Bible Strands
Ezekiel 20:3
“Son of man, speak to the elders of Israel and tell them that this is what the Lord GOD says: Have you come to inquire of Me? As surely as I live, I will not be consulted by you, declares the Lord GOD.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — The Lord GOD commands Ezekiel to address the elders of Israel, positioned immediately after receiving a prophetic commission and just before being ordered to confront their ancestral sins.
The words — דַּבֵּר (da.Ber) means speak, and זִקְנֵי (zik.Nei) denotes the elders, framing the divine command as a direct mandate to Israel’s leadership.
The thread — This refusal to be consulted contrasts with the promise to deliver those who call on God in trouble (Psalms 50:15) and aligns with the warning that turning from the law makes prayer detestable (Proverbs 28:9), while also echoing the shame of seers who find no word from God (Micah 3:7).
Why it lands — The text records God’s explicit rejection of the elders’ inquiry before explaining the reason, demanding that readers examine whether their spiritual pursuits are grounded in obedience rather than ritual or self-interest.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Hebrew words
King James Version
Son of man, speak unto the elders of Israel, and say unto them, Thus saith the Lord God; Are ye come to enquire of me? As I live, saith the Lord God, I will not be enquired of by you.
Cross-references
- Psalms 50:15 Call upon Me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you will honor Me.”
- Proverbs 28:9 Whoever turns his ear away from hearing the law, even his prayer is detestable.
- Micah 3:7 Then the seers will be ashamed and the diviners will be disgraced. They will all cover their mouths because there is no answer from God.”
- Matthew 15:8 ‘These people honor Me with their lips, but their hearts are far from Me.
- 1 Samuel 28:6 He inquired of the LORD, but the LORD did not answer him by dreams or Urim or prophets.
- Proverbs 15:8 The sacrifice of the wicked is detestable to the LORD, but the prayer of the upright is His delight.
- Proverbs 21:27 The sacrifice of the wicked is detestable—how much more so when brought with ill intent!
- Isaiah 1:12 When you come to appear before Me, who has required this of you—this trampling of My courts?
- Isaiah 1:15 When you spread out your hands in prayer, I will hide My eyes from you; even though you multiply your prayers, I will not listen. Your hands are covered with blood.
- Ezekiel 14:3 “Son of man, these men have set up idols in their hearts and put wicked stumbling blocks before their faces. Should I consult with them in any way?