Then certain of the elders of Israel came to me and sat before me.
English Standard Version (ESV)
These "elders" weren't just curious onlookers; their presence before Ezekiel, seeking to "inquire of the Lord," carried a hidden agenda. The text subtly reveals they were essentially testing him, coming with idolatry already in their hearts, hoping to find something that would embroil him with authorities or prove his prophecy unreliable.
Then certain of the elders of Israel came to me and sat before me.
English Standard Version (ESV)
A group of respected elders from the exiled community approaches Ezekiel, sitting before him expectantly. They are likely seeking guidance or a prophecy concerning the fate of Jerusalem and their people, perhaps hoping for reassurance despite the harsh judgments previously delivered. This encounter sets the stage for God's direct response, which will expose the elders' hidden idolatry and address the people's deeper spiritual corruption.
Imagine you're in exile, feeling lost and uncertain. Suddenly, respected leaders show up at your door. What does their presence signify?
In Ezekiel's time, coming to a prophet wasn't casual. These 'elders of Israel' were men of influence, leaders in the exiled community. Their decision to sit before Ezekiel signals a moment of seeking guidance, a recognition that their own wisdom wasn't enough. They were, in a sense, representatives of their people, bringing the community's anxieties and questions with them. This encounter isn't just about a few individuals; it's about the nation grappling with its future and looking to God's messenger for answers.
These elders came to Ezekiel, but their hearts weren't fully with God. What happens when we seek God with hidden loyalties?
The text quickly reveals a critical issue: these elders, while coming to a prophet of the Lord, were not truly devoted to Him. The commentary suggests their hearts were 'preoccupied with idolatry.' This isn't about outward rebellion, but an inner compromise. They may have hoped to hear a word that suited their existing desires or political leanings, rather than submitting to God's will. God's message to Ezekiel in the following verses (14:4-5) exposes this: He says He will answer them 'according to the multitude of their idols,' effectively turning their own divided hearts back on them. This shows that God sees the heart's true allegiance, and seeking Him with one foot in the world of idols will not yield true spiritual insight.
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zaqen · Hebrew Noun
The recognized leaders of the community of Israel, often characterized by age, experience, and the responsibility of governing the people according to God's law.
These elders came to Ezekiel at a critical juncture, not long after he had condemned the false prophets who were misleading the people. Their visit, laden with unspoken questions about Jerusalem's future and possibly mixed motives, highlights the deep spiritual crisis and the struggle between true and false prophecy during this tumultuous period of exile.
c. 597 BC
First Deportation of Jerusalem
King Jehoiachin and a significant portion of Jerusalem's elite, including many skilled workers and nobles, are exiled to Babylon by Nebuchadnezzar II. Ezekiel is among this first group of exiles.
c. 594 BC
Ezekiel's Call to Prophethood
While in exile in Babylon, Ezekiel receives his prophetic call and begins to deliver messages to the exiles, often in symbolic acts and visions.
c. 592 BC
Ezekiel Denounces False Prophets
Ezekiel delivers strong condemnations against the false prophets in Jerusalem and among the exiles who are offering false hope of peace and return.
c. 591 BC— this verse
Elders Visit Ezekiel
A delegation of elders from the Israelite community in exile comes to Ezekiel, seeking guidance. Their hearts are divided, with some still clinging to idolatrous practices.
c. 589-587 BC
Siege and Fall of Jerusalem
Nebuchadnezzar II lays siege to Jerusalem. Despite its strong defenses, the city eventually falls, leading to widespread destruction and a second, larger deportation.
This verse echoes Ezekiel 8:1, where elders also come to sit before Ezekiel, highlighting a recurring pattern of seeking counsel from the prophet, even when their hearts may be distant.
1 Kings 22:5-28The context of elders seeking counsel from a prophet in Ezekiel 14 mirrors the encounter in 1 Kings 22, where King Ahab consults prophets, revealing the tension between true and false prophecy that existed throughout Israel's history.
Jeremiah 26:1-24The elders' visit and the subsequent prophecy about judgment and the consequences of listening to false counsel are anticipated in Jeremiah 26, where Jeremiah's prophecy of destruction leads to a trial before the elders and priests.
Ezekiel 13:1-16The elders' inquiry, as explained by the commentators, likely touches upon the issue of false prophets addressed in the preceding chapter, Ezekiel 13, demonstrating the immediate concern over deceptive messages within the community.
Isaiah 30:20-21While the elders come with their hearts divided, the passage ultimately points towards a future where true teachers will provide clear guidance, as promised in Isaiah 30, offering a contrast to the confused spiritual state of the exiles.
cambridgeEzekiel 14:1: "Then came certain of the elders of Israel unto me, and sat before me."
1–9 . Answer to idolaters who inquire of the Lord 1 . elders of Israel ] That is, in point of fact, elders of the exiles; but in them the prophet sees representatives of the house of Israel both at home and abroad ( Ezekiel 14:4; Ezekiel 14:7 ), and when addressing them he feels himself speaking to his people in all places. Cf. ch. Ezekiel 8:1 , Ezekiel 20:1 . These elders came and sat before him. It is scarce…
clarkeEzekiel 14:1: "Then came certain of the elders of Israel unto me, and sat before me."
Then came certain of the elders of Israel unto me - These probably came to tempt him, or get him to say something that would embroil him with the government. They were bad men, as we shall see in the third verse.
These "elders" weren't just curious onlookers; their presence before Ezekiel, seeking to "inquire of the Lord," carried a hidden agenda. The text subtly reveals they were essentially testing him, coming with idolatry already in their hearts, hoping to find something that would embroil him with authorities or prove his prophecy unreliable.
A group of respected elders from the exiled community approaches Ezekiel, sitting before him expectantly. They are likely seeking guidance or a prophecy concerning the fate of Jerusalem and their people, perhaps hoping for reassurance despite the harsh judgments previously delivered. This encounter sets the stage for God's direct response, which will expose the elders' hidden idolatry and address the people's deeper spiritual corruption.
A group of respected elders from the exiled community approaches Ezekiel, sitting before him expectantly. They are likely seeking guidance or a prophecy concerning the fate of Jerusalem and their people, perhaps hoping for reassurance despite the harsh judgments previously delivered. This encounter sets the stage for God's direct response, which will expose the elders' hidden idolatry and address the people's deeper spiritual corruption.
"Then certain of the elders of Israel came to me and sat before me." — These "elders" weren't just curious onlookers; their presence before Ezekiel, seeking to "inquire of the Lord," carried a hidden agenda. The text subtly reveals they were essentially testing him, com…
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Last reviewed October 2026