Summary
The Book of Ezekiel 25–48 by Daniel I. Block, part of the New International Commentary On The Old Testament, completes his two-volume work on Ezekiel. We are led through the prophet’s later oracles, visions of restoration, and the apocalyptic promise of new creation with clarity and discipline. Block’s commentary combines careful translation of the Hebrew text, detailed verse-by-verse exposition, and thoughtful theological reflection geared toward teaching and preaching.
He does not shrink from the weight of Ezekiel’s warnings nor from the grandeur of its hope. Even where the text confronts us with difficult images or complex structure, Block helps us discern the flow of argument, the function of symbolic acts, and the theological pulse beneath the ancient oracles. The result is a commentary that honours authorial intent while pointing us to gospel hope, holiness, and the future restoration God promises.
Why Should I Own This Commentary?
If you are preparing to preach or teach through Ezekiel 25–48 you will struggle to find a more reliable guide. The introduction provides clear orientation to historical context, literary structure, and theological themes. Once in the main body of the work, Block offers meticulous exegesis that respects the Hebrew text, identifies key textual and grammatical issues, and explains their bearing on meaning.
Beyond technical detail, Block writes with pastoral concern. His theological reflections at the end of major sections draw out the relevance of Ezekiel’s prophecies for the church today. Themes such as divine judgment, communal holiness, repentance, hope in restoration, and God’s faithfulness emerge with power. For a Reformed preacher committed to exposition under the authority of Scripture this commentary offers both depth and fidelity.
Because the work is scholarly yet church-oriented, it serves both the advanced student and the working pastor. You will be equipped not only to understand what the text meant then, but also to proclaim what it means now, faithfully and responsibly.
Closing Recommendation
We commend this volume as one of the finest available commentaries on Ezekiel 25–48. It is demanding, yes, but that matches the density of the biblical text. For pastors, students, and teachers who seek accuracy, theological steadiness, and pastoral usefulness, this book is a rich investment in your preaching library.
Daniel I. Block
Daniel I. Block is an American Old Testament scholar of the late twentieth and early twenty-first century, widely recognised within evangelical and Reformed circles for his rigorous exegesis and theological depth.
Best known for his teaching at Wheaton College and earlier at Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, Block has devoted much of his career to helping pastors and students handle the Old Testament with clarity and reverence. His work on Deuteronomy and Ezekiel in the New International Commentary on the Old Testament series, and on Ruth in the Zondervan Exegetical Commentary on the Old Testament, display a consistent blend of linguistic precision and pastoral sensitivity.
Block’s writing is valued for its faithfulness to Scripture, careful attention to literary structure, and his ability to unite academic scholarship with devotional warmth. His exposition always aims to serve the church, encouraging confidence in the reliability and beauty of God’s Word.
Recommended titles include Ruth (Zondervan Exegetical Commentary on the Old Testament), The Book of Ezekiel(NICOT) (Volume 1), and Deuteronomy (NIV Application Commentary).