God’s Word Translation
Ezekiel 33:32
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.
Ezekiel 33:32 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)And, lo, thou art unto them as a very lovely song of one that hath a pleasant voice, and can play well on an instrument: for they hear thy words, but they do them not.
- New International Version (NIV)Indeed, to them you are nothing more than one who sings love songs with a beautiful voice and plays an instrument well, for they hear your words but do not put them into practice.
- English Standard Version (ESV)And behold, you are to them like one who sings lustful songs with a beautiful voice and plays well on an instrument, for they hear what you say, but they will not do it.
- New King James Version (NKJV)Indeed you are to them as a very lovely song of one who has a pleasant voice and can play well on an instrument; for they hear your words, but they do not do them.
Context of Ezekiel 33:32
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.’ 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. To 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 33:32 word by word
וְהִנְּךָ֤ לָהֶם֙ כְּשִׁ֣יר עֲגָבִ֔ים יְפֵ֥ה ק֖וֹל וּמֵטִ֣ב נַגֵּ֑ן וְשָֽׁמְעוּ֙ אֶת־דְּבָרֶ֔יךָ וְעֹשִׂ֥ים אֵינָ֖ם אוֹתָֽם׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- unto them as a very lovelyעָגָב‛egeb · lustH5690
- songשִׁירshîyr shîyrâh · songH7892
- of one that hath a pleasantיָפֶהyâpheh · beautifulH3303
- voiceקוֹלqôl qôl · voiceH6963
- and can play wellטוֹבţôb · be pleasingH2895
- on an instrumentנָגַןnâgan · to playH5059
- for they hearשָׁמַעshâma‛ · to hear: hearH8085
- thy wordsדָּבָרdâbâr · word: speakingH1697
- but they doעָשָׂה‛âώâh · to make: doH6213
Cross-references for Ezekiel 33:32
- Mark 4:16Other people are like seeds that were planted on rocky ground. Whenever they hear the word, they accept it at once with joy.
- Mark 6:20because Herod was afraid of John. Herod knew that John was a fair and holy man, so he protected him. When he listened to John, he would become very disturbed, and yet he liked to listen to him.
- John 5:35John was a lamp that gave off brilliant light. For a time you enjoyed the pleasure of his light.
Commentaries on Ezekiel 33:32
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 32As a very lovely song - They admired the fine voice and correct delivery of the prophet; this was their religion, and this is the whole of the religion of thousands to the present day; for never were itching ears so multiplied as now.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. 3232. very lovely song--literally, a "song of loves": a lover's song. They praise thy eloquence, but care not for the subject of it as a real and personal thing; just as many do in the modern church [Jerome]. play well on an instrument--Hebrew singers accompanied the "voice" with the harp.Read the comment
Topics related to Ezekiel 33:32
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
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