The Priestly Father of the Prophet Ezekiel
The prophetic books of the Bible often begin by establishing the pedigree of the prophet, anchoring their divine calling within a human lineage and specific historical context. Buzi is one such individual, whose sole purpose in the Scriptures is to identify the noble and sacred heritage of his famous son, the Prophet Ezekiel.
Buzi in the Opening of the Book of Ezekiel
Buzi is named only once in the entire Bible, in the very first verse of the book bearing his son’s name. This placement is not an accident; it provides essential information regarding the prophet’s background:
“Now it came to pass in the thirtieth year, in the fourth month, in the fifth day of the month, as I was among the captives by the river of Chebar, that the heavens were opened, and I saw visions of God. In the fifth day of the month, which was the fifth year of king Jehoiachin’s captivity, The word of the Lord came expressly unto Ezekiel the priest, the son of Buzi, in the land of the Chaldeans by the river Chebar; and the hand of the Lord was there upon him.” (Ezekiel 1:1–3, KJV)
The Significance of His Priestly Lineage
The most crucial detail about Buzi is that he was a priest. By naming Ezekiel as “Ezekiel the priest, the son of Buzi,” the text establishes two vital facts about the prophet:
- Consecrated Heritage: Ezekiel was born into the sacred lineage of the priesthood (Aaron/Levi). This meant he was trained in the Law, the Temple rituals, and the holiness required for the service of God.
- Double Calling: Ezekiel thus had a double commission: he was a priest by birth and a prophet by divine calling. This unique blend of heritage and calling profoundly shaped his message, which often focused on the desecration of the Temple, the glory of God departing, and the future restoration of a holy, rebuilt Temple (Ezekiel 40-48).
Buzi’s priestly training would have been passed down to his son, preparing Ezekiel to understand the deep theological implications of Jerusalem’s destruction and the exile, viewing them not just as a political disaster, but as a spiritual crisis concerning the covenant.
The Meaning of His Name
The Hebrew name Buzi ($\text{בּוּזִי}$, Bûzî) is related to the name Buz, which can carry the meaning of “Contempt” or “Despised.”
If this meaning is applied to Buzi, it may subtly reflect the spiritual state of the priesthood in the time leading up to the Babylonian exile, or perhaps the contempt shown to the priestly class once they were taken into captivity. Regardless of the intended connotation, the divine record ensures that the prophet’s heritage is securely documented.
Buzi’s legacy is one of generational faithfulness. Though his name stands silently in the text, it represents the dedicated priest who successfully passed on the knowledge and sanctity of his office to his son, ensuring that when the word of the Lord came, the prophet was ready, educated, and prepared to receive it.