Whiles they see vanity unto thee, whiles they divine a lie unto thee, to bring thee upon the necks of them that are slain, of the wicked, whose day is come, when their iniquity shall have an end.
EZEKIEL 21:29KJVWhat does Ezekiel 21:29 mean?
Ezekiel 21:29 describes how false prophets are giving empty promises and false predictions to people, but these lies will not save them from judgment; instead, they will be brought down among the wicked who are doomed to die when their time of punishment arrives. The verse warns that deceitful hopes cannot prevent the coming consequences for wrongdoing.
In this verse, God is speaking through Ezekiel to warn the people of Ammon and their leaders, who are relying on fortune-tellers and false visions for reassurance. The context is a prophecy of coming destruction, where those who trust in lies instead of turning from their wickedness will share the fate of others already judged. The verse emphasizes that there is a set time when the consequences of iniquity will be fulfilled, and no amount of false prophecy can change that.
The Hebrew behind Ezekiel 21:29
- "vanity" (שָׁוְא, shav'): This word means emptiness or worthlessness. Here, it highlights that the visions and promises being given are completely without substance.
- "divine" (קָסַם, qasam): This verb means to practice divination or fortune-telling. The verse points out that the leaders are relying on superstitious or magical predictions rather than seeking truth.
- "lie" (כָּזָב, kazav): This word means a deliberate falsehood. The verse stresses that these are not just mistakes, but intentional deceptions.
- "necks" (צַוָּאר, tsavvar): The phrase "upon the necks of them that are slain" uses a vivid image, suggesting being brought down or executed in the same way as those already judged.
Why Ezekiel 21:29 matters
- Ezekiel 21:29 clears up the idea that religious-sounding promises or predictions can protect people from real consequences; it insists that truth matters more than comforting lies.
- The verse connects to the wider passage by showing that God's judgment is not random, but comes at a set time when iniquity has reached its limit.
- Ezekiel 21:29 highlights the seriousness of trusting in falsehood, reminding readers that relying on lies—no matter how convincing—leads to the same fate as those already condemned.