“Son of man, speak to the elders of Israel, and say to them, Thus says the Lord GOD, Is it to inquire of me that you come? As I live, declares the Lord GOD, I will not be inquired of by you.
English Standard Version (ESV)
The elders are coming to inquire, but God's immediate question, "Are you come to inquire of me?" reveals their hearts aren't truly open. He refuses to answer because their moral condition, driven by past and present rebellion, makes them incapable of receiving or understanding His will.
“Son of man, speak to the elders of Israel, and say to them, Thus says the Lord GOD, Is it to inquire of me that you come? As I live, declares the Lord GOD, I will not be inquired of by you.
English Standard Version (ESV)
Ezekiel is instructed to confront the elders of Israel, who have come to seek God's counsel, likely about their precarious political situation and potential future. However, God declares through Ezekiel that He will not answer their inquiries because their hearts are far from Him; they are hypocrites, seeking divine validation for their own rebellious ways rather than genuine guidance. This sharp refusal sets the stage for God to recount Israel's long history of unfaithfulness, showing why He has turned away from them.
Why would God immediately shut down an inquiry from Israel's elders? It wasn't just about the questions they were asking, but the reasons behind them.
God sees beyond our spoken words to the true condition of our hearts. The elders of Israel approached Ezekiel not with genuine hunger for God's guidance, but with a specific, self-serving agenda.
A Deceptive Inquiry
God's refusal to be 'inquired of' by them is a judgment on their insincerity. He won't engage with those who use His name and His prophets as a tool for their own purposes.
God's refusal isn't just a statement; it's an oath. What does this profound declaration reveal about His character and His judgment?
The phrase 'As I live, declares the Lord GOD' is not casual. It’s an oath, a powerful affirmation that carries immense weight.
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The Weight of Divine Judgment
Understand the original words
ben 'adam · Hebrew Noun phrase
Prophetic title used by God to address Ezekiel, emphasizing his humanity and fragility in contrast to the divine majesty of the one speaking to him.
Adonai YHWH · Hebrew Noun phrase
Literally 'Lord YHWH'; this compound title emphasizes God’s absolute sovereignty, lordship, and authority over all creation and His people.
The elders approach Ezekiel seeking answers, but their hearts are far from God, mirroring generations of Israelite rebellion. God's refusal to be inquired of highlights that genuine seeking requires repentance, not just curiosity about the future.
605 BC
First Deportation to Babylon
Nebuchadnezzar deports Jewish nobles and skilled workers, including Daniel, to Babylon, marking the beginning of the Babylonian exile.
597 BC
Second Deportation to Babylon
Following a rebellion, Nebuchadnezzar deports more Judeans, including King Jehoiachin and the prophet Ezekiel, to Babylon. This event deeply impacts the exiles' hope and understanding of God's presence.
c. 593 BC
Ezekiel's Call and First Prophecies
Ezekiel receives his prophetic call by the Chebar River and begins to deliver messages to the exiles, often focusing on judgment and the consequences of Israel's sin.
c. 591 BC— this verse
Elders Seek Counsel from Ezekiel
A delegation of Israelite elders, living in exile in Babylon, approaches Ezekiel. They likely seek his guidance concerning their current situation and future hopes, perhaps regarding the ongoing conflict with Babylon or potential deliverance.
586 BC
Fall of Jerusalem
Nebuchadnezzar destroys Jerusalem and its Temple, exiling most of the remaining population. This devastating event confirms the severity of God's judgment on Judah.
This passage echoes the same stern refusal from God when people inquire of Him with idolatry in their hearts, highlighting that God will not be consulted by those who are not truly seeking Him.
Psalm 66:18This verse directly states, 'If I had cherished iniquity in my heart, the Lord would not have listened,' underscoring the principle that unconfessed sin or a wicked heart prevents God from hearing prayers, just as with the elders in Ezekiel.
Proverbs 28:9This proverb explains that 'Whoever turns a deaf ear to the instruction of wisdom will also have prayers that are an abomination,' reinforcing why God would refuse to be inquired of by those whose hearts were far from His ways.
John 7:17Jesus taught that if anyone's will is to do God's will, he will know the teaching of God, implying that a sincere desire to obey is necessary to truly understand God, a condition the elders in Ezekiel had failed to meet.
1 Samuel 28:6When Saul inquired of the Lord in his desperation, the Lord 'did not answer him, either by dreams, or by Urim, or by prophets,' demonstrating a precedent for God refusing to answer those who have rejected Him and are seeking Him only out of selfish need.
barnesEzekiel 20:3: "Son of man, speak unto the elders of Israel, and say unto them, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Are ye come to inquire of me? As I live, saith the Lord GOD, I will not be inquired of by you."
Enquire - As to the hope of deliverance from the Babylonians.
ellicottEzekiel 20:3: "Son of man, speak unto the elders of Israel, and say unto them, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Are ye come to inquire of me? As I live, saith the Lord GOD, I will not be inquired of by you."
(3) I will not be enquired of by you. —As in Ezekiel 14:3 . St. Jerome thus comments on the words:—“ To the holy, and to those who ask for right things, the promise is given, ‘While they are yet speaking, I will say, Here I am;’ but to sinners, such as these elders of Israel were, and as those whos…
The elders are coming to inquire, but God's immediate question, "Are you come to inquire of me?" reveals their hearts aren't truly open. He refuses to answer because their moral condition, driven by past and present rebellion, makes them incapable of receiving or understanding His will.
Ezekiel is instructed to confront the elders of Israel, who have come to seek God's counsel, likely about their precarious political situation and potential future. However, God declares through Ezekiel that He will not answer their inquiries because their hearts are far from Him; they are hypocrites, seeking divine validation for their own rebellious ways rather than genuine guidance. This sharp refusal sets the stage for God to recount Israel's long history of unfaithfulness, showing why He has turned away from them.
Ezekiel is instructed to confront the elders of Israel, who have come to seek God's counsel, likely about their precarious political situation and potential future. However, God declares through Ezekiel that He will not answer their inquiries because their hearts are far from Him; they are hypocrites, seeking divine validation for their own rebellious ways rather than genuine guidance. This sharp refusal sets the stage for God to recount Israel's long history of unfaithfulness, showing why He has turned away from them.
"“Son of man, speak to the elders of Israel, and say to them, Thus says the Lord GOD, Is it to inquire of me that you come? As I live, declares the Lord GOD, I will not be inquired of by you." — The elders are coming to inquire, but God's immediate question, "Are you come to inquire of me?" reveals their hearts aren't truly open. He refuses to answer because their moral condition, driven by…
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Last reviewed October 2026