Ezekiel 14:12 kjv
The word of the LORD came again to me, saying,
Ezekiel 14:12 nkjv
The word of the LORD came again to me, saying:
Ezekiel 14:12 niv
The word of the LORD came to me:
Ezekiel 14:12 esv
And the word of the LORD came to me:
Ezekiel 14:12 nlt
Then this message came to me from the LORD:
Ezekiel 14 12 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Jer 1:2 | "The word of the LORD came to him..." | Divine authority for prophetic call. |
| Hos 1:1 | "The word of the LORD that came to Hosea..." | Establishes prophetic source. |
| Jon 1:1 | "Now the word of the LORD came to Jonah..." | Initiation of God's command. |
| Joel 1:1 | "The word of the LORD that came to Joel..." | Authoritative divine revelation. |
| Zep 1:1 | "The word of the LORD that came to Zephaniah..." | Standard prophetic authentication. |
| Hag 1:1 | "In the second year of Darius the king... the word of the LORD came..." | God speaking through His prophet. |
| Zec 1:1 | "In the eighth month, in the second year of Darius, the word of the LORD came..." | Formal prophetic beginning. |
| Mal 1:1 | "An oracle: The word of the LORD to Israel through Malachi." | Final book's authoritative intro. |
| 1 Pet 1:25 | "The word of the Lord remains forever." | Everlasting nature of God's word. |
| Num 12:6 | "When there is a prophet among you, I the LORD make myself known to him in a vision..." | God communicates directly to prophets. |
| Heb 1:1 | "Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets..." | God's method of communication throughout history. |
| Isa 55:10-11 | "...my word that goes out from my mouth... it shall accomplish that which I purpose..." | God's word is effective and powerful. |
| Psa 33:9 | "For he spoke, and it came to be; he commanded, and it stood firm." | Creative and establishing power of God's word. |
| Jer 23:29 | "Is not my word like fire, declares the LORD, and like a hammer that breaks a rock in pieces?" | Power and destructive force of God's word. |
| Heb 4:12 | "For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword..." | Living, discerning, and piercing nature of God's word. |
| Gen 18:23-33 | Abraham intercedes for Sodom, but minimum number of righteous not found. | Limitations of intercession when sin is pervasive. |
| Jer 7:16 | "As for you, do not pray for this people... for I will not listen to you." | God limits intercession in determined judgment. |
| Jer 15:1 | "Though Moses and Samuel stood before me, yet my heart would not turn toward this people..." | Even the greatest intercessors can't always avert judgment. |
| Ezek 22:30 | "And I sought for a man among them... but I found none." | The search for a righteous intercessor who could spare. |
| Ezek 14:13 | "Son of man, when a land sins against me by act of unfaithfulness, and I stretch out my hand upon it..." | Direct continuation and fulfillment of the preceding "word." |
| Rom 2:1-11 | God's righteous judgment upon all, individual accountability. | Echoes the theme of individual culpability, even when national. |
| Matt 24:35 | "Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away." | Immutability of God's divine word. |
| 2 Pet 3:9-10 | God's patience, but His word of judgment will come to pass. | Assurance of promised divine judgment. |
| John 12:48 | "...the word that I have spoken will judge him on the last day." | The judging power of God's uttered word. |
Ezekiel 14 verses
Ezekiel 14 12 Meaning
Ezekiel 14:12 signifies the commencement of a new, direct, and authoritative divine communication from Yahweh to the prophet Ezekiel. This verse acts as an immutable introduction, underscoring that the message to follow (Ezek 14:13-23), regarding the certainty and severity of God's impending judgments on a sinful land, originates solely and unequivocally from God Himself. It sets a tone of ultimate authority, confirming that what Ezekiel is about to declare is not human counsel but a definitive word from the Creator and Judge.
Ezekiel 14 12 Context
Ezekiel 14:12 is a pivotal point within chapter 14 of Ezekiel, a chapter predominantly concerned with idolatry and the certainty of divine judgment. Prior to this verse, the prophet confronts the elders of Israel who, while physically present before him seeking the word of the Lord, inwardly cling to their idols (vv. 1-5). God reveals His intent to answer these idolatrous inquirers according to their multiplied idols, emphasizing their accountability for their individual sin (vv. 6-8). The chapter also condemns false prophets (vv. 9-11).
Verse 12 acts as a distinct break, signaling a new, weighty oracle. It introduces a fresh topic of divine decree that directly addresses a prevalent misconception of the time: that the presence of a few righteous individuals (like Noah, Daniel, and Job, mentioned in subsequent verses) could save a whole land from devastating judgment. This new message underscores the profound degree of Israel's corporate sin, which had reached a point where God's predetermined judgments would not be averted, irrespective of a few righteous figures. Historically, this message comes during the Babylonian exile, when the people likely held false hopes or misinterpreted God's character, believing He would not fully execute His threats. Ezekiel, through this divine word, shatters these illusions, firmly stating God's absolute commitment to His declared justice.
Ezekiel 14 12 Word analysis
- Then (וַיְהִי – wa·ye·hî): This Hebrew conjunction often translates as "and it happened" or "and it was." Here, it marks a consequential or sequential development, transitioning from the previous discussion of idolatrous elders and false prophets to a new, direct divine declaration. It subtly conveys an immediate divine response to the underlying spiritual state.
- the word (דְבַר – de·ḇar): In Hebrew, dabar encompasses more than just spoken syllables; it signifies a dynamic, active, and effective message, a decree, an event, or a matter of great importance. When referring to God, it highlights that His word is potent, performative, and accomplishes what it declares. It's a living reality, not a mere concept.
- of the LORD (יְהוָה – Yahweh): This is God's personal covenant name, often rendered as LORD (in small caps). Its use here emphasizes the direct, authoritative, and covenantal nature of the message's source. This is the personal God of Israel, who acts with both justice and fidelity to His declared intentions and promises (and threats).
- came (אֶלַי – ‘e·lay): The verb form here denotes the arrival or "coming" of the word, and 'elay means "to me." This signifies a distinct, direct, and personal revelation specifically directed to Ezekiel. It underscores that this was not Ezekiel's own thought or interpretation, but an unmistakable divine communication.
- to me: This pronoun emphasizes Ezekiel's unique role as the recipient and conduit of God's immediate and precise message. It validates his prophetic authority against the backdrop of skepticism and false prophecy prevalent during his time.
- saying (לֵאמֹר – lê·mōr): This common Hebrew infinitive construct ("to say" or "saying") is a formulaic introduction to direct speech. It signals that what immediately follows is the verbatim utterance or content of the divine message, compelling the audience to listen intently to God's precise words.
Words-group analysis
- "Then the word of the LORD came to me": This complete phrase is a definitive prophetic formula frequently employed throughout prophetic literature (and especially in Ezekiel). It serves as an emphatic validation of the message that follows, establishing its divine origin and absolute authority. It removes any doubt regarding the message's source, ensuring it is perceived as an infallible utterance from Yahweh, the covenant God. This specific phrasing marks a clear transition from human deliberation or interaction to direct, undeniable divine intervention, highlighting God's initiative in speaking His ultimate will to His people through His chosen messenger.
Ezekiel 14 12 Bonus section
The formula "Then the word of the LORD came to me, saying" (or similar variations) appears about fifty times in the book of Ezekiel. This high frequency is significant, as it underscores Ezekiel's intense focus on divine revelation and his constant need to re-emphasize the non-human origin and absolute authority of his pronouncements to a skeptical and resistant audience during the Babylonian exile. It firmly establishes Ezekiel as God's legitimate mouthpiece, setting his messages apart from the false prophecies that were abundant at the time. This repetitive use reinforces the immutability and finality of God's every word through Ezekiel.
Ezekiel 14 12 Commentary
Ezekiel 14:12 serves as a foundational verse introducing a crucial prophetic oracle concerning God's unmitigated judgments. Following Ezekiel's exposure of the elders' hypocrisy and the condemnation of false prophets, this verse explicitly states that the subsequent message is a direct, undeniable word from Yahweh. It emphasizes the absolute authority and effectiveness of God's declaration. The solemn announcement from the "word of the LORD" prepares the audience for the severe pronouncements in the following verses (14:13-23), where God clarifies that His decreed judgments (famine, sword, wild beasts, plague) will not be averted even by the presence of righteous individuals, given the pervasive sin of the land. It asserts God's unwavering commitment to righteous judgment once a nation crosses a critical threshold of apostasy, showcasing divine justice over misplaced hopes in vicarious righteousness.