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

This verse signifies a divine declaration to thoroughly judge and root out those within Israel who have persistently turned to idolatry. God, the speaker, asserts His intention to confront and punish the deceitful among His people. The imagery used is strong, depicting a surgeon's precision in removing cancerous cells to preserve the whole body.

Ezekiel 14 5 Context

Ezekiel 14 falls within the broader context of the Babylonian exile. The Jewish people in exile were struggling with their identity and questioning God’s faithfulness due to their suffering. Many were turning back to the idolatry that had led to their downfall, seeking answers and comfort from pagan deities. God, through Ezekiel, addresses these specific elders who have come to inquire of Him, yet their hearts remain attached to idols. This chapter is a strong polemic against syncretism and the deceit of relying on false gods.

Ezekiel 14 5 Word Analysis

• "Go": An imperative verb, commanding Ezekiel to approach.
• "ye": Refers to the elders of Israel who have come to consult Ezekiel.
• "make": Implies to present or cause to be before.
• "your": Possessive pronoun, indicating personal responsibility.
• "face": Signifies their personal presentation, their presence, or their identity.
• "unto": Preposition indicating direction or destination.
• "me": Refers to the LORD God.
• "ye": The elders again.
• "have set": A past tense action, indicating something established or placed.
• "your": Their idols.
• "idols": (Hebrew: `etsilim - literally 'wooden things', referring to idols, often made of wood or planted in the ground like sacred trees) This term emphasizes the physical, created nature of these false gods, contrasting with the uncreated Creator. It highlights the absurdity of worshipping inanimate objects.
• "in": Indicates location or position.
• "your": Personal possession.
• "hearts": (Hebrew: libbah -- from lebab - meaning inner self, mind, will, emotions) This is the core of a person's being, signifying where true allegiance and affection lie. It implies not just outward action but inner devotion.
• "to": Direction.
• "them": The idols.
• "and": Conjunction joining clauses.
• "set": To place, establish, or cause to be.
• "they": The idols.
• "abomination": (Hebrew: sheqets -- meaning detestable thing, pollution, abhorrence; from shaqats - to detest, abhor, to be defiled) This word carries strong connotations of religious impurity and something that fundamentally offends God’s holiness. It was often used for forbidden food and idols.
• "of": Possessive.
• "Israel": The covenant people of God.
• "to": Purpose or direction.
• "them": The elders.
• "it": Refers to the transgression or defilement.
• "should": Indicates certainty or consequence.
• "be": State of being.
• "a": Indefinite article.
• "stumbling": (Hebrew: miqqash - an occasion of stumbling, a snare, offence, trap) Something that causes one to trip, fall, or go astray. In a spiritual context, it means anything that leads to sin or backsliding.
• "block": (Hebrew: miqqash - often paired with stumbling block, snare, stumbling block of iniquity)
• "of": Possession.
• "iniquity": (Hebrew: 'aven -- meaning perverseness, wickedness, mischief, iniquity, sorrow, nothingness) Refers to the inherent moral corruption and the act of doing wrong, often linked to idolatry.
• "and": Conjunction.
• "cause": To bring about.
• "you": The elders.
• "to": Purpose.
• "fall": To stumble, transgress, or be overthrown.
• "into": Direction.
• "it": The state of sin or stumbling.

• Word Group Analysis: "set your idols in your hearts, and have set before their face their abominations": This phrase describes a deep, internal commitment to idolatry ("in your hearts") coupled with an outward, public practice of it ("before their face"). It illustrates a spiritual disingenuousness where outward consultation of God does not align with inward devotion to idols. It speaks to a comprehensive defection from God that pervades the entire person—mind, will, and public actions. The "abominations" were the tangible symbols of this inward sin, made visible and present in their religious space.
• Phrase Analysis: "stumblingblock of your iniquity": This identifies the idols and the practice of idolatry as the very cause and foundation of their moral ruin and downfall. Their sin is not isolated; it creates a perpetual snare, making further sin and separation from God inevitable. The sin itself becomes the obstacle to spiritual progress and divine favour.

Ezekiel 14 5 Bonus Section

The reference to setting idols "in their hearts" resonates with Jesus’ teaching in the New Testament: "No one can serve two masters... You cannot serve God and money" (Matthew 6:24). The heart is the seat of ultimate allegiance. Idolatry is fundamentally a matter of the heart's misplaced love and devotion, which inevitably leads to outward sinful actions and divine judgment. The persistent setting of abominations before their face illustrates a habitual turning away from God's law and covenant. This action represents a rejection of God's established way of worship and relationship.

Ezekiel 14 5 Commentary

God demands wholehearted devotion. He cannot be served by halves. The elders were engaging in a spiritual sham, outwardly seeking God while inwardly devoted to idols. This verse condemns not only public acts of idolatry but also the inward disposition that cherishes false gods. God sees the heart's true allegiance. He will judge the people who practice such duplicity, and their own "stumbling blocks" (their idols and the sins they promote) will become the instruments of their destruction. This serves as a powerful warning against hypocrisy and syncretism, underscoring the absolute nature of God's claim on His people’s devotion.