Ezekiel 33:32

32 and it is to them as a song of music, which is sung by soft and sweet sound; and they hear thy words, and they do not those; (and it is to them like a song of music, which is sung with a soft and sweet sound; and they hear thy words, but they do not do them;)

Ezekiel 33:32 Meaning and Commentary

Ezekiel 33:32

And, lo, thou art unto them as a very lovely song of one that
hath a pleasant voice
Whose voice, and the music of it, are regarded, and not the matter of the song, but the manner in which it is sung; so these people did not so much attend to what the prophet said as the manner of his delivery; they were delighted with the harmony of his voice, the eloquence of his speech, the propriety of his expressions, the eloquence and aptness of his diction, and the cadency of his words, and not with the excellent doctrines he delivered; they were affected and pleased no otherwise than if they had been at a concert of music; or had been entertained by one that understood not only vocal music, but could "play well on an instrument" at the same time, and make both agree together; which yields much pleasure to lovers of music. The Gospel is a lovely song indeed; "a song of loves" {o}, as it may be rendered; of the love of God, and of the love of Christ; and the voice of a Gospel minister is a pleasant charming voice to those that understand it, but to others it is a voice, and nothing else; they may be delighted with his accents, but not with his matter: for they hear thy words, but they do them not; which is repeated, that it might be observed.

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FOOTNOTES:

F15 (Mybge ryvk) "sicut canticum astorum", Vatablus.

Ezekiel 33:32 In-Context

30 And thou, son of man, the sons of thy people that speak of thee beside walls, and in the doors of houses, and say, one to another, a man to his neighbour, and speak, Come ye, and hear we, what is the word going out from the Lord; (And thou, son of man, thy people who speak of thee beside the walls, and in the doors of houses, and speak one to another, yea, a person to his neighbour, and say, Come ye, and hear we, what is the word going out from the Lord;)

31 and they come to thee, as if my people entereth, and my people sit before thee, and they hear thy words, and do not those; for they turn those into the song of their mouth, and their heart followeth their avarice; (and my people come to thee, like any people entereth, and they sit before thee, and they hear thy words, but they do not do them; they turn them into the song of their mouths, but their hearts follow after their greed;)

32 and it is to them as a song of music, which is sung by soft and sweet sound; and they hear thy words, and they do not those; (and it is to them like a song of music, which is sung with a soft and sweet sound; and they hear thy words, but they do not do them;)

33 and when that that was before-said cometh, for lo! it cometh, then they shall know, that a prophet was among them. (and when what was foretold cometh, for lo! it shall come, then they shall know, that a prophet was among them.)