Ezekiel 14

1 Then some [certain, specific] of the elders [old, elderly, respected leaders] of Israel [the descendants of Jacob, God’s chosen people] came [approached, drew near] and sat down [dwelled, remained] before [in the presence, face to face] me. word study 2 And the word [message from God, divine communication] of the LORD [Yehovah, the self-existent God] came [existed, was present] to me, saying [to speak, to command, to proclaim], word study 3 “Son [a descendant] of man [the human, Adam], these men [individuals, people] have set up [established, placed] idols [false gods, objects of worship] in their hearts [the seat of feelings, will, and intellect] and put [placed, set] wicked [morally evil, sinful] stumbling blocks [obstacles, hindrances] before [in front of, opposite] their faces [presence, person]. Should I [is it right for me to] consult [seek, inquire of] with them [these people] in any way [at all, in any manner]? word study 4 Therefore speak to them and tell them that this is what the Lord [Adonay, the sovereign Master] GOD [Yehovah] says: ‘When any Israelite [a descendant of Jacob, a child of God’s covenant] sets up idols [false gods, objects of worship] in his heart [the center of thoughts, feelings, and will] and puts a wicked [morally evil, sinful] stumbling block [an obstacle to faith, a hindrance to spiritual growth] before his face [his presence, his awareness], and then comes to the prophet [a spokesperson for God, a messenger of divine truth], I the LORD [Yehovah, the Lord of covenant faithfulness] will answer him according to his great [abundant, numerous] idolatry [the worship of false gods, the rejection of the one true God], word study 5 so that I may [capture] take hold of the hearts [the seat of feelings, will, and intellect] of the people of Israel [the descendants of Jacob, God’s chosen nation]. For because of [on account of, due to] their idols [false gods, objects of worship], they are all [completely, totally] estranged [alienated, separated] from Me [as their Lord and God].’ word study 6 Therefore tell [declare, proclaim] the house [family, descendants] of Israel [God’s chosen people] that this is what the Lord [Adonay, Master] GOD [Yehovah] says: ‘Repent [turn back, change your mind] and turn away [withdraw, depart] from your idols [false gods, objects of worship]; turn your faces [presence, person] away from all [every, everything] your abominations [detestable things, sinful practices]. word study 7 For when any Israelite [a descendant of Jacob, a child of God’s covenant] or any foreigner [sojourner, temporary resident] dwelling in Israel separates himself [dedicates, sets apart] from Me, sets up idols [false gods, objects of worship] in his heart [the center of thoughts, feelings, and will], and puts a wicked stumbling block [obstacle, hindrance to faith] before his face [presence, awareness], and then comes to the prophet [one who speaks for God, a messenger] to inquire of Me, I the LORD [Yehovah, the self-existent, eternal God] will answer him Myself [personally, directly]. word study 8 I [the Lord] will set My face [presence, being] against that man [individual, person] and make him a sign [miraculous token, beacon] and a proverb [wise saying, lesson]; I will cut [destroy, sever] him off from among My people [nation, community]. Then you will know [understand, recognize] that I am the LORD [Yehovah, God]. word study 9 But if the prophet [a spokesperson for God, false or true] is enticed [deceived, tricked] to speak a message, then it was I the LORD [the supreme God, Yehovah] who enticed [deceived, allowed to be deceived] him, and I will stretch out [extend, spread out] My hand [power, strength] against him and destroy [annihilate, desolate] him from among [out of the midst of] My people [nation, descendants] Israel [the symbolic name of Jacob, God’s chosen]. word study 10 They will bear [be responsible for, suffer] their punishment [iniquity, sin]—the punishment [guilt, condemnation] of the inquirer [one who seeks, asks] will be the same as [equivalent to, like] that of the prophet [one who speaks for God, a spokesperson]— word study 11 in order that the house [family, descendants] of Israel may no longer stray [go astray, wander] from Me and no longer defile [make themselves unclean, pollute] themselves with all [every, each] their transgressions [rebellions, sins]. Then they will be My people [nation, community] and I will be their God [Elohim, Lord], declares the Lord [Adonay, Master] GOD [Yehovah, the supreme God].’” word study 12 And the word [message from God, divine communication] of the LORD [Yehovah] came [existed, was present] to me, saying [to speak, to command, to declare], word study 13 “Son of man [mortal, human], if a land [country, territory] sins [commits a trespass, acts unfaithfully] against Me by acting unfaithfully [being disloyal, rebellious], and I stretch out My hand [extend My power, exert My authority] against it to cut off its supply of food [break the staff of bread, remove sustenance], to send famine [hunger, scarcity] upon it, and to cut off from it both man [human, Adam] and beast [animal, living creature], word study 14 then even if these three men [specifically chosen, notable examples]—Noah [a righteous patriarch], Daniel [a faithful prophet], and Job [a blameless sufferer]—were in it, their righteousness [moral integrity, upright living] could deliver [rescue, save] only themselves [their own souls, lives], declares [utters, proclaims] the Lord [Adonay, the sovereign God] GOD [Yehovah]. word study 15 Or if I send [evil, noisome, or wild] wild beasts [living creatures, animals] through the land [country, territory, or region] to leave it [make it] childless [barren, without offspring] and desolate [wasted, devastated], with no man passing [crossing, transitioning] through it for fear [because of the presence] of the beasts [animals, living creatures], word study 16 then as surely as I [the Lord] live, declares the Lord GOD [Adonay, the sovereign Master], even if these three men [a triad of righteous ones] were in it, they could not deliver [rescue, save from harm] their own sons [children, descendants] or daughters [female offspring, inheritors]. They alone [by themselves, in isolation] would be delivered [saved, rescued], but the land [the earth, the physical realm] would be desolate [laid waste, devastated, a state of ruin]. word study 17 Or [as an alternative, if] if I bring a sword [weapon of war, instrument of destruction] against that land [country, territory, region] and say, ‘Let a sword [cutting instrument, tool of judgment] pass through it [cross over, transition],’ so that I cut off [destroy, eliminate] from it both man [human being, Adam] and beast [animal, livestock, living creature], word study 18 then as surely as I [am alive, have eternal life] live, declares the Lord [Adonay, Master] GOD [Yehovah], even if these [specific, chosen] three men [individuals, persons] were in it, they could not [are unable, lack the power] deliver [rescue, save] their own sons [children, descendants] or daughters [female children, girls]. They alone [only, by themselves] would be delivered [saved, rescued]. word study 19 Or [if I choose to] if I send a plague [pestilence, disease] into that land [country, territory] and pour out My wrath [intense anger, fury] upon it through bloodshed [killing, slaughter], cutting off [destroying, removing] from it both man [human, Adam] and beast [animal, livestock], word study 20 then as surely as I [the Lord] live, declares the Lord [Adonay] GOD, even if Noah [the patriarch who built the ark], Daniel [a man of God, a judge], and Job [a righteous sufferer] were in it, they could not deliver [rescue, save] their own sons [male descendants] or daughters [female children]. Their righteousness [moral virtue, justice] could deliver [save, preserve] only themselves [their own souls, lives]. word study 21 For this is what the Lord [Adonay, the sovereign Master] GOD [Yehovah] says: ‘How much worse will it be when I send [dispatch, commission] against Jerusalem [the city of peace, the earthly capital] My four [a complete set, a foursquare foundation] dire judgments—sword [war, bloodshed], famine [hunger, scarcity], wild beasts [feral animals, savage creatures], and plague [pestilence, disease]—in order to cut off [sever, eliminate] from it both man [humanity, Adam’s race] and beast [living creatures, animals]? word study 22 Yet, behold [look, take notice], some survivors [a remnant, those who remain] will be left in it—sons [male descendants, children] and daughters [female offspring, girls] who will be brought out [carried away, taken captive]. They will come out [emerge, go forth] to you, and when you see [perceive, observe] their conduct [way of life, manner] and actions [deeds, doings], you will be comforted [consoled, reassured] regarding the disaster [evil, calamity] I have brought upon Jerusalem [the city of peace, the capital]—all [everything, the entirety] that I have brought upon it [caused to happen, inflicted]. word study 23 They will bring you consolation [comfort and peace] when you see their conduct [ways and actions, manner of life] and actions [deeds, exploits], and you will know [perceive, understand, be aware] that it was not without cause [for nothing, in vain] that I have done [accomplished, brought about] all these things [everything, all that has happened] within it [in the city, among the people],’ declares the Lord [Adonay, the sovereign Master] GOD [Yehovah].” word study