Ezekiel 20:3 kjv
Son of man, speak unto the elders of Israel, and say unto them, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Are ye come to enquire of me? As I live, saith the Lord GOD, I will not be enquired of by you.
Ezekiel 20:3 nkjv
"Son of man, speak to the elders of Israel, and say to them, 'Thus says the Lord GOD: "Have you come to inquire of Me? As I live," says the Lord GOD, "I will not be inquired of by you." '
Ezekiel 20:3 niv
"Son of man, speak to the elders of Israel and say to them, 'This is what the Sovereign LORD says: Have you come to inquire of me? As surely as I live, I will not let you inquire of me, declares the Sovereign LORD.'
Ezekiel 20:3 esv
"Son of man, speak to the elders of Israel, and say to them, Thus says the Lord GOD, Is it to inquire of me that you come? As I live, declares the Lord GOD, I will not be inquired of by you.
Ezekiel 20:3 nlt
"Son of man, tell the leaders of Israel, 'This is what the Sovereign LORD says: How dare you come to ask me for a message? As surely as I live, says the Sovereign LORD, I will tell you nothing!'
Ezekiel 20 3 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Ezekiel 14:1 | Some elders of Israel came to me and sat down. | Old Testament (Direct) |
| Jeremiah 29:1 | These are the contents of the letter that Jeremiah the prophet sent from Jerusalem to the remaining elders among the exiles and to the priests, the prophets and all the people whom Nebuchadnezzar had carried into exile from Jerusalem to Babylon. | Old Testament (Contextual) |
| 2 Kings 19:1-2 | When King Hezekiah heard this, he tore his clothes and covered himself with sackcloth and went into the house of the Lord. He sent Eliakim the palace administrator, Shebna the scribe and the leading priests, dressed in sackcloth, to the prophet Isaiah son of Amoz. | Old Testament (Parallel) |
| Matthew 15:8 | "These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me." | New Testament (Echo) |
| John 6:26 | Jesus answered, "I tell you the truth, you are looking for me, not because you saw the miraculous signs I now perform, but because you ate the loaves and had your fill." | New Testament (Parallel) |
| Isaiah 1:10 | Hear the word of the Lord, you rulers of Sodom, listen to the instruction of our God, you people of Gomorrah! | Old Testament (Parallel) |
| Psalms 78:36-37 | But they kept deceiving him with their mouths; they lied to him with their tongues. Their hearts were not loyal to him, nor did they remain faithful to his covenant. | Old Testament (Echo) |
| Romans 11:14 | ...perhaps by provoking them to jealousy I can somehow save them. | New Testament (Application) |
| Acts 7:51 | You stiff-necked people! Your hearts and ears are still uncircumcised. You always resist the Holy Spirit. As your ancestors did so do you. | New Testament (Parallel) |
| Micah 3:11 | Her leaders judge for bribe, her priests teach for a price, and her prophets practice divination for money. Yet they lean on the Lord and say, "Is not the Lord among us? No disaster can overtake us." | Old Testament (Parallel) |
| Deuteronomy 30:19 | this day I call the heavens and the earth as witnesses against you that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Now choose life, so that you and your children may live | Old Testament (Contextual) |
| 2 Chronicles 36:12 | He did evil in the eyes of the Lord his God and did not humble himself before Jeremiah the prophet, who spoke the word of the Lord. | Old Testament (Contextual) |
| Amos 5:10 | They hate the one who denounces them in the gate; they despise him who tells the truth. | Old Testament (Parallel) |
| Hosea 12:7 | Ephraim is a merchant, with weights and balances of deceit in his hand. | Old Testament (Parallel) |
| Leviticus 18:30 | "Do not defile yourselves in any of these ways, for the detestable practices of these nations—who lived in the land before you—have defiled it." | Old Testament (Contextual) |
| Ezekiel 8:1 | In the sixth year, in the fifth month, on the fifth day of the month, some of the elders of Israel came and sat before me. | Old Testament (Contextual) |
| Isaiah 43:27 | Your first father sinned, and your intermediaries transgressed against me. | Old Testament (Echo) |
| Jeremiah 7:30 | "For the people of Judah have done evil in my sight, declares the Lord. They have set their abominations in the house that bears my name, and have defiled it." | Old Testament (Contextual) |
| John 5:30 | By myself I can do nothing; I judge only as I hear, and my judgment is just, for I seek to do God’s will, not my own. | New Testament (Parallel) |
| Revelation 3:20 | Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me. | New Testament (Parallel) |
Ezekiel 20 verses
Ezekiel 20 3 Meaning
The elders of Israel approach Ezekiel seeking a message from the Lord. This signifies a turning point in their interactions with the prophet, as they move from opposition to seeking divine guidance, even though their motives are questioned by God. It highlights a desire for understanding, potentially driven by their dire circumstances.
Ezekiel 20 3 Context
Ezekiel chapter 20 unfolds amidst the Babylonian exile. The prophet is repeatedly visited by elders of Israel who seem to seek divine counsel. However, God perceives their hearts are not sincere. The chapter, and indeed this specific verse, sets the stage for God's stern response to their past and present unfaithfulness. The elders, representing the remnants of Israel, come to Ezekiel at a time when their national identity and faith are severely tested. This interaction highlights a recurring theme in the Old Testament: the tension between outward religious practice and inward devotion to God.
Ezekiel 20 3 Word Analysis
- And (וְ - ve): A conjunctive particle, indicating continuation or connection between actions or statements. Here, it connects the arrival of the elders with their action of sitting.
- there (שָׁמָּה - shamah): Adverb of place, signifying "to that place." It emphasizes their presence in the place where Ezekiel was ministering.
- came (בָּאוּ - ba'u): The third-person masculine plural Qal perfect of בּוֹא (bo), meaning "to come" or "to enter." Indicates their movement towards Ezekiel.
- there (שָׁמָּה - shamah): Repeats the adverb of place, emphasizing the destination of their coming.
- came (בּאוּ - ba'u): Same verb as before, reinforcing the action of their arrival.
- unto (אֶל - el): Preposition meaning "to," "towards," or "unto," indicating direction and purpose.
- me (אֹתִי - othi): The first-person singular direct object pronoun. Refers to the prophet Ezekiel.
- and (וְ - ve): Conjunction.
- they (הֵם - hem): Third-person masculine plural pronoun, referring to the elders.
- sat (יָשְׁבוּ - yashavu): The third-person masculine plural Qal perfect of יָשַׁב (yashav), meaning "to sit," "to dwell," or "to remain." This verb can imply settling down for a period, suggesting a more deliberate interaction rather than a casual encounter.
Words Group Analysis
- "And there came there unto me...": The repetition of "there" and the verbs "came" emphasizes the physical act of approaching the prophet. However, coupled with God's later judgment in the chapter, this repetition could also implicitly question the spiritual direction of their coming – were they coming towards God or merely towards the prophet in a superficial way?
- "...and they sat": The act of sitting implies a desire to stay and listen, a posture of reception. This contrasts with their underlying spiritual disposition, as God observes their hearts are far from Him.
Ezekiel 20 3 Bonus Section
The interaction in Ezekiel 20:1 serves as a crucial setup for the divine pronouncements that follow. It establishes that the elders, representing the spiritual leadership and heritage of Israel, are seeking answers. Their seeking of a message from the prophet, especially after a period of spiritual decline and judgment, shows a recognition that divine intervention is needed. However, the depth of their seeking is immediately scrutinized by God. This scene is representative of many prophetic encounters where external forms of piety are juxtaposed with God's deep understanding of the human heart. It underscores that God’s judgment is not merely based on outward actions but on the internal disposition of belief and obedience.
Ezekiel 20 3 Commentary
The verse describes a physical act of approach and presence: the elders came to Ezekiel and sat before him. This outward show of respect and desire for communication is noted. However, the divine perspective, which the reader is given through Ezekiel's prophetic commission, immediately casts a shadow on their intentions. God’s understanding is that while they are physically present and in a posture of receiving, their hearts are not fully committed. This establishes a critical theme of hypocrisy or divided loyalty that God will address. It's a stark reminder that outward religious actions are insufficient if not accompanied by a sincere and undivided heart. This situation reflects a long-standing pattern in Israel's history where people participated in religious rituals without genuine devotion.