Ezekiel 14:7
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 inquire of him concerning me; I the LORD will answer him by myself:
Ezekiel 14:7 · King James Version
Meaning
In this verse from the book of Ezekiel, God is warning the house of Israel and any foreigners living among them who turn away from Him and worship idols. Those who separate themselves from God and set up idols in their hearts, placing stumbling blocks of sin before them, will face consequences when they seek guidance from prophets about God. The Lord declares that He will personally answer those who have turned away from Him, emphasizing His presence and involvement in the lives of His people. This verse serves as a reminder of the importance of staying true to God and turning to Him for guidance, rather than seeking answers from false idols or prophets who do not represent Him. It conveys the message that God is aware of those who have strayed from His path and that there are repercussions for turning away from His truth.
Theological Overview
Within this verse, the theological interpretation focuses on the concept of idolatry and the consequences of turning away from God. The word "idols" in this context can refer to physical statues or objects of worship, but it also extends to the idea of setting up anything in one's heart that takes precedence over God. This verse highlights the seriousness of idolatry and the danger of allowing anything to come between an individual and their relationship with the Lord. It emphasizes that those who choose to separate themselves from God and put their own desires above Him will face challenges. The verse also mentions seeking guidance from a prophet instead of turning directly to the Lord. This can be seen as a form of seeking answers outside of God's will. Ultimately, the verse carries a warning of the Lord's response to those who stray from Him and embrace idolatry.
Ezekiel 14:7 in other translations
American Standard Version
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:
World English Bible
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 Yahweh will answer him by myself:
Douay-Rheims
For every man of the house of Israel, and every stranger among the proselytes in Israel, if he separate himself from me, and place his idols in his heart, and set the stumblingblock of his iniquity before his face, and come to the prophet to inquire of me by him: I the Lord will answer him by myself.
Geneva Bible (1599)
For euery one of the house of Israel, or of the stranger that soiourneth in Israel, which departeth from mee, and setteth vp his idoles in his heart, and putteth the stumbling blocke of his iniquitie before his face, and commeth to a Prophet, for to inquire of him for me, I the Lord will answere him for my selfe,