Ezekiel 12 22

Ezekiel 12:22 kjv

Son of man, what is that proverb that ye have in the land of Israel, saying, The days are prolonged, and every vision faileth?

Ezekiel 12:22 nkjv

"Son of man, what is this proverb that you people have about the land of Israel, which says, 'The days are prolonged, and every vision fails'?

Ezekiel 12:22 niv

"Son of man, what is this proverb you have in the land of Israel: 'The days go by and every vision comes to nothing'?

Ezekiel 12:22 esv

"Son of man, what is this proverb that you have about the land of Israel, saying, 'The days grow long, and every vision comes to nothing'?

Ezekiel 12:22 nlt

"Son of man, you've heard that proverb they quote in Israel: 'Time passes, and prophecies come to nothing.'

Ezekiel 12 verses

Ezekiel 12 22 Meaning

Ezekiel 12:22 presents a direct challenge from God to the prophet Ezekiel concerning a prevalent proverb among the people of Israel, both in the land and among the exiles. This proverb reflects deep cynicism and impatience: "The days prolong, and every vision fails." It expresses a popular sentiment that prophetic messages of judgment and salvation have been delayed for so long that they are effectively void and will never materialize. It signifies a profound lack of faith in God's timing and the reliability of His spoken word through His prophets. God draws Ezekiel's attention to this dangerous mindset to unequivocally declare its cessation and the imminence of His divine action.

Ezekiel 12 22 Context

Ezekiel 12:22 is embedded in a section where God addresses the skepticism and hardness of heart among the people of Israel regarding His prophetic warnings. Immediately preceding this verse (Ezek 12:1-20), Ezekiel performed a symbolic act of exile – packing his bags and digging through a wall by night – to vividly portray the imminent Babylonian captivity for those remaining in Jerusalem, including King Zedekiah. This "street theater" was often met with incredulity, and verse 21 indicates the word of the Lord came again to Ezekiel, directly to confront this pervasive skepticism.

The broader chapter (Ezekiel 12) consistently underscores the reality and imminence of Jerusalem's fall and the people's subsequent exile, debunking their false hopes of security and immunity from divine judgment. Historically, this prophecy occurred around 593-592 BC, after the first deportation of Judah (which included Ezekiel) in 597 BC but before the final destruction of Jerusalem in 586 BC. At this time, those left in Jerusalem (and many exiles) still clung to the false belief that God would never allow His temple or holy city to be destroyed. They interpreted the apparent delay in a full, devastating judgment as proof that earlier prophecies of doom were false, leading to the cynical proverb addressed in this verse. This cultural environment, rife with false prophets promising peace, amplified the people's confusion and dismissal of genuine divine warnings.

Ezekiel 12 22 Word analysis

• Son of man (בֶן־אָדָם - ben-'adam): A frequent address to Ezekiel (93 times), emphasizing his human, mortal nature in contrast to the divine sender. It positions Ezekiel as a representative of humanity receiving a divine message, grounding the profound prophecies in a relatable human experience.
• proverb (מָשָׁל - mashal): More than a mere saying, a mashal can be a parable, a wise saying, or, in this context, a taunt or satirical popular saying. Here, it signifies a widespread, deeply ingrained cynical sentiment against the prophetic word. Its usage indicates a dismissive attitude towards serious matters.
• land of Israel (אֶרֶץ יִשְׂרָאֵל - 'eretz Yisra'el): Refers primarily to the geographical territory but also encompasses the entire community and collective identity of the Israelites, whether present in Jerusalem or in exile in Babylon. The proverb's widespread nature signifies a collective spiritual malaise across the whole nation.
• The days prolong (יִמְשְׁכוּ הַיָּמִים - yimašeḵu haiyāmim): The verb mašak (מָשַׁךְ) means "to draw out," "to prolong," or "to stretch." It expresses the popular perception of an interminable wait, suggesting an unwarranted and indefinite delay in God's predicted actions. This reflects human impatience and a misinterpretation of God's perfect timing as simple tardiness.
• every vision fails (וְאָבַד כָּל־חָזוֹן - ve'avad kol-ḥazon): ’avad (אָבַד) means "to perish," "to be lost," "to come to nothing." ḥazon (חָזוֹן) is a prophetic vision or revelation. The phrase expresses absolute disillusionment: the people believed that every prophetic word, regardless of its source, had proved ineffective or untrue because its predicted fulfillment had not yet occurred to their satisfaction. This constitutes a rejection of divine revelation itself.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• "Son of man, what is this proverb that you have...": This opening immediately highlights divine concern and awareness of the people's spiritual state. God doesn't question the existence of the proverb, but its essence and impact, calling Ezekiel to confront it directly.
• "...in the land of Israel...": Emphasizes the widespread and pervasive nature of this proverb among all Israelites, showing that this cynical sentiment was not isolated but representative of the nation's spiritual condition, transcending geographical boundaries even for the exiles.
• "The days prolong, and every vision fails": This is the core of the people's argument – a statement of perceived divine inaction leading to the dismissal of all prophecy. It articulates their profound skepticism regarding God's power and faithfulness to execute His word. It's a clear instance of human wisdom conflicting with divine truth.

Ezekiel 12 22 Bonus section

The proverb in Ezekiel 12:22 is a powerful example of how human impatience and lack of understanding concerning divine timing can lead to spiritual hardenedness and cynicism. This phenomenon is not unique to ancient Israel; it echoes through biblical narratives and appears even in New Testament times concerning the second coming of Christ (2 Pet 3:3-4). The "delay" from a human perspective is often a period of divine patience, warning, or preparation. The very fact that God calls it out, and then vows to make it cease (Ezek 12:23), indicates the severity of discrediting His word and the imminence of His definitive action. The proverb serves as a historical counterpoint to the Christian doctrine of persistent, patient waiting on the Lord (Ps 27:14), reminding us that such waiting is not born of spiritual resignation, but confident trust in a God who keeps all His promises, in His own perfect timing.

Ezekiel 12 22 Commentary

Ezekiel 12:22 is a poignant reflection of a pervasive spiritual malaise in ancient Israel. The proverb, "The days prolong, and every vision fails," encapsulates the people's cynicism born from perceived divine delay and the mixed messages of true and false prophets. It signifies a collective exhaustion of faith, where hope dwindles, and past prophecies become objects of scorn rather than divine promises or warnings. This sentiment challenged the very core of God's reliability and the validity of prophetic ministry.

God's immediate addressing of this proverb underscores its danger. It wasn't merely idle chatter but a reflection of a rebellious heart that doubted God's imminence and His ability to fulfill His word. This verse sets the stage for God's emphatic declaration of coming judgment and the cessation of such mocking proverbs (Ezek 12:23-28). It highlights a fundamental tension between human perception of time and God's perfect, often unhurried, timing. The people, in their impatience, confused God's forbearance with divine indifference, leading them to dismiss the truth. This passage reminds us that God's word, though it may seem delayed, will assuredly come to pass, often sooner and more swiftly than anticipated by the faithless.