Then said I, Ah Lord GOD! they say of me, Doth he not speak parables?
Parallel translations
- WEB Then I said, “Ah Lord Yahweh! they say of me, ‘Isn’t he a speaker of parables?’”
- BSB Then I said, “Ah, Lord GOD, they are saying of me, ‘Is he not just telling parables?’”
- NKJV Then I said, “Ah, Lord God! They say of me, ‘Does he not speak parables?’ ”
- NASB Then I said, “Oh, Lord God! They are saying of me, ‘Is he not just speaking in riddles?’ ”
- NLT Then I said, “O Sovereign Lord, they are saying of me, ‘He only talks in riddles!’”
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
Ezekiel laments that people dismiss him as a mere teller of parables. His message is brushed aside as obscure and unserious.
Overview
The hearers use the parabolic form of Ezekiel's preaching as an excuse to ignore its weight. Their complaint reveals hardened hearts unwilling to heed God's warning. In response, the Lord gives the plainer, unmistakable sword oracle of chapter 21, removing any pretext of misunderstanding and confronting their unbelief directly.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 4
- John 16:25These things have I spoken unto you in proverbs: but the time cometh, when I shall no more speak unto you in proverbs, but I shall shew you plainly of the Father.
- Matt 13:13–14Therefore speak I to them in parables: because they seeing see not; and hearing they hear not, neither do they understand.
- Acts 17:18Then certain philosophers of the Epicureans, and of the Stoicks, encountered him. And some said, What will this babbler say? other some, He seemeth to be a setter forth of strange gods: because he preached unto them Jesus, and the resurrection.
- Ezek 17:2Son of man, put forth a riddle, and speak a parable unto the house of Israel;
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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Christ at the center
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 20:49 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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