Ezekiel 14 8

Ezekiel 14:8 kjv

And I will set my face against that man, and will make him a sign and a proverb, and I will cut him off from the midst of my people; and ye shall know that I am the LORD.

Ezekiel 14:8 nkjv

I will set My face against that man and make him a sign and a proverb, and I will cut him off from the midst of My people. Then you shall know that I am the LORD.

Ezekiel 14:8 niv

I will set my face against them and make them an example and a byword. I will remove them from my people. Then you will know that I am the LORD.

Ezekiel 14:8 esv

And I will set my face against that man; I will make him a sign and a byword and cut him off from the midst of my people, and you shall know that I am the LORD.

Ezekiel 14:8 nlt

I will turn against such people and make a terrible example of them, eliminating them from among my people. Then you will know that I am the LORD.

Ezekiel 14 verses

Ezekiel 14 8 Meaning

Ezekiel 14:8 declares God's resolute judgment against an individual who persists in idolatry and then seeks counsel from the Lord through His prophet. God will turn His full attention against such a person, making them a public example of divine wrath and cutting them off from the community of His people. The ultimate purpose of this severe action is to reveal God's true identity, power, and sovereign righteousness to all.

Ezekiel 14 8 Context

Ezekiel 14 takes place during the Babylonian exile. The chapter opens with elders of Israel, presumably those already exiled, coming to Ezekiel to "inquire of the Lord" (Ezek 14:1, 3). However, God immediately reveals that these elders, despite their outward appearance of seeking divine counsel, harbored "idols in their hearts" and "put stumbling blocks of iniquity before their faces" (Ezek 14:3). This internal idolatry made their inquiry a sacrilege, as they were bringing their defilement into God's presence. God declares He will answer them not according to their false piety, but according to the consequences of their idolatry (Ezek 14:4). He aims to "take the house of Israel in their own heart" (Ezek 14:5), to expose and judge their hypocrisy. Verse 8 specifically describes the severe, direct, and public judgment God will execute on any individual (a broader scope than just the elders, implying this applies to anyone in Israel) who dares to approach Him while holding onto such hidden idolatry. The consequences are designed to be a deterrent and to affirm God's absolute sovereignty and holiness to all His people.

Ezekiel 14 8 Word analysis

• And I will set my face against that man

  • "And I will set my face": (וְנָתַתִּי פָּנַי - v'natatí panáy). The verb natan often means "to give" or "to place." When paired with paním (face), it signifies a deliberate and unwavering posture of opposition. This is an anthropomorphism indicating God's fixed, active, and hostile intent towards the individual. It implies a direct, personal, and intense divine engagement in judgment, leaving no room for escape.
  • "that man": (ha'îsh ha'hû - הָאִישׁ הַהוּא). This specifies a particular individual, not just the general community. It highlights God's personal accountability and the individual nature of sin and judgment in this context, contrasting with earlier corporate responsibility emphases.

• and will make him a sign and a proverb

  • "a sign": (l'ôt - לְאוֹת). Refers to a visible example or warning. The man will become a public spectacle of divine wrath, serving as a powerful deterrent to others. It denotes a warning for future generations or those witnessing the judgment.
  • "a proverb": (limshál - לִמְשָׁל). Implies being a byword, an object of derision and scorn, often cited in warnings about consequences of sin. This makes the man's fate an enduring reference point for discussing God's justice. His calamity will be universally recognized as God's doing.

• and I will cut him off from the midst of my people

  • "I will cut him off": (v'hikhrat'tíhu - וְהִכְרַתִּיו). This is a severe, often covenantal punishment. In Old Testament law, it signified expulsion from the community, removal of blessings, and sometimes literal death (ex: Lev 7:27). It speaks of excommunication and isolation, stripping the individual of their status within God's covenant nation.
  • "from the midst of my people": (mitôkh amí - מִתּוֹךְ עַמִּי). Emphasizes separation from the holy community, losing covenant privileges and identity. It is a severing from the divine protection and fellowship that defines being God's chosen people.

• and you shall know that I am the LORD.

  • "you shall know": (vîda'tem - וִידַעְתֶּם). A frequent declaration in Ezekiel, signaling the didactic purpose of God's actions. Through this judgment, both those punished and those witnessing it will gain a true, experiential understanding of God's character and authority.
  • "that I am the LORD": (kî aní YHWH - כִּי אֲנִי יְהוָה). YHWH is God's covenant name, signifying His eternal, self-existent nature, His sovereignty, and His faithfulness to His covenant, including its judgments. This phrase underscores God's absolute identity and power as revealed through His definitive actions of justice and judgment. It reaffirms His sole authority.

Ezekiel 14 8 Bonus section

The repeated phrase "know that I am the LORD" is an integral part of Ezekiel's theology, appearing over 70 times. It serves as a refrain underscoring the purpose of all divine actions – whether of salvation or judgment – is God's self-revelation. His works teach His identity, asserting His unmatched authority and control over all events. This also establishes a theological polemic against the gods of the surrounding nations; Israel will discover YHWH is the true sovereign God, and no idol can deliver or truly define. Furthermore, the passage foreshadows the New Covenant truth that God desires inner transformation (Ezek 36:26-27), not mere outward ritual or feigned inquiry. The "cutting off" prefigures a spiritual separation from God's grace, akin to what the New Testament describes as being separate from Christ.

Ezekiel 14 8 Commentary

Ezekiel 14:8 presents a stark declaration of God's unwavering holiness and judicial integrity, particularly in response to religious hypocrisy. It highlights that true relationship with God requires an undivided heart. When individuals persist in inner idolatry while outwardly seeking God, they defile sacred space and prophetic communication. God's response is a direct, personal, and severe judgment, serving not only as punishment but also as a powerful public object lesson. The one judged becomes a "sign and proverb," a visible testament to God's uncompromising justice and a warning to all others who might consider approaching Him with a deceptive heart. Being "cut off from the midst of my people" represents a loss of covenant identity and communal fellowship, isolating the sinner from God's protection and blessings. The ultimate purpose of this severe decree, explicitly stated as "you shall know that I am the LORD," is revelatory. Through these acts of judgment, God ensures His people and potentially the surrounding nations recognize His unique sovereignty, His perfect justice, and His non-negotiable demand for true worship, stripping away any false perceptions of Him as indifferent or impotent. This foundational truth about God is revealed both in His saving acts and in His judging acts, all intended to display His glory.