Ezekiel 14:1-7

Idolatrous Elders Condemned

1 Then some 1elders of Israel came to me and 2sat down before me.
2 And the word of the LORD came to me, saying,
3 "Son of man, these men have 3set up their idols in their hearts and have 4put right before their faces the stumbling block of their iniquity. Should I be 5consulted by them at all?
4 "Therefore speak to them and tell them, 'Thus says the Lord GOD, "Any man of the house of Israel who sets up his idols in his heart, puts right before his face the stumbling block of his iniquity, and then comes to the prophet, I the LORD will be brought to give him an answer in the matter in view of the 6multitude of his idols,
5 in order to lay hold of 7the hearts of the house of Israel who are 8estranged from Me through all their idols."'
6 "Therefore say to the house of Israel, 'Thus says the Lord GOD, "9Repent and turn away from your idols and turn your faces away from all your 10abominations.
7 "For anyone of the house of Israel or of the 11immigrants who stay in Israel who separates himself from Me, sets up his idols in his heart, puts right before his face the stumbling block of his iniquity, and then comes to the prophet to inquire of Me for himself, 12I the LORD will be brought to answer him in My own person.

Ezekiel 14:1-7 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO EZEKIEL 14

In this chapter are contained the displeasure of God at hypocritical idolaters that sought unto him, and at the false prophets; the judgments that should come upon them, and which should not be averted by the intercession of the best of men; and yet a promise that a remnant should be saved. The elders of Israel are said to sit before the prophet, Eze 14:1; to whom the Lord gives an account of them, Eze 14:2,3; and orders the prophet what he should say to them, that the Lord would answer them himself, Eze 14:4,5; and that he should bid the house of Israel repent and turn from their idols, or else the Lord would set his face against them, and cut them off, both them and the false prophets they sought unto; and this is threatened in order to reform them, and continue them his covenant people, Eze 14:6-11; and then the judgment of famine is particularly threatened; to avert which, the prayers of the best of men would be of no effect, Eze 14:12-14; and next the judgment of noisome beasts, with the same intimation, Eze 14:15,16; likewise the sword, Eze 14:17,18; and also the pestilence, Eze 14:19,20; and much less when they should be all sent together, Eze 14:21; and the chapter is concluded with a promise that a remnant should be saved; which would be a comfort to the captives of Babylon, and accounts for what the Lord had done, or would do, in Jerusalem, Eze 14:22,23.

Cross References 12

  • 1. 2 Kings 6:32; Ezekiel 8:1; Ezekiel 20:1
  • 2. Isaiah 29:13; Ezekiel 33:31, 32
  • 3. Ezekiel 20:16
  • 4. Ezekiel 7:19; Ezekiel 14:4, 7; Zephaniah 1:3
  • 5. Isaiah 1:15; Jeremiah 11:11; Ezekiel 20:3, 31
  • 6. 1 Kings 21:20-24; 2 Kings 1:16; Isaiah 66:4
  • 7. Jeremiah 17:10; Zechariah 7:12
  • 8. Isaiah 1:4; Jeremiah 2:11; Zechariah 11:8
  • 9. 1 Samuel 7:3; Nehemiah 1:9; Isaiah 2:20; Isaiah 30:22; Isaiah 55:6, 7; Ezekiel 18:30
  • 10. Ezekiel 8:6; Ezekiel 14:4
  • 11. Exodus 12:48; Exodus 20:10
  • 12. Ezekiel 14:4

Footnotes 4

  • [a]. Heb "YHWH," usually rendered LORD, and so throughout the ch
  • [b]. Lit "it"
  • [c]. Lit "their"
  • [d]. Or "all estranged from Me through their idols"
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