Idols of the Heart
Ezekiel 14
The Lord tells Ezekiel that men who come to inquire of him while secretly cherishing idols in their hearts will be answered according to their idolatry and cut off from the people. Even if Noah, Daniel, and Job were present in a sinful land facing sword, famine, wild beasts, and pestilence, their righteousness would deliver only themselves, though a remnant will be left in Jerusalem to comfort the exiles by their example.
About these editions
The Septuagint (LXX) in Greek, with Charles Thomson’s 1808 and Sir Lancelot Brenton’s 1851 English translations, set beside the King James Version and the Jewish Masoretic text (JPS 1917) where they align, so you can compare the Greek and the Hebrew. All public domain; choose which to show with the controls above.
Thomson 1808Septuagint
Brenton 1851Septuagint
Greek · BrentonSeptuagint
KJV 1769Masoretic
JPS 1917Masoretic
1
ThomsonWHEN some of the elders, principal men of the people of Israel, had come to me and were sitting before me a
BrentonAnd there came to me men of the people of Israel, of the elders, and sat before me.
GreekΚαὶ ἦλθον πρὸς μὲ ἐκ τῶν πρεσβυτέρων ἄνδρες τοῦ λαοῦ Ἰσραὴλ καὶ ἐκάθισαν πρὸ προσώπου μου.
KJVThen came certain of the elders of Israel unto me, and sat before me.
JPSThen came certain of the elders of Israel unto me, and sat before me.
2
Thomsonword of the Lord came to me, saying:
BrentonAnd the word of the Lord came to me, saying,
GreekΚαὶ ἐγένετο πρὸς μὲ λόγος Κυρίου, λέγων,
KJVAnd the word of the LORD came unto me, saying,
JPSAnd the word of the LORD came unto me, saying:
3
ThomsonSon of man, these men have given their imaginations the rule over their hearts, though they placed before their eyes the punishment of their transgressions. Shall I, being consulted, return them an answer?
BrentonSon of man, these men have conceived their devices in their hearts, and have set before their faces the punishment of their iniquities: shall I indeed answer them?
Greekυἱὲ ἀνθρώπου, οἱ ἄνδρες οὗτοι ἔθεντο τὰ διανοήματα αὐτῶν ἐπὶ τὰς καρδίας αὐτῶν, καὶ τὴν κόλασιν τῶν ἀδικιῶν αὐτῶν ἔθηκαν πρὸ προσώπου αὐτῶν· εἰ ἀποκρινόμενος ἀποκριθῶ αὐτοῖς;
KJVSon 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?
JPS’Son of man, these men have set up their idols in their mind, and put the stumblingblock of their iniquity before their face; should I be inquired of at all by them?
4
ThomsonTherefore speak to them, and thou shalt say to them, Thus saith the Lord: Be the man who he may of the house of Israel, who giveth his imagination the rule over his understanding, when he hath set before his eyes the punishment of his iniquity, and cometh to a prophet: I the Lord will answer him by the things with which his mind is entangled,:5] that h e may lead the house of Israel astray, according to their hearts which are alienated from Me by their desires.
BrentonTherefore speak to them, and thou shalt say to them, Thus saith the Lord; Any man of the house of Israel, who shall conceive his devices in his heart, and shall set the punishment of his iniquity before his face, and shall come to the prophet; I the Lord will answer him according to the things in which his mind is entangled,
GreekΔιατοῦτο λάλησον αὐτοῖς, καὶ ἐρεῖς πρὸς αὐτοὺς, τάδε λέγει Κύριος, ἄνθρωπος ἄνθρωπος ἐκ τοῦ οἴκου Ἰσραὴλ, ὃς ἂν θῇ τὰ διανοήματα αὐτοῦ ἐπὶ τὴν καρδίαν αὐτοῦ, καὶ τὴν κόλασιν τῆς ἀδικίας αὐτοῦ τάξῃ πρὸ προσώπου αὐτοῦ, καὶ ἔλθῃ πρὸς τὸν προφήτην, ἐγὼ Κύριος ἀποκριθήσομαι αὐτῷ ἐν οἷς ἐνέχεται ἡ διάνοια αὐτοῦ,
KJVTherefore 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;
JPSTherefore 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 mind, 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;
5
Thomson—
Brentonthat he should turn aside the house of Israel, according to their hearts that are estranged from me in their thoughts.
Greekὅπως πλαγιάσῃ τὸν οἶκον τοῦ Ἰσραὴλ κατὰ τὰς καρδίας αὐτῶν τὰς ἀπηλλοτριωμένας ἀπʼ ἐμοῦ ἐν τοῖς ἐνθυμήμασιν αὐτῶν.
KJVThat I may take the house of Israel in their own heart, because they are all estranged from me through their idols.
JPSthat I may take the house of Israel in their own heart, because they are all turned away from Me through their idols.
6
ThomsonSay therefore to the house of Israel, Thus saith the Lord God: reform and turn from your evil devices, and from all your acts of impiety; and turn your faces about.
BrentonTherefore say to the house of Israel, Thus saith the Lord God, Be converted, and turn from your evil practices, and from all your sins, and turn your faces back again.
GreekΔιατοῦτο εἰπὸν εἰς τὸν οἶκον τοῦ Ἰσραὴλ, τάδε λέγει Κύριος Κύριος, ἐπιστράφητε καὶ ἀποστρέψατε ἀπὸ τῶν ἐπιτηδευμάτων ὑμῶν, καὶ ἀπὸ πασῶν τῶν ἀσεβειῶν ὑμῶν, καὶ ἐπιστρέψατε τὰ πρόσωπα ὑμῶν.
KJVTherefore 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.
JPSTherefore say unto the house of Israel: Thus saith the Lord GOD: Return ye, and turn yourselves from your idols; and turn away your faces from all your abominations.
7
ThomsonFor be the man who he may of the house of Israel, or of the proselytes who have sojourned with Israel, who shall separate himself from Me, and give his desires the rule over his understanding when he hath set before his eyes the punishment of his iniquity and shall come to the prophet that he may inquire of Me; I the Lord will answer him by that with which he is entangled.
BrentonFor any man of the house of Israel, or of the strangers that sojourn in Israel, who shall separate himself from me, and conceive his imaginations in his heart, and set before his face the punishment of his iniquity, and come to the prophet to enquire of him concerning me; I the Lord will answer him, according to the things wherein he is entangled.
GreekΔιότι ἄνθρωπος ἄνθρωπος ἐκ τοῦ οἴκου Ἰσραὴλ, καὶ ἐκ τῶν προσηλύτων τῶν προσηλυτευόντων ἐν τῷ Ἰσραὴλ, ὃς ἂν ἀπαλλοτριωθῇ ἀπʼ ἐμοῦ, καὶ θῆται τὰ ἐνθυμήματα αὐτοῦ ἐπὶ τὴν καρδίαν αὐτοῦ, καὶ τὴν κόλασιν τῆς ἀδικίας αὐτοῦ τάξῃ πρὸ προσώπου αὐτοῦ, καὶ ἔλθῃ πρὸς τὸν προφήτην τοῦ ἐπερωτῆσαι αὐτὸν ἐν ἐμοὶ, ἐγὼ Κύριος ἀποκριθήσομαι αὐτῷ, ἐν ᾧ ἐνέχεται ἐν αὐτῷ.
KJVFor 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:
JPSFor every one of the house of Israel, or of the strangers that sojourn in Israel, that separateth himself from Me, and taketh his idols into his heart, and putteth the stumblingblock of his iniquity before his face, and cometh to the prophet, that he inquire for him of Me—I the LORD will answer him by Myself,
8
ThomsonAnd I will set My face against that man, and give him up to desolation and destruction; and remove him from among My people; and ye shall know that I am the Lord.
BrentonAnd I will set my face against that man, and will make him desolate and ruined, and will cut him off from the midst of my people; and ye shall know that I am the Lord.
GreekΚαὶ στηριῶ τὸ πρόσωπόν μου ἐπὶ τὸν ἄνθρωπον ἐκεῖνον, καὶ θήσομαι αὐτὸν εἰς ἔρημον καὶ εἰς ἀφανισμὸν, καὶ ἐξαρῶ αὐτὸν ἐκ μέσου τοῦ λαοῦ μου, καὶ ἐπιγνώσεσθε ὅτι ἐγὼ Κύριος.
KJVAnd 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.
JPSand 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.
9
ThomsonAnd with respect to that prophet when he shall have wandered and spoken, I the Lord have caused that prophet to wander, and I will stretch out My hand against him and destroy him from among My people Israel.
BrentonAnd if a prophet should cause to err and should speak, I the Lord have caused that prophet to err, and will stretch out my hand upon him, and will utterly destroy him from the midst of my people Israel.
GreekΚαὶ ὁ προφήτης ἐὰν πλανήσῃ καὶ λαλήσῃ, ἐγὼ Κύριος πεπλάνηκα τὸν προφήτην ἐκεῖνον, καὶ ἐκτενῶ τὴν χεῖρά μου ἐπʼ αὐτὸν, καὶ ἀφανιῶ αὐτὸν ἐκ μέσου τοῦ λαοῦ μου Ἰσραήλ.
KJVAnd 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.
JPSAnd when the prophet is enticed and speaketh a word, I the LORD have enticed that prophet, and I will stretch out My hand upon him, and will destroy him from the midst of My people Israel.
10
ThomsonAnd they shall bear their iniquity; the inquirer according to his guilt, and in like manner the prophet according to his guilt,
BrentonAnd they shall bear their iniquity according to the trespass of him that asks; and it shall be in like manner to the prophet according to the trespass:
GreekΚαὶ λήψονται τὴν ἀδικίαν αὐτῶν κατὰ τὸ ἀδίκημα τοῦ ἐπερωτῶντος, καὶ κατὰ τὸ ἀδίκημα ὁμοίως τῷ προφήτῃ ἔσται·
KJVAnd 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;
JPSAnd they shall bear their iniquity; the iniquity of the prophet shall be even as the iniquity of him that inquireth;
11
Thomsonthat the house of Israel may no more be led astray from Me, and that they may no more be polluted with their transgressions: so they shall be my people and I will be their God, saith the Lord.
Brentonthat the house of Israel may no more go astray from me, and that they may no more defile themselves with any of their transgressions: so shall they be my people, and I will be their God, saith the Lord.
GreekὍπως μὴ πλανᾶται ἔτι ὁ οἶκος τοῦ Ἰσραὴλ ἀπʼ ἐμοῦ, καὶ ἵνα μὴ μιαίνωνται ἔτι ἐν πᾶσι τοῖς παραπτώμασιν αὐτῶν· καὶ ἔσονταί μοι εἰς λαὸν, καὶ ἐγὼ ἔσομαι αὐτοῖς εἰς Θεὸν, λέγει Κύριος.
KJVThat 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.
JPSthat the house of Israel may go no more astray from Me, neither defile themselves any more with all their transgressions; but that they may be My people, and I may be their God, saith the Lord GOD.’
12
ThomsonAgain a word of the Lord came to me saying,
BrentonAnd the word of the Lord came to me, saying,
GreekΚαὶ ἐγένετο λόγος Κυρίου πρὸς μὲ, λέγων,
KJVThe word of the LORD came again to me, saying,
JPSAnd the word of the LORD came unto me, saying:
13
ThomsonSon of man, when a country transgresseth against Me, so as to incur ruin; and I stretch out My hand against it; and break the staff of bread, and send against it famine, and destroy out of it both man and beast:
BrentonSon of man, if a land shall sin against me by committing a trespass, then will I stretch out my hand upon it, and will break its staff of bread, and will send forth famine upon it, and cut off from it man and beast.
Greekυἱὲ ἀνθρώπου, γῆ ἣ ἐὰν ἁμάρτῃ μοι τοῦ παραπεσεῖν παράπτωμα, καὶ ἐκτενῶ τὴν χεῖρά μου ἐπʼ αὐτὴν, καὶ συντρίψω αὐτῆς στήριγμα ἄρτου, καὶ ἐξαποστελῶ ἐπʼ αὐτὴν λιμὸν, καὶ ἐξαρῶ ἐξ αὐτῆς ἄνθρωπον καὶ κτήνη.
KJVSon 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:
JPS’Son of man, when a land sinneth against Me by trespassing grievously, and I stretch out My hand upon it, and break the staff of the bread thereof, and send famine upon it, and cut off from it man and beast;
14
Thomsonshould there be in it three such men as Noe, Daniel and Job, they for their righteousness shall be saved, saith the Lord.
BrentonAnd though these three men should be in the midst of it, Noe, and Daniel, and Job, they alone should be delivered by their righteousness, saith the Lord.
GreekΚαὶ ἐὰν ὦσιν οἱ τρεῖς ἄνδρες οὗτοι ἐν μέσῳ αὐτῆς, Νῶε καὶ Δανιὴλ καὶ Ἰὼβ, αὐτοὶ ἐν τῇ δικαιοσύνῃ αὐτῶν σωθήσονται, λέγει Κύριος.
KJVThough these three men, Noah, Daniel, and Job, were in it, they should deliver but their own souls by their righteousness, saith the Lord GOD.
JPSthough these three men, Noah, Daniel, and Job, were in it, they should deliver but their own souls by their righteousness, saith the Lord GOD.
15
ThomsonOr if I send wild beasts against that land and punish it, and it become a desolation not to be travelled by reason of the wild beasts,
BrentonIf again I bring evil beasts upon the land, and take vengeance upon it, and it be ruined, and there be no one to pass through for fear of the wild beasts:
GreekἘὰν καὶ θηρία πονηρὰ ἐπάγω ἐπὶ τὴν γῆν, καὶ τιμωρήσομαι αὐτὴν, καὶ ἔσται εἰς ἀφανισμὸν, οὐκ ἔσται ὁ διοδεύων ἀπὸ προσώπου τῶν θηρίων,
KJVIf 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:
JPSIf I cause evil beasts to pass through the land, and they bereave it, and it be desolate, so that no man may pass through because of the beasts;
16
Thomsonand there be in it three such as those: as I live, saith the Lord, neither sons nor daughters shall be saved; none save them only shall escape, and the land shall be for destruction.
Brentonand if these three men should be in the midst of it, as I live, saith the Lord, neither sons nor daughters shall be saved, but these only shall be saved, and the land shall be destroyed.
Greekκαὶ οἱ τρεῖς ἄνδρες οὗτοι ἐν μέσῳ αὐτῆς ὦσι, ζῶ ἐγὼ, λέγει Κύριος, εἰ υἱοὶ ἢ θυγατέρες σωθήσονται, ἀλλʼ ἢ αὐτοὶ μόνοι σωθήσονται, ἡ δὲ γῆ ἔσται εἰς ὄλεθρον.
KJVThough 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.
JPSthough 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.
17
ThomsonOr if I bring a sword against that land and say, Sword, pass thou through this land, that I may cut off from it man and beast;
BrentonOr again if I bring a sword upon that land, and say, Let the sword go through the land; and I cut off from them man and beast:
GreekἪ καὶ ῥομφαίαν ἐὰν ἐπάγω ἐπὶ τὴν γῆν ἐκείνην, καὶ εἴπω, ῥομφαία διελθάτω διὰ τῆς γῆς, καὶ ἐξαρῶ ἐξ αὐτῶν ἄνθρωπον καὶ κτῆνος,
KJVOr 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:
JPSOr if I bring a sword upon that land, and say: Let the sword go through the land, so that I cut off from it man and beast;
18
Thomsonshould there be in it three such men as those: as I live, saith the Lord, they shall not deliver sons nor daughters; they and they only shall be saved.
Brentonthough these three men were in the midst of it, as I live, saith the Lord, they shall not deliver sons or daughters, but they only shall be saved themselves.
Greekκαὶ οἱ τρεῖς ἄνδρες οὗτοι ἐν μέσῳ αὐτῆς, ζῶ ἐγὼ, λέγει Κύριος, οὐ μὴ ῥύσονται υἱοὺς οὐδὲ θυγατέρας, ἀλλʼ ἢ αὐτοὶ μόνοι σωθήσονται.
KJVThough 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.
JPSthough 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.
19
ThomsonOr if I send a pestilence against that land, and pour out My wrath upon it with slaughter, with intent to destroy out of it man and beast,
BrentonOr if again I send pestilence upon that land, and pour out my wrath upon it in blood, to destroy from off it man and beast:
GreekἪ καὶ θάνατον ἐπαποστέλλω ἐπὶ τὴν γῆν ἐκείνην, καὶ ἐκχεῶ τὸν θυμόν μου ἐπʼ αὐτὴν ἐν αἵματι τοῦ ἐξολοθρεῦσαι ἐξ αὐτῆς ἄνθρωπον καὶ κτῆνος,
KJVOr 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:
JPSOr 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;
20
Thomsonand Noe, Daniel and Job be therein; As I live, saith the Lord, neither sons nor daughters shall be left: they for their righteousness shall deliver only their own souls.
Brentonand should Noe, and Daniel, and Job, be in the midst of it, as I live, saith the Lord, there shall be left them neither sons nor daughters; only they by their righteousness shall deliver their souls.
Greekκαὶ Νῶε καὶ Δανιὴλ καὶ Ἰὼβ ἐν μέσῳ αὐτῆς, ζῶ ἐγὼ, λέγει Κύριος, ἐὰν υἱοὶ ἢ θυγατέρες ὑπολειφθῶσιν, αὐτοὶ ἐν τῇ δικαιοσύνῃ αὐτῶν ῥύσονται τὰς ψυχὰς αὐτῶν.
KJVThough 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.
JPSthough 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.
21
ThomsonYet thus saith the Lord: Though I send these My four severe judgments sword and famine and wild beasts and pestilence, against Jerusalem to destroy out of it man and beast,
BrentonThus saith the Lord, And if I even send upon Jerusalem my four sore judgments, sword, and famine, and evil beasts, and pestilence, to destroy from out of it man and beast;
GreekΤάδε λέγει Κύριος, ἐὰν δὲ καὶ τὰς τέσσαρας ἐκδικήσεις μου τὰς πονηρὰς, ῥομφαίαν, καὶ λιμὸν, καὶ θηρία πονηρὰ, καὶ θάνατον ἐξαποστείλω ἐπὶ Ἱερουσαλὴμ, τοῦ ἐξολοθρεῦσαι ἐξ αὐτῆς ἄνθρωπον καὶ κτῆνος·
KJVFor 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?
JPSFor thus saith the Lord GOD: How much more when I send My four sore judgments against Jerusalem, the sword, and the famine, and the evil beasts, and the pestilence, to cut off from it man and beast.
22
Thomsonstill, behold some are left in it, the saved of it, who are leading out of it sons and daughters; behold they are coming out to you and you shall see their ways and their desires, and be sorry for the evils which they have brought on Jerusalem—for all the evils which they have brought upon it.
Brentonyet, behold, there shall be men left in it, the escaped thereof, who shall lead forth of it sons and daughters: behold, they shall go forth to you, and ye shall see their ways and their thoughts: and ye shall mourn over the evils which I have brought upon Jerusalem, even all the evils which I have brought upon it.
GreekΚαὶ ἰδοὺ ὑπολελειμμένοι ἐν αὐτῇ, οἱ ἀνασεσωσμένοι αὐτῆς, οἳ ἐξάγουσιν ἐξ αὐτῆς υἱοὺς καὶ θυγατέρας, ἰδοὺ ἐκπορεύονται πρὸς ὑμᾶς, καὶ ὄψεσθε τὰς ὁδοὺς αὐτῶν καὶ τὰ ἐνθυμήματα αὐτῶν, καὶ μεταμεληθήσεσθε ἐπὶ τὰ κακὰ ἃ ἐπήγαγον ἐπὶ Ἱερουσαλὴμ, πάντα τὰ κακὰ ἃ ἐπήγαγον ἐπʼ αὐτήν.
KJVYet, 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.
JPSAnd, behold, though there be left a remnant therein that shall be brought forth, both sons and daughters; behold, when they come forth unto you, and ye see their way and their doings, then ye shall be comforted concerning the evil that I have brought upon Jerusalem, even concerning all that I have brought upon it;
23
ThomsonAnd they will comfort you, for you will see their ways and their desires; and you will know that I have not without cause done all those things which I have done to it, saith the Lord.
BrentonAnd they shall comfort you, because ye shall see their ways and their thoughts: and ye shall know that I have not done in vain all that I have done in it, saith the Lord.
GreekΚαὶ παρακαλέσουσιν ὑμᾶς, διότι ὄψεσθε τὰς ὁδοὺς αὐτῶν καὶ τὰ ἐνθυμήματα αὐτῶν, καὶ ἐπιγνώσεσθε διότι οὐ μάτην πεποίηκα πάντα ὅσα ἐποίησα ἐν αὐτῇ, λέγει Κύριος.
KJVAnd 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.
JPSand they shall comfort you, when ye see their way 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.’