Ezekiel Chapter 14 — Idolatry in the Heart and Divine Judgment
God confronts the elders of Israel for harboring idols in their hearts and explains that individual righteousness cannot spare a sinful nation from judgment.
1Then some of the elders of Israel came to me and sat before me.
2The LORD’s word came to me, saying,
3“Son of man, these men have taken their idols into their heart, and put the stumbling block of their iniquity before their face. Should I be inquired of at all by them?
4Therefore speak to them and tell them, ‘The Lord GOD says: “Every man of the house of Israel who takes his idols into his heart and puts the stumbling block of his iniquity before his face then comes to the prophet, I the LORD will answer him there 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.” ’
6“Therefore tell the house of Israel, ‘The Lord GOD says: “Return, and turn yourselves from your idols! Turn away your faces from all your abominations.
7“ ‘ “For everyone of the house of Israel, or of the strangers who live in Israel, who separates himself from me and takes his idols into his heart, and puts the stumbling block of his iniquity before his face, and comes to the prophet to inquire for himself of me, I the LORD will answer him by myself.
8I will set my face against that man and will make him an astonishment, for a sign and a proverb, and I will cut him off from among my people. Then you will know that I am the LORD.
9“ ‘ “If the prophet is deceived and speaks a word, I, the LORD, have deceived that prophet, and I will stretch out my hand on him, and will destroy him from among my people Israel.
10They will bear their iniquity. The iniquity of the prophet will be even as the iniquity of him who seeks him,
11that the house of Israel may no more go astray from me, neither defile themselves any more with all their transgressions; but that they may be my people, and I may be their God,” says the Lord GOD.’ ”
12The LORD’s word came to me, saying,
13“Son of man, when a land sins against me by committing a trespass, and I stretch out my hand on it, and break the staff of its bread and send famine on it, and cut off from it man and animal—
14though these three men, Noah, Daniel, and Job, were in it, they would deliver only their own souls by their righteousness,” says the Lord GOD.
15“If I cause evil animals to pass through the land, and they ravage it and it is made desolate, so that no man may pass through because of the animals—
16though these three men were in it, as I live,” says the Lord GOD, “they would deliver neither sons nor daughters. They only would be delivered, but the land would be desolate.
17“Or if I bring a sword on that land, and say, ‘Sword, go through the land, so that I cut off from it man and animal’—
18though these three men were in it, as I live,” says the Lord GOD, “they would deliver neither sons nor daughters, but they only would be delivered themselves.
19“Or if I send a pestilence into that land, and pour out my wrath on it in blood, to cut off from it man and animal—
20though Noah, Daniel, and Job, were in it, as I live,” says the Lord GOD, “they would deliver neither son nor daughter; they would deliver only their own souls by their righteousness.”
21For the Lord GOD says: “How much more when I send my four severe judgments on Jerusalem—the sword, the famine, the evil animals, and the pestilence—to cut off from it man and animal!
22Yet, behold, there will be left a remnant in it that will be carried out, both sons and daughters. Behold, they will come out to you, and you will see their way and their doings. Then you will be comforted concerning the evil that I have brought on Jerusalem, even concerning all that I have brought on it.
23They will comfort you, when you see their way and their doings; then you will know that I have not done all that I have done in it without cause,” says the Lord GOD.
WEB Translation
Notable Verses
Ezekiel 14:3
“Son of man, these men have taken their idols into their heart, and put the stumbling block of their iniquity before their face. Should I be inquired of at all by them?”
This verse introduces the concept of internal idolatry, showing that God judges the intentions of the heart rather than just outward actions.
Ezekiel 14:14
“though these three men, Noah, Daniel, and Job, were in it, they would deliver only their own souls by their righteousness, says the Lord GOD.”
This highlights the principle that righteousness is not transferable; each person is responsible for their own standing before God.
Ezekiel 14:21
“For the Lord GOD says: 'How much more when I send my four severe judgments on Jerusalem—the sword, the famine, the evil animals, and the pestilence—to cut off from it man and animal!'”
It lists the specific means of judgment God uses to discipline the nation for its persistent unfaithfulness.
Chapter Summary
In Ezekiel 14, the elders of Israel come to sit before the prophet Ezekiel to inquire of the Lord. However, God reveals that these men have 'taken their idols into their heart,' making their outward show of devotion hypocritical. The Lord declares that anyone who approaches Him while holding onto iniquity will be answered according to their idols, as He intends to reclaim the hearts of His people. The chapter emphasizes individual responsibility, noting that both the seeker of a false prophet and the deceived prophet will bear their own guilt. Furthermore, God addresses the inevitability of judgment upon a land that commits a trespass. He states that even if Noah, Daniel, and Job—three men known for their righteousness—were present in the land, they would only be able to save themselves; they could not save the nation or even their own children from the four severe judgments: sword, famine, wild beasts, and pestilence. Finally, a remnant is promised to survive, serving as proof that God's judgments were not without cause.
Frequently Asked Questions
It refers to individuals who externally participate in religious life but internally remain committed to sinful practices or false gods. God clarifies that such internal 'stumbling blocks' prevent a sincere relationship and will lead to divine judgment.
These three figures are cited as examples of extreme righteousness. God uses them to illustrate that when a land is under judgment, even the most holy individuals cannot intercede to save others; they can only deliver themselves by their own righteousness.
The four severe judgments are the sword (war), famine, evil animals (wild beasts), and pestilence (disease). These are described as the tools God uses to execute justice on a land that has sinned against Him.
The remnant consists of a small group of survivors, both sons and daughters, who will be carried out of the destruction. Their presence and behavior will eventually show the exiles that God’s harsh judgments were justified and not done without cause.
Study Note
The inclusion of Daniel alongside Noah and Job suggests that Daniel's reputation for piety was already legendary among the exiles in Babylon during Ezekiel's ministry.
Related Chapters
Noah's Righteousness
Provides historical context for Noah, one of the three righteous men mentioned in Ezekiel 14.
The Character of Job
Explains the righteousness of Job, who is used as an example of individual faithfulness in this chapter.
Hypocritical Worship
Parallels the theme of God rejecting the prayers of those who continue in their iniquity.
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