Ezekiel 14 4

Ezekiel 14:4 kjv

Therefore speak unto them, and say unto them, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Every man of the house of Israel that setteth up his idols in his heart, and putteth the stumblingblock of his iniquity before his face, and cometh to the prophet; I the LORD will answer him that cometh according to the multitude of his idols;

Ezekiel 14:4 nkjv

"Therefore speak to them, and say to them, 'Thus says the Lord GOD: "Everyone of the house of Israel who sets up his idols in his heart, and puts before him what causes him to stumble into iniquity, and then comes to the prophet, I the LORD will answer him who comes, according to the multitude of his idols,

Ezekiel 14:4 niv

Therefore speak to them and tell them, 'This is what the Sovereign LORD says: When any of the Israelites set up idols in their hearts and put a wicked stumbling block before their faces and then go to a prophet, I the LORD will answer them myself in keeping with their great idolatry.

Ezekiel 14:4 esv

Therefore speak to them and say to them, Thus says the Lord GOD: Any one of the house of Israel who takes his idols into his heart and sets the stumbling block of his iniquity before his face, and yet comes to the prophet, I the LORD will answer him as he comes with the multitude of his idols,

Ezekiel 14:4 nlt

Tell them, 'This is what the Sovereign LORD says: The people of Israel have set up idols in their hearts and fallen into sin, and then they go to a prophet asking for a message. So I, the LORD, will give them the kind of answer their great idolatry deserves.

Ezekiel 14 verses

Ezekiel 14 4 Meaning

This verse pronounces God's stern declaration that when individuals from the house of Israel approach His prophet while simultaneously harboring idols in their hearts and openly practicing sin, He will respond to them. However, His answer will not be one of guidance or favor, but a judgment commensurate with the very multitude of the idols they cherish and the depths of their spiritual rebellion. It highlights that God looks beyond outward religious conformity to the true state of the heart.

Ezekiel 14 4 Context

Ezekiel chapter 14 begins with certain elders of Israel coming to Ezekiel, ostensibly seeking a word from the Lord. These are likely exiles in Babylon, struggling with their current situation and perhaps yearning for an end to their suffering or a restoration of Jerusalem. However, immediately before this verse, God reveals to Ezekiel that these very men have "set up their idols in their heart, and put the stumblingblock of their iniquity before their face" (Eze 14:3). The broader historical context is the Babylonian exile, a time of national catastrophe that should have prompted repentance. Yet, many Israelites continued their idolatrous practices and rebellious hearts, often in subtle forms of spiritual unfaithfulness, even while outwardly appearing pious by seeking a prophet. This verse specifically addresses Ezekiel on how to respond to such insincere inquiries, revealing God's absolute commitment to discerning the true spiritual state behind any religious act.

Ezekiel 14 4 Word analysis

• Therefore speak unto them, and say unto them: This phrase underscores the divine authority and command given to Ezekiel. It signifies that what follows is a direct revelation from God, not Ezekiel's personal opinion or insight.
• Thus saith the Lord GOD: "Adonai YHWH" (אֲדֹנָי יְהוָה). "Adonai" denotes "Lord" or "Master," emphasizing God's sovereign authority. "YHWH" is the personal covenant name of God, indicating His unwavering character and covenant faithfulness, even when revealing judgment. It grounds the subsequent declaration in absolute divine truth.
• Every man of the house of Israel: This universalizes the application within the Israelite community, indicating that the problem is widespread and the judgment is not exclusive to the elders present. It includes anyone, not just those physically before Ezekiel.
• that setteth up his idols in his heart:
  • setteth up (עָלָה, 'alah): "to ascend, to bring up, to put up." It implies a deliberate, active installation and veneration of these idols within the deepest core of one's being. This is not passive yielding but an intentional act of devotion.
  • his idols (גִּלּוּלָיו, gillulav): From "gillulim," a derogatory term, possibly derived from "galal" (to roll) or related to "gelel" (dung, excrement). It highlights God's utter contempt for these objects of false worship, seeing them as detestable, worthless filth. "In his heart" (לִבּוֹ, libbo) refers to the seat of will, intellect, affection, and moral decision. It denotes inner allegiance and spiritual devotion to something other than God, often more insidious than physical idol worship. This is a primary source of rebellion, reflecting inner corruption.
• and putteth the stumblingblock of his iniquity before his face:
  • putteth (שׂוּם, sum): "to put, place, set." Again, this emphasizes a conscious and deliberate action, a choice to position sin as an open reality in one's life.
  • stumblingblock (מִכְשׁוֹל, mikshol): "a trap, offense, anything causing a fall." It implies an impediment to walking uprightly with God, something that leads to moral failure. It can also refer to a cause for stumbling in others.
  • his iniquity (עֲוֹנוֹ, 'awono): "perversion, guilt, punishment." It refers to moral crookedness, a deviation from God's ways, the guilt derived from it, and even its resulting punishment.
  • before his face (לְפָנָיו, lefanav): This is a direct, open, and unapologetic display or commitment to their sin, effectively flaunting it even as they seek divine counsel. It signifies that the sin is not hidden or merely contemplated but embraced and put into practice.
• and cometh to the prophet: This describes their external act of seeking divine revelation, which directly contradicts their internal spiritual condition. It is an act of hypocrisy, seeking God's word while inwardly despising it and living contrary to His commands.
• I the LORD will answer him that cometh according to the multitude of his idols;
  • I the LORD (אֲנִי יְהוָה, Ani YHWH): God's self-identification here emphasizes the absolute certainty and divine source of the response. It affirms His power to discern the heart and to justly respond.
  • will answer him (אֶעֱנֶנּוּ, e'enennu): God confirms He will answer, but the nature of the answer is unexpected. It's not a revelation for their benefit, but a decisive declaration of judgment aligned with their unfaithfulness.
  • according to the multitude of his idols (כְּרֹב גִּלּוּלָיו, kerov gillulav): This signifies that God's response will perfectly match their internal devotion. The judgment will be proportionate to the abundance and intensity of their secret idolatry. It implies an exact and just reciprocation; the more they worship false gods in their heart, the more God will validate and intensify that chosen spiritual reality by giving them over to it.

Ezekiel 14 4 Bonus section

This verse not only applies to ancient Israel's physical and spiritual idolatry but also extends as a principle to any age, including today. "Idols in the heart" can manifest as an over-devotion to anything that supplants God's rightful place: wealth, career, relationships, self, pleasure, or personal ambition. These become internal lords dictating choices and shaping worldview. The "stumblingblock of iniquity before his face" represents knowingly cherishing and engaging in sin, making excuses for it, or embracing practices that clearly contradict God's commands, while simultaneously maintaining a veneer of piety or religious interest. The chilling reality that God "answers" according to these hidden idols reminds us that our true allegiance is transparent to Him, and our ultimate spiritual destiny is shaped by what we genuinely worship.

Ezekiel 14 4 Commentary

Ezekiel 14:4 is a powerful condemnation of spiritual hypocrisy, illustrating that God discerns beyond outward religious pretense to the true condition of the heart. The Israelites described sought divine guidance from Ezekiel, yet their hearts were far from God, engrossed in "gillulim"—detestable, spiritual "dung-pellets"—and they actively placed the "stumblingblock of their iniquity" before themselves. God's declaration, "I the LORD will answer him... according to the multitude of his idols," reveals His unwavering justice. He will not provide comforting oracles to those whose hearts are deceitful; instead, His "answer" will be a just judgment that reflects and confirms their chosen path of idolatry and rebellion. This response could involve allowing them to persist in their self-deception, giving them a word of condemnation, or even inflicting the very consequences their unfaithfulness deserves. It underscores that genuine spiritual inquiry demands a sincere and undivided heart devoted solely to God, rejecting all forms of both overt and internal idolatry. It is a profound call for authentic repentance over superficial religiosity.