Ezekiel 33:30-33

30 "As for you, 1son of man, 2your people who talk together about you by the walls and at the doors of the houses, say to one another, each to his brother, 'Come, and hear what the word is that comes from the LORD.'
31 3And they come to you as people come, and they sit before you as my people, and they hear what you say but they will not do it; for 4with lustful talk in their mouths they act; their heart is set on their gain.
32 And behold, you are to them like one who sings lustful songs with a beautiful voice and 5plays[a] well on an instrument, for 6they hear what you say, but they will not do it.
33 7When this comes--and come it will!--8then they will know that a prophet has been among them."

Ezekiel 33:30-33 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO EZEKIEL 33

This chapter treats of the prophet's duty, and the people's sins; contains a vindication of the justice of God; a threatening of destruction to those who remained in the land after the taking of the city; and a detection of the hypocrisy of the prophet's hearers. The duty of a watchman in general is declared, Eze 33:1-6, an application of this to the prophet, Eze 33:7: the sum of whose business is to warn the wicked man of his wickedness; and the consequence of doing, or not doing it, is expressed, Eze 33:8,9, an objection of the people, and the prophet's answer to it, Eze 33:10,11, who is bid to acquaint them, that a righteous man trusting to his righteousness, and sinning, should not live; and that a sinner repenting of his sins should not die, Eze 33:12-16, the people's charge of inequality in the ways of God is retorted upon them, and removed from the Lord, and proved against them, Eze 33:17-20, then follows a prophecy, delivered out after the news was brought of the taking of the city, threatening with ruin those that remained in the land, confident of safety, and that for their sins, which are particularly enumerated, Eze 33:21-29, and the chapter is closed with a discovery of the hypocrisy of those that attended the prophet's ministry, Eze 33:30-33.

Cross References 8

  • 1. [See ver. 24 above]
  • 2. See ver. 2
  • 3. See Ezekiel 8:1
  • 4. Psalms 78:36, 37; Isaiah 29:13; Jeremiah 12:2; 1 John 3:18
  • 5. [1 Samuel 16:17]
  • 6. [Matthew 7:26; Luke 6:49]
  • 7. [ver. 29]
  • 8. Ezekiel 2:5

Footnotes 1

  • [a]. Hebrew like the singing of lustful songs with a beautiful voice and one who plays
The English Standard Version is published with the permission of Good News Publishers.