Ezekiel 21:29

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.

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}.

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.

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

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

Context

Ezekiel 21 is part of a series of prophecies concerning God's impending judgment on Judah and Jerusalem, primarily through the invading Babylonian army. The chapter vividly describes the "sword of the Lord" as an instrument of divine wrath, a theme introduced earlier in Ezekiel 21:3. Verse 29 specifically addresses the false prophets and diviners who misled the people of Judah, assuring them of peace and security when severe judgment was at their doorstep. This deception prevented repentance and hastened their downfall.

Key Themes

  • Divine Judgment and Justice: The verse underscores God's unwavering commitment to justice. The phrase "whose day is come, when their iniquity shall have an end" signifies a divinely appointed time when the accumulated sin of the wicked reaches its limit, triggering inevitable consequences. This echoes themes found in Genesis 15:16 regarding the Amorites.
  • The Peril of False Prophecy: A central theme is the condemnation of those who "see vanity unto thee" and "divine a lie." These false assurances from spiritual leaders lulled the people into a false sense of security, making them unprepared for the coming destruction. This danger of misleading spiritual guidance is a recurring warning in scripture, as seen in Jeremiah 14:14.
  • The Certainty of Consequence: The imagery of being brought "upon the necks of them that are slain" portrays utter defeat and destruction. It emphasizes that the wicked will face the full brunt of God's judgment once their sin has run its course.

Linguistic Insights

  • The Hebrew word for "vanity" here is shav (ืฉืึธื•ึฐื), meaning emptiness, falsehood, or worthlessness. It highlights the deceptive and unsubstantial nature of the false prophecies.
  • "Divine a lie" comes from the Hebrew qesem kazav (ืงึถืกึถื ื›ึผึธื–ึธื‘), which literally means "divination of falsehood." This emphasizes the deliberate and calculated nature of their deceit.
  • The phrase "upon the necks of them that are slain" is a vivid idiom for complete subjugation and overwhelming defeat, where the conqueror treads upon the fallen enemy.

Practical Application

This verse offers timeless lessons for believers today:

  • Discernment is Crucial: In a world filled with conflicting messages, this verse reminds us of the critical importance of spiritual discernment. We must test what we hear against the unchanging truth of God's Word (1 John 4:1) and not be swayed by empty promises or false assurances.
  • God's Justice is Sure: While God is patient and longs for repentance, there is a limit to human iniquity. This serves as a sober warning that persistent rebellion against God's ways will ultimately lead to judgment, even if delayed.
  • Consequences of Deception: The verse highlights the tragic outcome for those who rely on false assurances rather than facing the truth of their spiritual condition. It urges us to seek genuine repentance and reconciliation with God, acknowledging the reality of sin and its consequences.
Note: If the commentary doesnโ€™t appear instantly, please allow 2โ€“5 seconds for it to load. It is generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash using a prompt focused on Biblical fidelity over bias. While the insights have been consistently reliable, we encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit.

Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated โ€” the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • Ezekiel 21:25 (5 votes)

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

  • Ezekiel 22:28 (4 votes)

    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 (3 votes)

    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 (3 votes)

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

  • Ezekiel 13:10 (2 votes)

    ยถ 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 (2 votes)

    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 (2 votes)

    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.