The Meaning of Ezekiel 11:3 Explained

Ezekiel 11:3

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

YLT: who are saying, It is not near -- to build houses, it is the pot, and we the flesh.

Darby: who say, It is not the time to build houses: this is the cauldron, and we are the flesh.

ASV: that say, The time is not near to build houses: this city is the caldron, and we are the flesh.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

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

What does Ezekiel 11:3 Mean?

Chapter Summary: Ezekiel 11

1  The presumption of the princes
4  Their sin and judgment
13  Ezekiel complaining, God shows him his purpose in saving a remnant
22  The glory of God leaves the city
24  Ezekiel is returned to the captivity

What do the individual words in Ezekiel 11:3 mean?

Who say not [The time is] near to build houses that [city is] the caldron and we [are] the meat
הָאֹ֣מְרִ֔ים לֹ֥א בְקָר֖וֹב בְּנ֣וֹת ؟ בָּתִּ֑ים הִ֣יא הַסִּ֔יר וַאֲנַ֖חְנוּ הַבָּשָֽׂר

הָאֹ֣מְרִ֔ים  Who  say 
Parse: Article, Verb, Qal, Participle, masculine plural
Root: אָמַר 
Sense: to say, speak, utter.
בְקָר֖וֹב  [The  time  is]  near 
Parse: Preposition-b, Adjective, masculine singular
Root: קָרֹוב  
Sense: near.
בְּנ֣וֹת  to  build 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Infinitive construct
Root: בָּנָה  
Sense: to build, rebuild, establish, cause to continue.
؟ בָּתִּ֑ים  houses 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural
Root: בַּיִת 
Sense: house.
הִ֣יא  that  [city  is] 
Parse: Pronoun, third person feminine singular
Root: הוּא 
Sense: he, she, it.
הַסִּ֔יר  the  caldron 
Parse: Article, Noun, common singular
Root: סִיר 
Sense: pot.
וַאֲנַ֖חְנוּ  and  we  [are] 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Pronoun, first person common plural
Root: אֲנַחְנוּ  
Sense: we (first pers.
הַבָּשָֽׂר  the  meat 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: בָּשָׂר  
Sense: flesh.