Ezekiel 20:49

KJV

Then said I, Ah Lord GOD! they say of me, Doth he not speak parables?

KJV (with Strong's)

Then said {H559} I, Ah {H162} Lord {H136} GOD {H3069}! they say {H559} of me, Doth he not speak {H4911} parables {H4912}?

Complete Jewish Bible

I said, "Oh, Adonai ELOHIM! They complain that I speak only in parables."

Berean Standard Bible

Then I said, “Ah, Lord GOD, they are saying of me, ‘Is he not just telling parables?’”

American Standard Version

Then said I, Ah Lord Jehovah! they say of me, Is he not a speaker of parables?

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Ezekiel 20:49 captures the prophet Ezekiel's profound anguish and frustration as he laments to the Lord GOD about the dismissive attitude of the exiled Israelites. Despite delivering a powerful and urgent divine message of impending judgment, the people scoff at his words, trivializing them as mere "parables" or riddles, thereby evading the serious implications of God's truth and their need for repentance. This verse serves as a poignant conclusion to a significant prophetic discourse, highlighting the spiritual blindness and hardened hearts of the audience.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Ezekiel 20:49 immediately follows a vivid and unsettling prophecy delivered by God to Ezekiel in Ezekiel 20:46-48. In this passage, God instructs Ezekiel to "set thy face toward the south, and drop thy word toward the south, and prophesy against the forest of the south field." This "fire" that will consume "every green tree, and every dry tree" is a clear allegory for the impending, inescapable judgment on Jerusalem and Judah, which lies to the south of Ezekiel's location in Babylonian exile. The preceding chapters of Ezekiel 20 detail a long history of Israel's rebellion and God's consistent faithfulness despite their idolatry and disobedience, culminating in the declaration of judgment. Ezekiel, known for his dramatic symbolic actions and complex allegories (cf. [Ezekiel 4:1-3](/ezekiel/4-1 "Ezekiel's Symbolic Siege of Jerusalem") or [Ezekiel 12:1-7](/ezekiel/12-1 "Ezekiel's Symbolic Exile")), has just delivered this potent, albeit veiled, message. The people's response in verse 49 reveals their deep-seated skepticism and refusal to engage with the divine warnings, dismissing them as unintelligible stories rather than urgent, life-altering truth from God.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** Ezekiel prophesied during the Babylonian exile (c. 593-571 BC), ministering to a community of exiles who had already experienced the initial stages of God's judgment but still harbored false hopes of a swift return to Jerusalem and an avoidance of further destruction. Culturally, the people were accustomed to prophetic pronouncements, but often sought messages that affirmed their desires rather than challenged their sin. Prophets like Jeremiah had faced similar rejection in Jerusalem (cf. [Jeremiah 7:25-26](/jeremiah/7-25 "Israel's Rejection of the Prophets")). The exiles in Babylon, though removed from the immediate threat, were still spiritually resistant. They viewed Ezekiel, a priest turned prophet, with a mixture of curiosity and disdain, often finding his methods and messages perplexing or even absurd. Their accusation that he "speaks parables" was not an earnest request for clarification but a dismissive retort, a way to invalidate his authority and avoid the uncomfortable truth of God's impending judgment on Jerusalem, which they still clung to as inviolable.
* **Key Themes:** This verse encapsulates several profound theological and narrative themes central to the book of Ezekiel and prophetic literature broadly. Firstly, it highlights the **Prophetic Frustration and Burden** experienced by God's messengers. Ezekiel's cry, "Ah Lord GOD!", is a visceral expression of his deep anguish and exasperation, a common lament for prophets facing a hardened audience unwilling to receive God's word (cf. [Isaiah 6:9-10](/isaiah/6-9 "Isaiah's Commission to a Hardened People")). Secondly, it addresses the **Nature of Divine Communication**, particularly God's use of symbolic language, visions, and parables to convey profound truths. While designed to reveal, these methods can be perceived as obscure or nonsensical by those who are spiritually hardened or unwilling to listen, as seen in the people's reaction to Ezekiel's allegories of the two eagles and the vine (cf. [Ezekiel 17](/ezekiel/17 "Ezekiel 17 - Parable of the Eagles and the Vine")). Finally, the verse powerfully illustrates **Spiritual Blindness and Dismissal**. The people's accusation—"Doth he not speak parables?"—is not a genuine plea for understanding but a cynical excuse to ignore the severity of God's impending judgment. They prefer to trivialize the divine warnings, reducing them to mere riddles, rather than acknowledge their own sin and repent, demonstrating a profound inability or unwillingness to discern spiritual truth (cf. [John 9:39-41](/john/9-39 "Jesus on Spiritual Blindness")).

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **Ah (Hebrew, _ʼăhâhh'_):** This exclamation (H162) is a primitive word expressing intense pain, grief, or lament. It is an utterance of deep distress, akin to "Oh!" or "Alas!" In this context, it conveys Ezekiel's profound anguish and exasperation at the people's spiritual dullness and rejection of his divinely inspired message. It is a cry of a prophet burdened by the weight of God's word and the people's stubborn resistance.
* **Lord GOD (Hebrew, _ʼĂdônây Yᵉhôvih'_):** This is a significant divine appellation. **ʼĂdônây** (H136) is an emphatic form of "Lord," often used as a proper name for God, signifying His absolute sovereignty and mastership. **Yᵉhôvih** (H3069) is a variation of YHWH (the covenant name of God, often rendered "LORD" in English Bibles), specifically used after **ʼĂdônây** to avoid repeating the same sound (as Jews would pronounce YHWH as Adonai). The combination emphasizes God's supreme authority and His covenant faithfulness, to whom Ezekiel cries out in his distress. It underscores the divine origin and authority of the message being rejected.
* **speak parables (Hebrew, _mâshal mâshâl'_):** This phrase combines the verb **mâshal** (H4911), meaning "to liken," "to use figurative language," or "to utter," with the noun **mâshâl** (H4912), which refers to a "pithy maxim," "proverb," "allegory," or "riddle." The people's dismissive question, "Doth he not speak parables?", implies that Ezekiel's prophetic utterances are obscure, nonsensical, or merely entertaining stories, rather than direct, authoritative messages from God. They are using the complex nature of Ezekiel's prophetic style as an excuse to avoid the uncomfortable truth and severity of his warnings.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"Then said I, Ah Lord GOD!":** This opening clause reveals Ezekiel's immediate, anguished reaction to the divine commission and the anticipated response of the people. His cry of "Ah Lord GOD!" is a lament, expressing deep frustration and sorrow. It signifies his profound burden as God's messenger, knowing the difficulty of his task and the likely rejection from a spiritually hardened audience. It's a plea to God, acknowledging His sovereignty even in the face of human obstinacy.
* **"they say of me,":** This phrase introduces the direct accusation and dismissive attitude of the Israelites towards Ezekiel. It highlights their collective voice of skepticism and resistance. They are not merely questioning; they are making a statement of dismissal, indicating their refusal to take Ezekiel's words seriously as divine revelation.
* **"Doth he not speak parables?":** This rhetorical question is the crux of their dismissal. It's not a genuine inquiry but a cynical retort. By labeling Ezekiel's prophecies as mere "parables" or riddles, they attempt to invalidate his message and absolve themselves of the responsibility to heed God's warning. They are using the allegorical nature of his prophecies (like the "fire of the south field") as an excuse to ignore the impending judgment, preferring to see him as a storyteller rather than a prophet of doom.

#### Literary Devices
Ezekiel 20:49 is rich with literary devices that underscore its profound message. The prophet's opening cry, "**Ah Lord GOD!**," is a powerful **Lament**, an exclamation of deep sorrow and frustration, common in prophetic literature when faced with the people's stubbornness. This lament highlights the immense burden of the prophetic office. The people's response, "**Doth he not speak parables?**," is a cutting **Rhetorical Question**. It is not posed to elicit information but to convey a dismissive judgment, implying that Ezekiel's messages are obscure, irrelevant, or merely entertaining stories, thereby trivializing the divine word. There is also a strong element of **Irony** present; what the people dismiss as mere "parables" are, in fact, profound **Symbolism** and allegories from God, intended to convey urgent truth about impending judgment. Their spiritual blindness prevents them from seeing the profound reality behind the figurative language, turning what God intended as revelation into an excuse for rejection.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Ezekiel 20:49 profoundly illustrates the recurring biblical theme of human resistance to divine truth, especially when that truth is challenging or convicting. It highlights the prophet's unique and often painful role as God's mouthpiece, caught between the divine imperative to speak and the human propensity to reject. The people's dismissal of Ezekiel's words as mere "parables" reflects a deeper spiritual malady—a hardened heart unwilling to confront its sin and the consequences of disobedience. This resistance is not merely intellectual but volitional, a deliberate choice to remain ignorant rather than repent. This dynamic underscores God's persistent grace in sending messengers, even when He knows they will be rejected, and the grave responsibility of those who hear His word to discern and obey it.

* [Jeremiah 7:25-26](/jeremiah/7-25 "Jeremiah 7:25-26 - Israel's Disobedience to the Prophets")
* [Isaiah 6:9-10](/isaiah/6-9 "Isaiah 6:9-10 - Isaiah's Commission and Hardened Hearts")
* [Matthew 13:13-15](/matthew/13-13 "Matthew 13:13-15 - Why Jesus Spoke in Parables")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Ezekiel 20:49 serves as a timeless reminder of the challenges inherent in receiving and delivering God's truth. For those who hear God's word today, whether through Scripture, preaching, or prophetic insight, this verse calls for profound humility and discernment. It cautions against the temptation to dismiss challenging truths as irrelevant, obscure, or merely metaphorical, especially when they confront our comfort zones or expose our sin. Instead, we are called to lean in, to seek understanding, and to allow God's word, in all its forms, to penetrate our hearts and transform our lives. For those called to share God's truth, Ezekiel's lament resonates deeply, reminding us that rejection is often part of the prophetic calling, yet perseverance in faithfulness to the message is paramount, trusting that God's word, though sometimes veiled, will ultimately accomplish His purpose.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **In what ways might I be tempted to dismiss or intellectualize challenging truths from God's Word, rather than allowing them to convict and transform me?**
* **How can I cultivate a heart of greater spiritual discernment to understand God's messages, even when they are conveyed through less direct or more symbolic means?**
* **If I am called to share God's truth, how does Ezekiel's frustration encourage me to persevere despite potential rejection or misunderstanding from my audience?**
* **What specific "parables" or challenging truths from Scripture might I be overlooking or trivializing in my own life, and what might God be calling me to do about them?**

### FAQ
**Why did the people of Israel dismiss Ezekiel's messages as "parables"?**

Answer: The people dismissed Ezekiel's messages as "parables" (Hebrew: *māshāl*) not because they were genuinely seeking clarity, but as a cynical excuse to avoid the uncomfortable truth. Ezekiel often used elaborate allegories, symbolic actions, and riddles (e.g., the parable of the two eagles and the vine in [Ezekiel 17](/ezekiel/17 "Ezekiel 17 - Parable of the Eagles and the Vine")) to convey God's complex messages of judgment and restoration. For a people spiritually hardened and resistant to repentance, these complex forms of communication provided a convenient pretext to label his words as obscure, nonsensical, or mere entertainment, thereby avoiding the personal responsibility of heeding God's urgent warnings about their sin and impending doom for Jerusalem. It was a form of spiritual evasion.

**Was it common for prophets to speak in "parables" or symbolic language?**

Answer: Yes, it was very common for Old Testament prophets to use symbolic language, vivid imagery, allegories, and even dramatic symbolic actions to convey God's messages. This was a powerful way to capture attention and communicate profound spiritual truths that might otherwise be ignored. For example, Isaiah walked naked and barefoot for three years as a sign against Egypt and Cush ([Isaiah 20:2-4](/isaiah/20-2 "Isaiah's Symbolic Action Against Egypt and Cush")), and Jeremiah wore a yoke to symbolize the coming Babylonian servitude ([Jeremiah 27:2-7](/jeremiah/27-2 "Jeremiah's Yoke of Servitude")). While Jesus later used parables to both reveal and conceal truth ([Matthew 13:10-15](/matthew/13-10 "Why Jesus Spoke in Parables")), in Ezekiel's context, the people's complaint about "parables" was a sign of their spiritual resistance, not an inherent flaw in God's chosen method of communication.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Ezekiel 20:49, with its depiction of a prophet rejected and his divine messages dismissed as mere "parables," finds profound resonance and ultimate fulfillment in the person and ministry of Jesus Christ. Jesus, the ultimate Prophet, repeatedly spoke in parables, often to reveal truth to those with "ears to hear" and to conceal it from those whose hearts were hardened, fulfilling the very prophetic pattern seen in Ezekiel (cf. [Matthew 13:10-17](/matthew/13-10 "Jesus Explains His Use of Parables")). Just as Ezekiel's audience dismissed his warnings, so too did many of Jesus' contemporaries, particularly the religious leaders, reject His clear teachings and miraculous signs, often accusing Him of being a deceiver or demon-possessed ([John 7:12](/john/7-12 "Debate About Jesus") and [Matthew 12:24](/matthew/12-24 "Pharisees Accuse Jesus")). The anguish of Ezekiel, crying "Ah Lord GOD!" over the people's spiritual blindness, foreshadows the lament of Jesus over Jerusalem, "O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to it!" ([Matthew 23:37](/matthew/23-37 "Jesus' Lament Over Jerusalem")). Ultimately, the "fire" of judgment that Ezekiel prophesied found its ultimate expression in the fiery judgment against sin that Jesus bore on the cross, becoming the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world ([John 1:29](/john/1-29 "John 1:29 - Jesus, the Lamb of God")), thereby offering a path to salvation for those who would no longer dismiss His truth but embrace it. His life, death, and resurrection are the ultimate divine message, often misunderstood and rejected, yet eternally potent and salvific for all who believe ([John 3:16-18](/john/3-16 "John 3:16-18 - God So Loved the World")).

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

John 16:25

These things have I spoken unto you in proverbs: but the time cometh, when I shall no more speak unto you in proverbs, but I shall shew you plainly of the Father.

Ezekiel 17:2

Son of man, put forth a riddle, and speak a parable unto the house of Israel;

Acts 17:18

Then certain philosophers of the Epicureans, and of the Stoicks, encountered him. And some said, What will this babbler say? other some, He seemeth to be a setter forth of strange gods: because he preached unto them Jesus, and the resurrection.

Matthew 13:13

Therefore speak I to them in parables: because they seeing see not; and hearing they hear not, neither do they understand.

Matthew 13:14

And in them is fulfilled the prophecy of Esaias, which saith, By hearing ye shall hear, and shall not understand; and seeing ye shall see, and shall not perceive: