And they shall comfort you, when ye see their ways and their doings: and ye shall know that I have not done without cause all that I have done in it, saith the Lord GOD.

EZEKIEL 14:23KJV
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Ezekiel 14:23 (KJV)

What does Ezekiel 14:23 mean?

Ezekiel 14:23 says that when people see the actions and lives of those God has spared, they will be comforted and realize that God’s judgments were not without reason. The verse emphasizes that everything God has done was justified and not arbitrary, as declared by the Lord GOD.

In this verse, God is speaking through the prophet Ezekiel to the exiled Israelites. The people had questioned whether God’s severe actions against Jerusalem were fair. God assures them that when they witness the behavior (“ways and doings”) of the survivors, they will understand that His decisions were based on real causes, not done without purpose or fairness.

The Hebrew behind Ezekiel 14:23

  • "Comfort" (נָחַם, nacham): This word often means to bring relief or consolation after distress. Here, it suggests that seeing the survivors’ lives will ease the doubts or grief of the exiles.
  • "Cause" (חִנָּם, chinnam): This word means “without cause” or “for nothing.” God is making it clear that His actions were not random or unjustified, but had a real and necessary reason.
  • "Ways" (דֶּרֶךְ, derek) and "doings" (עֲלִילָה, alilah): These words point to the survivors’ behavior and actions, which serve as evidence for why judgment was necessary.

Why Ezekiel 14:23 matters

  • Ezekiel 14:23 addresses the question of whether God’s judgments are fair, showing that God acts with purpose and justice, not out of anger or whim.
  • The verse connects to the wider passage by explaining that the survivors’ lives themselves will be proof of why judgment fell, helping the exiles process their loss and confusion.
  • This verse helps clear up the misunderstanding that God’s actions are mysterious or unjust; instead, it stresses that God’s reasons are real and can be understood when the full picture is seen.

Where else these words appear

“doings” Hebrew H5949 · used in 24 verses

  • Deuteronomy 22:14 And give occasions of speech against her, and bring up an evil name upon her, and say, I took this woman, and when I came to her, I found her not a maid:
  • Psalms 77:12 I will meditate also of all thy work, and talk of thy doings.
  • Ezekiel 20:43 And there shall ye remember your ways, and all your doings, wherein ye have been defiled; and ye shall lothe yourselves in your own sight for all your evils that ye have committed.

“cause” Hebrew H2600 · used in 31 verses

  • Genesis 29:15 And Laban said unto Jacob, Because thou art my brother, shouldest thou therefore serve me for nought? tell me, what shall thy wages be?
  • Job 2:3 And the LORD said unto Satan, Hast thou considered my servant Job, that there is none like him in the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that feareth God, and escheweth evil? and still he holdeth fast his integrity, although thou movedst me against him, to destroy him without cause.
  • Proverbs 3:30 Strive not with a man without cause, if he have done thee no harm.

“comfort” Hebrew H5162 · used in 100 verses

  • Genesis 5:29 And he called his name Noah, saying, This same shall comfort us concerning our work and toil of our hands, because of the ground which the LORD hath cursed.
  • Job 29:25 I chose out their way, and sat chief, and dwelt as a king in the army, as one that comforteth the mourners.
  • Jeremiah 18:8 If that nation, against whom I have pronounced, turn from their evil, I will repent of the evil that I thought to do unto them.