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Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Ezekiel 14:1-11

Here is, I. The address which some of the elders of Israel made to the prophet, as an oracle, to enquire of the Lord by him. They came, and sat before him, Ezek. 14:1. It is probable that they were not of those who were now his fellow-captives, and constantly attended his ministry (such as those we read of Ezek. 8:1), but some occasional hearers, some of the grandees of Jerusalem who had come upon business to Babylon, perhaps public business, on an embassy from the king, and in their way... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Ezekiel 14:3

Son of man, these men have set up their idols in their heart ,.... Though they look so grave and demure, seem so devout and religious, and hear with so much attention and reverence, and express such a desire of consulting me by thee, they are no other than idolaters; and though they are at such a distance from their native place, and have not their idols with them, yet they have them in their fancy and imagination, and their hearts are after them, and are set upon them; these engross their... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Ezekiel 14:4

Therefore speak unto them, and say unto them ,.... That is, speak unto them as a prophet, and as from the Lord, and say what follows; so the Targum, "prophesy 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 stumbling block of his iniquity before his face ; let him be who he will, one in public office, an elder of Israel, or a private person; no respect will be had, no distinction made, nor... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Ezekiel 14:5

That I may take the house of Israel in their own heart ,.... By which they are ensnared, and drawn aside to their ruin; being given up to strong delusions, to believe a lie, and worship idols; God threatening to answer them by righteous judgments, and thereby take the wickedness, the hypocrisy, and idolatry, that were in their hearts, and expose and make it manifest unto others; or, by punishing them, to draw out the corruption and sin that were in them, that it might be seen what a wicked... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Ezekiel 14:6

Therefore say unto the house of Israel ,.... Deliver out the following exhortation to repentance unto them; for God's end, in all his threatenings and judgments, is to bring men to repentance: thus saith the Lord God, repent, and turn yourselves from your idols ; or, "turn, and cause to be turned from your idols" F23 שובו והשיבו "convertimini, et facite converti", Pagninus, Montanus, Vatablus. ; turn yourselves from the worship of idols, as the Targum, and do all that in you... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Ezekiel 14:3

These men have set up their idols in their heart - Not only in their houses; in the streets; but they had them in their hearts. These were stumbling-blocks of iniquity; they fell over them, and broke the neck of their souls. And should God be inquired of by such miscreants as these? read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Ezekiel 14:4

According to the multitude of his idols - I will treat him as an idolater, as a flagrant idolater. read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Ezekiel 14:4

Verse 4 Here God seems to treat those hypocrites too indulgently who pretend to ask his advice and yet despise his counsel. But God here rather threatens what would be destructive to the wicked than promises anything which they ought to expect. It is indeed a singular testimony of God’s grace when he answers us: for prophecy is an image of God’s paternal anxiety towards us and our salvation. But sometimes prophecy only ends in destruction; and this is but an accident. Although, therefore, God’s... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Ezekiel 14:5

Verse 5 He shows God’s object in being unwilling to dismiss without an answer the hypocrites who still impiously trifled with him. He says, that I may seize the house of Israel in their heart. It is yet asked how the impious are seized, when God answers them neither according to the opinion of their mind nor their expectation, but pronounces what they dislike and fear most grievously. I reply, that the impious are answered when they are driven to madness, and God thus extracts from them what... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Ezekiel 14:6

Verse 6 Now God shows why he had threatened the false prophets and the whole people so severely, namely, that they should repent; for the object of God’s rigor is, that, when terrified by his judgments, we should return into the way. Now, therefore, he exhorts them to repentance. Hence we gather the useful lesson, that whenever God inspires us with fear, he has no other intention than to humble us, and thus to provide for our salvation, when he reproves and threatens us so strongly by his... read more

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