Ezekiel 14 5

Ezekiel 14:5 kjv

That I may take the house of Israel in their own heart, because they are all estranged from me through their idols.

Ezekiel 14:5 nkjv

that I may seize the house of Israel by their heart, because they are all estranged from Me by their idols." '

Ezekiel 14:5 niv

I will do this to recapture the hearts of the people of Israel, who have all deserted me for their idols.'

Ezekiel 14:5 esv

that I may lay hold of the hearts of the house of Israel, who are all estranged from me through their idols.

Ezekiel 14:5 nlt

I will do this to capture the minds and hearts of all my people who have turned from me to worship their detestable idols.'

Ezekiel 14 verses

Ezekiel 14 5 Meaning

Ezekiel 14:5 reveals God's explicit purpose in refusing to answer Israel's elders: He intends to directly confront and address the deep-seated spiritual disloyalty within their hearts. This disloyalty is manifested by their embracing of idols—not merely physical images, but deeply ingrained desires and allegiances that alienate them from the one true God. His action serves both as a judgment and a forceful reclamation, aiming to expose and correct their hypocrisy and call them to genuine, exclusive devotion.

Ezekiel 14 5 Context

Ezekiel chapter 14 opens with elders of Israel, presumably in Babylonian exile, approaching the prophet Ezekiel to inquire of the LORD. However, God immediately perceives their inner hypocrisy. Despite their outward appearance of seeking divine counsel, their hearts remain deeply entangled with "idols" – both physical and spiritual. This verse (14:5) follows God's refusal to answer them directly, explaining why He cannot engage with such a polluted approach. It establishes the principle that God will not be trifled with by those whose devotion is divided. The historical context is the period of the Babylonian exile, a time of national catastrophe which was a direct consequence of Israel's persistent idolatry and disobedience. Even in exile, many Israelites had not truly repented, clinging to old ways or new pagan influences, showing a deep spiritual disconnect despite their perceived religious practices.

Ezekiel 14 5 Word analysis

• that I may lay hold of (לְמַעַן תָּפְשָׂם – lemaʿan tap̄ošam):

  • Lemaʿan ("in order that") signifies God's deliberate, intentional purpose in His action.
  • Tap̄ošam derives from tap̄aš (תָּפַשׂ), meaning "to seize," "grasp," or "apprehend." This indicates a powerful, authoritative divine intervention, not a passive observation. It's a forceful act of reclaiming or exposing.

• the house of Israel: This standard prophetic term refers to the collective people of the covenant. It emphasizes their corporate identity and their covenantal relationship, highlighting that the entire nation is under scrutiny.

• in their own heart (בְּלִבָּם – bəlibbām):

  • Bə- signifies the sphere or locus of God's action.
  • Libbām ("their heart," from lēv, לֵב) denotes the innermost core of their being—their intellect, will, affections, and moral character. God's target is their internal allegiance and not just their outward behavior. This points to a profound internal spiritual problem, indicating the true source of their sin.

• because (אֲשֶׁר – ʾăšer): This conjunction clearly states the divine rationale, indicating that God's action is just and warranted by their condition.

• they are all estranged from Me (נָזֹ֙רּוּ֙ מֵעָלַי – nāzoru mēʿalay):

  • Nāzoru is a participle from zūr (זוּר), meaning "to be strange," "to alienate," or "to turn away." It implies a deliberate and continuous act of separation initiated by the people. They actively chose to distance themselves from God.
  • Mēʿalay ("from upon Me") emphasizes that this estrangement is directly from God Himself, making it a deeply personal offense and a breach of covenant loyalty.

• through their idols (בְּגִלּוּלֵיהֶם – bəgillûlêhem):

  • Bə- signifies the instrumentality, indicating the means by which their estrangement occurred.
  • Gillul (גִלּוּל), used frequently by Ezekiel, is a derogatory term for idols, often carrying connotations of "detestable things" or "dung pellets." These are not merely physical objects but represent the deeply cherished desires, attachments, and rebellious allegiances that usurp God's rightful place in their hearts and are considered utterly repugnant to Him.

• Words-group by words-group analysis:

  • "that I may lay hold of...in their own heart": This phrase highlights God's strategic and penetrative action. He is not merely observing their superficial religiosity but aims to seize control of their inner being, the wellspring of their thoughts and desires. This implies both a corrective judgment and a redemptive intent to reclaim His rightful ownership over their complete devotion.
  • "because they are all estranged from Me through their idols": This segment offers the complete justification for God's forceful intervention. Their comprehensive spiritual alienation (emphasized by "all") is directly caused by their deep-seated devotion to "idols of the heart." This reveals the pervasiveness of their sin and exposes the hypocrisy of seeking divine counsel while nurturing affections contrary to God.

Ezekiel 14 5 Bonus section

The profound emphasis on the "heart" throughout Ezekiel 14:1-7 (specifically mentioned in verses 3, 4, 5, 7) signifies that the core problem God addresses is not a mere external compliance failure, but a deep-seated spiritual sickness. These "idols of their heart" are more insidious than visible statues, representing the entrenched attitudes, affections, and volitional choices that effectively supplant God's sovereignty. God's intent to "lay hold" of their heart speaks to His ultimate sovereignty and His ability to penetrate and challenge even the deepest recesses of human will. This forceful divine action is not solely punitive but often serves a larger redemptive purpose, aiming to reveal their true spiritual condition to them and pave the way for a genuine transformation of the heart, aligning with later New Covenant promises of a new heart and spirit (Ezek 36:26-27). This encounter illustrates that God's presence and revelation are accessible only to those whose hearts are truly oriented towards Him.

Ezekiel 14 5 Commentary

Ezekiel 14:5 powerfully underscores God's uncompromising demand for exclusive, wholehearted devotion. It dismantles the pretense of outward religiosity when the heart remains deeply divided and unfaithful. The elders' seemingly pious inquiry to Ezekiel was, in God's eyes, a grave affront, as their inner beings were already entangled with "idols of their heart"—representing not only physical statues but any object of affection, desire, or trust that displaces God. God's purpose to "lay hold" of them "in their own heart" functions as both a righteous judgment—exposing and addressing their spiritual adultery—and a severe yet potentially redemptive act, aiming to bring them to genuine self-awareness and a return to exclusive loyalty to Him. His absolute holiness will not tolerate a divided heart; He demands to be supreme.

• Practical Examples:
  • An individual who performs religious duties meticulously but prioritizes their wealth, social status, or career over biblical principles and sacrificial living.
  • Someone who frequently talks about faith but relies primarily on their own intellect or worldly wisdom rather than seeking God's guidance and trusting His Word in decision-making.
  • A community that proclaims God's name but tolerates or even participates in systemic injustices, prejudice, or self-serving practices, thereby making an "idol" of their own comfort or cultural norms.