Welcome!

QUESTION 15:
I have been reading in Ezekiel and do not understand why GOD refers to Ezekiel as the son of man, I thought that was a title reserved to the Lord Jesus Christ. Can you help?

ANSWER:
The phrase “son of man” is used 109 times in the Old Testament. Twelve times is just refers to mankind. See Numbers 23:19. It is used in Ezekiel 94 times and is has a very typical meaning there. It is also used of him as a man, not God.

First let us understand that it is not used of Ezekiel as a title. It is used in the New Testament of Jesus as a title. Next it is to be understood that the usage of this does not imply Deity. Jesus’ title as such does not mean He is God, but on the contrary it means He was man. His title Son of God does not mean He was man, but God.

It is used of Ezekiel because he was an example or type of the coming Son of God who was to became the Son of man and dwell with us. Jesus was called the Son of man eighty-eight times. It only means that He was born of man and became a man. A son of man is a man. Ezekiel is addressed as a son of man.

You do not have to read very far to see that the whole Book of Ezekiel he is a type of the Son of God who was to become the Son of man.

If you read Ezekiel 1:5, Ezekiel 1:8, Ezekiel 1:10 and Ezekiel 1:26, you will see at the outset of the Book that he saw a divine being as a man. This speak clearing as a type of the Son of God, becoming a man.

In Ezekiel 2 he is addressed as the son of man the first time. Notice what follows. Verse 3, He is sent to the rebellious children of Israel Verses 3-5 That is a type of the coming of Christ to His own and His own receiving Him not.

If you read the entire book and look for types of the Son of Man you will find that Ezekiel’s prophecy and person is a fitting type of the Lord Jesus Christ. It ends with the restoration of Israel and the millennium kingdom.

Christ will accomplish all this because, For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost. Luke 19:10.

All comments and questions to: Harold Smith

Return to Person of Christ Questions Main Page

Updated July 2009, by Shelly Allen