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Ezekiel 14
Ezekiel 14:1
Some of the elders of Israel came to me and sat before me
The elders sat before Ezekiel in order to inquire of the Lord through Ezekiel. (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-explicit)
Ezekiel 14:2
the word of Yahweh came
This is an idiom that is used to introduce something that God told his prophets or his people. See how you translated this in Ezekiel 3:16. Alternate translation: "Yahweh spoke this message" or "Yahweh spoke these words" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-idiom)
Ezekiel 14:3
Son of man
"Son of a human being" or "Son of humanity." God calls Ezekiel this to emphasize that Ezekiel is only a human being. God is eternal and powerful, but humans are not. Alternate translation: "Mortal person" or "Human"
have taken their idols into their hearts
Yahweh speaks of the elders committing themselves to worshiping idols as if the elders had "taken their idols into their hearts." Alternate translation: "have devoted themselves to idols" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-metaphor)
have put the stumbling block of their iniquity before their own faces
Yahweh speaks of the idols that the elders worship as if they were blocks over which the elders stumble, and of being determined to worship those idols as if they had placed those stumbling blocks in front of their faces. Alternate translation: "have resolutely determined to worship the things that lead to iniquity" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-metaphor)
stumbling block of their iniquity
Possible meanings are 1) the idols are a stumbling block that leads to the elders' iniquity or 2) worshiping idols is an iniquity that causes the elders to stumble.
Should I be inquired of at all by them?
Yahweh asks this rhetorical question to emphasize that the elders should not be inquiring of him. This question can be translated as a statement. It can also be stated in active form. Alternate translation: "Should I permit them to inquire of me at all?" or "They should not be inquiring of me at all." (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-rquestion and rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-activepassive)
Ezekiel 14:4
Therefore announce this to them
The word "them" refers to the "men from the elders of Israel."
the house of Israel
The word "house" is a metonym for the family that lives in the house, in this case the Israelites, the descendants of Jacob over many years. See how you translated this in Ezekiel 3:1. Alternate translation: "the Israelite people group" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-metonymy)
who takes his idols into his heart
Yahweh speaks of the people committing themselves to worshiping idols as if they had taken their idols into their hearts. See how you translated this metaphor in Ezekiel 14:3. Alternate translation: "who devotes himself to idols" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-metaphor)
who puts the stumbling block of his iniquity before his face
Yahweh speaks of the idols that people worship as if they were blocks over which the people stumble, and of being determined to worship those idols as if they had placed those stumbling blocks in front of their faces. See how you translated this metaphor in Ezekiel 14:3. Alternate translation: "who resolutely determines to worship the things that lead to iniquity" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-metaphor)
I, Yahweh, will answer him according to the number of his idols
This phrase refers to the many idols that the people worship. It is implied that the severity of Yahweh's answer will as great as the number of idols that they worship. Alternate translation: "I, Yahweh, will give him the answer that he deserves because he worships so many idols" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-explicit)
Ezekiel 14:5
I may take back the house of Israel in their hearts
Here the word "hearts" represents the minds and affections of the people. Yahweh speaks of causing them to be devoted to him once again as if he were to capture their hearts. Alternate translation: "I will cause the people of Israel to be devoted to me again" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-metonymy and rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-metaphor)
their hearts that have been driven far from me through their idols
Here the word "hearts" represents the minds and affections of the people. This can be stated in active form. Alternate translation: "who have all left me to worship their idols" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-metonymy and rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-activepassive)
Ezekiel 14:6
the house of Israel
The word "house" is a metonym for the family that lives in the house, in this case the Israelites, the descendants of Jacob over many years. See how you translated this in Ezekiel 3:1. Alternate translation: "the Israelite people group" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-metonymy)
Repent and turn away from your idols! Turn back your faces from all your abominations
Both of these phrases are ways to tell the people of Israel to stop worshiping idols. (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-parallelism)
Repent and turn away
The words "repent" and "turn way" mean basically the same thing. Together they strengthen the command to stop worshiping idols. (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-doublet)
Turn back your faces
Here the word "faces" represents the people. Alternate translation: "Turn back" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-synecdoche)
Ezekiel 14:7
the house of Israel
The word "house" is a metonym for the family that lives in the house, in this case the Israelites, the descendants of Jacob over many years. See how you translated this in Ezekiel 3:1. Alternate translation: "the Israelite people group" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-metonymy)
who takes his idols into his heart
Yahweh speaks of the people committing themselves to worshiping idols as if they had taken their idols into their hearts. See how you translated this metaphor in Ezekiel 14:3. Alternate translation: "who devotes himself to idols" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-metaphor)
puts the stumbling block of his iniquity before his own face
Yahweh speaks of the idols that people worship as if they were blocks over which the people stumble, and of being determined to worship those idols as if they had placed those stumbling blocks in front of their faces. See how you translated this metaphor in Ezekiel 14:3. Alternate translation: "who resolutely determines to worship the things that lead to iniquity" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-metaphor)
Ezekiel 14:8
I will set my face against that man
Yahweh speaks of being opposed to a person as if he were to set his face against that person. Alternate translation: "I will be against that man" or "I will oppose that man" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/translate-symaction)
set my face against
Here "face" is a metonym for attention or gaze, and "set my face" refers to staring. Alternate translation: "stare angrily at" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-metonymy)
make him a sign and a proverb
Here the word "sign" refers to something that communicates a special warning to those who see it. The word proverb refers to what people will say about that sign when they see it. Alternate translation: "I will make that man to be a warning and a proverb" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-metaphor)
I will cut him off from the midst of my people
Yahweh speaks of causing a person no longer to belong to his people as if he were cutting that person off from the people, like a person would cut a branch from a tree. Alternate translation: "I will cause him no longer to belong to my people" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-metaphor)
know that I am Yahweh
When Yahweh says that people will know that he is Yahweh, he is implying that they will know that he is the one true God who has supreme authority and power. See how you translated this in Ezekiel 6:7. Alternate translation: "understand that I am Yahweh, the one true God" or "realize that I, Yahweh, have supreme power and authority" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-explicit)
Ezekiel 14:9
I will reach out with my hand against him
God's "hand" refers to what he does. Alternate translation: "I will work against him" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-metonymy)
Ezekiel 14:10
They will carry their own iniquity
Here the word "iniquity" represents the guilt that people incur for committing iniquity. Yahweh speaks of people suffering the consequences of their iniquity as if they were carrying the iniquity. Alternate translation: "They will suffer the consequences of their own iniquity" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-metonymy and rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-metaphor)
Ezekiel 14:11
house of Israel
The word "house" is a metonym for the family that lives in the house, in this case the Israelites, the descendants of Jacob over many years. See how you translated this in Ezekiel 3:1. Alternate translation: "the Israelite people group" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-metonymy)
will no longer wander away from following me
Yahweh speaks of the people no longer worshiping him as if they were to wander away from him and no longer follow him. Alternate translation: "will no longer stop worshiping me" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-metaphor)
this is the Lord Yahweh's declaration
Yahweh speaks of himself by name to express the certainty of what he is declaring. See how you translated this in Ezekiel 5:11. Alternate translation: "this is what the Lord Yahweh has declared" or "this is what I, the Lord Yahweh, have declared" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-123person)
Ezekiel 14:12
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Ezekiel 14:13
when a land sins against me
Here the word "land" represents the people who live in the land. Alternate translation: "when the people who live in a land sin against me" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-metonymy)
break the staff of its bread
Yahweh speaks of the supply of bread as if it were a staff. The word "bread" represents all kinds of food. See how you translated a similar phrase in Ezekiel 4:16. Alternate translation: "end the supply of its food" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-metaphor and rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-synecdoche)
cut off both men and animals from the land
Yahweh speaks of killing people and animals as if he were cutting them off, like a person would cut a branch from a tree. Alternate translation: "kill both men and animals in the land" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-metaphor)
Ezekiel 14:14
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Ezekiel 14:15
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Ezekiel 14:16
these same three men
Noah, Daniel, and Job
as I live
"as surely as I am alive." Yahweh uses this expression to show that what he says next is certainly true. This is a way of making a solemn promise. See how you translated this in Ezekiel 5:11. Alternate translation: "I solemnly swear" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-idiom)
only their own lives would be rescued
This can be stated in active form. Alternate translation: "they could only rescue their own lives" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-activepassive)
Ezekiel 14:17
if I bring a sword against that land
The word "sword" is a metonym for soldiers who kill people using swords. Alternate translation:
Sword, go through the land
Here the word "sword" represents the soldiers of an enemy army who attack with swords. Alternate translation: "Army, go through the land" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-metonymy)
cut off both men and animals from it
Yahweh speaks of killing people and animals as if it were cutting them off, like a person would cut a branch from a tree. Alternate translation: "kill both men and animals in the land" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-metaphor)
Ezekiel 14:18
these three men
Noah, Daniel, and Job
only their own lives would be rescued
This can be stated in active form. Alternate translation: "they would only rescue their own lives" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-activepassive)
Ezekiel 14:19
pour out my fury
Yahweh speaks of expressing his fury as if his fury were a liquid that he pours out from a container. Alternate translation: "I will express my fury" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-metaphor)
cut off both men and animals
Yahweh speaks of killing people and animals as if he were cutting them off, like a person would cut a branch from a tree. Alternate translation: "kill both men and animals" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-metaphor)
Ezekiel 14:20
only their own lives would be rescued
This can be stated in active form. Alternate translation: "they would only rescue their own lives" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-activepassive)
Ezekiel 14:21
to cut off both men and animals from her
Yahweh speaks of killing people and animals as if it were cutting them off, like a person would cut a branch from a tree. The word "her" refers to Jerusalem. Alternate translation: "to kill both men and animals in Jerusalem" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-metaphor)
Ezekiel 14:22
General Information:
Yahweh continues to speak with Ezekiel about the punishment of the people of Israel.
Behold
The word "behold" here alerts us to pay attention to the information that follows.
left in her
The word "her" refers to Jerusalem.
be comforted concerning the punishment
This can be stated in active form. Alternate translation: "they will comfort you concerning the punishment" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-activepassive)
Ezekiel 14:23
done against her
The word "her" refers to Jerusalem.
their ways and their actions
Both of these phrases refer to what the people of Israel have done. Alternate translation: "the way they live" or "the things they do" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-doublet)