Ezekiel 14:5 NIV

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 14:5

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 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

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 14:5

That I may take the house of Israel, etc. The words me a threat rather than a promise. The "double-hearted" shall be taken in the snare which they have made for themselves. read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Ezekiel 14:5

That I may take ... - i. e., that I may take them, as in a snare, deceived by their own heart. read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Ezekiel 14:4-5

Ezekiel 14:4-5. Say unto them Declare my will clearly and faithfully; Every man of the house of Israel Whoever he be, rich or poor, mighty or mean; that setteth up his idols in his heart That is attached in his heart to any species of idolatry; and cometh to the prophet As if he were desirous to know what is best to be done, that he might do it; or what is the will of God, that he might comply with it: and what will be the issue of these times and affairs; I the Lord will answer him... read more

Donald C. Fleming

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - Ezekiel 14:1-11

Idolatry in the heart (14:1-11)Once again the leaders of the exiles came to see if Ezekiel had any helpful advice for them. He did, but not of the kind they were seeking. Although these men were outwardly loyal to Yahweh, inwardly they were attracted to the Babylonian gods. God told Ezekiel that he would not speak to such people through his prophet, but would speak directly. He would speak in a decisive act of judgment that would remove this tendency towards idolatry from the hearts of his... read more

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

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

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

The Pulpit Commentary - Ezekiel 14:1-5

The Pulpit Commentary - Ezekiel 14:1-11

The Pulpit Commentary - Ezekiel 14:1-11

The Pulpit Commentary - Ezekiel 14:5

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Ezekiel 14:5

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Ezekiel 14:4-5

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - Ezekiel 14:1-11

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