Ezekiel 14:23

KJV

And they shall comfort you, when ye see their ways and their doings: and ye shall know that I have not done without cause all that I have done in it, saith the Lord GOD.

KJV (with Strong's)

And they shall comfort {H5162} you, when ye see {H7200} their ways {H1870} and their doings {H5949}: and ye shall know {H3045} that I have not done {H6213} without cause {H2600} all that I have done {H6213} in it, saith {H5002} the Lord {H136} GOD {H3069}.

Complete Jewish Bible

Yes, they will console you when you see their way of life and how they act; and you will understand that it was not without good reason that I did what I did in [Yerushalayim]," says Adonai ELOHIM.

Berean Standard Bible

They will bring you consolation when you see their conduct and actions, and you will know that it was not without cause that I have done all these things within it,’ declares the Lord GOD.”

American Standard Version

And they shall comfort you, when ye see their way and their doings; and ye shall know that I have not done without cause all that I have done in it, saith the Lord Jehovah.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Ezekiel 14:23 concludes a profound declaration of divine judgment against Jerusalem, revealing God's unwavering justice even amidst severe punishment. The verse assures the exiles in Babylon that a remnant of survivors, though spared, will arrive bearing the visible evidence of their continued wickedness. Witnessing the persistent "ways and doings" of these survivors will provide a grim, yet crucial, "comfort" to the exiles, affirming that God's devastating actions against Jerusalem were not arbitrary or "without cause," but entirely righteous and necessary, thereby vindicating His holy character.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Ezekiel 14:23 serves as the concluding statement to a powerful prophetic oracle delivered by God through Ezekiel, primarily addressing the pervasive idolatry and rebellion within Jerusalem. The preceding verses (Ezekiel 14:12-20) emphasize God's unyielding resolve to judge the land, stating that even the presence of exceptionally righteous individuals like Noah, Daniel, and Job would only save themselves, not the city, from the impending doom. God declares He will send four devastating judgments—sword, famine, noisome beasts, and pestilence—upon Jerusalem. The immediate context of verse 23 is God's promise to leave a remnant of survivors who will be brought out to Babylon (Ezekiel 14:21-22). These survivors are not spared due to their righteousness, but precisely because their continued sinful "ways and doings" will serve as undeniable, visible proof to the exiles already in Babylon that God's judgment was not capricious but perfectly justified. This understanding, though painful, is the "comfort" offered.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The prophecy in Ezekiel 14 is delivered to the Jewish exiles in Babylon, specifically those who were part of the first deportation in 597 BC, including Ezekiel himself. Jerusalem, at this time, was still standing but under severe threat from Babylon, eventually falling in 586 BC. The exiles likely grappled with profound questions: Why did God allow their beloved city and temple to be destroyed? Was God unjust or unfaithful? Was their suffering arbitrary? In the ancient Near East, national defeat often implied the defeat of a nation's god. Ezekiel's message, therefore, was crucial for maintaining the exiles' faith in Yahweh's sovereignty and justice. The "ways and doings" refer to the persistent idolatry, social injustice, and moral corruption that characterized Judah's decline, despite repeated prophetic warnings (e.g., [Jeremiah 7](/jeremiah/7 "Jeremiah 7 - The Temple Sermon")). The arrival of a morally corrupt remnant would visually confirm the depth of the sin that provoked divine wrath, removing any lingering doubts about God's righteousness.
* **Key Themes:** The overarching theme in Ezekiel 14, culminating in verse 23, is the **vindication of God's justice and holiness**. God's actions are never "without cause" (H2600); His judgments are a direct, righteous response to human sin and rebellion. This chapter powerfully asserts God's **sovereignty over judgment**, demonstrating that He is the one who brings calamity as a just consequence of sin, not merely allowing it to happen. Furthermore, the concept of a **remnant** is central, though here it functions paradoxically: not as a group preserved for future blessing, but as a living testimony to the pervasive sinfulness that necessitated the judgment. The "comfort" provided is not emotional solace but the profound relief that comes from **understanding God's perfect righteousness** in His dealings with humanity. This theme resonates with other prophetic declarations of God's righteous judgment, such as those found in [Isaiah 5:1-7](/isaiah/5 "Isaiah 5 - The Song of the Vineyard") or [Amos 3:1-2](/amos/3 "Amos 3 - God's Judgment on Israel").

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **comfort (Hebrew, _nâcham'_):** From H5162, meaning properly to sigh, i.e., breathe strongly; by implication, to be sorry, to pity, console or rue; or to avenge oneself. In this context, it signifies a profound sense of relief, vindication, or a settling of the heart that comes from seeing God's actions as just and true. It is not a soothing of grief in the conventional sense, but a removal of doubt regarding God's righteousness.
* **ways (Hebrew, _derek'_):** From H1870, meaning a road (as trodden); figuratively, a course of life or mode of action. This term refers to the habitual conduct, moral character, and lifestyle of the survivors, indicating their continued adherence to the sinful practices that led to Jerusalem's downfall.
* **without cause (Hebrew, _chinnâm'_):** From H2600, meaning gratis, i.e., devoid of cost, reason, or advantage; without a cause (cost, wages), causeless, for nothing. This powerfully emphasizes that God's severe actions against Jerusalem were entirely warranted by their persistent sin and rebellion, not arbitrary or unjust.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"And they shall comfort you":** This refers to the remnant of survivors from Jerusalem who will be brought to Babylon. Their arrival, far from being a source of typical comfort, will provide a grim reassurance to the exiles already there. The "comfort" is the intellectual and spiritual relief that comes from understanding God's justice, rather than emotional solace.
* **"when ye see their ways and their doings":** This specifies the condition under which the comfort will be received. The exiles will witness the continued sinful "ways" (moral conduct, lifestyle) and "doings" (actions, exploits, often in a bad sense) of these survivors. This visible, undeniable evidence of their persistent wickedness will serve as a living testimony to the depth of Jerusalem's depravity.
* **"and ye shall know that I have not done without cause all that I have done in it":** This is the core revelation. The observation of the survivors' unrepentant sin will lead the exiles to a profound realization: God's devastating judgment upon Jerusalem was not arbitrary, unjust, or "without cause." Every action God took against the city was perfectly warranted by its inhabitants' persistent rebellion and idolatry. This knowledge vindicates God's righteousness and removes any doubt about His character.
* **"saith the Lord GOD.":** This is a common prophetic formula, `nᵉʼum` (H5002) `ʼĂdônây` (H136) `Yᵉhôvih` (H3069), which emphatically authenticates the message as a direct, authoritative word from the sovereign God of Israel. It underscores the divine origin and certainty of the prophecy.

#### Literary Devices
The verse employs several significant literary devices. **Irony** is prominent in the use of "comfort," as the comfort comes not from relief from suffering, but from the grim realization of the depth of sin that necessitated such suffering. This is a comfort of understanding and vindication, rather than solace. The phrase "ways and doings" is a form of **Merism**, using two related terms to encompass the totality of human conduct, both habitual patterns and specific actions. The entire statement functions as a declaration of **Divine Vindication**, where God explicitly justifies His actions to His people, removing any accusation of arbitrary punishment. Finally, the concluding phrase, "saith the Lord GOD," is a powerful **Divine Speech Formula**, a recurring literary marker in prophetic literature that authenticates the message as direct revelation from Yahweh, emphasizing His authority and sovereignty.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Ezekiel 14:23 powerfully articulates the fundamental biblical truth that God's judgments are always righteous, purposeful, and a direct response to human sin, never arbitrary or "without cause." This verse underscores God's unwavering commitment to His own holiness and justice, demonstrating that His character necessitates a response to persistent rebellion. The "comfort" offered is a theological one: the assurance that the Sovereign Lord is just in all His ways, even when His actions are severe and painful. This understanding is crucial for a people grappling with national catastrophe, preventing despair and fostering a renewed trust in God's perfect governance. It highlights that true peace often comes from embracing God's truth, even when that truth exposes uncomfortable realities about sin and its consequences.

* [Deuteronomy 32:4](/deuteronomy/32-4 "Deuteronomy 32:4 - God's Perfect Justice")
* [Psalm 9:7-8](/psalm/9-7 "Psalm 9:7-8 - The Lord Judges Righteously")
* [Romans 2:5](/romans/2-5 "Romans 2:5 - God's Righteous Judgment")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Ezekiel 14:23 serves as a profound reminder that God's dealings with humanity are always rooted in perfect justice and divine purpose. In a world that often questions God's goodness in the face of suffering, this verse provides a crucial anchor: His actions are never arbitrary. For us today, it calls for a deep trust in God's character, even when His ways are beyond our full comprehension. It challenges us to move beyond superficial understandings of comfort and to find true solace in the unwavering truth of God's righteousness. Furthermore, it compels us to honestly examine our own "ways and doings," recognizing that rebellion against God, whether individual or corporate, inevitably carries consequences. The "comfort" we seek should not be an escape from reality, but a profound peace that comes from aligning ourselves with God's just and holy will, understanding that His judgments, though severe, are always a testament to His perfect character and His desire for our ultimate good.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **In what areas of my life might I be questioning God's justice or purpose, and how can the truth of Ezekiel 14:23 help me trust His character more fully?**
* **How does witnessing the consequences of sin, in myself or others, lead to a deeper understanding and appreciation of God's righteousness?**
* **What does it mean to find "comfort" not in the absence of pain, but in the vindication of God's truth and justice?**

### FAQ
**What kind of "comfort" is being described in Ezekiel 14:23?**

Answer: The "comfort" (Hebrew, _nâcham_) in this verse is not emotional solace or relief from grief in the typical sense. Instead, it refers to the profound intellectual and spiritual relief that comes from understanding and accepting the righteousness of God's judgment. When the Jewish exiles in Babylon would see the continued wicked "ways and doings" of the survivors from Jerusalem, they would realize that God's severe judgment upon the city was entirely justified and not arbitrary. This understanding would remove any lingering doubts about God's fairness or goodness, thus bringing a form of vindicating "comfort" or assurance of His perfect justice. It's the comfort of knowing that God is always right, even when His actions are devastating.

**Why does God need to justify His actions to the exiles?**

Answer: God, being perfectly just and sovereign, does not inherently "need" to justify Himself to humanity. However, in His gracious condescension, He often reveals the reasons for His actions to His people, especially during times of immense suffering and confusion. The exiles were likely struggling with profound theological questions: Why did God allow Jerusalem, His holy city, and the Temple to be destroyed? Was He weak? Was He unjust? Was He unfaithful to His covenant promises? By explaining that the survivors' continued sin would provide visible proof of Jerusalem's deep depravity, God was preempting these doubts and affirming His own righteous character. This revelation was crucial for maintaining the exiles' faith and trust in Yahweh amidst their national catastrophe, preventing them from concluding that God had acted "without cause" (H2600). This divine self-vindication is a recurring theme in Ezekiel, such as in [Ezekiel 36:22-23](/ezekiel/36-22 "Ezekiel 36:22-23 - God's Name Vindicated").

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Ezekiel 14:23, with its emphasis on God's perfect justice and the vindication of His actions, finds its ultimate and most profound fulfillment in the person and work of Jesus Christ. While the Old Testament often reveals God's justice through judgment upon sin, the New Testament reveals how God's justice is perfectly satisfied and His righteousness vindicated through the atoning sacrifice of His Son. On the cross, Jesus, the [Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world](/john/1-29 "John 1:29 - Jesus, the Lamb of God"), bore the full weight of God's righteous judgment against humanity's "ways and doings" (cf. [Isaiah 53:5-6](/isaiah/53-5 "Isaiah 53:5-6 - The Suffering Servant")). Through His death, God demonstrated that He is both "just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus" ([Romans 3:26](/romans/3-26 "Romans 3:26 - God's Righteousness Revealed")). The "comfort" offered in Ezekiel 14:23—the assurance that God's actions are "without cause"—is surpassed by the ultimate comfort found in Christ: the knowledge that God's wrath against sin has been fully appeased, and reconciliation is now possible for all who believe ([2 Corinthians 5:18-19](/2_corinthians/5-18 "2 Corinthians 5:18-19 - Ministry of Reconciliation")). In Christ, we see God's perfect justice met with perfect love, offering not just an intellectual understanding of His righteousness, but a transformative peace that transcends all understanding ([Philippians 4:7](/philippians/4-7 "Philippians 4:7 - The Peace of God")).

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

Jeremiah 22:8

And many nations shall pass by this city, and they shall say every man to his neighbour, Wherefore hath the LORD done thus unto this great city?

Jeremiah 22:9

Then they shall answer, Because they have forsaken the covenant of the LORD their God, and worshipped other gods, and served them.

Daniel 9:7

O Lord, righteousness [belongeth] unto thee, but unto us confusion of faces, as at this day; to the men of Judah, and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and unto all Israel, [that are] near, and [that are] far off, through all the countries whither thou hast driven them, because of their trespass that they have trespassed against thee.

Nehemiah 9:33

Howbeit thou [art] just in all that is brought upon us; for thou hast done right, but we have done wickedly:

Ezekiel 9:8

And it came to pass, while they were slaying them, and I was left, that I fell upon my face, and cried, and said, Ah Lord GOD! wilt thou destroy all the residue of Israel in thy pouring out of thy fury upon Jerusalem?

Ezekiel 9:9

Then said he unto me, The iniquity of the house of Israel and Judah [is] exceeding great, and the land is full of blood, and the city full of perverseness: for they say, The LORD hath forsaken the earth, and the LORD seeth not.

Proverbs 26:2

¶ As the bird by wandering, as the swallow by flying, so the curse causeless shall not come.