Ezekiel 14:3 kjv
Son of man, these men have set up their idols in their heart, and put the stumblingblock of their iniquity before their face: should I be enquired of at all by them?
Ezekiel 14:3 nkjv
"Son of man, these men have set up their idols in their hearts, and put before them that which causes them to stumble into iniquity. Should I let Myself be inquired of at all by them?
Ezekiel 14:3 niv
"Son of man, these men have set up idols in their hearts and put wicked stumbling blocks before their faces. Should I let them inquire of me at all?
Ezekiel 14:3 esv
"Son of man, these men have taken their idols into their hearts, and set the stumbling block of their iniquity before their faces. Should I indeed let myself be consulted by them?
Ezekiel 14:3 nlt
"Son of man, these leaders have set up idols in their hearts. They have embraced things that will make them fall into sin. Why should I listen to their requests?
Ezekiel 14 3 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Eze 14:4 | "Therefore speak to them and tell them, 'Thus says the Lord G-D: Any one of the house of Israel who sets up his idols in his heart, and puts the stumbling block of his iniquity before his face... | God explicitly states His direct judgment on them. |
| Psa 66:18 | "If I had cherished iniquity in my heart, the Lord would not have listened." | God does not hear those who cherish sin. |
| Prov 15:29 | "The L-RD is far from the wicked, but he hears the prayer of the righteous." | God's distance from the wicked. |
| Jer 17:9 | "The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick; who can understand it?" | Humanity's deceitful heart. |
| Mark 7:21-23 | "For from within, out of the heart of man, come evil thoughts... idolatry..." | Sin originates from the heart. |
| Matt 15:8 | "This people honors me with their lips, but their heart is far from me..." | Hypocritical lip service rejected. |
| Isa 1:15 | "When you spread out your hands, I will hide my eyes from you; even though you make many prayers, I will not listen..." | God's refusal to hear unholy prayers. |
| Zec 7:13 | "'As I called and they would not hear, so they called, and I would not hear,' says the L-RD of hosts." | God's reciprocal silence for disobedience. |
| 1 Sam 15:23 | "For rebellion is as the sin of divination, and presumption is as iniquity and idolatry." | Rebellion equated to idolatry. |
| 1 Cor 8:9 | "But take care that this liberty of yours does not somehow become a stumbling block to the weak." | Concept of a stumbling block to others. |
| Rom 14:13 | "Therefore let us not pass judgment on one another any longer, but rather decide never to put a stumbling block or hindrance in the way of a brother." | Believers not to cause stumbling. |
| Mat 18:7 | "Woe to the world for temptations to sin! For it is necessary that temptations come, but woe to the one by whom the temptation comes!" | Woe to those who cause others to stumble. |
| Psa 24:3-4 | "Who shall ascend the hill of the L-RD? And who shall stand in his holy place? He who has clean hands and a pure heart..." | Requirement for approaching God's presence. |
| James 4:3 | "You ask and do not receive, because you ask wrongly, to spend it on your passions." | Improper motives lead to unanswered prayer. |
| Deut 29:18 | "...lest there be among you a root bearing poisonous and bitter fruit..." | Hidden sin's corrupting influence. |
| Rom 1:21-23 | "For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened." | Suppression of truth and internal idolatry. |
| Col 3:5 | "Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality... and covetousness, which is idolatry." | Covetousness defined as idolatry. |
| Eph 5:5 | "For you may be sure of this, that everyone who is sexually immoral or impure, or who is covetous (that is, an idolater), has no inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God." | Idolaters have no inheritance. |
| Heb 11:6 | "And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him." | Necessity of true faith to approach God. |
| John 9:31 | "We know that God does not listen to sinners, but if anyone is a worshiper of God and does his will, God listens to him." | God hears those who do His will. |
| Hos 6:6 | "For I desire steadfast love and not sacrifice, the knowledge of God rather than burnt offerings." | Emphasizes inner disposition over ritual. |
| Jer 29:13 | "You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart." | Requirement of wholehearted seeking. |
Ezekiel 14 verses
Ezekiel 14 3 Meaning
Ezekiel 14:3 delivers a stark divine declaration concerning those who feigned devotion while harboring deep-seated spiritual corruption. God confronts individuals who came seeking His word, revealing that their hearts were filled with hidden idols and their actions were directly shaped by their moral failings. The verse asserts that these internal sins constitute a "stumbling block of their iniquity" perpetually placed before their "faces," making them fundamentally unfit to receive genuine divine counsel. The rhetorical question concludes God's utter refusal to engage with such duplicitous petitioners.
Ezekiel 14 3 Context
Ezekiel chapter 14 begins with elders of Israel coming to Ezekiel to inquire of the Lord. These elders, representing the exiled community in Babylon, likely sought answers concerning their future, the duration of their exile, or the restoration of Jerusalem. However, prior to any prophecy, God immediately exposes their hypocrisy and internal corruption. This verse sets the stage for God's stern rebuke and the declaration that He will judge His people directly, not through intermediaries who are also compromised. The historical context is the Babylonian exile, a period of severe judgment for Israel's prolonged idolatry and unfaithfulness. Even in exile, the core problem of a divided heart persisted. This verse is a direct divine response, emphasizing that proximity to a prophet or engagement in religious ritual holds no value when the heart remains estranged from God and devoted to other things.
Ezekiel 14 3 Word analysis
- Son of man:
Ben-adam(Hebrew: בֶּן־אָדָם). A frequent address used by God to Ezekiel, emphasizing Ezekiel's human vulnerability and identity, in contrast to the divine messenger's profound message. It serves as a reminder that the words come from God, through a human agent. - these men: Refers to the elders of Israel who had approached Ezekiel. They are physically present, but spiritually distant.
- have set up:
he'ĕlû(Hebrew: הֶעֱלּוּ) fromalah, meaning "to go up," "to bring up," or "to set up." Implies a deliberate, active, and established act of elevation. It's not passive, but a conscious placement and firm installation. - their idols:
gillûlîm(Hebrew: גִלּוּלִים). This is a term uniquely prominent in Ezekiel, often translated as "idols" or "dung-gods." It carries a derogatory and contemptuous connotation, mocking the worthlessness and defiling nature of the objects of false worship, likening them to excrement. It highlights their absolute abomination in God's sight. - in their hearts:
bîlaḇâm(Hebrew: בְּלִבָּם) fromleb, meaning "heart," encompassing intellect, will, emotions, and moral character. This signifies internal, deep-seated devotion and affection directed towards things other than God. It's a profound spiritual issue, not merely an external practice. - and put:
śāmû(Hebrew: שָׂמוּ) fromśîm, meaning "to place," "to set," or "to lay." Similar to "set up," it denotes an intentional and active placement, a conscious act of making something present and effective. - the stumbling block:
miḵšōl(Hebrew: מִכְשֹׁל). An obstacle or hindrance that causes one to trip, stumble, or fall. In a spiritual sense, it represents anything that leads to sin, spiritual error, or downfall. It is a temptation or moral pitfall. - of their iniquity:
ʿaḇōnâm(Hebrew: עֲוֹנָם). Their guilt, sin, perversion, moral depravity, or rebellion. The "stumbling block" is directly identified as their iniquity—their own sin has become the very impediment to their relationship with God. - before their faces:
nōḵaḥ pānîm(Hebrew: נֹכַח פְּנֵיהֶם) meaning "in front of their faces" or "directly before their eyes." This suggests openness, conscious awareness, and a direct encounter. It is not hidden, but ever-present and influential in their decisions and outlook. - should I be inquired of at all by them?:
hă'eḏāreš 'ēleh hēqēr tishal(Hebrew: הַאִדָּרֵשׁ אֶדָּרֵשׁ לָהֶם). This is a rhetorical question, carrying a strong negative implication.dārash(דָּרַשׁ) means "to seek," "to inquire," or "to consult." The doubling ofdārashintensifies the question ("be I indeed inquired of?"), making God's refusal even more emphatic. God expresses indignation and the absolute impossibility of being truly consulted by those with such defiled hearts and intentional sin. It's a statement of His moral unwillingness.
Words-group by words-group analysis
- "these men have set up their idols in their hearts": This phrase pinpoints the origin of their spiritual malady. It's not just about external idol worship, but a deeply internal, wilful allegiance to anything displacing God in their affections and will. Their
leb(heart) is given over togillûlîm(abominable things). - "and put the stumbling block of their iniquity before their faces": This connects their internal idolatry to their outward conduct. Their sins (
ʿaḇōnâm) are not incidental; they are a constant, self-imposed impediment (miḵšōl) that directly confronts and influences them (before their faces), hindering their spiritual walk and interaction with God. Their iniquity defines their path. - "should I be inquired of at all by them?": This rhetorical question highlights God's justice and holiness. He cannot be mocked. To inquire of Him while deliberately cherishing idols and displaying unrepentant sin is an affront. It's a statement that their hypocrisy invalidates any legitimate request for divine guidance.
Ezekiel 14 3 Bonus section
- Divine Revelation of Internal State: This verse is powerful because God is revealing to the prophet (and therefore to the elders) their innermost thoughts and hidden spiritual condition. This shows God's omniscience and His penetration of human pretense, even before they utter a word.
- A Call for Introspection: The message transcends the immediate historical context, serving as a timeless warning for all believers to regularly examine their hearts. What occupies our truest affections and allegiances? Is there a "stumbling block of iniquity" we've consciously allowed to remain?
- Foundation for Righteousness by Faith: While in the Old Testament context, it sets the stage for a New Testament understanding where heart righteousness is paramount (Rom 2:28-29; Heb 4:12-13). It underlines the futility of external religiosity without internal transformation.
Ezekiel 14 3 Commentary
Ezekiel 14:3 provides a profound commentary on the nature of true worship and the preconditions for divine communion. It unmasks the hypocrisy of religious observance without a transformed heart, emphasizing that God looks past outward appearance and ritual to the very core of one's being. The "idols in their hearts" reveal an internal devotion to something other than the one true God, whether it be wealth, power, comfort, or self-will, even if those are not physical objects. This hidden idolatry, coupled with the "stumbling block of their iniquity" consciously embraced, renders them entirely incompatible with seeking a holy God. Their sin acts as a perpetual barrier that prevents authentic interaction. God's emphatic refusal to be inquired of serves as a stark warning: God will not be used to validate or bless a life consumed by unconfessed sin and divided loyalties. It underscores that seeking God requires integrity, repentance, and a pure heart, not merely a formalistic approach to a prophet.