Ezekiel 14:6
“Therefore say to the house of Israel, Thus says the Lord GOD: Repent and turn away from your idols, and turn away your faces from all your abominations.
English Standard Version (ESV)
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The verse calls for a complete turning away from idols, not just in outward actions but also in internal affections. It emphasizes "turning yourselves" from idols and "turning away your faces" from abominations, highlighting a two-fold repentance that involves both renouncing the sin inwardly and refusing even to look upon it outwardly. This isn't just about stopping a behavior; it's about a deep-seated change of heart and mind.
Ezekiel is addressing elders who have come seeking a divine message, but God is disgusted by their hidden idolatry. He declares that He will not be inquired of by such people, instead commanding Ezekiel to tell Israel that their only hope lies in immediate, wholehearted repentance from their idols and all their detestable practices. This direct call to turn away from sin is God's response before He enacts further judgment.
When God speaks, He's not looking for a half-hearted change. In Ezekiel's time, the people were dabbling in idolatry, and God's message was stark.
The Lord, through Ezekiel, calls for a radical shift: 'Repent and turn away from your idols, and turn away your faces from all your abominations.' This isn't just about stopping a bad habit; it's a complete reorientation.
From Surface to Soul
The commentators emphasize that this call to 'repent' and 'turn' is not merely an outward show. It's about a deep, internal change of heart and affection. God, who 'searches the heart,' requires a repentance that takes root in our innermost being, not just a superficial amendment of ways. This means not only ceasing from idolatrous acts but also averting our gaze, our very focus, from what God detests.
What happens when people ignore God's call to repent and turn? God's response isn't always what we expect, but it is always decisive.
The context in Ezekiel 14 reveals that the elders who came to inquire of the prophet were themselves dabbling in idolatry. God's message through Ezekiel isn't just a gentle suggestion; it's a pronouncement of judgment. If they don't repent, God declares, 'I the Lord will answer him by myself.'
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Judgment as Revelation
This isn't about God sending a follow-up letter. 'Answering him by myself' means God will act directly and decisively. He will execute judgment. This judgment will serve as His answer, demonstrating His power and His displeasure in a way that is 'dreadful, searching, and astonishing.' God makes Himself known through His justice when His call to repentance is ignored.
Understand the original words
shub · Hebrew Verb
A change of mind or heart that results in a change of direction, involving turning away from sin and turning toward God. It is a necessary response to God's command and grace.
gillul · Hebrew Noun
Physical or mental representations of false gods or anything that replaces the one true God as the supreme object of affection, trust, or worship. Idolatry is viewed as spiritual adultery against the covenant-keeping God.
to'ebah · Hebrew Noun
Things that are detestable or disgusting to God, particularly practices related to idolatry, moral corruption, or violations of the covenant law. It represents that which is fundamentally contrary to God's holiness.
This message comes during the height of the Babylonian exile, when Jerusalem and the Temple have been destroyed. The elders seeking guidance from Ezekiel represent a remnant who, despite devastation, are still entangled with idolatrous practices, highlighting the deep-seated nature of sin and God's persistent call to true, heart-deep repentance.
c. 597 BC
First Deportation to Babylon
King Jehoiachin and many skilled people of Judah are exiled to Babylon following a Babylonian siege of Jerusalem. This event marks the beginning of the Babylonian Captivity for many Judeans.
c. 593 BC
Ezekiel's Ministry Begins
Ezekiel, now in exile in Babylon, receives his prophetic call and begins to deliver messages from God to the exiles.
c. 588-586 BC
Siege and Fall of Jerusalem
Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon besieges Jerusalem again. The city falls, the Temple is destroyed, and thousands more Judeans are exiled.
c. 586 BC— this verse
Ezekiel's Call to Repentance
Ezekiel delivers God's message to the elders who have come to inquire of him, calling for repentance from idolatry. This is a direct response to their desire to seek guidance from God while still holding onto their forbidden practices.
c. 586 BC
Judgment on Idolaters
God declares that He will personally judge those who continue in idolatry, making them an example of His vengeance. This includes both native-born Israelites and foreign residents.
This passage echoes Ezekiel's call, urging Israel to return to God and confess their unfaithfulness, highlighting the personal and public nature of repentance. It shows God's persistent invitation even after deep sin.
Acts 3:19Peter's sermon after the healing of the lame man directly calls for 'repentance and turnings' (Greek: metanoia kai epistrephe) so that sins may be blotted out, mirroring the core message of Ezekiel's prophecy.
2 Corinthians 7:1This New Testament passage connects 'purifying ourselves from every defilement' and 'fearing God' with the promised indwelling of God, showing that true repentance leads to a deeper relationship with Him.
Hosea 14:1-2This prophetic call to Israel is very similar, urging them to return to the Lord with words of repentance, acknowledging their iniquity and seeking God's gracious restoration. It emphasizes God's readiness to heal those who turn.
Isaiah 55:6-7This passage provides a broader invitation to seek the Lord while He may be found, and to turn from wicked ways and thoughts, which is the very essence of the repentance demanded in Ezekiel's message.
cambridgeEzekiel 14:6: "Therefore 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."
6 . The prophet is not permitted to give an answer to any inquiries of such men. Jehovah will answer them through himself ( Ezekiel 14:7 ); the message which the prophet has to deliver is, repentance or destruction!
pulpitEzekiel 14:6: "Therefore 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."
Verse 6. - Turn yourselves, etc.; literally, turn them. But there is no sufficient ground for the margin, "Turn others," the objective suffix being the "faces" of the following clause. In Ezekiel 18:30, 32 the verb is used by itself. The prophet's call is to a direct personal repentance, not to the work of preaching th…
The verse calls for a complete turning away from idols, not just in outward actions but also in internal affections. It emphasizes "turning yourselves" from idols and "turning away your faces" from abominations, highlighting a two-fold repentance that involves both renouncing the sin inwardly and refusing even to look upon it outwardly. This isn't just about stopping a behavior; it's about a deep-seated change of heart and mind.
Ezekiel is addressing elders who have come seeking a divine message, but God is disgusted by their hidden idolatry. He declares that He will not be inquired of by such people, instead commanding Ezekiel to tell Israel that their only hope lies in immediate, wholehearted repentance from their idols and all their detestable practices. This direct call to turn away from sin is God's response before He enacts further judgment.
Ezekiel is addressing elders who have come seeking a divine message, but God is disgusted by their hidden idolatry. He declares that He will not be inquired of by such people, instead commanding Ezekiel to tell Israel that their only hope lies in immediate, wholehearted repentance from their idols and all their detestable practices. This direct call to turn away from sin is God's response before He enacts further judgment.
"“Therefore say to the house of Israel, Thus says the Lord GOD: Repent and turn away from your idols, and turn away your faces from all your abominations." — The verse calls for a complete turning away from idols, not just in outward actions but also in internal affections. It emphasizes "turning yourselves" from idols and "turning away your faces" from a…
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