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 4 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Ezekiel 14:4 | "Therefore speak to them and say to them, ‘Thus says the Lord GOD: Any man of Israel who sets up idols in his heart and puts a stumbling block of iniquity in front of his face, and then comes to the prophet, I the LORD will answer him from Myself. | Parallel in Ezekiel 14:5, 7, 9, 10 |
| Ezekiel 14:5 | "I will set My face against that man and make him a sign and a proverb, and I will cut him off from among My people; and you shall know that I am the LORD." | Similar warning in Ezekiel 15:7 |
| Jeremiah 16:17 | "For My eyes are on all their ways; they are not hidden from My face, nor is their iniquity concealed from My eyes." | God's omniscience |
| Psalm 139:1-4 | "O LORD, You have searched me and known me! You know when I sit and when I rise; You perceive my thoughts from afar. You discern my path and my lying down, and are acquainted with all my ways. Even before a word is on my tongue, behold, O LORD, You know it altogether." | God's intimate knowledge |
| Proverbs 15:3 | "The eyes of the LORD are in every place, keeping watch on the evil and the good." | God's watchful presence |
| Isaiah 29:15 | "Woe to those who seek to hide their deeds from the LORD, and whose deeds are done in the dark! They say, “Who sees us? Who knows us?”" | Hiding sin from God |
| John 4:24 | "God is spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth." | True worship requires sincerity |
| Acts 15:8 | "And God, who knows the heart, bore witness to them, by giving them the Holy Spirit just as He did to us," | God knows the heart |
| 1 Corinthians 8:3 | "but if anyone loves God, he is known by Him." | God's knowledge and love |
| Hebrews 4:12 | "For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart." | God's penetrating word |
| 1 Peter 2:5 | "you yourselves like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ." | Spiritual house and priesthood |
| Revelation 2:23 | "I will put her children to death, and all the churches will know that I am He who searches minds and hearts, and I will give to each of you according to your works." | God searches hearts |
| Jeremiah 17:9 | "The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick; who can understand it?" | The deceptive nature of the heart |
| Psalm 66:18 | "If I had cherished iniquity in my heart, the Lord would not have listened." | Sin in the heart hinders prayer |
| Romans 2:14-15 | "For when Gentiles who do not have the law do by nature what the law requires, they show that the work of the law is written on their hearts, while their conscience also bears witness. They accuse or even excuse one another)" | Conscience and inner workings |
| Joshua 24:23 | "Now then,” he said, “put away the foreign gods that are among you and incline your hearts to the LORD, the God of Israel.” | Incline your hearts |
| Deuteronomy 18:20 | "But the prophet who presumes to speak a word in My name that I have not commanded him to speak, or who speaks in the name of other gods, that prophet shall die." | False prophets' punishment |
| Zechariah 7:10 | "Do not oppress the widow, the fatherless, the sojourner, or the poor, and let none of you devise evil against his brother in your heart.” | Heart's evil intentions |
| Galatians 5:17 | "For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things that you want to do.” | Flesh versus Spirit |
| Colossians 2:23 | "(though they have a form of religion and worship, and zeal for God, but no real knowledge of it), as they are always learning and never able to arrive at a knowledge of the truth." | Forms without truth |
Ezekiel 14 verses
Ezekiel 14 4 Meaning
The verse describes God's direct communication with elders who have come to inquire of Him. It emphasizes God's knowledge of those who are secretly following idols, highlighting the sin that prompted His judgment and the need for examination and separation.
Ezekiel 14 4 Context
Ezekiel is prophesying to the elders of Israel during the Babylonian exile. They have come seeking guidance from the prophet, likely for reassurance amidst their difficult circumstances. However, God reveals that their request is undermined by their hidden idolatry. This specific verse occurs within a broader discourse where God is addressing the impurity and spiritual adultery of His people, particularly the elders who should have been leading them. The historical context is one of national calamity, a direct consequence of centuries of disobedience and unfaithfulness to the covenant. The people's outward seeking of God is contrasted with their inward devotion to forbidden deities.
Ezekiel 14 4 Word analysis
וְעַתָּה֙ (v'at-ta) - "And now." This conjunction signals a shift in focus, introducing God's direct response to the elders' presence.
דַּבֵּר (dab-ber) - "Speak." A strong imperative verb, commanding Ezekiel to deliver God's message.
אֲלֵהֶם (a-ley-hem) - "to them." Refers back to the elders who have come to inquire of the LORD.
וְאָמַרְתָּ (v'o-mar-ta) - "and you shall say." Further command to relay the message verbatim.
כֹּה (ko) - "Thus" or "So." Introduces God's declaration, indicating authority and direct speech.
אָמַר (o-mar) - "says." Present tense, indicating God's ongoing speech.
יְהוִה (Y'-ho-vih) - "the LORD." The covenant name of God, emphasizing His personal relationship with Israel.
אִ֣ישׁ (ish) - "any man" or "every man." This includes all individuals within Israel.
יִשְׂרָאֵל (Yis-ra-el) - "Israel." The nation and covenant people.
אֲשֶׁר (a-sher) - "whoever." Introduces a relative clause defining the condition.
יָקִים (ya-kim) - "sets up" or "establishes." Implies active creation and foundation of something.
בְּלִבּוֹ (b'-liv-vo) - "in his heart." This is crucial; it refers to inner commitment and devotion, not just outward acts.
אֶת־ (et) - Direct object marker.
אֱלִילִים (e-lil-lim) - "idols" or "worthless things." Specifically refers to images and objects of false worship, representing things other than God.
וְאֶת־ (v'et) - "and." Connects two parallel clauses.
מִכְשׁוֹל (mikh-shol) - "stumbling block" or "trap." Refers to anything that causes spiritual ruin or leads one astray.
עֲוֹנוֹ (a-vo-no) - "his iniquity" or "his sin." The inherent sinfulness or transgression that causes the stumbling.
וַיָּשֶׂם (vai-ya-sem) - "and puts." Signifies the deliberate placement of the sin as an obstacle.
מִנֶּגֶד (min-ne-ged) - "before" or "in front of."
פָּנָיו (pa-nav) - "his face." Indicates direct opposition or in his presence.
וּבָא֙ (u-va) - "and comes." The act of approaching the prophet.
אֶל־ (el) - "to."
נָבִיא (na-vi) - "prophet." One who speaks for God.
אֲנִי֙ (a-ni) - "I." Emphasizes God's direct involvement.
יְהוִה (Y'-ho-vih) - "the LORD."
אֶעֱנֵהוּ (e-'o-ne-hu) - "will answer him." This answer will not necessarily be favorable but will be a direct divine response, likely judgmental.
אֲנִ֣י (a-ni) - "I." Self-emphasis again.
יְהוִה (Y'-ho-vih) - "the LORD."
אֶעֱנֵהוּ (e-'o-ne-hu) - "will answer him." Repetition reinforces God's direct engagement.
Words/Phrases Group Analysis:
- "sets up idols in his heart": This signifies not just external idolatry but internal, spiritual devotion to something else. It points to a divided heart.
- "puts a stumbling block of iniquity before his face": This emphasizes that sin becomes a personal, visible impediment to sincere communion with God. It’s a deliberate act of setting oneself against God.
- "comes to the prophet, I the LORD will answer him from Myself": This highlights God's unique capacity to discern true intentions and to respond directly, not necessarily with validation but with judgment for hypocrisy. The answer is from God Himself, emphasizing His sovereignty and direct intervention.
Ezekiel 14 4 Bonus section
The concept of the "heart" (לֵב - lev) in Hebrew thought encompasses the intellect, will, and emotions – the very core of a person's being. Setting up idols in the heart means the entirety of one's inner person is devoted to something other than God. This verse, alongside numerous others, underscores that God's primary concern is the inner state of worship and allegiance, not merely external rituals. It serves as a profound reminder that genuine relationship with God requires sincerity of heart, free from hidden corruptions that act as "stumbling blocks" to true communion. The elders' action represents a subtle but deadly form of apostasy where outward seeking masks inner defiance.
Ezekiel 14 4 Commentary
This verse exposes the depth of spiritual rebellion. God is not fooled by outward piety when the heart remains devoted to idols. The elders come seeking divine counsel, yet their internal allegiances are to false gods or to the "stumbling block of their iniquity." This refers to anything that leads them away from God, whether it's material possessions, power, or cherished sins. God's response, "I the LORD will answer him from Myself," is chilling. It suggests God will directly engage with their false piety, not to affirm them, but to confront their hypocrisy and deliver judgment. This demonstrates God’s thorough knowledge of human hearts and His demand for wholehearted devotion, condemning any form of divided loyalty or sin concealed beneath a veneer of religious observance. The prophetic task is to unmask this hidden sin to prepare the way for repentance or righteous judgment.