Ezekiel 20:49
<< Ezekiel 20:49 >>
New International Version (©1984)
Then I said, "Ah, Sovereign LORD! They are saying of me, 'Isn't he just telling parables?'"

New Living Translation (©2007)
Then I said, "O Sovereign LORD, they are saying of me, 'He only talks in riddles!'"

English Standard Version (©2001)
Then I said, “Ah, Lord GOD! They are saying of me, ‘Is he not a maker of parables?’”

New American Standard Bible (©1995)
Then I said, "Ah Lord GOD! They are saying of me, 'Is he not just speaking parables?'"

King James Bible (Cambridge Ed.)
Then said I, Ah Lord GOD! they say of me, Doth he not speak parables?

GOD'S WORD® Translation (©1995)
Then I said, "Oh no! Almighty LORD, no! The people already say that I'm only telling stories."

King James 2000 Bible (©2003)
Then said I, Ah Lord GOD! they say of me, Does he not speak parables?

American King James Version
Then said I, Ah Lord GOD! they say of me, Does he not speak parables?

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

Douay-Rheims Bible
And I said: Ah, ah, ah, O Lord God: they say of me: Doth not this man speak by parables?

Darby Bible Translation
And I said, Ah, Lord Jehovah! they say of me, Doth he not speak parables?

English Revised Version
Then said I, Ah Lord GOD! they say of me, Is he not a speaker of parables?

Webster's Bible Translation
Then said I, Ah Lord GOD! they say of me, Doth he not speak parables?

World English Bible
Then I said, Ah Lord Yahweh! they say of me, Isn't he a speaker of parables?

Young's Literal Translation
And I say, 'Ah, Lord Jehovah, They are saying of me, Is he not using similes?

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

Parables - Compare Ezekiel 17:2. The meaning of the prophet was clear enough, if those whom he addressed had chosen to understand.


Clarke's Commentary on the Bible

Ah Lord God - O my God, consider my situation; who will believe what I shall say? They put the evil day far from them.

Doth he not speak parables? - הלא ממשל משלים הוא halo memashshel meshalim hu, "Is not he a maker of parables?" Is it not his custom to deal in enigmas? His figures are not to be understood; we should not trouble ourselves with them. We are not obliged to fathom his meaning; and perhaps after all it does not refer to us, or will not be accomplished in our time, if it even respect the land. Thus they turned aside what might have done them good, and rejected the counsel of God against themselves.

By dividing the word with our neighbor we often lose the benefit both of threatenings and promises. They voluntarily shut their own eyes; and then God, in judgment, sealed them up in darkness.


Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible

Then said I, ah Lord God!.... The Septuagint version is, "by no means, Lord, Lord"; that is, let me not be sent on such an errand; at least, let it not be delivered in such figurative terms; or let not such a general calamity befall the people. The Targum is,

"receive my prayer, O Lord God;''

the prophet here either complains of the usage he had met with after delivering the above prophecy; or rather of what he had met with before, and which he expected again; and therefore desired either that he might be excused delivering the prophecy; or, however, that it might be delivered not in obscure and enigmatical terms, but in plain and easy ones:

they say of me, doth he not speak parables? as before, of a lion and her whelps; and of a vine, and its rods and branches, Ezekiel 19:1 and now here again, of a fire, and a forest, and trees of it, green and dry; things not easily understood, and so not attended to and regarded; as if they should say, this man brings us nothing but parables, riddles, and enigmas, and such sort of unintelligible stuff, not worth minding; and rather appears as a man delirious and mad than a prophet. Wherefore Ezekiel seems to desire that he might be sent to them with a message more plainly expressed; and which might excite their attention and regard, and not expose him to their ridicule and contempt; and accordingly we find it is explained and expressed in clearer terms in the next chapter.


Geneva Study Bible

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

(z) The people said that the prophet spoke darkly: therefore he desires the Lord to give them a plain declaration of it.


Wesley's Notes

20:49 Parables - So absolutely, that we cannot understand him.


Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

49. Ezekiel complains that by this parabolic form of prophecy he only makes himself and it a jest to his countrymen. God therefore in Eze 21:1-32 permits him to express the same prophecy more plainly.


Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary

20:45-49 Judah and Jerusalem had been full of people, as a forest of trees, but empty of fruit. God's word prophesies against those who bring not forth the fruits of righteousness. When He will ruin a nation, who or what can save it? The plainest truths were as parables to the people. It is common for those who will not be wrought upon by the word, to blame it.


Matthew 13:13 This is why I speak to them in parables: "Though seeing, they do not see; though hearing, they do not hear or understand.
John 16:25 "Though I have been speaking figuratively, a time is coming when I will no longer use this kind of language but will tell you plainly about my Father.
Ezekiel 4:14 Then I said, "Not so, Sovereign LORD! I have never defiled myself. From my youth until now I have never eaten anything found dead or torn by wild animals. No unclean meat has ever entered my mouth."
Ezekiel 12:9 "Son of man, did not that rebellious house of Israel ask you, 'What are you doing?'
Ezekiel 17:2 "Son of man, set forth an allegory and tell the house of Israel a parable.
Ezekiel 21:1 The word of the LORD came to me:
Ezekiel 24:3 Tell this rebellious house a parable and say to them: 'This is what the Sovereign LORD says: "'Put on the cooking pot; put it on and pour water into it.
Ezekiel 37:18 "When your countrymen ask you, 'Won't you tell us what you mean by this?'
Hosea 12:10 I spoke to the prophets, gave them many visions and told parables through them."

Ah Allegories He Maker Parables Similes Sovereign Speak Speaker Speaking Stories Telling Using


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

Doth. Is it not his usual custom to deal in enigmas? His figures are not to be understood; we should not trouble ourselves with them. God therefore commands the prophet to declare, in the next chapter, the same things in the plainest terms, so that they should not complain of his parables. Mt 13:13,14 Joh 16:25 Ac 17:18

Ezekiel Chapter 20 Verse 49

Alphabetical: Ah are GOD he I Is Isn't just LORD me not of parables' said saying Sovereign speaking telling Then They

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