New English Translation
Ezekiel 33:31
31They come to you in crowds, and they sit in front of you as my people. They hear your words, but do not obey them. For they talk lustfully, and their heart is set on their own advantage.
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 they will know that I am the Lord when I turn the land into a desolate ruin because of all the abominable deeds they have committed.’ 30“But as for you, son of man, your people (who are talking about you by the walls and at the doors of the houses) say to one another, ‘Come hear the word that comes from the Lord.’ They come to you in crowds, and they sit in front of you as my people. They hear your words, but do not obey them. For they talk lustfully, and their heart is set on their own advantage. 32Realize that to them you are like a sensual song, a beautiful voice and skilled musician. They hear your words, but they do not obey them. 33When all this comes true – and it certainly will – then they will know that a prophet was 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 8:1In the sixth year, in the sixth month, on the fifth of the month, as I was sitting in my house with the elders of Judah sitting in front of me, the hand of the sovereign Lord seized me.
- Ezekiel 14:1Then some men from Israel’s elders came to me and sat down in front of me.
- Ezekiel 20:1In the seventh year, in the fifth month, on the tenth of the month, some of the elders of Israel came to seek the Lord, and they sat down in front of me.
- Luke 10:39She had a sister named Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet and listened to what he said.
- Acts 10:33Therefore I sent for you at once, and you were kind enough to come. So now we are all here in the presence of God to listen to everything the Lord has commanded you to say to us.”
- Jeremiah 6:16The Lord said to his people: “You are standing at the crossroads. So consider your path. Ask where the old, reliable paths are. Ask where the path is that leads to blessing and follow it. If you do, you will find rest for your souls.” But they said, “We will not follow it!”
- Jeremiah 43:1Jeremiah finished telling all the people all these things the Lord their God had sent him to tell them.
- Jeremiah 44:16“We will not listen to what you claim the Lord has spoken to us!
- Mark 7:24After Jesus left there, he went to the region of Tyre. When he went into a house, he did not want anyone to know, but he was not able to escape notice.
- Luke 6:48He is like a man building a house, who dug down deep, and laid the foundation on bedrock. When a flood came, the river burst against that house but could not shake it, because it had been well built.
- Luke 8:21But he replied to them, “My mother and my brothers are those who hear the word of God and do it.”
- Luke 11:28But he replied, “Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and obey it!”
- James 1:22But be sure you live out the message and do not merely listen to it and so deceive yourselves.
- Deuteronomy 5:28When the Lord heard you speaking to me, he said to me, “I have heard what these people have said to you – they have spoken well.
- Psalms 78:36But they deceived him with their words, and lied to him.
- Isaiah 29:13The sovereign master says, “These people say they are loyal to me; they say wonderful things about me, but they are not really loyal to me. Their worship consists of nothing but man-made ritual.
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
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