Ezekiel 14

King James Version

Full text for Ezekiel Chapter 14

1¶ Then came certain of the elders of Israel unto me, and sat before me.

2And the word of the LORD came unto me, saying,

3Son of man, these men have set up their idols in their heart, and put the stumblingblock of their iniquity before their face: should I be enquired of at all by them?

4Therefore speak unto them, and say unto them, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Every man of the house of Israel that setteth up his idols in his heart, and putteth the stumblingblock of his iniquity before his face, and cometh to the prophet; I the LORD will answer him that cometh according to the multitude of his idols;

5That I may take the house of Israel in their own heart, because they are all estranged from me through their idols.

6Therefore say unto the house of Israel, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Repent, and turn [yourselves] from your idols; and turn away your faces from all your abominations.

7For every one of the house of Israel, or of the stranger that sojourneth in Israel, which separateth himself from me, and setteth up his idols in his heart, and putteth the stumblingblock of his iniquity before his face, and cometh to a prophet to enquire of him concerning me; I the LORD will answer him by myself:

8And 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.

9And if the prophet be deceived when he hath spoken a thing, I the LORD have deceived that prophet, and I will stretch out my hand upon him, and will destroy him from the midst of my people Israel.

10And they shall bear the punishment of their iniquity: the punishment of the prophet shall be even as the punishment of him that seeketh [unto him];

11That the house of Israel may go no more astray from me, neither be polluted any more with all their transgressions; but that they may be my people, and I may be their God, saith the Lord GOD.

12¶ The word of the LORD came again to me, saying,

13Son of man, when the land sinneth against me by trespassing grievously, then will I stretch out mine hand upon it, and will break the staff of the bread thereof, and will send famine upon it, and will cut off man and beast from it:

14Though these three men, Noah, Daniel, and Job, were in it, they should deliver [but] their own souls by their righteousness, saith the Lord GOD.

15If I cause noisome beasts to pass through the land, and they spoil it, so that it be desolate, that no man may pass through because of the beasts:

16[Though] these three men [were] in it, [as] I live, saith the Lord GOD, they shall deliver neither sons nor daughters; they only shall be delivered, but the land shall be desolate.

17Or [if] I bring a sword upon that land, and say, Sword, go through the land; so that I cut off man and beast from it:

18Though these three men [were] in it, [as] I live, saith the Lord GOD, they shall deliver neither sons nor daughters, but they only shall be delivered themselves.

19Or [if] I send a pestilence into that land, and pour out my fury upon it in blood, to cut off from it man and beast:

20Though Noah, Daniel, and Job, [were] in it, [as] I live, saith the Lord GOD, they shall deliver neither son nor daughter; they shall [but] deliver their own souls by their righteousness.

21For thus saith the Lord GOD; How much more when I send my four sore judgments upon Jerusalem, the sword, and the famine, and the noisome beast, and the pestilence, to cut off from it man and beast?

22Yet, behold, therein shall be left a remnant that shall be brought forth, [both] sons and daughters: behold, they shall come forth unto you, and ye shall see their way and their doings: and ye shall be comforted concerning the evil that I have brought upon Jerusalem, [even] concerning all that I have brought upon it.

23And they shall comfort you, when ye see their ways and their doings: and ye shall know that I have not done without cause all that I have done in it, saith the Lord GOD.

AI Analysis

AI Summaries

Short Summary

Ezekiel 14 opens with elders of Israel seeking the Lord, but God reveals they harbor idols in their hearts, declaring He will answer them according to their idolatry. He calls for repentance, warning that He will cut off both the idolater and any deceived prophet. The chapter then emphasizes that even the righteousness of Noah, Daniel, and Job cannot save a grievously sinful land from God's four sore judgments: famine, noisome beasts, sword, and pestilence. A remnant will, however, be preserved from Jerusalem, whose lives will justify God's actions.

Medium Summary

When certain elders of Israel came to Ezekiel to inquire of the Lord, God immediately exposed their hypocrisy, revealing they had set up idols in their hearts and placed stumblingblocks of iniquity before them. The Lord declared He would answer such inquirers according to the multitude of their idols, thereby ensnaring them in their own spiritual deception and estrangement. He commanded the house of Israel to repent and turn from their abominations, warning that He would set His face against any who persisted in idolatry, cutting them off from His people. Furthermore, if a prophet were deceived in speaking to such individuals, the Lord stated He had deceived that prophet and would destroy him, ensuring both the inquirer and the prophet bore the punishment for their iniquity, so Israel might no longer stray. The chapter then shifts to God's severe judgments upon a land that sins grievously, listing famine, noisome beasts, sword, and pestilence, designed to cut off man and beast. It is emphatically stated that even the righteousness of Noah, Daniel, and Job would only save their own souls, not their children or the land itself, from these judgments. This principle is applied to Jerusalem, where all four judgments will be sent. However, a remnant of sons and daughters will be brought forth, whose transformed lives will serve as comfort and evidence that God's judgments were just and not without cause.

Long Summary

The chapter commences with elders of Israel approaching Ezekiel, ostensibly to inquire of the Lord. However, God immediately reveals their true spiritual condition, stating that these men have set up idols in their hearts and placed stumblingblocks of iniquity before their faces, questioning if He should be genuinely inquired of by them. The Lord declares that He will answer such individuals, whether Israelite or sojourner, according to the multitude of their idols, effectively ensnaring them in their own spiritual deception. This divine response is intended to expose their true hearts, as they are estranged from Him through their idolatry. Therefore, the Lord commands the house of Israel to repent, turn from their idols, and cast away their abominations. He warns that He will set His face against any person who persists in this spiritual separation and idolatry, making them a sign and a proverb, and cutting them off from His people. Moreover, if a prophet is deceived and speaks a word to such an inquirer, the Lord states He has deceived that prophet and will destroy him from Israel. This ensures that both the idolatrous inquirer and the deceived prophet will bear the full punishment of their iniquity, preventing Israel from further straying or being polluted. The ultimate goal is for Israel to return to being His people, and for Him to be their God. The chapter then transitions to a declaration of God's severe judgments upon a land that sins grievously. The Lord lists four primary judgments: breaking the staff of bread (famine), sending noisome beasts, bringing the sword, and pouring out pestilence, each designed to cut off man and beast. A crucial point is emphasized: even if three exceptionally righteous men—Noah, Daniel, and Job—were present in such a land, their righteousness would only deliver their own souls, not their sons, daughters, or the land itself from the decreed destruction. This principle is reiterated for each of the four judgments, highlighting the severity and inevitability of God's wrath when a land has trespassed grievously. The Lord then applies this principle specifically to Jerusalem, stating that He will send all four of His sore judgments upon it. Despite the overwhelming destruction, a remnant of sons and daughters will be brought forth from Jerusalem. These survivors will come to the exiles, and their ways and doings will be observed, providing comfort and demonstrating that God's actions against Jerusalem were not arbitrary but were just and had a righteous cause. Through this remnant, the exiles will understand the divine justice behind the calamity.

Core Concepts

  • Idolatry of the HeartThe elders of Israel are condemned not just for outward idols, but for setting up idols in their hearts, indicating an internal spiritual rebellion and estrangement from God. This internal idolatry prevents genuine inquiry of the Lord.
  • Divine Retribution and DeceptionGod declares He will answer idolaters according to their idols, and even states He will deceive a prophet who speaks to such individuals. This signifies God's active role in judging and exposing the unrighteous, allowing them to be ensnared by their own chosen path.
  • Call to RepentanceAmidst the warnings of judgment, the Lord offers a clear command for the house of Israel to repent and turn from their idols and abominations. This demonstrates God's desire for reconciliation and purity.
  • Inability of Intercession for a Sinful LandThe chapter powerfully illustrates that in cases of grievous national sin, the righteousness of even the most exemplary individuals (Noah, Daniel, Job) cannot save the land or its inhabitants, only their own souls. This emphasizes the limits of individual righteousness in averting corporate judgment.
  • Four Sore JudgmentsGod enumerates four severe judgments—famine, noisome beasts, sword, and pestilence—as instruments of His wrath against a land that has grievously sinned. These are comprehensive judgments designed to cut off both man and beast.
  • The Righteous RemnantDespite the widespread destruction, God promises a remnant will be brought forth from Jerusalem. Their survival and conduct will serve as a visible justification for God's severe judgments, comforting the exiles and proving His actions were not without cause.
  • Justice of God's ActionsThe chapter concludes by affirming that the suffering brought upon Jerusalem is not arbitrary but is a just consequence of its iniquity. The very existence and behavior of the remnant will confirm the righteousness of God's judgments.