“Son of man, these men have set up their idols in their heart, and put the stumblingblock of their iniquity before their face: should I be enquired of at all by them?”
My Notes
What Does Ezekiel 14:3 Mean?
Ezekiel 14:3 is one of the most confrontational verses in the prophetic literature. God tells Ezekiel that the leaders who have come to "enquire" of Him have already made their choice: "these men have set up their idols in their heart." The idolatry here isn't external — there are no golden calves in this scene. The idols are internal, lodged in the heart, invisible to everyone except God.
The phrase "stumblingblock of their iniquity before their face" creates a vivid image: these men have placed their sin directly in their own line of sight. It's not behind them or beside them — it's in front of them, blocking their view. They literally cannot see God clearly because they've positioned their idols between themselves and Him.
Then comes the devastating rhetorical question: "Should I be enquired of at all by them?" God is essentially asking: why would I answer people who have already decided what they want? They're not coming for guidance. They're coming for validation. And God refuses to play that game.
Reflection Questions
- 1.If God looked at your heart right now, what might He identify as an idol — something you've elevated above His voice?
- 2.Have you ever gone to God for guidance when you'd already made up your mind? What happened?
- 3.What's the difference between a desire and an idol? How do you know when something has crossed that line?
- 4.God asks "should I be enquired of at all by them?" — does that feel harsh to you, or loving? Why?
Devotional
This verse has a way of cutting through the comfortable distance we keep between ourselves and the Old Testament prophets. Because the truth is, we do this too. We come to God in prayer, in worship, in Bible study — while holding something else in our hearts that we've already decided we won't let go of.
An idol of the heart doesn't have to be dramatic. It can be a relationship you know isn't right but refuse to release. A version of your future you're gripping so tightly that you can't hear God offer something different. An opinion about yourself — good or bad — that you've elevated above what God says about you.
The stumblingblock "before their face" is the part that should make us pause. It means the idol isn't hidden. It's the thing that's shaping everything you see. When you look at your life through the lens of that idol, everything gets distorted — including God.
God's question — "should I be enquired of at all by them?" — isn't cruelty. It's clarity. He's saying: I won't compete with what you've already chosen. Put the idol down, and then we can talk. That's not rejection. That's an invitation to honesty.
Commentary
Trusted original commentary from respected historical Bible scholars and theologians.
Son of man, these men have set up their idols in their heart,.... Though they look so grave and demure, seem so devout…
These men have set up their idols in their heart - Not only in their houses; in the streets; but they had them in their…
Here is, I. The address which some of the elders of Israel made to the prophet, as an oracle, to enquire of the Lord by…
set up their idols in Lit. have laid their idols upon their heart, which appears to mean, laid them on their minds,…
Cross References
Related passages throughout Scripture