Ezekiel 14:7

5 so that I may take hold of the hearts of the people of Israel. For because of their idols, they are all estranged from Me.’

6 Therefore tell the house of Israel that this is what the Lord GOD says: ‘Repent and turn away from your idols; turn your faces away from all your abominations.

For when any Israelite or any foreigner dwelling in Israel separates himself from Me, sets up idols in his heart, and puts a wicked stumbling block before his face, and then comes to the prophet to inquire of Me, I the LORD will answer him Myself.

8 I will set My face against that man and make him a sign and a proverb; I will cut him off from among My people. Then you will know that I am the LORD.

9 But if the prophet is enticed to speak a message, then it was I the LORD who enticed him, and I will stretch out My hand against him and destroy him from among My people 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
For when any Israelite or any foreigner dwelling in Israel separates himself from Me, sets up idols in his heart, and puts a wicked stumbling block before his face, and then comes to the prophet to inquire of Me, I the LORD will answer him Myself.
KJV
For every one of the house of Israel, or of the stranger that sojourneth in Israel, which separateth himself from me, and setteth up his idols in his heart, and putteth the stumblingblock of his iniquity before his face, and cometh to a prophet to enquire of him concerning me; I the LORD will answer him by myself:
WEB
“‘“For everyone of the house of Israel, or of the strangers who live in Israel, who separates himself from me and takes his idols into his heart, and puts the stumbling block of his iniquity before his face, and comes to the prophet to inquire for himself of me, I the LORD will answer him by myself.
ASV
For every one of the house of Israel, or of the strangers that sojourn in Israel, that separateth himself from me, and taketh his idols into his heart, and putteth the stumblingblock of his iniquity before his face, and cometh to the prophet to inquire for himself of me; I Jehovah will answer him by myself:
DARBY
For every one of the house of Israel, or of the strangers that sojourn in Israel, who separateth himself from me, and setteth up his idols in his heart, and putteth the stumbling-block of his iniquity before his face, and cometh to the prophet to inquire of me by him, I Jehovah will answer him by myself;
BLB
For every man of the house of Israel, or from the foreigners who dwell in Israel, who separates himself from Me and sets up his idols in his heart, and puts a stumbling block for his iniquity before his face, and who comes to a prophet to inquire of him concerning Me, I, YHWH, will answer him Myself.
ÅB
For hver den av Israels hus og av de fremmede som bor i Israel, som skiller seg fra meg og gir sine motbydelige avguder rom i sitt hjerte og setter det som er ham et anstøt til misgjerning, for sine øyne og så kommer til profeten for å spørre meg for seg, ham vil jeg, Herren, selv svare på min vis.
OTB
Når noen av israelittene eller noen utlending som bor i Israel skiller seg fra meg, setter opp avguder i sitt hjerte, og plasserer en snublestein av urett foran sitt ansikt, og så kommer til en profet for å rådspørre meg, vil jeg, Herren, svare dem selv.
B1930
For hver den av Israels hus og av de fremmede som bor i Israel, som skiller sig fra mig og gir sine motbydelige avguder rum i sitt hjerte og setter det som er ham et anstøt til misgjerning, for sine øine og så kommer til profeten for å spørre mig for sig, ham vil jeg, Herren, selv svare på min vis.

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

  • Exodus 12:48

    If a foreigner resides with you and wants to celebrate the LORD’s Passover, all the males in the household must be circumcised; then he may come near to celebrate it, and he shall be like a native of the land. But no uncircumcised man may eat of it.

    Read in context
  • Isaiah 58:1–2

    “Cry aloud, do not hold back! Raise your voice like a ram’s horn. Declare to My people their transgression and to the house of Jacob their sins.

    Read in context
  • Leviticus 24:22

    You are to have the same standard of law for the foreign resident and the native; for I am the LORD your God.’”

    Read in context
  • Hosea 4:14

    I will not punish your daughters when they prostitute themselves, nor your daughters-in-law when they commit adultery. For the men themselves go off with prostitutes and offer sacrifices with shrine prostitutes. So a people without understanding will come to ruin.

    Read in context
  • Jeremiah 37:1–3

    Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon made Zedekiah son of Josiah the king of Judah, and he reigned in place of Coniah son of Jehoiakim.

    Read in context
  • Hosea 9:10

    I found Israel like grapes in the wilderness. I saw your fathers as the firstfruits of the fig tree in its first season. But they went to Baal-peor, and consecrated themselves to Shame; so they became as detestable as the thing they loved.

    Read in context
  • Ezekiel 14:7–8

    For when any Israelite or any foreigner dwelling in Israel separates himself from Me, sets up idols in his heart, and puts a wicked stumbling block before his face, and then comes to the prophet to inquire of Me, I the LORD will answer him Myself.

    Read in context
  • Jeremiah 37:17

    Later, King Zedekiah sent for Jeremiah and received him in his palace, where he asked him privately, “Is there a word from the LORD?” “There is,” Jeremiah replied. “You will be delivered into the hand of the king of Babylon.”

    Read in context