Ezekiel 11:21 kjv
But as for them whose heart walketh after the heart of their detestable things and their abominations, I will recompense their way upon their own heads, saith the Lord GOD.
Ezekiel 11:21 nkjv
But as for those whose hearts follow the desire for their detestable things and their abominations, I will recompense their deeds on their own heads," says the Lord GOD.
Ezekiel 11:21 niv
But as for those whose hearts are devoted to their vile images and detestable idols, I will bring down on their own heads what they have done, declares the Sovereign LORD."
Ezekiel 11:21 esv
But as for those whose heart goes after their detestable things and their abominations, I will bring their deeds upon their own heads, declares the Lord GOD."
Ezekiel 11:21 nlt
But as for those who long for vile images and detestable idols, I will repay them fully for their sins. I, the Sovereign LORD, have spoken!"
Ezekiel 11 21 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Prov 1:31 | "Therefore they shall eat the fruit of their own way... satisfied with their own schemes." | Consequences of rejecting wisdom. |
| Gal 6:7-8 | "Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap." | Principle of sowing and reaping. |
| Job 4:8 | "As I have seen, those who plow iniquity and sow trouble reap the same." | Evildoers harvest their own work. |
| Hos 8:7 | "For they sow the wind, and they shall reap the whirlwind." | Inevitable, destructive return for rebellion. |
| Deut 29:17 | "...your abominations and your idols of wood and stone, of silver and gold..." | Describing idolatrous objects. |
| 2 Ki 21:11 | "...Manasseh king of Judah has committed these abominations and has done wickedly..." | Manasseh's profound idolatry in Jerusalem. |
| Rev 21:8 | "But as for the cowardly, the faithless... all liars, their portion will be in the lake..." | Those practicing abominations are excluded from New Jerusalem. |
| Isa 44:9-20 | Graphic descriptions of the folly and emptiness of idol worship. | Polemic against idols, highlighting their futility. |
| Jer 17:9-10 | "The heart is deceitful above all things... I the LORD search the heart..." | God's knowledge and judgment of the heart. |
| Prov 4:23 | "Keep your heart with all vigilance, for from it flow the springs of life." | The heart as the source of life and moral conduct. |
| Matt 15:19 | "For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality..." | Origin of sin within the human heart. |
| Rom 2:5-6 | "...because of your hard and unrepentant heart you are storing up wrath... for on the day of wrath God’s righteous judgment will be revealed." | Judgment for unrepentant hearts. |
| Jer 32:19 | "...whose eyes are open to all the ways of the children of man, rewarding each one according to his ways..." | God's justice in judging human actions. |
| Ps 28:4 | "Give to them according to their work, and according to the evil of their deeds..." | Prayer for retribution on the wicked. |
| Ps 62:12 | "...for you render to each man according to his work." | God's justice and individual accountability. |
| Ps 9:15-16 | "The nations have sunk in the pit that they made... The Lord has made himself known; he has executed judgment..." | The wicked ensnared by their own deeds. |
| Isa 3:10-11 | "Tell the righteous that it shall be well with them... Woe to the wicked! It shall be ill with him..." | Retribution according to deeds. |
| Jer 31:33 | "...I will put my law within them, and I will write it on their hearts..." | Contrast: promise of a new covenant with changed hearts. |
| Ezek 36:26-27 | "I will give you a new heart... and I will put my Spirit within you..." | Contrast: God's work in transforming the heart for obedience. |
| Heb 8:10 | "...I will put my laws into their minds, and write them on their hearts..." | New Covenant fulfillment from Jeremiah. |
| 1 Cor 3:17 | "If anyone destroys God's temple, God will destroy him. For God's temple is holy..." | Sanctity required, judgment for defilement. |
| Col 3:5-6 | "Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality... For because of these things the wrath of God is coming." | Exhortation against wicked practices, with divine judgment as consequence. |
Ezekiel 11 verses
Ezekiel 11 21 Meaning
Ezekiel 11:21 declares God's righteous judgment against those who persist in willful disobedience and idolatry. In contrast to the promised restoration for a repentant remnant (Ezek 11:19-20), this verse explicitly states that those whose innermost being (their heart) continuously pursues and adheres to detestable idols and abominable practices will face the full consequences of their actions. The divine pronouncement underscores the principle of divine justice, where individual choices directly determine their fate, especially concerning rejection of the Lord God.
Ezekiel 11 21 Context
Ezekiel chapter 11 opens with Ezekiel being transported by the Spirit to Jerusalem, where he witnesses 25 prominent men, including city officials, engaged in wicked counsel. God reveals their schemes and announces imminent judgment. Verses 14-20 then shift to a message of hope and restoration for the exiled remnant. God promises to regather them, give them "a new heart" and "a new spirit," enabling them to obey His statutes. This transformative promise implies future repentance and spiritual renewal. Verse 21 immediately follows this promise, serving as a stark contrast and a clarification: while a future hope exists for a repentant remnant, those currently within Jerusalem and the unrepentant exiles who persist in their idolatry and abominations will unequivocally face judgment. It is a pronouncement of divine justice, ensuring accountability for those who refuse to turn from their evil ways, even as God's glory prepares to depart from the city (Ezek 11:22-23) because of this very sin. The historical context is the pre-destruction period of Jerusalem, just before the final Babylonian invasion, when false hope and deep-seated idolatry characterized the city's leaders and many inhabitants.
Ezekiel 11 21 Word analysis
- But as for those: Hebrew: וְהֵקִים (v'he'qim), lit. "And as for them" or "But as for them." This marks a clear division, contrasting the fate of the wicked in this verse with the promise of a renewed heart given to the righteous remnant in the preceding verses (Ezek 11:19-20). It introduces a different group and outcome.
- whose heart: Hebrew: לִבָּם (libbam). The "heart" in biblical thought signifies the innermost core of a person – the seat of intellect, will, emotions, and moral decision-making. It's the source of inner inclination and spiritual devotion. This indicates internal disposition, not merely external acts.
- walks after: Hebrew: הֹלְכִים אַחֲרֵי (holekhim acharei). Literally, "those who walk after." This idiom describes consistent conduct, habitual practice, and intentional pursuit. It means to follow, adhere to, or live according to a particular way. It suggests a sustained, deliberate devotion to their chosen path.
- their detestable things: Hebrew: שִׁקּוּצֵיהֶם (shiqqu'tzeihem). This term specifically refers to idols or idolatrous objects and practices. These are "loathsome" things, a severe desecration that defiles both the worshipers and the land. Often linked with direct religious apostasy.
- and their abominations: Hebrew: וְתֹועֲבֹתֵיהֶם (v'to'avoteihem). This word denotes something utterly offensive or morally disgusting to God, often encompassing both cultic impurity (idolatry, sexual perversions associated with pagan cults) and grave ethical breaches. The pairing with "detestable things" emphasizes the breadth and depth of their offensive practices.
- I will bring their deeds: Hebrew: וְדַרְכָּם... נָתַתִּי (v'darkam... natati). Literally, "and their way... I will put." "Way" refers to their conduct, their chosen course of life, their actions. This emphasizes direct responsibility for their lifestyle. God ensures their chosen path leads to its natural, divinely ordained conclusion.
- upon their own heads: Hebrew: עַל־רֹאשָׁם (al-ro'sham). A vivid idiom of retribution, signifying that the consequences or deserved punishment for their actions will fall directly back upon them, personally and completely. It underlines divine justice – self-inflicted judgment.
- declares the Lord GOD: Hebrew: נְאֻם אֲדֹנָי יְהוִה (ne'um Adonai YHVH). A formal prophetic phrase signifying a direct, authoritative divine utterance. "Lord" (Adonai) refers to God as master, and "GOD" (YHVH, the covenant name) highlights His sovereign, covenant-keeping authority. This confirms the certainty and divine origin of the judgment.
- "whose heart walks after their detestable things and their abominations": This phrase pinpoints the root cause of judgment: not just outward actions, but the inner commitment of the heart to idolatry and morally offensive practices. The "walk" denotes an active, consistent pursuit, signifying deliberate rebellion against God's law. This speaks to spiritual apostasy and a deep-seated rejection of God's sovereignty and holiness.
- "I will bring their deeds upon their own heads": This encapsulates the principle of retributive justice. God will ensure that the natural, ethical, and spiritual consequences of their rebellious life choice will come to fruition. They will reap what they have sown, not as an arbitrary act, but as a direct outcome of their chosen "way." It's a statement of personal accountability and divine administration of justice.
Ezekiel 11 21 Bonus section
This verse can be seen as a direct challenge to the ancient Near Eastern belief systems where one could often appease various gods or maintain favored status through rituals, even while practicing other forms of worship. Here, the Lord God establishes exclusive worship and warns against syncretism, which He unequivocally identifies as "detestable" and "abominable." The concept of the "heart" as the central engine of human conduct is profound here, stressing that God looks beyond outward appearance to the very intent and inner allegiance of an individual (1 Sam 16:7). The imagery of bringing deeds "upon their own heads" is common throughout the Old Testament legal and prophetic texts, grounding divine judgment in a framework of equitable legal retribution, reflecting the Mosaic covenant principle of "measure for measure." It foreshadows ultimate divine judgment against unrighteousness, aligning with later New Testament teachings on spiritual sowing and reaping.
Ezekiel 11 21 Commentary
Ezekiel 11:21 is a powerful declaration of God's justice, serving as a necessary counterpoint to the preceding promises of restoration. While God offers a new heart and spirit to a remnant who will obey, this verse clarifies that divine mercy is not universal and unconditional for those who defiantly persist in idolatry. The "heart" walking "after detestable things and abominations" describes a deep, internal commitment to spiritual rebellion and sin, making their actions not mere mistakes but expressions of their core allegiance. "Detestable things" (idolatry) and "abominations" (moral offenses) encapsulate the extensive spiritual defilement that plagued Judah. God's response, "I will bring their deeds upon their own heads," emphasizes personal responsibility and a sure retribution. This is not arbitrary punishment but a direct consequence, ensuring that justice is served for their unrepentant sin. The declaration "the Lord GOD" guarantees the absolute authority and certainty of this judgment, reinforcing God's unyielding demand for holiness and His consistent administration of justice for those who reject His covenant. It means those who refuse His grace will face the full weight of His righteous indignation.