Ezekiel 33:31
And they come to you as people come, and they sit before you as my people, and they hear what you say but they will not do it; for with lustful talk in their mouths they act; their heart is set on their gain.
English Standard Version (ESV)
This page isn't yet indexed by search engines.
These people come with an outward show of reverence, sitting before the prophet as "my people," but their attendance is merely a performance. The real issue isn't just hearing God's words, but that their hearts are still fully captivated by their own desires and worldly gain.
Ezekiel has been delivering messages of judgment against Judah, but here he's speaking about people who come to hear him, even in crowds, sitting attentively as if they were God's devoted people. However, their outward show of reverence and their professed affection for God's words are a facade; their hearts are consumed by greed and worldly desires, proving they are not truly God's people and have no intention of obeying.
They gather, they sit, they listen… all the right outward signs are there. But is it genuine faith or just a performance?
This verse paints a stark picture of people who mimic true devotion. They come in crowds, sit attentively, and hear the prophet's words – all outward actions that look like genuine engagement with God's message. The commentary highlights how they adopted the posture of disciples, sitting at the prophet's feet, and came often, perhaps with seeming pleasure.
But the key here is the illusion. Their presence and attention are a facade. They are 'as my people' but not truly of God's people. This isn't about a one-time lapse; it's about a pattern of behavior that creates a false impression of piety, both to the prophet and perhaps even to themselves.
Their ears are filled with God's words, but their hearts are elsewhere, chasing after something else entirely. What truly captures your affections?
The most chilling part of Ezekiel's message is the disconnect between the ears and the heart. They hear, but they 'will not do.' Why? Because their true allegiance isn't with God's commands. The verse pinpoints the problem: 'their heart is set on their gain.'
This 'gain' (or 'covetousness' in older translations) speaks to a deep-seated desire for personal advantage, wealth, or worldly desires. It's what occupies their thoughts and drives their decisions, making God's word feel secondary or irrelevant. It's a powerful reminder that true obedience flows from a heart surrendered to God, not one captivated by selfish ambition or material pursuits.
Understand the original words
‘am · Hebrew Noun
In a biblical context, this refers to those who claim covenantal status with God. It signifies belonging to God's chosen community, which carries the responsibility of obedience and living according to His law.
leḇ · Hebrew Noun
A fundamental biblical concept referring to the inner life of a human being—the seat of thought, will, desire, and moral decision-making. It is the core of a person’s being from which conduct flows.
beṣa‘ · Hebrew Noun
Biblically, this often refers to covetousness, greed, or unjust profit. It describes the pursuit of material wealth or selfish advantage at the expense of others or God's commandments.
Ezekiel's message was delivered during and after the Babylonian exile, a time when the people's identity was shattered. The prophet confronts those who, while physically present and seemingly attentive, still clung to their old ways of greed and hypocrisy, demonstrating a deep disconnect between outward religious practice and inner devotion.
c. 597 BC
First Deportation of Jerusalemites
King Jehoiachin and many of the Judean elite, including Ezekiel, were exiled to Babylon following Nebuchadnezzar's siege of Jerusalem. This marked a significant loss of leadership and a spiritual crisis for the remaining people.
c. 586 BC
Destruction of Jerusalem and the Temple
Nebuchadnezzar's forces destroyed Jerusalem and the First Temple, exiling the majority of the population to Babylon. This catastrophic event was seen as divine judgment and plunged the exiles into despair.
c. 593-571 BC— this verse
Ezekiel's Prophetic Ministry in Exile
Ezekiel ministered to the exiles in Babylon, delivering God's messages of judgment and offering visions of future restoration and the rebuilding of the Temple. His prophecies addressed the spiritual and moral state of the people.
Post-Exilic Period (after 539 BC)
Return and Rebuilding Efforts
This passage highlights the same disconnect between outward profession and inward reality, where saying 'Lord, Lord' doesn't equate to doing God's will, mirroring Ezekiel's description of people who hear but don't do.
Matthew 13:22Jesus' parable of the sower describes seed falling among thorns, representing those who hear the word but allow worldly concerns and the deceitfulness of wealth to choke it, directly paralleling Ezekiel's 'heart goeth after their covetousness'.
James 1:22James strongly emphasizes that true faith isn't just about hearing the Word, but about actively doing it. This passage serves as a powerful reminder of the danger of being a 'hearer only,' just as Ezekiel describes those who listen but never act.
1 John 2:15This verse warns against loving the world, showing how worldly desires and affections compete with love for God. It connects directly to Ezekiel's prophecy where the people's hearts were set on gain, showing their true loyalties.
barnesEzekiel 33:31: "And they come unto thee as the people cometh, and they sit before thee as my people, and they hear thy words, but they will not do them: for with their mouth they shew much love, but their heart goeth after their covetousness."
As the people cometh - literally, as in the margin, i. e., in crowds. Render it: they shall come "unto thee" like the coming of a people," and" shall "sit before thee as My people" etc., i. e., they assume the attitude of God's people listening to His pro…
jfbEzekiel 33:31: "And they come unto thee as the people cometh, and they sit before thee as my people, and they hear thy words, but they will not do them: for with their mouth they shew much love, but their heart goeth after their covetousness."
- as the people cometh—that is, in crowds, as disciples flock to their teacher.sit before thee—on lower seats at thy feet, according to the Jewish custom of pupils (De 33:3; 2Ki 4:38; Lu 10:39; Ac 22:3).as my people—though they are not.hear … not do—(Mt…
These people come with an outward show of reverence, sitting before the prophet as "my people," but their attendance is merely a performance. The real issue isn't just hearing God's words, but that their hearts are still fully captivated by their own desires and worldly gain.
Ezekiel has been delivering messages of judgment against Judah, but here he's speaking about people who come to hear him, even in crowds, sitting attentively as if they were God's devoted people. However, their outward show of reverence and their professed affection for God's words are a facade; their hearts are consumed by greed and worldly desires, proving they are not truly God's people and have no intention of obeying.
Ezekiel has been delivering messages of judgment against Judah, but here he's speaking about people who come to hear him, even in crowds, sitting attentively as if they were God's devoted people. However, their outward show of reverence and their professed affection for God's words are a facade; their hearts are consumed by greed and worldly desires, proving they are not truly God's people and have no intention of obeying.
Get the original Greek and Hebrew, verse-by-verse context, and related passages inside the app.
Ask a follow-up
Ask Sola things like:
Live chat about Ezekiel 33:31 is available in the Sola app.
Following Cyrus the Great's decree, some exiles returned to Jerusalem to rebuild the Temple and the city. However, challenges and internal divisions persisted, and many of the people still struggled with faithfulness.
"And they come to you as people come, and they sit before you as my people, and they hear what you say but they will not do it; for with lustful talk in their mouths they act; their heart is set on their gain." — These people come with an outward show of reverence, sitting before the prophet as "my people," but their attendance is merely a performance. The real issue isn't just hearing God's words, but that…
