Eating a Scroll

Symbolism, Imagery, Allegory

When God gives Ezekiel his message and mission—explaining God's wrath and his purposes in sending the House of Israel into exile—he does so through a vision:

He said to me, O mortal, eat what is offered to you; eat this scroll, and go, speak to the house of Israel. So I opened my mouth, and he gave me the scroll to eat. He said to me, Mortal, eat this scroll that I give you and fill your stomach with it. Then I ate it; and in my mouth it was as sweet as honey. (3:1-3)

Even though Ezekiel's bringing a message of wrath, the scroll is sweet to the taste. It indicates that the "word of God" is sweet and consoling (as it is in certain chapters of Ezekiel). It's a custom in some Jewish schools to put a piece of candy on the student's first Hebrew primer. Same idea as eating the sweet scroll, but less time-consuming.