Ezekiel 12:22

²⁰ The inhabited cities will be laid waste, and the land will become desolate. Then you will know that I am the LORD.’”

²¹ Again the word of the LORD came to me, saying,

“Son of man, what is this proverb that you have in the land of Israel: ‘The days go by, and every vision fails’?

²³ Therefore tell them that this is what the Lord GOD says: ‘I will put an end to this proverb, and in Israel they will no longer recite it.’ But say to them: ‘The days are at hand when every vision will be fulfilled.

²⁴ For there will be no more false visions or flattering divinations within the house of Israel,

This was said to Israel at a particular time, so it is wise to read it together with the surrounding text. Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.

Compare

BSB: “Son of man, what is this proverb that you have in the land of Israel: ‘The days go by, and every vision fails’?
KJV: Son of man, what is that proverb that ye have in the land of Israel, saying, The days are prolonged, and every vision faileth?
WEB: “Son of man, what is this proverb that you have in the land of Israel, saying, ‘The days are prolonged, and every vision fails’?
ASV: Son of man, what is this proverb that ye have in the land of Israel, saying, The days are prolonged, and every vision faileth?
DARBY: Son of man, what is that proverb which ye have in the land of Israel, saying, The days shall be prolonged, and every vision faileth?
BLB: “Son of man, what [is] this proverb for you⁺ over the land of Israel, saying, ‘The days are prolonged, and every vision perishes’?

ÅB: Menneskesønn! Hva er dette for et ord dere fører i munnen i Israels land, når dere sier: Tiden blir lang, og hvert syn blir til intet?
OTB: “Menneskesønn, hva er dette ordtaket dere har i Israels land, som sier, ‘Dagene går og hver visjon kommer til intet’?
B1930: Menneskesønn! Hvad er dette for et ord I fører i munnen i Israels land, når I sier: Tiden blir lang, og hvert syn blir til intet?

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

Ezekiel 18:2–3
“What do you people mean by quoting this proverb about the land of Israel: ‘The fathers have eaten sour grapes, and the teeth of the children are set on edge’?
Read in context
Ezekiel 11:3
They are saying, ‘Is not the time near to build houses? The city is the cooking pot, and we are the meat.’
Read in context
Ezekiel 12:27
“Son of man, take note that the house of Israel is saying, ‘The vision that he sees is for many years from now; he prophesies about the distant future.’
Read in context
Amos 6:3
You dismiss the day of calamity and bring near a reign of violence.
Read in context
Isaiah 5:19
to those who say, “Let Him hurry and hasten His work so that we may see it! Let the plan of the Holy One of Israel come so that we may know it!”
Read in context
Jeremiah 23:33–40
“Now when this people or a prophet or priest asks you, ‘What is the burden of the LORD?’ you are to say to them, ‘What burden? I will forsake you, declares the LORD.’
Read in context
2 Peter 3:3–4
Most importantly, you must understand that in the last days scoffers will come, scoffing and following their own evil desires.
Read in context
Jeremiah 5:12–13
They have lied about the LORD and said: “He will not do anything; harm will not come to us; we will not see sword or famine.
Read in context