Major Prophets · Chapter 14 of 48
Ezekiel 14
Elders come to inquire of God while idols fill their hearts. God exposes them: He will answer such divided seekers according to their idols and cut them off. Then He declares that when a land sins grievously, even Noah, Daniel, and Job could deliver only their own souls by righteousness, not their children. Yet a remnant will be brought out of Jerusalem, showing the justice of His judgment.
What happens in Ezekiel 14
Elders of Israel sit before Ezekiel to inquire of the Lord, but God reveals they have set up idols in their hearts. He warns that any who come to inquire while cherishing idols will be answered by God Himself according to their idolatry, made a sign and cut off, that Israel may go no more astray. God then addresses corporate and individual responsibility: when a land sins grievously and He sends famine, He would spare it for the sake of the righteous, yet even three legendary righteous men, Noah, Daniel, and Job, could deliver only their own souls, not sons or daughters.
The same holds for His four sore judgments, sword, famine, wild beasts, and pestilence, sent upon Jerusalem. Nevertheless, a remnant of sons and daughters will be brought forth and come to the exiles. Seeing their ways and doings, the exiles will be comforted, understanding that God has not acted without cause.
Ezekiel 14 in context
Elders came seeking a word from God while secretly devoted to idols, treating the prophet like a fortune-teller to endorse their plans. Ezekiel refuses. He also corrects a false hope: some assumed Jerusalem would be spared for the sake of a few righteous residents, as Abraham once interceded for Sodom.
God insists that in this grievous case, personal righteousness saves only oneself. Noah, Daniel, and Job were known exemplars of righteousness who endured great trials.
Main themes of Ezekiel 14
Ezekiel 14 (KJV)
1Then 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. 12The 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: 16Though 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.
Verses to carry from Ezekiel 14
“Son 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?”Ezekiel 14:3
“Though these three men, Noah, Daniel, and Job, were in it, they should deliver but their own souls by their righteousness, saith the Lord GOD.”Ezekiel 14:14
“Though 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.”Ezekiel 14:20
Thematic connection
How Ezekiel 14 points to Jesus
This chapter's most striking limit, that even Noah, Daniel, and Job could deliver but their own souls by their righteousness, throws the need for Christ into sharp relief. No human righteousness transfers to another; the best of saints cannot save their own children by their goodness. Precisely here the gospel answers, for the righteousness of one man, Jesus Christ, is reckoned to many (Romans 5:18-19).
Where Noah, Daniel, and Job could save only themselves, the sinless Son delivers a countless multitude, His righteousness imputed to all who trust Him. He also refuses the divided heart that inquires of God while clinging to idols, calling for the whole heart turned to Him. The one Mediator does what no mere saint ever could.
Questions about Ezekiel 14
Why won't God answer the inquiring elders honestly?
Because they came with idols in their hearts, wanting God to endorse their divided loyalties. God says He will answer such a person according to the multitude of his idols, meaning He will let their idolatry expose and judge them. He refuses to be consulted as one option among many. He calls first for repentance: turn yourselves from your idols. A heart still bowing to idols is in no position to hear God truly.
What is the point of naming Noah, Daniel, and Job?
They were famous examples of righteous men who lived through great trials and, in Noah's and Job's cases, saw judgment fall around them. By saying even these three could save only themselves, God dismantles the hope that Jerusalem would be spared for a few good people's sake. The lesson is stark: no one's righteousness can be borrowed to cover another. It quietly prepares us to long for a Savior whose righteousness can.
Reflection
Do you come to God with a divided heart, asking His blessing on idols you refuse to leave? He calls for the whole heart turned toward Him. And when you feel the weight of not being able to save those you love by your own goodness, remember there is One whose righteousness truly can be shared. Flee to Him.
A prayer from Ezekiel 14
Read the whole Bible with the family
Open it in the app, study it live with someone, and let it lead you to Christ.
Open the BibleRead it togetherSee what God is doing