Son of man, what is that proverb that ye have in the land of Israel, saying, The days are prolonged, and every vision faileth?
Parallel translations
- WEB “Son of man, what is this proverb that you have in the land of Israel, saying, ‘The days are prolonged, and every vision fails?’
- BSB “Son of man, what is this proverb that you have in the land of Israel: ‘The days go by, and every vision fails’?
- NKJV “Son of man, what is this proverb that you people have about the land of Israel, which says, ‘The days are prolonged, and every vision fails’?
- NASB “Son of man, what is this proverb you people have about the land of Israel, saying, ‘The days are long, and every vision fails’?
- NLT “Son of man, you’ve heard that proverb they quote in Israel: ‘Time passes, and prophecies come to nothing.’
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
God challenges the cynical proverb, 'The days drag on and every vision fails.'
Overview
The people mocked prophecy by claiming that time passes and predicted judgments never come true. Their skepticism mistook God's patience for emptiness. Scripture warns elsewhere that scoffers misread divine delay as proof there will be no reckoning (2 Pet. 3:3-9).
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 9
- Ezek 18:2–3What mean ye, that ye use this proverb concerning the land of Israel, saying, The fathers have eaten sour grapes, and the children’s teeth are set on edge?
- Ezek 11:3Which say, It is not near; let us build houses: this city is the caldron, and we be the flesh.
- Ezek 12:27Son of man, behold, they of the house of Israel say, The vision that he seeth is for many days to come, and he prophesieth of the times that are far off.
- Amos 6:3Ye that put far away the evil day, and cause the seat of violence to come near;
- Jer 23:33–40And when this people, or the prophet, or a priest, shall ask thee, saying, What is the burden of the LORD? thou shalt then say unto them, What burden? I will even forsake you, saith the LORD.
- 2 Pet 3:3–4Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts,
- Jer 5:12–13They have belied the LORD, and said, It is not he; neither shall evil come upon us; neither shall we see sword nor famine:
- Isa 5:19That say, Let him make speed, and hasten his work, that we may see it: and let the counsel of the Holy One of Israel draw nigh and come, that we may know it!
- Ezek 16:44Behold, every one that useth proverbs shall use this proverb against thee, saying, As is the mother, so is her daughter.
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The promise of one Shepherd-King David, a new heart and new Spirit, and the river of life flowing from the temple all stream toward Christ, the good Shepherd who gives the Spirit.
How Ezekiel 12:22 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
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