Babylon, which Isaiah the son of Amoz did see.
Nahum 1:1 (KJV) — score 0.503
The burden of Nineveh. The book of the vision of Nahum the Elkoshite.
2 Kings 10:16 (KJV) — score 0.500
And he said, Come with me, and see my zeal for the LORD. So they made him ride in his chariot.
2 Chronicles 32:32 (KJV) — score 0.497
Now the rest of the acts of Hezekiah, and his goodness, behold, they are written in the vision of Isaiah the prophet, the son of Amoz, and in the book of the kings of Judah and Israel.
Ezekiel 10:6 (KJV) — score 0.494
And it came to pass, that when he had commanded the man clothed with linen, saying, Take fire from between the wheels, from between the cherubims; then he went in, and stood beside the wheels.
Habakkuk 1:1 (KJV) — score 0.489
The burden which Habakkuk the prophet did see.
Jeremiah 52:11 (KJV) — score 0.489
Then he put out the eyes of Zedekiah; and the king of Babylon bound him in chains, and carried him to Babylon, and put him in prison till the day of his death.
Ezekiel 26:7 (KJV) — score 0.488
¶ For thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I will bring upon Tyrus Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon, a king of kings, from the north, with horses, and with chariots, and with horsemen, and companies, and much people.
Jeremiah 32:4 (KJV) — score 0.487
And Zedekiah king of Judah shall not escape out of the hand of the Chaldeans, but shall surely be delivered into the hand of the king of Babylon, and shall speak with him mouth to mouth, and his eyes shall behold his eyes;