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Friday, September 12th, 2025
the Week of Proper 18 / Ordinary 23
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Read the Bible

Easy-to-Read Version

Ezekiel 20:3

"Son of man, speak to the elders of Israel. Tell them ‘This is what the Lord God says: Have you come to ask me what you should do? I, the Lord God , tell you that, as surely as I live, I will not listen to you.'

Bible Study Resources

Concordances:

- Nave's Topical Bible - Government;   Wicked (People);   Thompson Chain Reference - Prayer;   Torrey's Topical Textbook - Prayer, Answers to;  

Dictionaries:

- Baker Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology - Elder;   Leadership;   Charles Buck Theological Dictionary - Repentance;   Holman Bible Dictionary - Ezekiel;   Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible - Synagogue;   People's Dictionary of the Bible - Lead;  

Encyclopedias:

- International Standard Bible Encyclopedia - Raphael;   The Jewish Encyclopedia - Hafá¹­arah;  

Parallel Translations

Christian Standard Bible®
“Son of man, speak with the elders of Israel and tell them, ‘This is what the Lord God says: Are you coming to inquire of me? As I live, I will not let you inquire of me. This is the declaration of the Lord God.’
Hebrew Names Version
Son of man, speak to the Zakenim of Yisra'el, and tell them, Thus says the Lord GOD: Is it to inquire of me that you have come? As I live, says the Lord GOD, I will not be inquired of by you.
King James Version
Son of man, speak unto the elders of Israel, and say unto them, Thus saith the Lord God ; Are ye come to enquire of me? As I live, saith the Lord God , I will not be enquired of by you.
English Standard Version
"Son of man, speak to the elders of Israel, and say to them, Thus says the Lord God , Is it to inquire of me that you come? As I live, declares the Lord God , I will not be inquired of by you.
New American Standard Bible
"Son of man, speak to the elders of Israel and say to them, 'This is what the Lord GOD says: "Do you yourselves come to inquire of Me? As I live," declares the Lord GOD, "I certainly will not be inquired of by you."'
New Century Version
"Human, speak to the elders of Israel and say to them: ‘This is what the Lord God says: Did you come to ask me questions? As surely as I live, I will not let you ask me questions.'
Amplified Bible
"Son of man, speak to the elders of Israel and say to them, 'Thus says the Lord GOD, "Have you come to inquire of Me? As I live," says the Lord GOD, "I will not be inquired of by you."'
World English Bible
Son of man, speak to the elders of Israel, and tell them, Thus says the Lord Yahweh: Is it to inquire of me that you have come? As I live, says the Lord Yahweh, I will not be inquired of by you.
Geneva Bible (1587)
Sonne of man, speake vnto the Elders of Israel, and say vnto them, Thus saith the Lord God, Are ye come to enquire of me? as I liue, sayth the Lord God, when I am asked, I wil not answer you.
New American Standard Bible (1995)
"Son of man, speak to the elders of Israel and say to them, 'Thus says the Lord GOD, "Do you come to inquire of Me? As I live," declares the Lord GOD, "I will not be inquired of by you."'
Legacy Standard Bible
"Son of man, speak to the elders of Israel and say to them, ‘Thus says Lord Yahweh, "Do you come to inquire of Me? As I live," declares Lord Yahweh, "I will not be inquired of by you."'
Berean Standard Bible
"Son of man, speak to the elders of Israel and tell them that this is what the Lord GOD says: 'Have you come to inquire of Me? As surely as I live, I will not be consulted by you, declares the Lord GOD.'
Contemporary English Version
Ezekiel, son of man, these leaders have come to find out what I want them to do. As surely as I live, I will not give them an answer of any kind.
Complete Jewish Bible
"Human being, speak to Isra'el's leaders; tell them that Adonai Elohim asks, ‘Have you come to consult me? As I live,' says Adonai Elohim , ‘I swear that I will not let you consult me.'
Darby Translation
Son of man, speak unto the elders of Israel, and say unto them, Thus saith the Lord Jehovah: Are ye come to inquire of me? [As] I live, saith the Lord Jehovah, I will not be inquired of by you.
George Lamsa Translation
Son of man, speak to the elders of Israel and say to them, Thus says the LORD God: Are you come to inquire of me? As I live, says the LORD God, I will not give you an answer.
Good News Translation
"Mortal man," he said, "speak to these leaders and tell them that the Sovereign Lord is saying: You have come to ask my will, have you? As surely as I am the living God, I will not let you ask me anything. I, the Sovereign Lord , have spoken.
Lexham English Bible
"Son of man, speak with the elders of Israel, and you must say to them, ‘Thus says the Lord Yahweh: "Are you coming to consult me? As I live, I will surely not allow myself to be consulted by you!"' declares the Lord Yahweh.
Literal Translation
Son of man, speak to the elders of Israel and say to them, So says the Lord Jehovah: Have you come to inquire of Me? As I live, declares the Lord Jehovah, I will not be inquired of by you.
Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
Thou sonne of man: Speake to the elders of Israel, and saye vnto them: Thus saieth the LORDE God: Are ye come hither to axe eny thinge at me? As truly as I lyue (saieth the LORDE,)
American Standard Version
Son of man, speak unto the elders of Israel, and say unto them, Thus saith the Lord Jehovah: Is it to inquire of me that ye are come? As I live, saith the Lord Jehovah, I will not be inquired of by you.
Bible in Basic English
Son of man, say to the responsible men of Israel, This is what the Lord has said: Have you come to get directions from me? By my life, says the Lord, you will get no directions from me.
JPS Old Testament (1917)
'Son of man, speak unto the elders of Israel, and say unto them: Thus saith the Lord GOD: Are ye come to inquire of Me? As I live, saith the Lord GOD, I will not be inquired of by you.
King James Version (1611)
Sonne of man, speake vnto the elders of Israel, and say vnto them, Thus saith the Lord God, Are yee come to enquire of me? As I liue, saith the Lord God, I will not be enquired of by you.
Bishop's Bible (1568)
Thou sonne of man, speake vnto the elders of Israel, and say vnto them, thus saith the Lorde God, Are ye come to enquire of me? As truely as I liue I wyll not be sought of you, saith the Lorde God.
Brenton's Septuagint (LXX)
Son of man, speak to the elders of the house of Israel, and thou shalt say to them, Thus saith the Lord; Are ye come to enquire of me? As I live, I will not be enquired of by you, saith the Lord.
English Revised Version
Son of man, speak unto the elders of Israel, and say unto them, Thus saith the Lord GOD: Are ye come to inquire of me? As I live, saith the Lord GOD, I will not be inquired of by you.
Wycliffe Bible (1395)
and he seide, Sone of man, speke thou to the eldere men of Israel; and thou schalt seie to hem, The Lord God seith these thingis, Whether ye camen to axe me? Y lyue, for Y schal not answere to you, seith the Lord God. Sone of man,
Update Bible Version
Son of man, speak to the elders of Israel, and say to them, Thus says the Lord Yahweh: Is it to inquire of me that you have come? As I live, says the Lord Yahweh, I will not be inquired of by you.
Webster's Bible Translation
Son of man, speak to the elders of Israel, and say to them, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Are ye come to inquire of me? [As] I live, saith the Lord GOD, I will not be inquired of by you.
New English Translation
"Son of man, speak to the elders of Israel, and tell them: ‘This is what the sovereign Lord says: Are you coming to seek me? As surely as I live, I will not allow you to seek me, declares the sovereign Lord .'
New King James Version
"Son of man, speak to the elders of Israel, and say to them, "Thus says the Lord GOD: "Have you come to inquire of Me? As I live," says the Lord GOD, "I will not be inquired of by you."'
New Living Translation
"Son of man, tell the leaders of Israel, ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: How dare you come to ask me for a message? As surely as I live, says the Sovereign Lord , I will tell you nothing!'
New Life Bible
"Son of man, speak to the leaders of Israel. Tell them, ‘The Lord God says, "Have you come to ask My will? As I live," says the Lord God, "I will not let you ask me anything."'
New Revised Standard
Mortal, speak to the elders of Israel, and say to them: Thus says the Lord God : Why are you coming? To consult me? As I live, says the Lord God , I will not be consulted by you.
J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
Son of man, Speak thou with the elders of Israel, and say unto them, Thus, saith My Lord. Yahweh, To enquire of me, are ye coming in. As I live, very I will no be enquired of by you, Declareth My Lord Yahweh.
Douay-Rheims Bible
Son of man, speak to the ancients of Israel and say to them: Thus saith the Lord God: Are you come to inquire of me? As I live, I will not answer you, saith the Lord God.
Revised Standard Version
"Son of man, speak to the elders of Israel, and say to them, Thus says the Lord GOD, Is it to inquire of me that you come? As I live, says the Lord GOD, I will not be inquired of by you.
Young's Literal Translation
`Son of man, speak with the elders of Israel, and thou hast said unto them, Thus said the Lord Jehovah: To seek Me are ye coming in? I live -- I am not sought by you -- an affirmation of the Lord Jehovah.

Contextual Overview

1 One day some of the elders of Israel came to me to ask the Lord for advice. This was on the tenth day of the fifth month of the seventh year of exile. The elders sat down in front of me. 2 Then the word of the Lord came to me. He said, 3 "Son of man, speak to the elders of Israel. Tell them ‘This is what the Lord God says: Have you come to ask me what you should do? I, the Lord God , tell you that, as surely as I live, I will not listen to you.' 4 Should you judge them? Will you judge them, son of man? You must tell them about the terrible things their fathers have done.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

Are: Isaiah 1:12, Matthew 3:7, Luke 3:7

As I: Ezekiel 20:31, Ezekiel 14:3, Ezekiel 14:4, Ezekiel 14:7, Ezekiel 14:8, 1 Samuel 28:6, Psalms 50:15-21, Proverbs 15:8, Proverbs 21:27, Proverbs 28:9, Isaiah 1:15, Micah 3:7, Matthew 15:8, Matthew 15:9, John 4:24

Reciprocal: 1 Samuel 14:37 - he answered 2 Samuel 22:42 - unto the Lord 2 Chronicles 18:4 - Inquire Ezekiel 2:1 - Son Ezekiel 36:37 - I will yet Zechariah 7:13 - so John 4:21 - saith

Cross-References

Genesis 20:1
Abraham left that place and traveled to the Negev. He settled in the city of Gerar, between Kadesh and Shur. While in Gerar,
Genesis 20:7
So give Abraham his wife again. He is a prophet. He will pray for you, and you will live. But if you don't give Sarah back to him, I promise that you will die. And all your family will die with you."
Genesis 20:12
She is my wife, but she is also my sister. She is the daughter of my father but not the daughter of my mother.
Genesis 20:13
God led me away from my father's house. He led me to wander to many different places. When that happened, I told Sarah, ‘Do something for me. Wherever we go, tell people you are my sister.'"
Genesis 20:14
So Abimelech gave Sarah back to Abraham. Abimelech also gave Abraham some sheep, cattle, and slaves.
Genesis 20:15
And Abimelech said, "Look all around you. This is my land. You may live any place you want."
Genesis 28:12
Jacob had a dream. He dreamed there was a ladder that was on the ground and reached up into heaven. He saw the angels of God going up and down the ladder.
Genesis 31:24
That night God came to Laban in a dream and said, "Be careful! Be careful of every word you say to Jacob."
Genesis 37:5
One time Joseph had a special dream. Later, he told his brothers about this dream, and after that his brothers hated him even more.
Genesis 37:9
Then Joseph had another dream, and he told his brothers about it. He said, "I had another dream. I saw the sun, the moon, and eleven stars bowing down to me."

Gill's Notes on the Bible

Son of man, speak unto the elders of Israel, and say unto them,.... Give them this for an answer from me:

thus saith the Lord God, are ye come to inquire of me? no; not seriously, heartily, and in good earnest, determining to abide by the advice and counsel that might be given; or how can you have the face to inquire of me, when guilty of such abominations?

[as] I live, saith the Lord God, I will not be inquired of by you; knowing their wickedness and hypocrisy, which were detestable to him, and therefore would not hear what they had to say, nor give them any answer, or direct them what they should do. Sad is the case of persons when the Lord will not be inquired of by them! it is plain he has no favours to bestow upon them; for, when he has, he will put them upon inquiring of him for them, to do them unto them, Ezekiel 36:37; this was the case of Saul, whom God, when he inquired of him, would not answer in any of his usual ways, 1 Samuel 28:6.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

Enquire - As to the hope of deliverance from the Babylonians.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse Ezekiel 20:3. I will not be inquired of by you. — I will not hear you. I will have nothing to do with you.


 
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