What It Means To Know
"That I Am The LORD"
Over sixty times in the prophecy of Ezekiel there is wording that reads like “then they shall know that I am the LORD.” What does this phrase mean?
- Who is being spoken of as “they?” What is it that they come to know?
- Why is it a future outcome? What brings it about?
Source: ID 45569792 © Gary Cooper | Dreamstime.com
There is a distinctive four-step pattern to the use of this phrase in scripture.
- Prediction— The prophet gives notice of the consequences of a coming event as a warning to the people that will be affected.
- Fulfilment— The forecasted event comes to pass.
- Recognition— The people who received the advance notice and who are affected by its outworking are persuaded that the outcome was from God.
- Experience— By this experience, they come to know that the LORD is God.
Let’s look into Ezekiel’s prophecies to see how they bear this pattern out and consider what it means for us today.
Last updated 2026-08-18 Next update scheduled 2026-09-18