Ezekiel 12:22

Doubt Waiting on God

²⁰ And the cities that are inhabited shall be laid waste, and the land shall be desolate; and ye shall know that I am the LORD.

²¹ And the word of the LORD came unto me, saying,

Son of man, what is that proverb that ye have in the land of Israel, saying, The days are prolonged, and every vision faileth?

²³ Tell them therefore, Thus saith the Lord GOD; I will make this proverb to cease, and they shall no more use it as a proverb in Israel; but say unto them, The days are at hand, and the effect of every vision.

²⁴ For there shall be no more any vain vision nor flattering divination 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 mean ye, that ye use this proverb concerning the land of Israel, saying, The fathers have eaten sour grapes, and the children’s teeth are set on edge?
Read in context
Ezekiel 11:3
Which say, It is not near; let us build houses: this city is the caldron, and we be the flesh.
Read in context
Ezekiel 12:27
Son of man, behold, they of the house of Israel say, The vision that he seeth is for many days to come, and he prophesieth of the times that are far off.
Read in context
Amos 6:3
Ye that put far away the evil day, and cause the seat of violence to come near;
Read in context
Isaiah 5:19
That say, Let him make speed, and hasten his work, that we may see it: and let the counsel of the Holy One of Israel draw nigh and come, that we may know it!
Read in context
Jeremiah 23:33–40
And when this people, or the prophet, or a priest, shall ask thee, saying, What is the burden of the LORD? thou shalt then say unto them, What burden? I will even forsake you, saith the LORD.
Read in context
2 Peter 3:3–4
Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts,
Read in context
Jeremiah 5:12–13
They have belied the LORD, and said, It is not he; neither shall evil come upon us; neither shall we see sword nor famine:
Read in context