Ezekiel 20:1 (KJV)

What does Ezekiel 20:1 mean?

Ezekiel 20:1 describes a formal visit by Israel’s elders to seek an answer from the LORD through Ezekiel. Their arrival sets the occasion for the message that follows: the elders have come with a request, and Ezekiel records the moment before receiving the LORD’s response.

Ezekiel is the “me” before whom the elders sit. The verse gives an exact date, placing the meeting in the seventh year, fifth month, and tenth day. The seventh year is commonly understood as the seventh year of King Jehoiachin’s exile, a way of dating also used near the beginning of Ezekiel’s book.

The Hebrew behind Ezekiel 20:1

• “enquire” — דָּרַשׁ (darash): This word can mean to seek or ask. Here it describes the elders seeking a response from the LORD, with Ezekiel as the person they have come to see.
• “elders” — זָקֵן (zaqen): This word can refer to older people or to recognized leaders. In this setting, it points to people with a standing among the Israelites, rather than simply describing their age.
• “LORD” — יְהוָה (YHWH): This is the personal name of Israel’s God. The KJV represents that name with “LORD” in capital letters.

Why Ezekiel 20:1 matters

• The visit is presented as an encounter involving both the elders and Ezekiel, not merely a private thought. The words “sat before me” place them in his presence as they seek an answer.
• The setting makes the response in verse 3 striking. The LORD addresses the elders’ request directly and says that he will not be enquired of by them.
• The precise date anchors the encounter in a particular moment. Ezekiel presents the words that follow as a response to an actual visit, rather than as an undated speech.