Ezekiel 14:23 kjv
And they shall comfort you, when ye see their ways and their doings: and ye shall know that I have not done without cause all that I have done in it, saith the Lord GOD.
Ezekiel 14:23 nkjv
And they will comfort you, when you see their ways and their doings; and you shall know that I have done nothing without cause that I have done in it," says the Lord GOD.
Ezekiel 14:23 niv
You will be consoled when you see their conduct and their actions, for you will know that I have done nothing in it without cause, declares the Sovereign LORD."
Ezekiel 14:23 esv
They will console you, when you see their ways and their deeds, and you shall know that I have not done without cause all that I have done in it, declares the Lord GOD."
Ezekiel 14:23 nlt
When you meet them and see their behavior, you will understand that these things are not being done to Israel without cause. I, the Sovereign LORD, have spoken!"
Ezekiel 14 23 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Ezekiel 14:23 | "And they shall comfort you, when you see their ways and their doings: and ye shall know that I have not done without cause all that I have done in it, saith the Lord GOD." | Judgment not in vain; city renewed |
| Jeremiah 12:15 | "And it shall come to pass, after that I have plucked them out I will return, and have compassion on them, and will bring every man again to his own heritage, and to his own land." | God's return and compassion |
| Jeremiah 29:11 | "For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end." | God's thoughts toward His people |
| Jeremiah 30:3 | "For, lo, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will bring again the captivity of my people Israel and Judah, saith the LORD: and I will cause them to return to the land that I gave to their fathers, and they shall possess it." | Restoration of Israel and Judah |
| Isaiah 40:1-2 | "Comfort ye, comfort ye my people, saith your God. Speak ye comfortably unto Jerusalem, and cry unto her, that her warfare is accomplished, that her iniquity is pardoned: for she hath received of the LORD's hand double for all her sins." | Comfort and pardon for Jerusalem |
| Isaiah 60:15 | "Whereas thou hast been forsaken and hated, so that no man went through thee, I will make thee of eternal excellency, the joy of the whole earth." | Jerusalem's future glory |
| Ezekiel 36:33-36 | "Thus saith the Lord GOD; In the day that I shall have cleansed you from all your iniquities; I will also cause you to dwell in the cities, and the desolate shall be built. And the barren land shall be tilled, instead of lying desolate before the eyes of all that pass by. And they shall say, This land that was desolate is become like the garden of Eden; and the waste and desolate and ruined cities are become fenced, and are inhabited. Then the heathen that are left round about you shall know that I the LORD build the ruined places, and plant that that was desolate: I the LORD have spoken it, and I will do it." | Cleansing, rebuilding, and prosperity |
| Ezekiel 43:6-7 | "And he brought me thither: and, behold, the glory of the God of Israel came from the way of the east: and his voice was like a noise of many waters: and the earth shined with his glory. And, behold, as the likeness of the appearance of that which I saw, I fell upon my face, and the saying of him that caused the post of the house to enter into the house in the day of the new appointment, and concerning the second month." | God's glory returns to Jerusalem |
| Lamentations 4:22 | "The punishment of thine iniquity is accomplished, O daughter of Zion; he will no more carry thee away into captivity: he will visit thine iniquity, O daughter of Edom; he will discover thy sins." | End of captivity for Zion |
| Zechariah 1:16-17 | "Therefore thus saith the LORD; I am returned to Jerusalem with mercies: my house shall be built in it, saith the LORD of hosts, and a surveyor's line shall be stretched forth upon Jerusalem. Cry yet, saying, Thus saith the LORD of hosts; My cities through abundance of goodness shall yet yet overflow; and the LORD shall yet comfort Zion, and shall yet choose Jerusalem." | God's return and rebuilding of Jerusalem |
| Psalm 51:18 | "Do good in thy good pleasure unto Zion: build thou the walls of Jerusalem." | Prayer for Zion's building |
| Acts 20:32 | "And now, brethren, I commend you to God, and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up, and to give you an inheritance among all them which are sanctified." | God's word builds up believers |
| Romans 11:12 | "Now if the fall of them be the riches of the world, and the diminishing of them the riches of the Gentiles; how much more their fulness?" | Gentiles benefit from Israel's diminished state |
| Romans 15:4 | "For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope." | Scriptures provide hope and learning |
Ezekiel 14 verses
Ezekiel 14 23 Meaning
This verse offers a hopeful prognosis for Jerusalem. It declares that despite the severe judgment the city has faced due to the unfaithfulness of its people and rulers, God is not finished with Jerusalem. The surviving remnant, those who have escaped the devastation, will become the means for the city's renewal and will witness and experience God's faithfulness and their own recovery.
Ezekiel 14 23 Context
Ezekiel chapter 14 is set during the Babylonian exile. The prophet is addressing the elders of Israel who are seeking God's will. God expresses His displeasure with idolatry, even among those seeking His counsel, by likening their hardened hearts to idols themselves. He outlines a severe judgment that will befall Jerusalem, highlighting that no amount of intercession from righteous figures like Noah, Daniel, or Job could turn away His wrath from a wicked generation. Verses 12-20 detail the nature of this impending destruction, where even the most righteous inhabitants could only save themselves by their righteousness, not their intercessory power. Verse 23, however, serves as a pivotal point, transitioning from the announcement of judgment to a future promise of restoration and solace. The survivors, returning and seeing the ways of those who remained faithful, will understand the justice and necessity of God's actions. This indicates that the judgment, while harsh, was not arbitrary but was a cleansing process that would ultimately lead to a renewed Jerusalem.
Ezekiel 14 23 Word analysis
וְיִנָּחֲמ֥וּ (wə·yin·nā·ḥə·mū): "And they shall comfort" or "and they will be comforted." This verb from the root נחם (nacham) signifies solace, consolation, and relief from sorrow or distress. In this context, it speaks to the comfort that the surviving righteous will find in seeing the repentant or transformed lives of others in Jerusalem.
אֹתְךָ (ʾō·ṯə·ḵā): "you." This is a second person masculine singular pronoun, directly addressing Jerusalem as a personified entity or its inhabitants.
כִּרְאֹתְכֶם (kir·ʾō·ṯə·ḵem): "when you see" or "upon your seeing." The preposition כּ (ki) means "when" or "as," and the verb ראה (ra'ah) means "to see." This emphasizes the visual aspect of the survivors witnessing the restoration and the changed ways of those within Jerusalem.
אֶת־דַּרְכָּם (ʾet-dar·kām): "their ways." From the root דרך (derek), meaning "path," "way," or "conduct." This refers to the actions and lifestyles of the people of Jerusalem.
וְאֶת־מַעֲלֲלֵיהֶם (wə·ʾet-ma·‘ă·lā·lê·hem): "and their doings" or "and their deeds." From the root עלל (‘alal), meaning "to do," "to act," or "to perform." This highlights the deeds and actions that stem from their ways.
וִידַעְתֶּם (wî·ḏa‘·têm): "and you shall know" or "and you will know." From the root ידע (yada'), meaning "to know," "to understand," or "to recognize." This implies a clear and experiential understanding.
כִּי־לֹא־חִנָּם (ḵî-lō-ḥin·nām): "that not without cause" or "that not in vain." The particle כִּי (ki) means "that," and חִנָּם (chinam) means "gratuitously," "in vain," or "without cause." This signifies that God's actions, though severe, had a justifiable reason.
עָשִׂיתִי (‘ā·śî·ṯî): "I have done." First person singular imperfect verb from the root עשה (asah), meaning "to do," "to make," or "to perform." This refers to God's past actions of judgment upon the city.
אֵת־כָּל־אֲשֶׁר־עָשִׂיתִי (ʾet-kāl-ʾă·šer-‘ā·śî·ṯî): "all that I have done." This phrase underscores the totality and comprehensive nature of God's judgment and subsequent actions.
בָּהּ (bāh): "in it." A prepositional suffix referring to the city (Jerusalem).
נְאֻם־אֲדֹנָי יְהֹוִה (nə·ʾum-ʾă·ḏō·nāy yə·hō·wîh): "saith the Lord GOD." A common prophetic formula emphasizing the divine authority of the message.
Group analysis (The contrast between God's judgment and future restoration): The verse contrasts the past severe judgment ("all that I have done") with the future comfort and knowledge gained by the survivors ("they shall comfort you... and you shall know"). This implies that the understanding of God's actions comes through witnessing the positive transformation resulting from His past judgments.
Group analysis (The role of human observation in divine understanding): The emphasis on "when you see their ways and their doings" suggests that divine justice and purposes are often revealed and understood through human observation of repentant hearts and changed lives, confirming God's faithful governance.
Group analysis (Divine action rooted in purpose): The phrase "that I have not done without cause all that I have done in it" affirms that God's disciplinary actions are never capricious but are purposeful, aimed at correction and ultimately redemption.
Ezekiel 14 23 Bonus section
The comforting that will be experienced by the survivors can be understood as both their own comfort in seeing their loved ones safe and the comfort they provide to those within the restored city. It highlights that the spiritual recovery of a people is often intertwined with their physical and communal restoration. This verse echoes the sentiment that after periods of great affliction and chastisement, a profound understanding and peace can settle upon the faithful. The knowledge gained is not just academic but experiential, confirming that God's covenant faithfulness persists even through difficult dispensations. It implies that true security and peace are found not in the absence of hardship, but in the assurance that God's judgments serve a higher, redemptive purpose.
Ezekiel 14 23 Commentary
This verse offers a perspective shift for Jerusalem, moving from a state of deep desolation and consequence to one of understanding and eventual comfort. The survivors returning to the city will see the changed lifestyles of its remaining inhabitants or those who are re-established there. This observation will provide them with the assurance that God’s severe judgments were not arbitrary but were just and necessary for the purification and eventual renewal of the city. It underscores the principle that God's dealings with His people, even in judgment, are restorative and ultimately serve a divine purpose, leading to a deeper knowledge and affirmation of His faithfulness. The comfort derived is not merely emotional but also intellectual and spiritual, stemming from a recognized purpose in suffering.