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 |
|---|---|---|
| Ezekiel 14:4 | "Therefore, speak to them and say to them, 'Thus says the Lord GOD: ...' | Eze 14:3,4,7; Jer 3:1 |
| Ezekiel 20:3 | "Son of man, speak to the elders of Israel and say to them...' | Eze 14:1,3; Eze 20:3,31 |
| Jeremiah 3:1 | "'If a man divorces his wife and she goes from him and becomes another man's...' | Jer 3:1,6; Eze 14:2,3 |
| Hosea 5:5 | "The pride of Israel testifies against him; Israel and Ephraim stumble...' | Hos 5:5; Eze 14:3,4 |
| Psalm 18:41 | "They cried out, but there was no one to save them; to the LORD, but He... | Psa 18:41; Isa 1:15 |
| Isaiah 58:2 | "Yet they seek Me daily and delight in knowing My ways, as though it were a righteous nation...' | Isa 58:2; Eze 14:3,4 |
| Amos 8:12 | "They shall wander from sea to sea and from north to east; they shall run to and fro seeking the word of the LORD, but shall not find it." | Amo 8:12; Eze 14:3,11 |
| Jeremiah 7:29 | "Shave off your consecrated hair and throw it away! And begin to wail on the desolate heights, for the LORD has rejected and forsaken the generation of His wrath.”" | Jer 7:29; Eze 14:3,13 |
| Ezekiel 6:13 | "Then you shall know that I am the LORD, when their slain are among their idols, around their altars, on every high hill, on all the mountaintops, under every green tree, and under every thick oak, places where they offered pleasing aroma to all their idols." | Eze 6:13; Eze 14:6 |
| 1 Corinthians 10:14 | "Therefore, my beloved, flee from idolatry." | 1 Cor 10:14; Eze 14:3-5 |
| James 4:8 | "Draw near to God, and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, sinners, and purify your hearts, double-minded." | Jam 4:8; Eze 14:3 |
| Ezekiel 14:7 | "For every one of the house of Israel, or of the strangers who sojourn in Israel, who puts away any kind of idol and sets his face toward Me to defile himself no more..." | Eze 14:3,7 |
| Matthew 15:8 | "'This people honors Me with their lips, but their heart is far from Me." | Matt 15:8; Eze 14:3 |
| Proverbs 28:9 | "Whoever turns away his ear from listening to the law, even his prayer is an abomination." | Pro 28:9; Eze 14:3 |
| Ezekiel 14:11 | "that the house of Israel may be restored from being scattered among the nations and no longer wander." | Eze 14:11; Eze 14:23 |
| Jeremiah 32:33 | "They have turned their back to Me and not their face. Though I taught them persistently, rising early and teaching, they have not listened to receive instruction." | Jer 32:33; Eze 14:3,5 |
| Deuteronomy 11:16 | "Take care lest your heart be deceived, and you turn aside and serve other gods and worship them," | Deu 11:16; Eze 14:4 |
| Ezekiel 14:9 | "And if the prophet is persuaded and speaks a word, it is I, the LORD, who have persuaded that prophet, and I will stretch out My hand against him and destroy him from the midst of My people Israel." | Eze 14:9; Jer 14:14 |
| Isaiah 48:5 | "that I have also spoken it in former times, and declared it. Then I proclaimed it to you, and before it came to pass I announced it to you, lest you should say, ‘My idol did this, and my graven image and my molten image commanded them.’" | Isa 48:5; Eze 14:4 |
| Psalm 119:113 | "I hate those who are double-minded, but I love Your law." | Psa 119:113; Jam 4:8 |
Ezekiel 14 verses
Ezekiel 14 3 Meaning
This verse condemns elders of Israel who have come to seek the LORD by coming to the prophet Ezekiel. The LORD states that He will not allow Himself to be sought by them, highlighting their hypocrisy and spiritual unfaithfulness. They are approaching Him in appearance but their hearts are far from Him, having turned to idols.
Ezekiel 14 3 Context
Ezekiel chapter 14 is set in Babylon, where many Judean elders have come to consult the prophet Ezekiel. This follows the second deportation of Judah, a period of great distress and despair for the exiles. The elders approach Ezekiel with outward piety, seeking the word of the LORD, likely for reassurance or guidance about their current predicament and the fate of Jerusalem. However, the LORD, through Ezekiel, exposes their inner corruption. Despite their outward appearance and consultation of the prophet, their hearts remain divided and turned towards idolatry, a recurring theme throughout Israel's history and a primary reason for their exile. This chapter, therefore, addresses the issue of unfaithfulness to God even in a context of seeking His will, highlighting the futility of approaching God with insincere hearts.
Ezekiel 14 3 Word Analysis
- "And": This conjunctive particle introduces the divine pronouncement against the elders.
- "it came": Implies a direct word from the LORD being conveyed to Ezekiel.
- "to me": Refers to the prophet Ezekiel, the recipient of the divine message.
- "word": The message or revelation from God.
- "of the LORD": Emphasizes the divine origin and authority of the message.
- "saying": Introduces the direct speech of God.
- "Son of man": A divine title given to Ezekiel, signifying his humanity yet divinely appointed role as God's messenger. It draws attention to the human instrument through which God speaks.
- "there came": Indicates the arrival or presence of specific individuals.
- "certain": Suggests specific individuals among the community.
- "of the elders": Refers to the leaders or prominent men of Israel, whose role should be spiritual guidance but here are spiritually compromised.
- "of Israel": Specifies the group to whom these elders belong.
- "unto me": Again, directed to the prophet Ezekiel, who acts as an intermediary.
- "to inquire": Signifies their intent to ask questions or seek counsel.
- "of the LORD": Their stated objective is to consult God.
Words-group Analysis
- "Son of man, there came certain of the elders of Israel unto me to inquire of the LORD": This phrase sets the scene. The elders, representatives of the people, present themselves to Ezekiel. Their seeking of the LORD's counsel implies a formal engagement, possibly in a communal or leadership capacity. However, the subsequent divine response reveals that this "inquiry" is superficial, driven by the elders' spiritual state rather than genuine devotion.
Ezekiel 14 3 Bonus Section
This verse is particularly significant because it occurs in a context of exilic distress. The elders would have been seeking divine favor and perhaps a favorable prophecy about a return to Jerusalem. However, God's message redirects their focus from a hoped-for outcome to the necessary condition for receiving His favor: purification from idolatry. The underlying sin of the elders (and by extension, the nation) is not just the act of consulting a false god, but the deep-seated attachment to idolatry that their hearts retained, even in exile. This highlights that God's relationship with His people is contingent on their covenant faithfulness. Their actions were essentially seeking divine legitimacy for their spiritual adultery.
Ezekiel 14 3 Commentary
The elders' visit to Ezekiel is a critical juncture, showcasing a grave spiritual apostasy. Despite approaching God's prophet, their hearts are polluted with idolatry, making their seeking of the LORD an offense. This illustrates the biblical principle that God can only be truly approached by the faithful. Their outward reverence for God's word is hollow because it is not accompanied by inward loyalty. The LORD's immediate rejection of their inquiry underscores the necessity of a pure heart in approaching the divine. God sees beyond outward show; He scrutinizes the intentions and allegiance of the heart. Thus, this verse serves as a stark warning against hypocrisy in religious observance. It highlights that genuine seeking of God requires a complete break from sin and a wholehearted devotion, making it clear that God will not entertain the petitions of those who cling to sin, particularly idolatry.