Ezekiel 11:2 kjv
Then said he unto me, Son of man, these are the men that devise mischief, and give wicked counsel in this city:
Ezekiel 11:2 nkjv
And He said to me: "Son of man, these are the men who devise iniquity and give wicked counsel in this city,
Ezekiel 11:2 niv
The LORD said to me, "Son of man, these are the men who are plotting evil and giving wicked advice in this city.
Ezekiel 11:2 esv
And he said to me, "Son of man, these are the men who devise iniquity and who give wicked counsel in this city;
Ezekiel 11:2 nlt
The Spirit said to me, "Son of man, these are the men who are planning evil and giving wicked counsel in this city.
Ezekiel 11 2 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Ezekiel 11:1 | "Then the Spirit lifted me up and brought me to the gate of the house of the LORD eastward..." | Contextual introduction to Ezekiel's vision |
| Ezekiel 11:3 | "...‘This city is the pot, and we are the meat.’" | Their dismissive attitude towards judgment |
| Jeremiah 7:4 | "But do not trust in deceptive words, saying, ‘This is the temple of the LORD, the temple of the LORD, the temple of the LORD.’" | Jerusalem's false security |
| Jeremiah 26:18 | "Men from Judah were by the prophetic words of Jeremiah… that this place shall be a wilderness, desolate and without inhabitant." | Fulfillment of prophecy |
| Isaiah 3:2-3 | "The senior and the honored man, he is the head; the prophet who teaches falsehood, he is the tail." | Divine reversal of leadership |
| Psalm 10:4 | "The wicked, in the pride of his face, will not seek Him… God is not in all his thoughts." | Their lack of God-consciousness |
| Proverbs 1:7 | "The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction." | Their rejection of divine wisdom |
| Romans 1:28 | "And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a debased mind..." | Rejection of God leads to corrupted thinking |
| 2 Timothy 3:8 | "Just as Jannes and Jambres opposed Moses, so these men also oppose the truth..." | Opposition to divine messengers |
| John 15:18 | "If the world hates you, you know that it has hated Me before it hated you." | Persecution of prophets |
| Acts 7:51 | "You stiff-necked people and uncircumcised in heart and ears, you always resist the Holy Spirit..." | Resistance to the Spirit’s promptings |
| Lamentations 1:6 | "Her princes have become like stags that cannot flee from the pursuer." | Vulnerability of corrupt leaders |
| Ezekiel 8:3-18 | Vision of idolatry in the temple | Specifics of their sin |
| Ezekiel 23:34, 42 | Likening Judah to drunken, unfaithful harlots | Figurative language for Israel's sin |
| Deuteronomy 28:15 | "But it shall come to pass, if you do not obey the voice of the LORD your God..." | Conditional covenant promises |
| Leviticus 26:17 | "I will set My face against you, and you shall be beaten before your enemies..." | Consequences of disobedience |
| Numbers 14:30 | "...‘Surely you shall not enter into the land concerning which I swore to make you dwell therein…’" | Unbelief hindering God’s promises |
| Jeremiah 22:3-5 | Warnings to King Jehoiakim and Jerusalem | Similar prophetic warnings |
| Zechariah 7:11-13 | Israel's refusal to listen to the prophets | Persistent pattern of disobedience |
| Ezekiel 11:23 | "And the Spirit of the LORD departed from it." | Consequence of persistent sin |
Ezekiel 11 verses
Ezekiel 11 2 Meaning
The verse describes a group of leaders identified as "chiefs of the people" in Jerusalem, standing with the prophet Ezekiel. This confrontation signifies a moment of spiritual opposition to God's word as conveyed through Ezekiel, occurring within the context of the city's impending judgment.
Ezekiel 11 2 Context
This verse appears in Ezekiel chapter 11, which is set within Ezekiel's visions during the Babylonian exile. Ezekiel is shown a vision of the temple in Jerusalem and its leaders who are deeply entrenched in sin and idolatry, despite the imminent threat of destruction. The elders are not physically with Ezekiel, but he is transported in the Spirit to witness their actions and hear their corrupt pronouncements. This chapter depicts the moral and spiritual decay of Jerusalem's leadership, highlighting their self-serving attitudes and defiance of God's word, which ultimately seals the city's fate.
Ezekiel 11 2 Word Analysis
וְהִנֵּה (v'hin'neh): "and behold," "and lo." This is an emphatic particle introducing a significant revelation or observation. It draws the reader's immediate attention to what follows.
שָׂרֵי (sar'ei): "princes," "chiefs," "leaders." The plural of sar. In this context, it refers to the prominent political and religious figures in Jerusalem, those in positions of authority and influence.
הָעָם (ha'am): "the people." The definite article ha- ("the") combined with am ("people," "nation"). Refers collectively to the inhabitants of Judah and Jerusalem.
בִּירוּשָׁלַיִם (Biyrushalayim): "in Jerusalem." The name of the capital city of Judah, understood as the holy city, the center of God's presence. The presence of the leaders in Jerusalem underscores their responsibility and the critical nature of their corruption within the very heart of the nation.
וְיָשְׁבוּ (v'yashvu): "and they sat" or "and they dwelled." The waw consecutive imperfect of yashav. Here, "they sat" denotes their established position and presence, perhaps implying a comfortable posture of power and control.
שָׁם (sham): "there." Refers specifically to Jerusalem.
חֶרְפַּת (cherpat): "contempt," "scorn," "reproach," "insult." The noun cherpah from the root charaph, meaning to reproach or insult. This word signifies that the actions or statements of these leaders invited divine scorn.
בֹּאְשׁוּ (bo'shu): "they became a stench," "they were loathsome," "they were put to shame." The Qal perfect of the verb buwsh, which carries connotations of shame, disgrace, and a repulsive offense. It indicates their corrupt nature was utterly repulsive to God and any righteous observer.
Group Analysis: The phrase "princes of the people... sat there" highlights the established power structure and the locale of their authority – Jerusalem itself, the seat of God’s covenant. The pairing of cherpat ("reproach") and bo'shu ("loathsome" or "stench") vividly portrays the depth of their moral and spiritual decay, indicating that their very presence and actions brought dishonor to God and were deeply offensive.
Ezekiel 11 2 Bonus Section
The word bo'shu can also imply being "put to shame." This dual meaning is significant, as the leaders were not only inherently loathsome to God but would ultimately be exposed and brought to shame by the coming judgment. Their current posture of confidence and self-importance was destined to crumble into utter disgrace. The mention of "princes" or "chiefs" here, sarim, resonates with other Old Testament passages where leaders often failed their people, leading to national calamity. Their presence in Jerusalem, the symbolic dwelling place of God, emphasizes that sin within the leadership of God's covenant people is particularly egregious.
Ezekiel 11 2 Commentary
Ezekiel 11:2 reveals a somber reality: the leaders of Jerusalem, the supposed spiritual and political stewards of God's people, were themselves steeped in a contemptible and repulsive state. This isn't just a passive existence; their being there, in the sacred city, in positions of leadership, while embodying "reproach" and "stench" (or loathsomeness), points to a deep-seated corruption. They represent not only a betrayal of their office but a profound offense against God and His covenant. Their state signifies a critical turning point where judgment is not only deserved but actively invited by the spiritual decay of those who should have been guiding the people toward God. This verse is a stark indictment of leadership corrupted by pride and sin, rendering them odious in God's sight.