Son of man, these men have set up their idols in their heart, and put the stumblingblock of their iniquity before their face: should I be enquired of at all by them?

EZEKIEL 14:3KJV
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Ezekiel 14:3 (KJV)

What does Ezekiel 14:3 mean?

Ezekiel 14:3 describes how certain men have turned to idols in their hearts and placed the cause of their own wrongdoing right in front of themselves, yet they still come to ask God for answers. The verse questions whether God should respond to people who are holding onto idols and sin while seeking His guidance.

In this verse, God is speaking to Ezekiel about the elders of Israel who have come to consult him as a prophet. The situation is that these leaders are outwardly seeking God's word, but inwardly they are devoted to other gods and sinful practices. The verse highlights the contradiction between their public actions and their private loyalties, raising the issue of sincerity in seeking God.

The Hebrew behind Ezekiel 14:3

  • "idols" (גִּלּוּלִים, gillulim): This word refers to objects of false worship, often with a sense of something detestable or worthless. Here, it emphasizes that the problem is not just physical idols, but the devotion to them within the heart.
  • "heart" (לֵב, lev): The heart in Hebrew thought is the center of will, thought, and emotion. Setting up idols "in their heart" means their deepest loyalties and desires are turned away from God, not just their outward actions.
  • "stumblingblock" (מִכְשׁוֹל, mikshol): This word means something that causes someone to trip or fall, often used for moral or spiritual downfall. The "stumblingblock of their iniquity" suggests that their own sinful choices are what is tripping them up, and they are putting these obstacles right in their own path.
  • "enquired" (דָּרַשׁ, darash): This word means to seek, inquire, or consult. The verse questions whether God should allow Himself to be consulted by people who are not genuinely seeking Him.

Why Ezekiel 14:3 matters

  • Ezekiel 14:3 makes clear that God is concerned with the inner life and not just outward religious actions; people can appear to seek God while actually holding onto things that separate them from Him.
  • The verse warns against hypocrisy, showing that God sees beyond appearances and knows the true state of a person's heart and loyalties.
  • This verse sets up the rest of the chapter, where God explains how He will respond to those who come to Him with divided hearts, making it a key moment in understanding God's expectations for sincere worship.

Where else these words appear

“stumblingblock” Hebrew H4383 · used in 14 verses

  • Leviticus 19:14 Thou shalt not curse the deaf, nor put a stumblingblock before the blind, but shalt fear thy God: I am the LORD.
  • Isaiah 57:14 And shall say, Cast ye up, cast ye up, prepare the way, take up the stumblingblock out of the way of my people.
  • 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;

“before” Hebrew H5227 · used in 22 verses

  • Genesis 25:21 And Isaac intreated the LORD for his wife, because she was barren: and the LORD was intreated of him, and Rebekah his wife conceived.
  • Judges 18:6 And the priest said unto them, Go in peace: before the LORD is your way wherein ye go.
  • Proverbs 4:25 Let thine eyes look right on, and let thine eyelids look straight before thee.

“idols” Hebrew H1544 · used in 45 verses

  • Leviticus 26:30 And I will destroy your high places, and cut down your images, and cast your carcases upon the carcases of your idols, and my soul shall abhor you.
  • Ezekiel 8:10 So I went in and saw; and behold every form of creeping things, and abominable beasts, and all the idols of the house of Israel, pourtrayed upon the wall round about.
  • Ezekiel 20:39 As for you, O house of Israel, thus saith the Lord GOD; Go ye, serve ye every one his idols, and hereafter also, if ye will not hearken unto me: but pollute ye my holy name no more with your gifts, and with your idols.