Ezekiel 33 32

Ezekiel 33:32 kjv

And, lo, thou art unto them as a very lovely song of one that hath a pleasant voice, and can play well on an instrument: for they hear thy words, but they do them not.

Ezekiel 33:32 nkjv

Indeed you are to them as a very lovely song of one who has a pleasant voice and can play well on an instrument; for they hear your words, but they do not do them.

Ezekiel 33:32 niv

Indeed, to them you are nothing more than one who sings love songs with a beautiful voice and plays an instrument well, for they hear your words but do not put them into practice.

Ezekiel 33:32 esv

And behold, you are to them like one who sings lustful songs with a beautiful voice and plays well on an instrument, for they hear what you say, but they will not do it.

Ezekiel 33:32 nlt

You are very entertaining to them, like someone who sings love songs with a beautiful voice or plays fine music on an instrument. They hear what you say, but they don't act on it!

Ezekiel 33 verses

Ezekiel 33 32 Meaning

The people of Jerusalem, and by extension, all of Israel, heard Ezekiel's prophetic messages with mixed reactions. While they found them pleasing, like a sweet song or a beautiful melody, they did not translate this enjoyment into actual repentance or obedience. Their ears heard his words, but their hearts remained unmoved, leading to no practical change in their lives.

Ezekiel 33 32 Context

In Ezekiel chapter 33, the prophet is commissioned by God to be a watchman for the house of Israel. He is to warn the wicked of their ways and call them to repentance. If he fails to warn them and they perish in their sin, their blood will be on his hands. However, if he warns them and they do not repent, their blood will be on their own heads, and he will have saved his own soul.

This specific verse, Ezekiel 33:32, comes at the end of a passage where Ezekiel has delivered a message. It highlights the disappointing response of the people. They listened attentively, perhaps even finding pleasure in the sound of his voice and the eloquent delivery of his prophecies, but they failed to act on the message. This points to a superficial engagement with God's word, devoid of true conviction or a desire for spiritual change. The people of Jerusalem are under siege and facing imminent destruction, yet their hearts remain hardened.

Historically, this was a time of extreme crisis for Judah. The Babylonian army had already deported many and was poised to completely destroy Jerusalem. Ezekiel, exiled in Babylon, was speaking to those who remained, a remnant who were likely clinging to false hope and refusing to acknowledge the gravity of their situation and their collective sin.

Ezekiel 33 32 Word Analysis

• And, behold (vav- hineh): "Vav" here can mean "and" or connect to the previous statement. "Hineh" means "behold," "lo," or "look," drawing attention to what follows. It introduces the description of how the people are responding to Ezekiel.
• thou art (atah): "Thou" is singular, referring to Ezekiel the prophet.
• unto them (lahem): Plural pronoun, referring to the people of Israel who are listening.
• as a very lovely song (k'shir yotzer yam-im):
  • k' (ka'y/ki): "as" or "like."
  • shir: "song," "melody," "music." This suggests something pleasing to the ear.
  • yotzer: "forming," "composing," "producing." Indicates the skillful creation of the song.
  • yam-im: (yiw-im/yif'im): "beautiful," "lovely," "glorious," "splendid." Describes the pleasing quality of the song. This word is related to beauty and shining.
• of one that hath a pleasant voice (mishor'r): "Of the lyre" or "of a lute." This indicates the instrument used for the song. The construction implies the sound produced by an instrument played by someone with a skilled voice.
• and can play well on an instrument (um-eshel sh'uv khor):
  • um-eshel (o-ve-dha-mir): "and singing with the voice." This suggests skillful singing in accompaniment with an instrument.
  • sh'uv khor (mesheyr kh'ol): "and one skilled with an instrument" or "plays well." This emphasizes the musical proficiency.
• for (ki): "because," "for." This introduces the reason for the description of the song.
• they hear thy words (sham'im davareha):
  • sham'im (shom'im): "hearing," "listening." This indicates auditory reception.
  • davareha (davareykha): "thy words," "your sayings." Refers to Ezekiel's prophetic pronouncements.
• but they do them not (ve'hem lo ya'su' ot'm):
  • ve'hem (vehem): "but they." This introduces a contrast.
  • lo ya'su' (lo ya'aso'u): "do not do," "perform not." This highlights the inaction and lack of obedience.
  • ot'm (ot'm): "them," referring back to "thy words" (davareykha).

Word-group Analysis:

The phrase "as a very lovely song of one that hath a pleasant voice, and can play well on an instrument" paints a picture of enjoyment without commitment. It's like appreciating a beautiful piece of music or a performance for its aesthetic quality but not internalizing its message or responding to its call. The people of Jerusalem are portrayed as passive consumers of God's message, deriving pleasure from Ezekiel's words as mere entertainment rather than divine revelation demanding obedience.

The contrast between "they hear thy words" and "they do them not" is stark. Hearing is passive reception, while "doing" implies active obedience, application, and internalization. This reflects a superficial religiosity where religious words are savored but not obeyed.

Ezekiel 33 32 Bonus Section

The prophet Ezekiel's message here highlights the spiritual condition of those who are exposed to God's truth but remain unreceptive. Their "hearing" is selective, filtering out the call to repentance and obedience while embracing the "lovely song." This indicates a form of self-deception where the pleasure derived from the word masks the unwillingness to obey it. The people perceived Ezekiel as a skilled orator, a "performer," rather than a divine messenger whose words carried absolute authority and consequences for disobedience. Their enjoyment was superficial, a facade that concealed hearts that were still turned towards their sin and rebellion against God, ultimately leading to their impending judgment.

Ezekiel 33 32 Commentary

The verse critiques a common human tendency: to be moved by words or even deeply touched by spiritual presentations without translating that emotion into genuine life change or obedience. The people enjoyed Ezekiel's ministry like a captivating song, perhaps admiring his rhetorical skill and the powerful imagery he used. However, their admiration was detached from a willing heart to put his messages into practice.

This disconnect between hearing and doing is a recurring theme throughout Scripture, underscoring the importance of obedience as the true evidence of faith and understanding. Enjoying a sermon or a prophecy is not inherently wrong, but it becomes problematic when it remains merely an intellectual or emotional experience, failing to impact one's actions. It reveals a spiritual shallowness where the comfort or beauty of the message is valued over its salvific or corrective power. The prophecy was a warning, a call to return to God, and their inability to "do them" meant they were actively rejecting God's path to salvation and safety.

Practical Examples:

• One might enjoy a podcast about healthy living but continue to eat poorly.
• A person may find comfort in hymns about overcoming temptation but not actively guard their thoughts.
• Individuals can listen to sermons on forgiveness and feel moved, but then hold onto grudges against others.