Satire and Subversion in the Oracles of Ezekiel

Abstract

Although functioning primarily as a priest and a prophet, Ezekiel frequently utilized literary devices drawn from the wisdom tradition. The end to which he applied the tools of the wise was, however, far from typical. Where the counsel of the sages generally emphasized prudence and conformity, Ezekiel deployed sapiential speech forms within a disruptive rhetorical strategy designed to subvert debased institutions, delusional cult ideology, and aggrandizing historical narrative. This essay examines two examples from the prophet’s extensive repertoire, highlighting his idiosyncratic but devastatingly effective use of satire.