Ezekiel 11 2

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 verses

Ezekiel 11 2 Meaning

Ezekiel 11:2 reveals the Lord's direct identification of the leading individuals in Jerusalem who are actively plotting evil and spreading destructive advice within the city. This verse marks the beginning of a divine indictment, exposing the internal corruption that has permeated the leadership and ultimately contributed to the city's impending judgment. It underscores God's complete knowledge of human intentions and the pervasive influence of wicked counsel on the community.

Ezekiel 11 2 Context

Ezekiel 11:2 is situated within a series of visions given to the prophet Ezekiel concerning Jerusalem's final downfall and God's glory departing from the city. The preceding verses (Ez 11:1) introduce Ezekiel being transported by the Spirit to the east gate of the temple, where he sees twenty-five prominent men. This specific verse (Ez 11:2) serves as God's explicit revelation and indictment of these individuals, detailing the nature of their sin. They are not merely sinning through inaction, but actively "devising iniquity" and providing "wicked counsel," signifying a deep-seated and influential corruption within the city's leadership, whether political or religious. This immediate context follows previous chapters (Ez 8-10) where Ezekiel witnesses various abominations occurring within the temple itself, perpetrated by the elders and leaders of Israel. The overarching historical context is that Jerusalem, under the siege of Babylon, wrongly believes it is invincible due to the presence of God's temple. This verse, therefore, directly challenges that false sense of security by exposing the true spiritual decay from within, preparing the reader for the inevitable judgment that God is about to bring.

Ezekiel 11 2 Word analysis

• Then He said: (וַיֹּאמֶר - va-yomer) A standard narrative transition, indicating the Lord's direct speech. "He" refers unambiguously to the LORD, highlighting the divine authority of the pronouncement.
• to me: (אֵלַי - elai) Establishes the direct address to Ezekiel, reinforcing his role as the recipient and conveyor of this crucial divine message.
• Son of man: (בֶּן־אָדָם - ben-adam) This is God's frequent and customary address to Ezekiel throughout the book (over 90 times). It emphasizes Ezekiel's humanity and his representation of humanity before God, a stark contrast to the divine glory and power he experiences in his visions. It also underlines the message's direct relevance to humanity.
• these: (אֵלֶּה - elleh) A demonstrative pronoun, pointing directly to the specific twenty-five men mentioned in Ez 11:1, making the accusation specific and personal.
• are the men: (הָאֲנָשִׁים - ha-anashim) Confirms the identity of the target, the influential leaders and officials whom Ezekiel saw. The definite article "the" indicates specific, known individuals.
• who devise: (הַחֹשְׁבִים - ha-khosh'vim) From the Hebrew verb חָשַׁב (chashav), meaning to think, calculate, plan, invent, or devise. This term highlights premeditation and intentionality. Their sin is not accidental or impulsive, but a carefully considered, intellectual pursuit of wickedness. It points to a deep-seated corruption of their minds.
• iniquity: (אָוֶן - awen) Refers to wickedness, mischief, trouble, or injustice. Often carries the connotation of spiritual rebellion, idolatry, or oppressive deeds. It encompasses both the act and its harmful consequence, emphasizing that their thoughts lead to destructive outcomes.
• and give wicked: (וְהַיֹּעֲצִים עֲצַת רָע - ve-ha-yo'atzim atzat ra) A combined phrase meaning "and who counsel evil counsel." This highlights not just personal wickedness, but their active role in leading others astray through their advice and policy.
  • give counsel: (הַיֹּעֲצִים - ha-yo'atzim) From יָעַץ (ya'ats), to advise, consult, plan. It signifies their position of influence and authority, using it to propagate evil.
  • wicked counsel: (עֲצַת רָע - atzat ra) "Counsel of evil." This explicitly names the destructive nature of their advice. Their "wisdom" is fundamentally against God's will and brings about moral decay and judgment.
• in this city: (בָּעִיר הַזֹּאת - ba'ir hazot) Explicitly identifies Jerusalem as the sphere of their evil influence and operations. It connects their internal plotting to the visible effects on the city, reinforcing why Jerusalem is about to face divine judgment.

• "Then He said to me, 'Son of man,'": This recurring divine address underscores the prophetic encounter and the Lord's direct communication through His chosen human agent, Ezekiel. It establishes the authoritative source of the subsequent revelation.
• "these are the men who devise iniquity": This group of words immediately and unequivocally identifies the target of divine condemnation. The active participle "devise" (חֹשְׁבִים) stresses the continuous and intentional nature of their evil plotting, revealing the core of their internal corruption. Their minds are factories of sin.
• "and give wicked counsel": This phrase builds on the previous one, showing that their internal wickedness is not confined to thought but translates into influential, detrimental actions. They are not only evil themselves but also actively promote evil amongst others. This emphasizes their destructive leadership role.
• "in this city": The concluding phrase firmly roots the indictment within a specific geographical and social context, Jerusalem, emphasizing that their influence permeates the very fabric of the community God claims as His own, making its destruction justified.

Ezekiel 11 2 Bonus section

The identification of the twenty-five men as "princes of the people" (Ez 11:1) further emphasizes their societal authority. God's act of revealing their secret plots and counsel (even before their public execution in later chapters of Ezekiel) underscores divine omniscience—nothing, not even the innermost thoughts or whispered advice of the powerful, is hidden from God. This acts as a severe warning against presumption in leadership that believes it can act with impunity behind closed doors. Furthermore, the deliberate "devising" and "counseling" implies an organized and persistent opposition to God's will, reminiscent of Pharaoh's "wise counsel" in Exodus 1:10 to suppress Israel, or the counsel against Jeremiah in Jer 18:18. This verse, therefore, sets the stage not merely for a judgment of sin, but of deeply embedded, influential, and systematic rebellion.

Ezekiel 11 2 Commentary

Ezekiel 11:2 serves as a pivotal divine diagnostic, precisely identifying the internal moral rot within Jerusalem's leadership that necessitated God's severe judgment. The Lord's direct speech through Ezekiel, His "Son of man," not only confirms the prophet's divine mandate but also underlines that this revelation comes from the highest authority. The target, "these men" (likely high-ranking officials or religious leaders seen in the previous verse), are specifically accused of two deeply intertwined sins: "devising iniquity" (premeditated evil thought) and "giving wicked counsel" (active propagation of that evil). This isn't just about personal transgression but the corruption of governance and guidance. Their internal malevolence translates into external destructive influence on the city, reflecting a rejection of God's ways and a promotion of self-serving, ungodly "wisdom." God, being omniscient, pierces through their facade, exposing the very thoughts and intentions of their hearts, affirming that true judgment addresses not just deeds, but the malicious planning behind them. This revelation justifies the subsequent judgment on Jerusalem, clarifying that the destruction is a consequence of persistent, deeply ingrained leadership sin, not an arbitrary act. It cautions against those in power who actively scheme evil and advise others down paths of destruction, reminding us that such counsel brings ruin.