Experts Recommend OT Commentaries: Ezekiel
Dr. Jason Gile Weighs In
Experts Recommend OT Commentaries: Ezekiel
Dr. Jason Gile (Guest Expert)
Jason Gile serves as Vice President of Strategic Initiatives at Northern Seminary and Executive Director of Seminary Now. He is the author of Ezekiel and the World of Deuteronomy (LHBOTS; Bloomsbury, 2021).
Technical
Daniel Block, The Book of Ezekiel (2 vols). NICOT.
Daniel Block’s 2-volume commentary should be your first stop to understand the historical and theological meaning of this complex book. His extensive study of the text and engagement with scholarship have earned him a distinguished reputation in the field, and his analysis skillfully bridges scholarly inquiry with theological insights.
Moshe Greenberg, Ezekiel 1-20; Ezekiel 21-37. Anchor Bible.
Written from a Jewish perspective, Moshe Greenberg’s commentary is sensitive to Ezekiel’s priestly context and the Jewish tradition that develops after him. Greenberg is critical of redaction-critical approaches to the book. His two volumes cover chapters 1-37, and more recently the series has been completed by Stephen Cook’s volume on chapters 38-48.
Zimmerli. Ezekiel (2 vols). Hermeneia.
For those seeking even more technical engagement, Walther Zimmerli’s commentary is a standard in the field. While his work engages redaction criticism more than evangelical commentaries, his approach is actually moderate compared to other German scholars of Ezekiel.
Semi-Technical
Margaret S. Odell, Ezekiel. Smyth & Helwys
Odell’s work may be the best purchase for those seeking an all-purpose commentary in a single volume. Conversant with the scholarly literature, she deftly explores the literary, rhetorical, and theological aspects of the book, illuminating the prophet’s theological message in the crisis of exile.
Leslie Allen, Ezekiel (2 vols.) Word Biblical Commentary.
A long-time professor at Fuller Seminary, Allen exemplifies the British evangelical tradition in Old Testament studies, characterized by its serious engagement with critical scholarship alongside robust theological insight.
Non-Technical
Christopher Wright. The Message of Ezekiel. The Bible Speaks Today.
Known for his missional approach to Scripture, Christopher Wright is one of the most important voices in biblical theology. Wright is a trusted theological interpreter who connects the message of Ezekiel both to its historical context and the broader themes of biblical theology.
Consistent with the NIVAC series, Duguid’s commentary provides a relevant guide to the book of Ezekiel for those seeking practical insights for preaching, theological reflection, and application.