Ezekiel 14:3-4

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

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

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Ezekiel 14:1-5

Idolatry. It certainly seems strange that, at this period of their national history, the Israelites should be chargeable with the folly and sin of idolatry. The admonitions against this offence had been so numerous, and the chastisements following its commission had been so severe, that the reader of Old Testament history is surprised to find that at so late a period the temptation had not been outgrown. I. THE MULTITUDE AND VARIETY OF THE IDOLATRIES OF ISRAEL . The... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Ezekiel 14:1-11

Disastrous answers to prayer. Ezekiel's predictions had been so gloomy and adverse, that the ciders of Israel in Babylon were staggered. They could not acquiesce in their nation's ruin. Hopeful that some message more favourable might come from God, they sought the prophet's presence. We must not place these elders in the same category with those in Jerusalem who preferred the flattering speeches of the false prophets. Nevertheless, they were not right at heart. The taint of idolatry was... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Ezekiel 14:1-11

Hypocritical inquirers of God. "Then came certain of the elders of Israel unto me, and sat before me," etc. In the former chapter false prophets and prophetesses were severely rebuked by the Lord God through his true prophet. In this one certain elders who came to Ezekiel to inquire of the Lord through him, while their hearts were given up to idols, are reproved, exhorted, and warned. The paragraph before us presents the following connected topics for consideration, which we will notice in... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Ezekiel 14:3

These men, etc. The prophet, taught by the word of the Lord, reads the hearts of those who came to him. The words do not imply, rather they exclude, the open practice of idolatry. The sin of the inquirers was that they had set up idols ( gillulim , Ezekiel's favourite word; see note on Ezekiel 6:4 ) in their hearts. The LXX . gives διανοήματα ,"thoughts of their hearts," as if to express this. They were hankering after the old false worships in which they had once, taken part. ... read more

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