Ezekiel 14:12-14
And the word of the LORD came to me: “Son of man, when a land sins against me by acting faithlessly, and I stretch out my hand against it and break its supply of bread and send famine upon it, and cut off from it man and beast, even if these three men, Noah, Daniel, and Job, were in it, they would deliver but their own lives by their righteousness, declares the Lord GOD.
English Standard Version (ESV)
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This isn't just a generic setup for a prophecy; the phrase "came again" hints that the message is a direct response to an unspoken question from the exiles. They were likely wondering if God would truly condemn them all, or if the presence of any righteous people might spare them, just as in past generations.
The prophet Ezekiel has been delivering messages of judgment against the people of Judah and Jerusalem for their persistent sin. Now, the exiles might be questioning how God could destroy His chosen people, perhaps hoping that the presence of righteous individuals like Noah, Daniel, and Job could intercede and spare them, just as righteous people had done in past generations. This section begins to address that very concern, emphasizing that even the most righteous cannot save a people bent on rebellion.
Ezekiel hears from God again, but it's more than just a message. It's divine authority breaking into reality.
The phrase "the word of the LORD came to me" isn't just a literary device to start a new section. It signifies a direct, powerful encounter with God's very being and will. For Ezekiel, this wasn't an abstract thought or a human opinion; it was the active, originating voice of the Creator.
Divine Authority
This recurring phrase emphasizes that Ezekiel's message originates from the highest authority. It's God speaking, commissioning, and guiding his prophet. This assures the listeners (and us!) that the message carries divine weight and cannot be ignored or dismissed.
Continuity of Revelation
"Came again" suggests an ongoing relationship and communication. God isn't a distant deity who spoke once; He is actively involved, continuing to reveal His heart and His plans to His chosen messenger.
Ezekiel confronts a difficult question: Can the goodness of a few save a sinful nation? The answer might surprise you.
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This passage tackles a profound theological question that likely troubled the exiles: If God is just, how can He judge an entire nation, even the righteous people within it? They might have remembered times when God spared Israel because of the faith of individuals like Abraham or Moses.
Not a Shield for the Community
Ezekiel is told that even the most righteous figures – Noah, Daniel, and Job – could only save themselves in a land judged for its sin. Their personal righteousness, while significant, could not act as a shield for the entire community's collective guilt. God's judgment on sin, when a nation "sins grievously," is comprehensive.
A Matter of Personal Accountability
The focus shifts from corporate salvation through intercession to individual accountability. In times of widespread national sin leading to divine judgment, each person must stand on their own relationship with God. Their own "soul" is what they can save, not the souls of the unrighteous around them.
Understand the original words
ben adam · Hebrew Noun phrase
A title used frequently for Ezekiel, emphasizing his humanity and his role as a messenger of God, highlighting the contrast between the glory of God and the frailty of man.
chata · Hebrew Verb
To miss the mark of God's standard; to act in opposition to His will, whether through rebellion, ignorance, or apathy.
ma'al · Hebrew Verb
To act treacherously or unfaithfully, often used of breaking a covenant or trust, specifically applied to idolatry in the Old Testament.
ra'av · Hebrew Noun
A state of severe shortage of food; in the Bible, it is often a covenantal judgment from God designed to bring a nation to repentance.
tsedaqah · Hebrew Noun
The quality of being upright, just, or in right standing with God; it is the state of living in accordance with His moral law.
Ezekiel delivers this message to the exiles in Babylon, addressing their potential questions about God's justice in the face of Jerusalem's destruction, especially considering the presence of righteous individuals.
c. 627 BC
Jeremiah Prophesies
The prophet Jeremiah delivers messages of impending doom and calls for repentance to Judah, which faces the growing Babylonian threat.
605 BC
First Deportation to Babylon
Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon conquers Jerusalem and deports a group of Judean elites, including Daniel, to Babylon.
597 BC— this verse
Second Deportation to Babylon
Another wave of exiles, including the priest Ezekiel and King Jehoiachin, are taken to Babylon following a rebellion.
c. 586 BC
Fall of Jerusalem
Nebuchadnezzar destroys Jerusalem and its Temple, leading to a final, massive deportation of Judeans to Babylon.
This passage presents a striking parallel, where God tells Jeremiah that even if Moses and Samuel were to intercede for the people, God would not relent, underscoring the severity of the impending judgment.
Genesis 18:23This earlier account shows God's willingness to spare Sodom if even ten righteous people could be found, highlighting a contrast with Ezekiel's message where exceptional righteousness can no longer avert judgment for the wicked.
Job 1:5The mention of Job directly connects to his story, where he habitually offered sacrifices for his children, demonstrating a profound, though ultimately insufficient, righteousness that couldn't save his family from destruction.
Daniel 9:15The inclusion of Daniel, a figure known for his wisdom and faithfulness in exile, points to his own intercessory prayers for his people, reinforcing the idea that even such exemplary figures couldn't save a persistently unrighteous nation.
Leviticus 26:26This verse, speaking of famine and the breaking of the 'staff of bread,' is directly alluded to by Ezekiel, showing how God's threatened judgments, like severe famine, were a known consequence of disobedience.
cambridgeEzekiel 14:12: "The word of the LORD came again to me, saying,"
12–23 . The presence of righteous men among a sinful people will not save the sinners The passage may be in answer to thoughts which the prophet felt might rise in the minds of those to whom he spoke. He threatened destruction to people and prophets alike, a destruction indiscriminate and universal. Were not these threats exaggeration? Were they in harmony with God’s former ways of dealing with his people? Would he slay the righteo…
calvinEzekiel 14:12-13: "The word of the LORD came again to me, saying,"
Son 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:
Fili hominis terra cum scelerate egerit erga me, [46] et extendero manum meam super eam, et confregero in ipsa baculum panis, et immisero in ipsam famem, et excidero ex ipsa hominem et jument…
This isn't just a generic setup for a prophecy; the phrase "came again" hints that the message is a direct response to an unspoken question from the exiles. They were likely wondering if God would truly condemn them all, or if the presence of any righteous people might spare them, just as in past generations.
The prophet Ezekiel has been delivering messages of judgment against the people of Judah and Jerusalem for their persistent sin. Now, the exiles might be questioning how God could destroy His chosen people, perhaps hoping that the presence of righteous individuals like Noah, Daniel, and Job could intercede and spare them, just as righteous people had done in past generations. This section begins to address that very concern, emphasizing that even the most righteous cannot save a people bent on rebellion.
The prophet Ezekiel has been delivering messages of judgment against the people of Judah and Jerusalem for their persistent sin. Now, the exiles might be questioning how God could destroy His chosen people, perhaps hoping that the presence of righteous individuals like Noah, Daniel, and Job could intercede and spare them, just as righteous people had done in past generations. This section begins to address that very concern, emphasizing that even the most righteous cannot save a people bent on rebellion.
"And the word of the LORD came to me: “Son of man, when a land sins against me by acting faithlessly, and I stretch out my hand against it and break its supply of bread and send famine upon it, and cut off from it man and beast, even if the…" — This isn't just a generic setup for a prophecy; the phrase "came again" hints that the message is a direct response to an unspoken question from the exiles. They were likely wondering if God would tr…
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