Ezekiel 14

“Then came certain of the elders of Israel unto me, and sat before me.” Naming Israel keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And the word of the LORD came unto me, saying,” The line’s distinctive content terms include LORD, word. Its relationship to verses 1 and 3 shows what work it does in this passage.

“Son of man, these men have set up their idols in their heart, and put the stumblingblock of their iniquity before…” The question slows the passage down. Notice who is being pressed to answer, what the question assumes, and whether the next lines provide a response.

“Therefore speak unto them, and say unto them, Thus saith the Lord GOD ; Every man of the house of Israel that setteth…” This line supplies a reason, result, or conclusion. It should stay attached to the claim or action that gives it meaning.

“That I may take the house of Israel in their own heart, because they are all estranged from me through their idols.” Naming Israel keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“Therefore say unto the house of Israel, Thus saith the Lord GOD ; Repent, and turn yourselves from your idols; and…” This line supplies a reason, result, or conclusion. It should stay attached to the claim or action that gives it meaning.

“For every one of the house of Israel, or of the stranger that sojourneth in Israel, which separateth himself from me…” This line supplies a reason, result, or conclusion. It should stay attached to the claim or action that gives it meaning.

“And I will set my face against that man, and will make him a sign and a proverb, and I will cut him off from the midst…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“And if the prophet be deceived when he hath spoken a thing, I the LORD have deceived that prophet, and I will stretch…” Naming Israel keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And they shall bear the punishment of their iniquity: the punishment of the prophet shall be even as the punishment of…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“That the house of Israel may go no more astray from me, neither be polluted any more with all their transgressions…” Naming Israel keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“The word of the LORD came again to me, saying,” The line’s distinctive content terms include LORD, word. Its relationship to verses 11 and 13 shows what work it does in this passage.

“Son of man, when the land sinneth against me by trespassing grievously, then will I stretch out mine hand upon it, and…” Naming Son keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“Though these three men, Noah, Daniel, and Job, were in it, they should deliver but their own souls by their…” The number three makes the report concrete. Ask whether it measures time, people, distance, repetition, or completeness before deciding what weight it carries.

“If I cause noisome beasts to pass through the land, and they spoil it, so that it be desolate, that no man may pass…” The line’s distinctive content terms include beasts, cause, desolate. Its relationship to verses 14 and 16 shows what work it does in this passage.

“Though these three men were in it, as I live, saith the Lord GOD , they shall deliver neither sons nor daughters; they…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“Or if I bring a sword upon that land, and say, Sword, go through the land; so that I cut off man and beast from it:” Naming Sword keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“Though these three men were in it, as I live, saith the Lord GOD , they shall deliver neither sons nor daughters, but…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“Or if I send a pestilence into that land, and pour out my fury upon it in blood, to cut off from it man and beast:” The line’s distinctive content terms include beast, blood, fury. Its relationship to verses 18 and 20 shows what work it does in this passage.

“Though Noah, Daniel, and Job, were in it, as I live, saith the Lord GOD , they shall deliver neither son nor daughter…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“For thus saith the Lord GOD ; How much more when I send my four sore judgments upon Jerusalem, the sword, and the…” The question slows the passage down. Notice who is being pressed to answer, what the question assumes, and whether the next lines provide a response.

“Yet, behold, therein shall be left a remnant that shall be brought forth, both sons and daughters: behold, they shall…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“And they shall comfort you, when ye see their ways and their doings: and ye shall know that I have not done without…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.