Ezekiel 33:31 kjv
And they come unto thee as the people cometh, and they sit before thee as my people, and they hear thy words, but they will not do them: for with their mouth they shew much love, but their heart goeth after their covetousness.
Ezekiel 33:31 nkjv
So they come to you as people do, they sit before you as My people, and they hear your words, but they do not do them; for with their mouth they show much love, but their hearts pursue their own gain.
Ezekiel 33:31 niv
My people come to you, as they usually do, and sit before you to hear your words, but they do not put them into practice. Their mouths speak of love, but their hearts are greedy for unjust gain.
Ezekiel 33:31 esv
And they come to you as people come, and they sit before you as my people, and they hear what you say but they will not do it; for with lustful talk in their mouths they act; their heart is set on their gain.
Ezekiel 33:31 nlt
So my people come pretending to be sincere and sit before you. They listen to your words, but they have no intention of doing what you say. Their mouths are full of lustful words, and their hearts seek only after money.
Ezekiel 33 31 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Ezek 33:30 | "Son of man, the people of your land are talking about you by the walls and in the doorways of houses. They say to each other, ‘Come, let’s hear what message has come from the LORD.’" | Connects to people approaching Ezekiel for a message. |
| Isa 29:13 | "The Lord says: ‘These people come near me with their mouths and honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. Their worship of me is based on merely human standards they have learned.’" | Echoes the theme of outward devotion with inward distance. |
| Jer 12:2 | "You are always righteous, Lord, when I argue with you. Nevertheless, I want to raise a question of justice with you. Why does the way of the wicked prosper? Why do all the faithless flourish?" | Shows a similar pattern of questioning God while in sin. |
| Matt 23:25 | "“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you clean the outside of the cup and the plate, but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence." | Parallel to the critique of outward piety hiding inner corruption. |
| Luke 18:11 | "Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other men, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector." | Example of self-righteousness and pride, contrary to true seeking. |
| Ps 78:36-37 | "But they deceived him with their mouths; they lied to him with their tongues. Their hearts were not steadfast in him; they were not faithful to his covenant." | Depicts a historical instance of Israel's insincere commitment. |
| Ezek 14:1-5 | Describes God's rejection of prophets who speak flattering words and the people's idol worship. | Highlights the sin of seeking false counsel and personal gain. |
| Mic 3:5 | "Thus says the Lord concerning the prophets who lead my people astray, who cry, ‘Peace,’ when they have something to bite with, and declare war on those who do not put something in their mouths:" | Addresses prophets profiting from their prophecies. |
| Acts 20:30 | "and from among yourselves will arise men speaking twisted things, to draw the disciples after them." | Warns of false teachers arising from within the community. |
| 2 Tim 4:3 | "For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions," | Describes people seeking teachers who confirm their desires. |
| 2 Sam 23:3-4 | "The Spirit of the LORD speaks by me; his word is on my tongue. The God of Israel has spoken, the Rock of Israel has said to me: Whoever rules justly over men must rule in the fear of God." | Contrasts sincere rule and divine counsel with the verse's context. |
| Ezek 20:1 | "In the seventh year, in the fifth month, on the tenth day of the month, some of the elders of Israel came to consult the LORD and sat before me." | Similar situation of elders seeking the LORD through Ezekiel. |
| Ezek 22:28 | "Her prophets have smeared whitewash for them, seeing false visions and prophesying lies for them, saying, ‘Thus says the Lord GOD,’ when the Lord has not spoken." | Parallel to false prophets providing false reassurance for gain. |
| 1 Pet 1:14 | "As obedient children, do not be conformed to the desires of your former ignorance." | Encourages a break from past fleshly desires, including insincere seeking. |
| John 6:26 | "Jesus answered them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, you are seeking me, not because you saw signs, but because you ate your fill of the loaves." | Illustrates seeking God for earthly benefits rather than spiritual truth. |
| Ezek 34:2-4 | Denounces shepherds who feed themselves rather than the flock, failing to seek the lost or strengthen the weak. | Relates to the selfish motives contrasted in the verse. |
| Amos 8:4-5 | "Hear this, you who trample on the needy, and bring the poor of the land to hunger, saying, ‘When will the new moon be over, that we may sell our grain? And the Sabbath, that we may open our wheat market, and lessen the measure and increase the shekel, and deal falsely with balances of deceit,'" | Shows people prioritizing financial gain over righteousness and divine times. |
| Ps 106:13 | "But they soon forgot his works; they did not wait for his counsel," | Highlights a pattern of neglecting God's counsel and provisions. |
| Jer 17:5-6 | "Thus says the LORD: “Cursed is the man who trusts in man and makes flesh his arm, whose heart turns away from the LORD. He is like a shrub in the desert, and shall not see any good come." | Warns against seeking human counsel or relying on fleshly desires over God. |
| Prov 1:29 | "because they hated knowledge and did not choose the fear of the LORD," | Explains the underlying reason for not truly seeking God. |
Ezekiel 33 verses
Ezekiel 33 31 Meaning
The people of Israel approach Ezekiel with flattering words and superficial desires, claiming to seek instruction from the LORD. However, their hearts are focused on gain and personal advantage, not on true obedience or seeking God's will. They engage in lip service rather than genuine worship and submission.
Ezekiel 33 31 Context
Ezekiel chapter 33 is a pivotal moment in the prophet's ministry. Having already declared judgment upon Jerusalem, Ezekiel is now established as a watchman for the remnant. This particular verse describes a new group of people approaching him, seemingly eager to hear the word of the Lord. However, the prophet reveals their true intentions are far from spiritual seeking. They are motivated by selfish desires and a superficial interest in prophecy, expecting it to bring them some tangible benefit or perhaps hoping for a comforting word that aligns with their own interests, rather than seeking God's truth and righteousness. This highlights a common theme of hypocrisy and a superficial relationship with God prevalent in the exilic period.
Ezekiel 33 31 Word Analysis
- וְאַתָּה (v'attah) - "And you" - Connects to the prophet Ezekiel directly, drawing attention to his role and message.
- בְּק֤וֹל (b'qol) - "with the voice" - Emphasizes hearing.
- רַב (rav) - "great" or "many" - Refers to the loudness or frequency of their speech.
- וְהֵם֙ (v'hem) - "and they" - Introduces the subjects of the action, the people.
- יָבֹ֤א“u (yavo’u) - "come" - They approach, physically presenting themselves.
- אֵלֶ֙יָךָ֙ (eleikha) - "to you" - Directed specifically at Ezekiel.
- וְעַם֙ (v'am) - "and the people" - Identifying the group.
- פִּי־ (pi-) - "mouth of" - Refers to what is spoken.
- מַֽתָּקִ֣ים (mattaqim) - "sweet" or "pleasant" - Their words are superficially pleasing.
- הֵ֜מָּה (hemmah) - "they" - Further identifying the people.
- לְדִבָּ֣ר (ledibbar) - "to speak" - Their action is talking.
- אֶתְ־ (et-) - Direct object marker.
- וּבְק֤וֹל (u'v'qo l) - "and with a voice" - Again, focusing on their audible communication.
- הֵם֙ (hem) - "they" - The pronoun referring to the people.
- שָמְעִ֣ים (sham'im) - "hearing" - Indicating an auditory reception of something, though it's their own voices speaking to Ezekiel. This is where the complexity lies: they are "hearing" but it's their own "great voice" speaking.
- וּלְאָכְלָה֙ (u'l'oklah) - "and for eating" or "for provision/gain" - This is the crucial phrase indicating their true motive; they desire sustenance or benefit. This can also be interpreted as "to carry away."
- יִרְצ֙וּ (yirtzu) - "they seek" or "they please" - They aim to satisfy something, not necessarily God, but their own desires.
Group Analysis:The phrases "with a great voice" (בְּק֤וֹל רַב) and "they hearing" (הֵם֙ שָמְעִ֣ים) followed by "and for gain they seek" (וּלְאָכְלָה֙ יִרְצ֙וּ) starkly contrast their outward actions with their inward motivation. Their "great voice" and supposed "hearing" are merely a facade for their true goal: gain and self-satisfaction, rather than genuine divine communion or obedience.
Ezekiel 33 31 Bonus Section
The concept of "gain" or "eating" (אָכְלָה) in this context is deeply significant. In the ancient Near East, a prophet who was sought after for prophecy was often compensated. However, here it points to a spiritual perversion where people were using the guise of seeking God's word to obtain earthly provisions or advantages, rather than spiritual nourishment or guidance. It reflects a transactional relationship with God, rather than a covenantal one based on love and obedience. The "sweet words" were a lure, promising what the people wanted to hear to facilitate their desired outcomes, thereby corrupting the prophetic message and the worship of God. This attitude ultimately leads to spiritual barrenness, as illustrated by the later judgments in Ezekiel.
Ezekiel 33 31 Commentary
This verse serves as a stark reminder that religious observance without genuine heart engagement is worthless in God's eyes. The people of Ezekiel’s day were not unique in this tendency. Throughout Scripture, prophets, Jesus, and the Apostles repeatedly call out those who practice outward religious rituals while their hearts remain distant from God, driven by self-interest and earthly desires. The call to "hear the word of the LORD" is perverted when the heart's true desire is not obedience or truth, but personal advantage. True devotion involves a complete surrender of the heart, seeking God's will above all else, and listening to His voice not for gain, but for transformation and righteous living.
Practical Usage Example:In contemporary life, this might manifest as attending church services solely to network for business, or engaging in prayer not for spiritual growth, but for a specific outcome that benefits oneself. The principle remains the same: God looks at the heart. Genuine seeking of God involves a desire for His truth, even when it's difficult or uncomfortable, and a willingness to obey His commands out of love and reverence, not just out of hope for personal gain.