Ezekiel 14:4

Therefore 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; EVERY MAN ... THAT SETTETH UP HIS IDOLS IN HIS HEART ... AND COMETH - and yet cometh, feigning himself to be a true worshipper of Yahweh. I THE LORD WILL ANSWER HIM THAT COMETH [ baa' (H935)] so the margin Hebrew reads But the text I THE LORD WILL ANSWER HIM THAT COMETH, [ baa' (H935)] - so the margin Hebrew reads. But the text Hebrew reading is, 'I the Lord will answer according to it [baah] according to the multitude of his idols...

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 word by itself is naturally to be greatly desired, yet when God answers as a judge, and takes away all hope of pardon and pity, no taste of his favor can then be perceived. Thus this passage must be understood. God pronounces that he would answer, but whom? The reprobate, and those who tauntingly inquired of the Prophet what they should do. When he answers them, he only shows himself the avenger of their...

1-11 No outward form or reformation can be acceptable to God, so long as any idol possesses the heart; yet how many prefer their own devices and their own righteousness, to the way of salvation! Men's corruptions are idols in their hearts, and are of their own setting up; God will let them take their course. Sin renders the sinner odious in the eyes of the pure and holy God; and in his own eyes also, whenever conscience is awakened. Let us seek to be cleansed from the guilt and pollution of sins, in that fountain which the Lord has opened....

Verse Ezekiel 14:4. _ACCORDING TO THE MULTITUDE OF HIS IDOLS_] I will treat him as an idolater, as a flagrant idolater....

Omit “that cometh.” ACCORDING TO THE MULTITIUDE OF HIS IDOLS - i. e., I will give him an answer as delusive as the idols which he serves. Compare Micaiah’s answer to Ahab 1 Kings 22:15....

EXPOSITION EZEKIEL 14:1 As the result, probably, of the previous utterances, certain ELDERS OF ISRAEL, _i_._e_. of the exiles in Tel-Abib, came to consult Ezekiel, wishing to know what counsels or what predictions he had for them. In Ezekiel 8:1 we have "the elders of Judah," and it is possible that there were two groups in the Population of the town, and that these represented Israel as distinct from Judah—a deputation, as it were, from the earlier exiles. The term appears again in Ezekiel 20:1. More probably, however, the terms are used interchangeably. Ezekiel 14:

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 favour shown; being an idolater in heart and practice, secretly and openly, he shall bear the punishment of his sin: AND COMETH TO THE PROPHET: the Prophet Ezekiel, as the elders of Israel now did, or any other prophet of the Lord: the Vulgate Latin version adds, "inquiring of me by him"; expecting to have an answer, and one according to their wishes: I THE LORD WILL ANSWER HIM THAT COMETH; that cometh t...

Ezekiel 14:1. These inquiring elders, with wickedness in their hearts, give another illustration of the depth of degradation in which the people had sunk. He who searches the hearts knew what was in them. They came with pious, religious pretensions. It sounded well to inquire of the Lord and seek the prophet-priest for that purpose. Their hearts were full of evil. While their lips spoke of asking the Lord, their hearts were full of idolatry. They liked idolatry. Their hearts were in it and this stumbling-block of their iniquity they had put before their faces, which means they openly defied the Lord God of Israel by their doings. “Should I be inquired of at all by them?” To seek the Lord and inquire of Him in such a condition reveals a brazen spirit and the deepest depravity. Yet this also belongs to the conditions in which the professing people of God are when judgment overtakes them....

INSINCERITY OF THOSE WHO CONSULT THE PROPHETS. Like prophet, like people. The prophets, as _we_ have just seen (Ezekiel 13), were greatly to blame; but no less were the people partly because of their scepticism (Ezekiel 12:21), and partly, as we now see, because of their insincerity. This is illustrated by a question put by certain elders on the occasion of a visit to Ezekiel a question which neither deserved nor received an answer; for they are idolaters, certainly at _heart and_ probably in fact; they worship Yahweh with divided heart, and are therefore inevitably excluded from a knowledge of His purpose and will. No answer can be given to such, but the answer of the Divine judgment; and if they continue their policy of impenitent compromise, their fate will be nothing less than terrible (Ezek

THE LORD GOD. Hebrew Adonai Jehovah. See note on Ezekiel 2:4. EVERY MAN. Hebrew. _ish, 'ish_. App-14. BEFORE. in front of, or right before. WILL ANSWER, &c.. have been replied to for him; he hath come amid [the] multitude of his idols: i.e. he hath answered My claims by classing his idols with Me. The form is _Niphal_ which in all its three occurances is rendered Passive, except here and Ezekiel 14:7. See Job 11:2; Job 19:7, and Proverbs 21:13....