Ezekiel 21:29

KJV

Whiles they see vanity unto thee, whiles they divine a lie unto thee, to bring thee upon the necks of [them that are] slain, of the wicked, whose day is come, when their iniquity [shall have] an end.

KJV (with Strong's)

Whiles they see {H2372} vanity {H7723} unto thee, whiles they divine {H7080} a lie {H3577} unto thee, to bring {H5414} thee upon the necks {H6677} of them that are slain {H2491}, of the wicked {H7563}, whose day {H3117} is come {H935}, when {H6256} their iniquity {H5771} shall have an end {H7093}.

Complete Jewish Bible

while [your prophets] produce false visions for you, while they divine lies for you to lay you out upon the necks of the wicked who are to be killed, whose day has come, at the time of final punishment.

Berean Standard Bible

while they offer false visions for you and lying divinations about you— to be placed on the necks of the wicked who are slain, whose day has come, the time of their final punishment.

American Standard Version

while they see for thee false visions, while they divine lies unto thee, to lay thee upon the necks of the wicked that are deadly wounded, whose day is come in the time of the iniquity of the end.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Ezekiel 21:29 delivers a severe divine indictment against the false prophets and diviners in Judah who offered deceptive assurances of peace and security, directly contradicting God's warnings of imminent judgment. This verse starkly exposes the spiritual peril of embracing falsehood over divine truth, asserting that such deceit would inevitably lead the people, particularly the wicked, to utter defeat and destruction. It underscores the certainty of God's appointed time for righteous judgment, when the full measure of human iniquity would inevitably reach its divinely determined end, bringing about inescapable consequences.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Ezekiel 21:29 is strategically placed within a profound and terrifying series of prophecies concerning God's impending judgment upon Judah and Jerusalem, delivered through the prophet Ezekiel. The entire chapter is dominated by the powerful and relentless imagery of the "sword of the Lord," a vivid metaphor for the Babylonian army, which God Himself wields as an instrument of His righteous wrath. The preceding verses (Ezekiel 21:1-28) meticulously detail the sharpening and unleashing of this divine sword against Jerusalem and the land of Israel, emphasizing the comprehensive and indiscriminate nature of the coming destruction. Within this grim pronouncement, verse 29 specifically turns to condemn the false prophets and diviners—those described as seeing "vanity" and divining "a lie." Their deceptive assurances directly contradicted God's clear and urgent warnings, thereby hardening the hearts of the people, fostering a false sense of security, and ultimately preventing the repentance that might have averted catastrophe. This verse serves as a direct and scathing rebuke to those who offered hollow comfort where God had declared certain judgment, powerfully reinforcing the inevitability of the coming desolation.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The prophecies contained in Ezekiel 21 were delivered during a profoundly tumultuous period in Judah's history, specifically following the first Babylonian deportation in 597 BC but prior to the final, devastating destruction of Jerusalem in 586 BC. At this time, Judah existed as a precarious vassal state under Babylonian dominion. Within Jerusalem, powerful factions, including a significant number of prophets and diviners, actively advocated for rebellion against Babylon, assuring the populace of divine protection and miraculous deliverance. This message stood in direct opposition to the true prophets, such as Jeremiah and Ezekiel, who faithfully urged submission to Babylon as God's instrument of judgment and passionately called for national repentance. In the broader ancient Near East, divination was a widespread and accepted practice, with various methods employed to discern the will of the gods or predict future events. False prophets and soothsayers, often driven by a desire for popularity, financial gain, or political influence, frequently told people what they wished to hear rather than the challenging and often unpopular truth of God's word. Ezekiel 21:29 exposes the spiritual bankruptcy and destructive nature of such practices, revealing that these "prophecies" were nothing more than self-serving lies that would lead the nation to utter ruin.
* **Key Themes:** This verse powerfully contributes to several overarching themes central to the book of Ezekiel and the broader prophetic tradition. Firstly, it highlights **Divine Judgment and Justice**, emphasizing that God is not indifferent to sin but will act decisively and righteously when the "day" of iniquity has fully come. This concept of a divinely appointed time for judgment, where God's patience reaches its limit, is a recurring motif throughout scripture, seen, for example, in God's declaration to Abraham that the iniquity of the Amorites was [not yet full](/genesis/15-16 "Genesis 15:16 - The Iniquity of the Amorites"). Secondly, the verse underscores the profound **Peril of False Prophecy and Deception**. The "vanity" and "lie" spoken by these diviners represent a grave spiritual danger, as they actively prevent people from acknowledging their sin, embracing truth, and seeking genuine repentance. This critical theme is echoed throughout the prophetic books, notably in the warnings against those who prophesy lies in God's name, as found in [Jeremiah 14:14](/jeremiah/14-14 "Jeremiah 14:14 - False Prophets and Deceptive Visions"). Finally, the graphic imagery of being brought "upon the necks of them that are slain" vividly portrays the **Certainty of Consequence** for unrepentant wickedness. It signifies utter defeat, subjugation, and a humiliating end, demonstrating that God's word, whether of warning or promise, will inevitably come to pass, and those who defy Him will face the full brunt of His righteous wrath.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS

#### Key Word Analysis
* **Vanity (Hebrew, _shâvᵉʼ'_):** From H7723, this word denotes emptiness, falsehood, or worthlessness. It describes something that is deceptive, unsubstantial, and leads inevitably to ruin. In Ezekiel 21:29, it powerfully highlights the utterly hollow and misleading nature of the false prophecies that offered no true hope, guidance, or spiritual substance, but only an illusion of peace and security.
* **Divine (Hebrew, _qâçam'_):** From H7080, this primitive root means to distribute by lot or magical scroll, intrinsically implying the practice of divination or soothsaying. It refers to the illicit, often pagan, and condemned methods used by these individuals to predict the future or gain forbidden knowledge, practices that God explicitly prohibited for His people (e.g., [Deuteronomy 18:10-12](/deuteronomy/18-10-12 "Deuteronomy 18:10-12 - Abominations of the Nations")). Here, it emphasizes the illegitimate and deceptive source from which their pronouncements originated.
* **Iniquity (Hebrew, _ʻâvôn'_):** From H5771, this comprehensive term signifies perversity, moral evil, or sin. Crucially, it can also refer to the punishment or consequence that results directly from such sin. In this context, the phrase "their iniquity shall have an end" indicates that the accumulated moral evil, rebellion, and persistent sin of the wicked have reached their full, divinely appointed measure, thereby triggering the inevitable divine judgment and its associated, unavoidable consequences.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"Whiles they see vanity unto thee,"**: This clause refers to the false prophets and diviners who claimed to "see" visions or revelations (H2372, _châzâh_) for Judah. However, these purported insights are explicitly revealed as "vanity" (H7723, _shâvᵉʼ_), meaning they are utterly empty, false, and worthless. They are not derived from God's truth but are deceptive illusions, meticulously crafted or self-generated to mislead the people.
* **"whiles they divine a lie unto thee,"**: This phrase further elaborates on the deceptive practices, stating that these individuals "divine" (H7080, _qâçam_) or engage in illicit soothsaying, but their pronouncements are unequivocally a "lie" (H3577, _kâzâb_). This emphasizes the deliberate, calculated, and malicious nature of their falsehoods, which stand in direct and defiant opposition to God's revealed truth and His solemn warnings.
* **"to bring thee upon the necks of [them that are] slain, of the wicked,"**: This powerful and grim phrase describes the tragic and inevitable outcome of believing and acting upon the false prophecies. The deceitful assurances would ultimately lead the people of Judah, particularly the "wicked" (H7563, _râshâʻ_), to a state of utter defeat, subjugation, and destruction. The vivid imagery of being "upon the necks" (H6677, _tsavvâʼr_) of "them that are slain" (H2491, _châlâl_) is a potent idiom for complete conquest, overwhelming defeat, and profound humiliation, where the victorious conqueror symbolically treads upon the fallen enemy, signifying a devastating and ignominious end.
* **"whose day is come, when their iniquity [shall have] an end."**: This final clause underscores the certainty, precision, and divine timing of the impending judgment. The "day" (H3117, _yôwm_) of the wicked has "come" (H935, _bôwʼ_), meaning their divinely appointed time for reckoning and retribution has irrevocably arrived. This is specifically linked to the moment "when their iniquity" (H5771, _ʻâvôn_), representing the accumulated measure of their sin and rebellion, "shall have an end" (H7093, _qêts_), indicating that the full limit of their moral evil has been reached, thereby triggering the inevitable and decisive divine intervention.

#### Literary Devices
Ezekiel 21:29 is profoundly rich in **Vivid Imagery**, particularly evident in the chilling phrase "upon the necks of them that are slain," which powerfully conveys the abject defeat, humiliation, and utter destruction awaiting those who trust in falsehood. This graphic depiction functions as a form of **Hyperbole**, amplifying the totality and severity of the coming devastation. There is also a profound and tragic **Irony** at play: the false prophets, who claim to offer visions of peace, security, and deliverance, are ironically leading their trusting audience directly into the path of destruction and death. Their "vanity" and "lie" are not merely empty words but become instruments of doom. The concept of "whose day is come" functions as a potent **Metaphor** for a divinely appointed, inescapable time of reckoning, where the "day" represents the culmination of God's long-suffering patience and the decisive unleashing of His righteous judgment. This also hints at **Personification**, as the "day" itself seems to arrive with an active, predetermined purpose, bringing about the inevitable end.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Ezekiel 21:29 profoundly illustrates God's unwavering commitment to justice, truth, and His own holy character, revealing His absolute abhorrence for deception, especially when it deceptively masquerades as divine revelation. It underscores the critical theological principle that while God is infinitely patient and merciful, there is a divinely appointed limit to human rebellion, persistent sin, and accumulated iniquity. When that limit is reached, judgment is not merely a possibility but a certainty, an inevitable and righteous consequence of prolonged defiance. This verse serves as a stark and timeless reminder that true spiritual leadership and genuine prophetic ministry must always align unequivocally with God's revealed truth, regardless of how unpopular, challenging, or counter-cultural that truth may be. To offer false comfort, to deny the pervasive reality of sin, or to obscure the necessity of repentance is to actively participate in the very deception that leads to spiritual and physical destruction. The judgment described here is not arbitrary or capricious but is a righteous and just response to a people who have repeatedly rejected God's loving warnings and defiantly embraced lies.

* [Deuteronomy 18:20-22](/deuteronomy/18-20-22 "Identifying a False Prophet")
* [Jeremiah 23:16-17](/jeremiah/23-16-17 "Warnings Against False Prophets")
* [Romans 2:5-6](/romans/2-5-6 "God's Righteous Judgment")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Ezekiel 21:29 offers a timeless and profoundly sobering lesson for believers today, emphasizing the critical and ongoing importance of spiritual discernment in a world saturated with competing voices, ideologies, and messages. We are called to be vigilant, actively testing every spirit, every teaching, and every claim against the unchanging, authoritative truth of God's Word, rather than being swayed by what is popular, superficially comforting, or appealing to our fleshly desires. This verse powerfully reminds us that genuine spiritual health and growth require a courageous willingness to confront uncomfortable truths about sin and its inevitable consequences, rather than seeking out those who "divine a lie" or promise an easy, consequence-free path. It challenges us to critically reflect on the sources of our spiritual guidance and to ensure that our hope, faith, and security are anchored solely in the unvarnished reality of God's character—His holiness, His justice, His unwavering commitment to truth, and His ultimate sovereignty—rather than in empty assurances or deceptive narratives. Ultimately, it calls us to a posture of profound humility and ongoing repentance, recognizing that while God's patience is immense, it does have a limit, and His perfect justice will ultimately prevail.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **In what areas of my life might I be prone to accepting "vanity" or "a lie" instead of embracing God's challenging, transformative truth?**
* **How do I actively practice spiritual discernment to test the messages, teachings, and influences I encounter, both within and outside the church?**
* **What does the phrase "their iniquity shall have an end" imply about God's character, and how should this understanding shape my perspective on His patience, justice, and holiness?**
* **Considering the devastating consequences faced by those who believed the false prophets, what is my responsibility as a believer to speak God's truth, even when it is unpopular, difficult, or costly?**

### FAQ
**Who are "they" who "see vanity" and "divine a lie" in this verse?**

Answer: "They" refers to the false prophets and diviners operating within Judah and Jerusalem during Ezekiel's time who were actively misleading the people. These individuals claimed to possess divine insight or prophetic revelations, but their messages were not genuinely from God. Instead, they offered deceptive assurances of peace, security, and deliverance, directly contradicting the true prophets like Ezekiel and Jeremiah, who were faithfully delivering God's warnings of impending judgment and calls to repentance. Their pronouncements were rooted in their own imaginations, self-interest, or illicit divinatory practices, rather than being inspired by the Spirit of the Lord.

**What does "whose day is come, when their iniquity shall have an end" mean for the wicked?**

Answer: This phrase signifies a divinely appointed and inescapable time of reckoning for the wicked. "Whose day is come" refers to the specific moment when God's immense patience with their accumulated sin (their "iniquity") has reached its divinely determined limit. It means that their persistent rebellion, moral corruption, and rejection of God's repeated warnings have reached a tipping point, triggering the inevitable divine judgment. It is not an arbitrary act but a just and righteous response to the full measure of their unrepentant sin, ensuring that evil and defiance will not continue indefinitely without consequence. This concept is seen elsewhere in scripture, such as when God tells Abraham that the iniquity of the Amorites was [not yet full](/genesis/15-16 "Genesis 15:16 - The Full Measure of Iniquity") before their judgment.

**How does this verse relate to God's love and mercy?**

Answer: While Ezekiel 21:29 focuses intensely on judgment, it implicitly highlights God's justice, which is an intrinsic attribute of His perfect love. God's love is not merely sentimental or permissive; it is holy, righteous, and demands justice. His judgment on iniquity, especially that which leads His people astray and prevents their repentance, demonstrates His unwavering commitment to righteousness and His ultimate desire for a just and holy world. The fact that there is a specific "day" when iniquity "shall have an end" implies a preceding period of immense patience and mercy during which repentance was possible and repeatedly offered. God consistently sent prophets to warn His people and call them back to Himself, as seen in [2 Chronicles 36:15-16](/2_chronicles/36-15-16 "2 Chronicles 36:15-16 - God's Compassion and Warning"). The judgment, therefore, is a sorrowful but necessary consequence of persistent rejection of His loving warnings and a deliberate embrace of destructive falsehoods.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Ezekiel 21:29, with its stark portrayal of divine judgment against false prophecy and unrepentant iniquity, finds its ultimate Christ-centered fulfillment in several profound and redemptive ways. Firstly, Jesus Christ stands as the **True Prophet** (cf. [Deuteronomy 18:15](/deuteronomy/18-15 "The Prophet Like Moses")), the very embodiment of truth who never "sees vanity" or "divines a lie." He consistently spoke the unvarnished truth of God, calling all people to genuine repentance and fearlessly exposing the spiritual blindness and hypocrisy of those who clung to self-deception and false religious systems (e.g., [Matthew 23:13-36](/matthew/23 "Matthew 23 - Woes to the Scribes and Pharisees")). His incarnation and ministry marked the definitive end of the era where humanity groped for truth amidst a cacophony of false voices; in Him, the ultimate and definitive word of God was spoken to humanity ([Hebrews 1:1-2](/hebrews/1-1-2 "Hebrews 1:1-2 - God Has Spoken Through His Son")).

Secondly, the "day" when "their iniquity shall have an end" points forward to Christ's supreme role as the **ultimate and righteous Judge**. While Ezekiel describes a temporal judgment on Judah, the New Testament reveals that all humanity will ultimately face the righteous judgment of Christ, who will bring every hidden thing to light and render justice according to truth ([John 5:22](/john/5-22 "John 5:22 - The Son as Judge"); [Romans 2:16](/romans/2-16 "Romans 2:16 - God Judges Through Christ Jesus")). His first coming inaugurated the "day of salvation" ([2 Corinthians 6:2](/2_corinthians/6-2 "2 Corinthians 6:2 - The Day of Salvation")), offering a gracious way for iniquity to be forgiven and atoned for, rather than punished, through His perfect and atoning sacrifice on the cross ([Isaiah 53:5-6](/isaiah/53-5-6 "Isaiah 53:5-6 - Christ's Atoning Sacrifice")). For those who reject this divine offer of grace, His glorious second coming will be the definitive "day" when all unrepentant iniquity will indeed "have an end," and His eternal kingdom of perfect righteousness will be fully and finally established ([Revelation 20:11-15](/revelation/20-11-15 "Revelation 20:11-15 - The Great White Throne Judgment")). Thus, Christ fulfills both the righteous judgment against sin and the merciful provision for its ultimate eradication, offering salvation to those who believe and just condemnation to those who persist in their iniquity.

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

Ezekiel 21:25

And thou, profane wicked prince of Israel, whose day is come, when iniquity [shall have] an end,

Ezekiel 22:28

And her prophets have daubed them with untempered [morter], seeing vanity, and divining lies unto them, saying, Thus saith the Lord GOD, when the LORD hath not spoken.

Jeremiah 27:9

Therefore hearken not ye to your prophets, nor to your diviners, nor to your dreamers, nor to your enchanters, nor to your sorcerers, which speak unto you, saying, Ye shall not serve the king of Babylon:

Psalms 37:13

The Lord shall laugh at him: for he seeth that his day is coming.

Ezekiel 13:10

¶ Because, even because they have seduced my people, saying, Peace; and [there was] no peace; and one built up a wall, and, lo, others daubed it with untempered [morter]:

Ezekiel 13:23

Therefore ye shall see no more vanity, nor divine divinations: for I will deliver my people out of your hand: and ye shall know that I [am] the LORD.

Ezekiel 13:6

They have seen vanity and lying divination, saying, The LORD saith: and the LORD hath not sent them: and they have made [others] to hope that they would confirm the word.