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Ezekiel 20:49

Old Testament Major Prophet ASV (1901)

What does Ezekiel 20:49 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “Then said I, Ah Lord Jehovah! they say of me, Is he not a speaker of parables?” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

Then said I, Ah Lord Jehovah! they say of me, Is he not a speaker of parables?
Ezekiel 20:49 — American Standard Version

Context — Ezekiel 20

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
46Son of man, set thy face toward the south, and drop [thy word] toward the south, and prophesy against the forest of the field in the South;
47and say to the forest of the South, Hear the word of Jehovah: Thus saith the Lord Jehovah, Behold, I will kindle a fire in thee, and it shall devour every green tree in thee, and every dry tree: the flaming flame shall not be quenched, and all faces from the south to the north shall be burnt thereby.
48And all flesh shall see that I, Jehovah, have kindled it; it shall not be quenched.
49Then said I, Ah Lord Jehovah! they say of me, Is he not a speaker of parables?
← Ezekiel 20:48Ezekiel 21:1 →
← Full Chapter 20 Ezekiel Overview

What do historical commentaries say?

John Gill's Exposition
John Gill (1697–1771) · Exposition of the Old and New Testament · 18th-century historical commentary
“Then said I, ah Lord God! &c.] 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…”
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Jamieson, Fausset & Brown
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown · Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“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. Next: Ezekiel Chapter 21”
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Barnes' Notes
Albert Barnes (1798–1870) · Notes on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“This paragraph is in the Hebrew text, Septuagint and Vulgate the beginning of Ezekiel 21:0 to which it belongs, as it contains a prophecy delivered in a form which is there explained. It may, however, be regarded as a link between the foregoing and following prophecies, being a general introduction to seven words of judgment about to be pronounced in development of that which has just been delivered. Ezekiel 20:46 In this verse occur three Hebrew synonyms for “south,” denoting: (1) the region on the right, Teman 1 Samuel 23:24; (2) the region of dryness, Negeb Joshua 15:4; (3) the region of brightness, Darom Deuteronomy 33:23. The variety of terms helps the force of the application. Chebar…”
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Wesley's Explanatory Notes
John Wesley (1703–1791) · Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament and Old Testament notes · 18th-century historical commentary
“Parables - So absolutely, that we cannot understand him. Next: Ezekiel Chapter 21”
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Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“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. Mat 13:13, Mat 13:14; Joh 16:25; Act 17:18 Next: Ezekiel Chapter 21”
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Related study paths

Read Ezekiel 20 in contextBrowse Hebrew word studiesOpen this verse in the study reader

Sources and verification