Ezekiel 20:3

Translations

Modern

“Son of man, speak to the elders of Israel and tell them that this is what the Lord GOD says: Have you come to inquire of Me? As surely as I live, I will not be consulted by you, declares the Lord GOD.

Traditional

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.

Literal

“Son of man, speak to the elders of Israel, and say to them, thus says the Lord YHWH: Have you come to inquire of Me? As I live, I will not be inquired of by you, a declaration of the Lord YHWH.

Latin

Fili hominis, loquere senioribus Israël, et dices ad eos: Hæc dicit Dominus Deus: Numquid ad interrogandum me vos venistis? vivo ego quia non respondebo vobis, ait Dominus Deus.

Original

Hebrew

English

“Son of man, speak to the elders of Israel and tell them that this is what the Lord GOD says: Have you come to inquire of Me? As surely as I live, I will not be consulted by you, declares the Lord GOD.

Notes

Ezekiel 20:1–3

In the seventh year of King Jehoiachin’s captivity, five more years remained before Jerusalem's destruction.
The leaders (literally elders) of Israel, who were the community's elders in exile, came to Ezekiel again, seeking a message from the Lord (compare Ezekiel 8:1; 14:1).
Normally, it is good to seek a message from the Lord. But these leaders had already been judged because their motives were divided (see Ezekiel 14). They did not truly seek God with sincere hearts.
Because of this, the Lord refused to answer them. The text does not record the question they planned to ask Ezekiel. It is possible they never had the chance to ask it.

Events

Prophecies of Ezekielc. 593 BC

Related verses

Psalm 50:15–21
Call upon Me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you will honor Me.”
Matthew 15:8–9
‘These people honor Me with their lips, but their hearts are far from Me.
Micah 3:7
Then the seers will be ashamed and the diviners will be disgraced. They will all cover their mouths because there is no answer from God.”
Proverbs 28:9
Whoever turns his ear away from hearing the law, even his prayer is detestable.
1 Samuel 28:6
He inquired of the LORD, but the LORD did not answer him by dreams or Urim or prophets.
Proverbs 15:8
The sacrifice of the wicked is detestable to the LORD, but the prayer of the upright is His delight.
John 4:24
God is Spirit, and His worshipers must worship Him in spirit and in truth.”
Matthew 3:7
But when John saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to his place of baptism, he said to them, “You brood of vipers, who warned you to flee from the coming wrath?
Ezekiel 14:7–8
For when any Israelite or any foreigner dwelling in Israel separates himself from Me, sets up idols in his heart, and puts a wicked stumbling block before his face, and then comes to the prophet to inquire of Me, I the LORD will answer him Myself.
Ezekiel 20:31
When you offer your gifts, sacrificing your sons in the fire, you continue to defile yourselves with all your idols to this day. So should I be consulted by you, O house of Israel? As surely as I live, declares the Lord GOD, I will not be consulted by you!
Ezekiel 14:3–4
“Son of man, these men have set up idols in their hearts and put wicked stumbling blocks before their faces. Should I consult with them in any way?
Isaiah 1:15
When you spread out your hands in prayer, I will hide My eyes from you; even though you multiply your prayers, I will not listen. Your hands are covered with blood.

People

Israel: Patriarch, son of Isaac, father of twelve tribes LORD: Names or title used to refer to God

Glossary

Elder Ezekiel, Book of

Topics

Answers To Prayer: Refusal of Elders of Israel Government: Mosaic: Seeks Counsel from Prophets Wicked (People): Prayer of

Ezekiel 20:3

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