Buzi

Biblical Record

Buzi appears only once, in Ezekiel 1:3. This verse introduces Ezekiel, who had been carried into exile in Babylon, as he receives the word of the LORD by the river Chebar in the land of the Chaldeans, and it calls him "Ezekiel the priest, the son of Buzi." The preceding verse, Ezekiel 1:2, dates this event to the fifth year of King Jehoiachin's captivity.

Scripture records nothing about Buzi's deeds, where he lived, whether he was taken into exile, or when he died. The only thing the text reveals about him is that he was the father of Ezekiel.

In Korean Bibles, the word busineun in Job 37:10 ("the breath of God" in the KJV) is a verb meaning "to blow" and merely sounds like the name Buzi in Korean. It has no connection with this person.

Significance in Scripture

The name Buzi serves to identify Ezekiel's family. The prophetic books of the Old Testament often give a prophet's father's name when introducing him. In Ezekiel 1:3 the word "priest" can grammatically be read as referring to either Ezekiel or Buzi. Most translations, including the Korean Revised Version and the New Korean Revised Version, take it as referring to Ezekiel. Either way, because the priesthood was hereditary, Buzi is understood to have belonged to a priestly family as well.

The Book of Ezekiel contains a great deal of material concerning the temple, sacrifices, and laws of purity. Scholars often attribute this to Ezekiel's upbringing in a priestly household. Buzi is not mentioned in the New Testament.

Interpretations and Debates

The meaning of the name Buzi is uncertain. Jewish rabbinic tradition reportedly includes an interpretation that identifies Buzi with Jeremiah, linking the name to the fact that Jeremiah was despised by the people. However, nothing in the biblical text supports this view, and Protestant commentaries generally reject it. The text provides no other information about Buzi's life.

In the Korean Church

Sermons or Sunday school lessons devoted specifically to Buzi are rare. His name is mentioned mainly in expositions of Ezekiel or in Bible surveys that explain Ezekiel's priestly background.