Ezekiel 14King James Version
Idolatry of the heart. Men come to inquire of the Lord, but their idols are in their hearts. God says he will answer only according to the multitude of their idols. Even Noah, Daniel, and Job, if they were in the land, could save only their own souls by their righteousness.
Elders come to consult Ezekiel but God refuses to be consulted by anyone who has idols in his heart. If a false prophet answers such a person, both will be destroyed. God declares that even if Noah, Daniel, and Job were in Jerusalem, their righteousness would save only themselves, not the city. Four severe judgments are coming. A remnant will emerge, but only as evidence of what the city deserved.
Personal righteousness does not create a protective field for others: each person stands before God on their own account, and inherited holiness cannot be borrowed.
14: "Though these three men, Noah, Daniel, and Job, were in it, they should deliver but their own souls by their righteousness, saith the Lord GOD." Three of history's most righteous men could not save the city: the sin is categorical, not curable by imported holiness.
Around 592 BC in Babylonia. The elders sitting before Ezekiel have mixed worship: they bow to idols and then come to hear from the LORD. God calls this out immediately. The corruption is not just in Jerusalem; it is among the exiles themselves.
The idolatrous elders who come to consult; Noah, Daniel, and Job cited as paradigms of righteousness; the LORD who refuses false consultation; the remnant who survive as witnesses.
The mention of Daniel alongside Noah and Job as a righteousness benchmark is notable: either this refers to a different ancient figure named Daniel or confirms the prophet Daniel was already renowned. Either way, the chapter's theological point holds: communal disaster cannot be averted by individual saints. The city must account for itself.
For when you hope that someone else's faith can cover a situation. The chapter is honest that righteousness is not transferable in that way. It is both sobering and, in a different light, clarifying.
1Then came certain of the elders of Israel unto me, and sat before me.
2And the word of the LORD came unto me, saying,
3Son of man, these men have set up their idols in their heart, and put the stumblingblock of their iniquity before their face: should I be enquired of at all by them?
4Therefore speak unto them, and say unto them, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Every man of the house of Israel that setteth up his idols in his heart, and putteth the stumblingblock of his iniquity before his face, and cometh to the prophet; I the LORD will answer him that cometh according to the multitude of his idols;
5That I may take the house of Israel in their own heart, because they are all estranged from me through their idols.
6Therefore say unto the house of Israel, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Repent, and turn yourselves from your idols; and turn away your faces from all your abominations.
7For every one of the house of Israel, or of the stranger that sojourneth in Israel, which separateth himself from me, and setteth up his idols in his heart, and putteth the stumblingblock of his iniquity before his face, and cometh to a prophet to enquire of him concerning me; I the LORD will answer him by myself:
8And I will set my face against that man, and will make him a sign and a proverb, and I will cut him off from the midst of my people; and ye shall know that I am the LORD.
9And if the prophet be deceived when he hath spoken a thing, I the LORD have deceived that prophet, and I will stretch out my hand upon him, and will destroy him from the midst of my people Israel.
10And they shall bear the punishment of their iniquity: the punishment of the prophet shall be even as the punishment of him that seeketh unto him;
11That the house of Israel may go no more astray from me, neither be polluted any more with all their transgressions; but that they may be my people, and I may be their God, saith the Lord GOD.
12The word of the LORD came again to me, saying,
13Son of man, when the land sinneth against me by trespassing grievously, then will I stretch out mine hand upon it, and will break the staff of the bread thereof, and will send famine upon it, and will cut off man and beast from it:
14Though these three men, Noah, Daniel, and Job, were in it, they should deliver but their own souls by their righteousness, saith the Lord GOD.
15If I cause noisome beasts to pass through the land, and they spoil it, so that it be desolate, that no man may pass through because of the beasts:
16Though these three men were in it, as I live, saith the Lord GOD, they shall deliver neither sons nor daughters; they only shall be delivered, but the land shall be desolate.
17Or if I bring a sword upon that land, and say, Sword, go through the land; so that I cut off man and beast from it:
18Though these three men were in it, as I live, saith the Lord GOD, they shall deliver neither sons nor daughters, but they only shall be delivered themselves.
19Or if I send a pestilence into that land, and pour out my fury upon it in blood, to cut off from it man and beast:
20Though Noah, Daniel, and Job, were in it, as I live, saith the Lord GOD, they shall deliver neither son nor daughter; they shall but deliver their own souls by their righteousness.
21For thus saith the Lord GOD; How much more when I send my four sore judgments upon Jerusalem, the sword, and the famine, and the noisome beast, and the pestilence, to cut off from it man and beast?
22Yet, behold, therein shall be left a remnant that shall be brought forth, both sons and daughters: behold, they shall come forth unto you, and ye shall see their way and their doings: and ye shall be comforted concerning the evil that I have brought upon Jerusalem, even concerning all that I have brought upon it.
23And they shall comfort you, when ye see their ways and their doings: and ye shall know that I have not done without cause all that I have done in it, saith the Lord GOD.