Ezekiel 14:2

“And the word of the LORD came unto me, saying,”

Context: Ezekiel 14:2 serves as an introduction to a broader message that the prophet Ezekiel received from the Lord. To understand the significance of this verse, it is essential to explore the context and themes of the book of Ezekiel.

Ezekiel was a prophet who lived during the Babylonian exile, a time when the Israelites were taken captive to Babylon. God called Ezekiel to be a watchman and a spokesperson for Him, delivering messages of warning, judgment, and hope to both the exiles and those who remained in Jerusalem.

In chapter 14, Ezekiel addresses the elders of Israel who had come to inquire of the Lord. However, it is crucial to note that their hearts were not fully devoted to God. They had set up idols in their hearts and had turned away from the Lord, despite appearing to seek His guidance.

In this specific verse, Ezekiel declares that “the word of the LORD came unto me.” This phrase highlights the divine communication between God and the prophet. Throughout the book of Ezekiel, the word of the Lord is a recurring phrase, emphasizing the authority and power of God’s message.

The inclusion of this verse signifies the beginning of a message from God to the people, revealing His knowledge of their idolatry and addressing their insincere seeking. God, through Ezekiel, proceeds to expose the hypocrisy of the elders, denouncing their attempts to approach Him while still holding on to their idols.

This verse sets the stage for the following verses, in which God communicates His disapproval of the elders’ actions and reveals His intention to judge them. Ezekiel 14 as a whole emphasizes the importance of true repentance, the abandonment of idolatry, and the necessity of genuine devotion to the one true God.