God’s Word Translation
Ezekiel 33:31
31Then they come to you, as if they are still my people, and they sit down in front of you. They listen to what you say, but they don’t do it. They say that they love me, but in their hearts they chase dishonest profits.
Ezekiel 33:31 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)And they come unto thee as the people cometh, and they sit before thee as my people, and they hear thy words, but they will not do them: for with their mouth they shew much love, but their heart goeth after their covetousness.
- New International Version (NIV)My people come to you, as they usually do, and sit before you to hear your words, but they do not put them into practice. Their mouths speak of love, but their hearts are greedy for unjust gain.
- English Standard Version (ESV)And they come to you as people come, and they sit before you as my people, and they hear what you say but they will not do it; for with lustful talk in their mouths they act; their heart is set on their gain.
- New King James Version (NKJV)So they come to you as people do, they sit before you as My people, and they hear your words, but they do not do them; for with their mouth they show much love, but their hearts pursue their own gain.
Context of Ezekiel 33:31
29Then people will know that I am the Lord, when I make the land a barren wasteland because of all the disgusting things that they have done.’ 30“Son of man, your people are talking about you by the walls and in the doorways of their homes. They are saying to each other, ‘Let’s go and hear the word that has come from the Lord.’ Then they come to you, as if they are still my people, and they sit down in front of you. They listen to what you say, but they don’t do it. They say that they love me, but in their hearts they chase dishonest profits. 32To them you are nothing more than a singer with a beautiful voice who sings love songs or a musician who plays an instrument. They listen to your words, but they don’t do them. 33When all your words come true—and they certainly will come true—these people will know that a prophet has been among them.”
Read all of Ezekiel 33Ezekiel 33:31 word by word
וְיָב֣וֹאוּ אֵ֠לֶיךָ כִּמְבוֹא־עָ֞ם וְיֵשְׁב֤וּ לְפָנֶ֙יךָ֙ עַמִּ֔י וְשָֽׁמְעוּ֙ אֶת־דְּבָרֶ֔יךָ וְאוֹתָ֖ם לֹ֣א יַֽעֲשׂ֑וּ כִּֽי־עֲגָבִ֤ים בְּפִיהֶם֙ הֵ֣מָּה עֹשִׂ֔ים אַחֲרֵ֥י בִצְעָ֖ם לִבָּ֥ם הֹלֵֽךְ׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- And they comeבּוֹאbô' · to come (in): comeH935
- unto thee as the peopleעַם‛am · peopleH5971
- comethמָבוֹאmâbô' · entranceH3996
- and they sitיָשַׁבyâshab · to dwellH3427
- beforeפָּנֶהpânîym · face: beforeH6440
- and they hearשָׁמַעshâma‛ · to hear: hearH8085
- thy wordsדָּבָרdâbâr · word: speakingH1697
- but they will not doעָשָׂה‛âώâh · to make: doH6213
- them: for with their mouthפֶּהpeh · lipH6310
- much loveעָגָב‛egeb · lustH5690
- their heartלֵבlêb · heartH3820
- goethהָלַךְhâlak · to go: continueH1980
- afterאַחַר'achar · afterH310
- their covetousnessבֶּ֫צַעbetsa‛ · unjust-gainH1215
Cross-references for Ezekiel 33:31
- Ezekiel 8:1On the fifth day of the sixth month in the sixth year, I was sitting in my home. Judah’s leaders were sitting in front of me. The power of the Almighty Lord came over me.
- Ezekiel 14:1Some of Israel’s leaders came to me and sat down in front of me.
- Ezekiel 20:1On the tenth day of the fifth month in the seventh year, some of the leaders of Israel came to ask for the Lord’s help. They sat in front of me.
- Luke 10:39She had a sister named Mary. Mary sat at the Lord’s feet and listened to him talk.
- Acts 10:33So I sent for you immediately. Thank you for coming. All of us are here now in the presence of God to listen to everything the Lord has ordered you to say.”
- Jeremiah 6:16This is what the Lord says: Stand at the crossroads and look. Ask which paths are the old, reliable paths. Ask which way leads to blessings. Live that way, and find a resting place for yourselves. But you said that you wouldn’t live that way.
- Jeremiah 43:1So Jeremiah finished telling all the people the message from the Lord their God. He told them everything the Lord their God sent him to tell them.
- Jeremiah 44:16“We won’t listen to the message that you have spoken to us in the Lord’s name.
- Mark 7:24Jesus left that place and went to the territory of Tyre. He didn’t want anyone to know that he was staying in a house there. However, it couldn’t be kept a secret.
- Luke 6:48He is like a person who dug down to bedrock to lay the foundation of his home. When a flood came, the floodwaters pushed against that house. But the house couldn’t be washed away because it had a good foundation.
- Luke 8:21He answered them, “My mother and my brothers are those who hear and do what God’s word says.”
- Luke 11:28Jesus replied, “Rather, how blessed are those who hear and obey God’s word.”
- James 1:22Do what God’s word says. Don’t merely listen to it, or you will fool yourselves.
- Deuteronomy 5:28When the Lord heard the words that you spoke to me, he said, “I have heard what these people said to you. Everything they said was good.
- Psalms 78:36They flattered him with their mouths and lied to him with their tongues.
- Isaiah 29:13The Lord says, “These people worship me with their mouths and honor me with their lips. But their hearts are far from me, and their worship of me is ⌞based on⌟ rules made by humans.
Commentaries on Ezekiel 33:31
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 31As the people cometh - As they are accustomed to come on public days, Sabbaths, etc. With their mouth they show much love - They respected the prophet, but would not bend themselves to follow his precepts. They loved earthly things, and did not relish those of heaven.Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 23-33Verses 23-33 The exhortation to repentance. Ezekiel first addresses the remnant that still linger in their ancient home, and warns them against presumptuous hopes resting on false grounds Ezekiel 33:23-29; then he turns his eyes to those near him, and points out that their apparent attention to his words was illusory. Ezekiel 33:24 Those wastes - The places in the holy land devastated by the conqueror. Abraham - The argument is, Abraham was but one man…Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 30-33Verses 30-33 Unworthy and corrupt motives often lead men to the places where the word of God is faithfully preached. Many come to find somewhat to oppose: far more come of curiosity or mere habit. Men may have their hearts changed. But whether men hear or forbear, they will know by the event that a servant of God has been among them. All who will not know the worth of mercies by the improvement of them, will justly be made to know their worth by the want…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 30-33The situation was not much better among the exiles in Babylon. Many of them talked about Ezekiel’s messages. They discussed what he said, but they did not change their attitudes or behavior. They were no different from the people still living in Judah. They would sit in front of Ezekiel and appear sincere. However, they did not plan to obey what the Lord told them. They treated his messages as something pleasant to hear. But the Lord warned them that, in…Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 3131. as the people cometh--that is, in crowds, as disciples flock to their teacher. sit before thee--on lower seats at thy feet, according to the Jewish custom of pupils (De 33:3; 2Ki 4:38; Lu 10:39; Ac 22:3). as my people--though they are not. hear ... not do--(Mt 13:20, 21; Jas 1:23, 24). they show much love--literally, "make love," that is, act the part of lovers. Profess love to the Lord (Mt 7:21). Gesenius translates, according to Arabic idiom, "They…Read the comment
Topics related to Ezekiel 33:31
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Ezekiel 33
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
- Tyndale Open Study Notes
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
- Rashi on Tanakh
- Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
- John Wesley’s Notes
- Darby Translation Notes
- Geneva Bible Translation Notes
- Kingcomments
- Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
- Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
- Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
- Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
- EGW Writings
God’s Word Translation — © 1995 God’s Word to the Nations Bible Society
Commentaries