New King James Version
Ezekiel 33:31
31So 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.
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 Living Translation (NLT)So my people come pretending to be sincere and sit before you. They listen to your words, but they have no intention of doing what you say. Their mouths are full of lustful words, and their hearts seek only after money.
Context of Ezekiel 33:31
29Then they shall know that I am the Lord, when I have made the land most desolate because of all their abominations which they have committed.” ’ 30“As for you, son of man, the children of your people are talking about you beside the walls and in the doors of the houses; and they speak to one another, everyone saying to his brother, ‘Please come and hear what the word is that comes from the Lord.’ 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. 32Indeed 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. 33And when this comes to pass—surely it will come—then they 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 8:1And it came to pass in the sixth year, in the sixth month, on the fifth day of the month, as I sat in my house with the elders of Judah sitting before me, that the hand of the Lord God fell upon me there.
- Ezekiel 14:1Now some of the elders of Israel came to me and sat before me.
- Ezekiel 20:1It came to pass in the seventh year, in the fifth month, on the tenth day of the month, that certain of the elders of Israel came to inquire of the Lord, and sat before me.
- Luke 10:39And she had a sister called Mary, who also sat at Jesus’ feet and heard His word.
- Acts 10:33So I sent to you immediately, and you have done well to come. Now therefore, we are all present before God, to hear all the things commanded you by God.”
- Jeremiah 6:16Thus says the Lord: “Stand in the ways and see, And ask for the old paths, where the good way is, And walk in it; Then you will find rest for your souls. But they said, ‘We will not walk in it.’
- Jeremiah 43:1Now it happened, when Jeremiah had stopped speaking to all the people all the words of the Lord their God, for which the Lord their God had sent him to them, all these words,
- Jeremiah 44:16“As for the word that you have spoken to us in the name of the Lord, we will not listen to you!
- Mark 7:24From there He arose and went to the region of Tyre and Sidon. And He entered a house and wanted no one to know it, but He could not be hidden.
- Luke 6:48He is like a man building a house, who dug deep and laid the foundation on the rock. And when the flood arose, the stream beat vehemently against that house, and could not shake it, for it was founded on the rock.
- Luke 8:21But He answered and said to them, “My mother and My brothers are these who hear the word of God and do it.”
- Luke 11:28But He said, “More than that, blessed are those who hear the word of God and keep it!”
- James 1:22But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.
- Deuteronomy 5:28“Then the Lord heard the voice of your words when you spoke to me, and the Lord said to me: ‘I have heard the voice of the words of this people which they have spoken to you. They are right in all that they have spoken.
- Psalms 78:36Nevertheless they flattered Him with their mouth, And they lied to Him with their tongue;
- Isaiah 29:13Therefore the Lord said: “Inasmuch as these people draw near with their mouths And honor Me with their lips, But have removed their hearts far from Me, And their fear toward Me is taught by the commandment of men,
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
New King James Version — © 1982 Thomas Nelson, Inc
Commentaries