New International Version
Ezekiel 12:22
22“Son of man, what is this proverb you have in the land of Israel: ‘The days go by and every vision comes to nothing’?
Ezekiel 12:22 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)Son of man, what is that proverb that ye have in the land of Israel, saying, The days are prolonged, and every vision faileth?
- English Standard Version (ESV)"Son of man, what is this proverb that you have about the land of Israel, saying, 'The days grow long, and every vision comes to nothing'?
- New King James Version (NKJV)“Son of man, what is this proverb that you people have about the land of Israel, which says, ‘The days are prolonged, and every vision fails’?
- New Living Translation (NLT)“Son of man, you’ve heard that proverb they quote in Israel: ‘Time passes, and prophecies come to nothing.’
Context of Ezekiel 12:22
20The inhabited towns will be laid waste and the land will be desolate. Then you will know that I am the Lord.’ ” 21The word of the Lord came to me: “Son of man, what is this proverb you have in the land of Israel: ‘The days go by and every vision comes to nothing’? 23Say to them, ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: I am going to put an end to this proverb, and they will no longer quote it in Israel.’ Say to them, ‘The days are near when every vision will be fulfilled. 24For there will be no more false visions or flattering divinations among the people of Israel.
Read all of Ezekiel 12Ezekiel 12:22 word by word
בֶּן־אָדָ֗ם מָֽה־הַמָּשָׁ֤ל הַזֶּה֙ לָכֶ֔ם עַל־אַדְמַ֥ת יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל לֵאמֹ֑ר יַֽאַרְכוּ֙ הַיָּמִ֔ים וְאָבַ֖ד כָּל־חָזֽוֹן׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- Sonבֵּןbên · son: childH1121
- of manאָדָם'âdâm · manH120
- that proverbמָשָׁלmâshâl · proverbH4912
- ye have in the landאֲדָמָה'ădâmâh · land: soilH127
- of Israelיִשְׂרָאֵלyiώrâ'êl · IsraelH3478
- sayingאָמַר'âmar · to sayH559
- The daysיוֹםyôm · dayH3117
- are prolongedאָרַךְ'ârak · to prolongH748
- and every visionחָזוֹןchâzôn · visionH2377
- failethאָבַד'âbad · to perishH6
Cross-references for Ezekiel 12:22
- Ezekiel 18:2“What do you people mean by quoting this proverb about the land of Israel: “ ‘The parents eat sour grapes, and the children’s teeth are set on edge’?
- Jeremiah 23:33“When these people, or a prophet or a priest, ask you, ‘What is the message from the Lord?’ say to them, ‘What message? I will forsake you, declares the Lord.’
- Ezekiel 12:27“Son of man, the Israelites are saying, ‘The vision he sees is for many years from now, and he prophesies about the distant future.’
- Ezekiel 11:3They say, ‘Haven’t our houses been recently rebuilt? This city is a pot, and we are the meat in it.’
- Isaiah 5:19to those who say, “Let God hurry; let him hasten his work so we may see it. The plan of the Holy One of Israel— let it approach, let it come into view, so we may know it.”
- Jeremiah 5:12They have lied about the Lord; they said, “He will do nothing! No harm will come to us; we will never see sword or famine.
- Amos 6:3You put off the day of disaster and bring near a reign of terror.
- 2 Peter 3:3Above all, you must understand that in the last days scoffers will come, scoffing and following their own evil desires.
Commentaries on Ezekiel 12:22
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 22The days are prolonged, and every vision faileth? - These are the words of the infidels and scoffers, who, because vengeance was not speedily executed on an evil work, set their heart to do iniquity. "These predictions either will not come in our days, or will wholly fail; why then should we disquiet ourselves about them?" Strange, that the very means used by the most gracious God to bring sinners to repentance, should be made by them the very instruments…Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 21-28Verses 21-28 As in Ezekiel 12:22 The land of Israel - is put generally for the land where the children of Israel dwelt, whether at home, or in exile. There was prevalent a disregard for the true prophets, which is ever followed by a recognition of the false. First, the true prophet is rejected because it is thought that his prophecies fail. Then men persuade themselves that if the prophecy be true it respects some distant time, and that the men of the…Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 21-28Verses 21-28 From that forbearance of God, which should have led them to repent, the Jews hardened themselves in sin. It will not serve for an excuse in speaking evil, to plead that it is a common saying. There is but a step between us and an awful eternity; therefore it concerns us to get ready for a future state. No one will be able to put from himself the evil day, unless by seeking peace with the Lord.Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 22Ezekiel’s hearers did not want to listen to the message of the prophets. They were unwilling to accept what God was saying. Because of this, they created a proverb. A proverb is a short saying that expresses a common belief. This proverb showed their doubt and disbelief.Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 2222. proverb--The infidel scoff, that the threatened judgment was so long in coming, it would not come at all, had by frequent repetition come to be a "proverb" with them. This skeptical habit contemporary prophets testify to (Jr 17:15; 20:7; Zep 1:12). Ezekiel, at the Chebar, thus sympathizes with Jeremiah and strengthens his testimony at Jerusalem. The tendency to the same scoff showed itself in earlier times, but had not then developed into a settled…Read the comment
Topics related to Ezekiel 12:22
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Ezekiel 12
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
- Tyndale Open Study Notes
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
- Rashi on Tanakh
- Calvin’s Commentaries
- 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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