Judgment on the City's Counselors

Ezekiel 11

Ezekiel is shown twenty-five men at the temple gate devising wicked counsel and trusting in the city as a safe cauldron, and he prophesies their downfall by the sword; one of them, Phaltias, dies as he speaks. The Lord promises that though the people are scattered among the nations, he will gather a remnant, give them a new heart and a new spirit, and the glory of the Lord departs the city to stand upon a mountain to the east.

About these editions

The Septuagint (LXX) in Greek, with Charles Thomson’s 1808 and Sir Lancelot Brenton’s 1851 English translations, set beside the King James Version and the Jewish Masoretic text (JPS 1917) where they align, so you can compare the Greek and the Hebrew. All public domain; choose which to show with the controls above.

Thomson 1808Septuagint

Brenton 1851Septuagint

Greek · BrentonSeptuagint

KJV 1769Masoretic

JPS 1917Masoretic

ThomsonTHEN a blast of wind took me up and brought me to the gate of the house of the Lord which was directly in front and which faced the east. And behold at the vestibule of the gate about five and twenty men! And I saw in the midst of them Jechonias the son of Ezer and Phaltias the son of Banaias, the leaders of the people.

BrentonMoreover the Spirit took me up, and brought me to the front gate of the house of the Lord, that looks eastward: and behold at the entrance of the gate were about five and twenty men; and I saw in the midst of them Jechonias the son of Ezer, and Phaltias the son of Banæas, the leaders of the people.

GreekΚαὶ ἀνέλαβέ με πνεῦμα, καὶ ἤγαγέ με ἐπὶ τὴν πύλην τοῦ οἴκου Κυρίου τὴν κατέναντι, τὴν βλέπουσαν κατὰ ἀνατολάς· καὶ ἰδοὺ ἐπὶ τῶν προθύρων τῆς πύλης ὡς εἴκοσι καὶ πέντε ἄνδρες, καὶ ἴδον ἐν μέσῳ αὐτῶν τὸν Ἰεχονίαν τὸν τοῦ Ἔζερ, καὶ Φαλτίαν τὸν τοῦ Βαναίου, τοὺς ἀφηγουμένους τοῦ λαοῦ.

KJVMoreover the spirit lifted me up, and brought me unto the east gate of the LORD’s house, which looketh eastward: and behold at the door of the gate five and twenty men; among whom I saw Jaazaniah the son of Azur, and Pelatiah the son of Benaiah, princes of the people.

JPSThen a spirit lifted me up, and brought me unto the east gate of the LORD’S house, which looketh eastward; and behold at the door of the gate five and twenty men; and I saw in the midst of them Jaazaniah the son of Azzur, and Pelatiah the son of Benaiah, princes of the people.

ThomsonAnd the Lord said to me, Son of man, these are the men who devise vanities and who give bad advice in the city,

BrentonAnd the Lord said to me, Son of man, these are the men that devise vanities, and take evil counsel in this city:

GreekΚαὶ εἶπε Κύριος πρὸς μὲ, υἱὲ ἀνθρώπου, οὗτοι οἱ ἄνδρες οἱ λογιζόμενοι μάταια καὶ βουλευόμενοι βουλὴν πονηρὰν ἐν τῇ πόλει ταύτῃ·

KJVThen said he unto me, Son of man, these are the men that devise mischief, and give wicked counsel in this city:

JPSAnd He said unto me: ‘Son of man, these are the men that devise iniquity, and that give wicked counsel in this city;

ThomsonWho say, Are not the houses lately rebuilt? This is the cauldron, but we are the flesh.

Brentonwho say, Have not the houses been newly built? This is the caldron, and we are the flesh.

GreekΟἱ λέγοντες, οὐχὶ προσφάτως ᾠκοδόμηνται αἱ οἰκίαι; αὕτη ἐστὶν ὁ λέβης, ἡμεῖς δὲ τὰ κρέα.

KJVWhich say, It is not near; let us build houses: this city is the caldron, and we be the flesh.

JPSthat say: The time is not near to build houses! this city is the caldron, and we are the flesh.

ThomsonTherefore prophesy against them. Prophesy, son of man.

BrentonTherefore prophesy against them, prophesy, son of man.

GreekΔιατοῦτο προφήτευσον ἐπʼ αὐτοὺς, προφήτευσον υἱὲ ἀνθρώπου.

KJVTherefore prophesy against them, prophesy, O son of man.

JPSTherefore prophesy against them, prophesy, O son of man.’

ThomsonThereupon the spirit of the Lord fell upon me, and said to me, Say, Thus saith the Lord: Thus have you spoken, O house of Israel, for I know the counsels of your mind.

BrentonAnd the Spirit of the Lord fell upon me, and said to me, say; Thus saith the Lord; Thus have ye said, O house of Israel: and I know the devices of your spirit.

GreekΚαὶ ἔπεσεν ἐπʼ ἐμὲ πνεῦμα Κυρίου, καὶ εἶπε πρὸς μὲ, λέγε, Τάδε λέγει Κύριος, οὕτως εἴπατε οἶκος Ἰσραήλ, καὶ τὰ διαβούλια τοῦ πνεύματος ὑμῶν ἐγὼ ἐπίσταμαι.

KJVAnd the Spirit of the LORD fell upon me, and said unto me, Speak; Thus saith the LORD; Thus have ye said, O house of Israel: for I know the things that come into your mind, every one of them.

JPSAnd the spirit of the LORD fell upon me, and He said unto me: ‘Speak: Thus saith the LORD: Thus have ye said, O house of Israel; for I know the things that come into your mind.

ThomsonYou have multiplied your dead in this city, and filled the highways with the slain;

BrentonYe have multiplied your dead in this city, and ye have filled your ways with slain men.

GreekἘπληθύνατε νεκροὺς ὑμῶν ἐν τῇ πόλει ταύτῃ, καὶ ἐνεπλήσατε τὰς ὁδοὺς αὐτῶν τραυματιῶν.

KJVYe have multiplied your slain in this city, and ye have filled the streets thereof with the slain.

JPSYe have multiplied your slain in this city, and ye have filled the streets thereof with the slain.

Thomsontherefore thus saith the Lord: Your dead men whom you have slain in the midst of it, they are the flesh and it is the cauldron. As for you, I will drag you out of the midst of it.

BrentonTherefore thus saith the Lord; Your dead whom ye have smitten in the midst of it, these are the flesh, and this city is the caldron: but I will bring you forth out of the midst of it.

GreekΔιατοῦτο τάδε λέγει Κύριος, τοὺς νεκροὺς ὑμῶν οὓς ἐπατάξατε ἐν μέσῳ αὐτῆς, οὗτοί εἰσι τὰ κρέα, αὕτὴ δὲ ὁ λέβης ἐστὶ, καὶ ὑμᾶς ἐξάξω ἐκ μέσου αὐτῆς.

KJVTherefore thus saith the Lord GOD; Your slain whom ye have laid in the midst of it, they are the flesh, and this city is the caldron: but I will bring you forth out of the midst of it.

JPSTherefore thus saith the Lord GOD: Your slain whom ye have laid in the midst of it, they are the flesh, and this city is the caldron; but ye shall be brought forth out of the midst of it.

ThomsonYou are afraid of the sword,

BrentonYe fear the sword; and I will bring a sword upon you, saith the Lord.

GreekῬομφαίαν φοβεῖσθε, καὶ ῥομφαίαν ἐπάξω ἐφʼ ὑμᾶς, λέγει Κύριος.

KJVYe have feared the sword; and I will bring a sword upon you, saith the Lord GOD.

JPSYe have feared the sword; and the sword will I bring upon you, saith the Lord GOD.

Thomsontherefore I will bring a sword against you, saith the Lord, and drag you out of the midst of it and deliver you into the hands of strangers and execute judgment upon you.

BrentonAnd I will bring you forth out of the midst of it, and will deliver you into the hands of strangers, and will execute judgments among you.

GreekΚαὶ ἐξάξω ὑμᾶς ἐκ μέσου αὐτῆς, καὶ παραδώσω ὑμᾶς εἰς χεῖρας ἀλλοτρίων, καὶ ποιήσω ἐν ὑμῖν κρίματα,

KJVAnd I will bring you out of the midst thereof, and deliver you into the hands of strangers, and will execute judgments among you.

JPSAnd I will bring you forth out of the midst thereof, and deliver you into the hands of strangers, and will execute judgments among you.

ThomsonBy the sword you shall fall. On the mountain of Israel I will judge you; and you shall know that I am the Lord.

BrentonYe shall fall by the sword; I will judge you on the mountains of Israel; and ye shall know that I am the Lord.

Greekἐν ῥομφαίᾳ πεσεῖσθε, ἐπὶ τῶν ὀρέων τοῦ Ἰσραὴλ κρινῶ ὑμᾶς, καὶ ἐπιγνώσεσθε ὅτι ἐγὼ Κύριος.

KJVYe shall fall by the sword; I will judge you in the border of Israel; and ye shall know that I am the LORD.

JPSYe shall fall by the sword: I will judge you upon the border of Israel; and ye shall know that I am the LORD.

ThomsonAnd it came to pass while I was prophesying that Phaltias, the son of Banaias, died, whereupon I fell on my face and cried with a loud voice and said, Alas! Alas! O Lord, art Thou making an utter end of the remnant of Israel?

BrentonAnd it came to pass, while I was prophesying, that Phaltias the son of Banæas died. And I fell upon my face, and cried with a loud voice, and said, Alas, alas, O Lord! wilt thou utterly destroy the remnant of Israel?

Greekκαὶ ἐγένετο ἐν τῷ προφητεύειν με, καὶ Φαλτίας ὁ τοῦ Βαναίου ἀπέθανε· καὶ πίπτω ἐπὶ πρόσωπόν μου, καὶ ἀνεβόησα φωνῇ μεγάλῃ, καὶ εἶπα, οἴμοι οἴμοι Κύριε, εἰς συντέλειαν ποιεῖς σὺ τοὺς καταλοίπους τοῦ Ἰσραήλ;

KJVAnd it came to pass, when I prophesied, that Pelatiah the son of Benaiah died. Then fell I down upon my face, and cried with a loud voice, and said, Ah Lord GOD! wilt thou make a full end of the remnant of Israel?

JPSAnd it came to pass, when I prophesied, that Pelatiah the son of Benaiah died. Then fell I down upon my face, and cried with a loud voice, and said: ‘Ah Lord GOD! wilt Thou make a full end of the remnant of Israel?’

ThomsonUpon which a word of the Lord came to me, saying,

BrentonAnd the word of the Lord came to me, saying,

GreekΚαὶ ἐγένετο λόγος Κυρίου πρὸς μὲ, λέγων,

KJVAgain the word of the LORD came unto me, saying,

JPSAnd the word of the LORD came unto me, saying:

ThomsonSon of man, an end was put to thy brethren and to the men of thy captivity and to all the house of Israel, to whom the inhabitants of Jerusalem said, Away with you far from the Lord: to us this land is given for an inheritance.

BrentonSon of man, thy brethren, and the men of thy captivity, and all the house of Israel are come to the full, to whom the inhabitants of Jerusalem said, Keep ye far away from the Lord: the land is given to us for an inheritance.

Greekυἱὲ ἀνθρώπου, οἱ ἀδελφοί σου καὶ οἱ ἄνδρες τῆς αἰχμαλωσίας σου καὶ πᾶς ὁ οἶκος τοῦ Ἰσραὴλ συντετέλεσται, οἷς εἶπαν αὐτοῖς οἱ κατοικοῦντες Ἱερουσαλὴμ, μακρὰν ἀπέχετε ἀπὸ τοῦ Κυρίου, ἡμῖν δέδοται ἡ γῆ εἰς κληρονομίαν.

KJVSon of man, thy brethren, even thy brethren, the men of thy kindred, and all the house of Israel wholly, are they unto whom the inhabitants of Jerusalem have said, Get you far from the LORD: unto us is this land given in possession.

JPS’Son of man, as for thy brethren, even thy brethren, the men of thy kindred, and all the house of Israel, all of them, concerning whom the inhabitants of Jerusalem have said: Get you far from the LORD! unto us is this land given for a possession;

ThomsonTherefore say, Thus saith the Lord: I will drive these away to the nations and scatter them to every land. But I will be to those a little sanctuary in all the countries to which they have come.

BrentonTherefore say thou, Thus saith the Lord; I will cast them off among the nations, and will disperse them into every land, yet will I be to them for a little sanctuary in the countries which they shall enter.

GreekΔιατοῦτο εἰπὸν, Τάδε λέγει Κύριος, ὅτι ἀπώσομαι αὐτοὺς εἰς τὰ ἔθνη, καὶ διασκορπιῶ αὐτοὺς εἰς πᾶσαν γῆν, καὶ ἔσομαι αὐτοῖς εἰς ἁγίασμα μικρὸν ἐν ταῖς χώραις, οὗ ἐὰν εἰσέλθωσιν ἐκεῖ.

KJVTherefore say, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Although I have cast them far off among the heathen, and although I have scattered them among the countries, yet will I be to them as a little sanctuary in the countries where they shall come.

JPStherefore say: Thus saith the Lord GOD: Although I have removed them far off among the nations, and although I have scattered them among the countries, yet have I been to them as a little sanctuary in the countries where they are come;

ThomsonTherefore say, Thus saith the Lord: I will take those in from among the nations and collect them from the countries in which I have dispersed them and give them the land of Israel

BrentonTherefore say thou, Thus saith the Lord; I will also take them from the heathen, and gather them out of the lands wherein I have scattered them, and will give them the land of Israel.

GreekΔιατοῦτο εἰπὸν, τάδε λέγει Κύριος, καὶ εἰσδέξομαι αὐτοὺς ἐκ τῶν ἐθνῶν, καὶ συνάξω αὐτοὺς ἐκ τῶν χωρῶν οὗ διέσπειρα αὐτοὺς ἐν αὐταῖς· καὶ δώσω αὐτοῖς τὴν γῆν τοῦ Ἰσραήλ.

KJVTherefore say, Thus saith the Lord GOD; I will even gather you from the people, and assemble you out of the countries where ye have been scattered, and I will give you the land of Israel.

JPStherefore say: Thus saith the Lord GOD: I will even gather you from the peoples, and assemble you out of the countries where ye have been scattered, and I will give you the land of Israel.

Thomsonand they shall come hither and remove all its abominations and all its iniquities out of it,

BrentonAnd they shall enter in there, and shall remove all the abominations of it, and all its iniquities from it.

GreekΚαὶ εἰσελεύσονται ἐκεῖ, καὶ ἐξαροῦσι πάντα τὰ βδελύγματα αὐτῆς καὶ πάσας τὰς ἀνομίας αὐτῆς ἐξ αὐτῆς.

KJVAnd they shall come thither, and they shall take away all the detestable things thereof and all the abominations thereof from thence.

JPSAnd they shall come thither, and they shall take away all the detestable things thereof and all the abominations thereof from thence.

Thomsonand I will give them another heart and put a new spirit in them; and I will take away the stony heart out of their flesh and give them a heart of flesh

BrentonAnd I will give them another heart, and will put a new spirit within them; and will extract the heart of stone from their flesh, and give them a heart of flesh:

GreekΚαὶ δώσω αὐτοῖς καρδίαν ἑτέραν, καὶ πνεῦμα καινὸν δώσω ἐν αὐτοῖς, καὶ ἐκσπάσω τὴν καρδίαν τὴν λιθίνην ἐκ τῆς σαρκὸς αὐτῶν, καὶ δώσω αὐτοῖς καρδίαν σαρκίνην·

KJVAnd I will give them one heart, and I will put a new spirit within you; and I will take the stony heart out of their flesh, and will give them an heart of flesh:

JPSAnd I will give them one heart, and I will put a new spirit within you; and I will remove the stony heart out of their flesh, and will give them a heart of flesh;

Thomsonthat they may walk in My statutes and keep My judgments and execute them. And they shall be My people and I will be their God.

Brentonthat they may walk in my commandments, and keep mine ordinances, and do them: and they shall be to me a people, and I will be to them a God.

GreekὍπως ἐν τοῖς προστάγμασί μου πορεύωνται, καὶ τὰ δικαιώματά μου φυλάσσωνται καὶ ποιῶσιν αὐτὰ, καὶ ἔσονταί μοι εἰς λαὸν, καὶ ἐγὼ ἔσομαι αὐτοῖς εἰς Θεόν.

KJVThat they may walk in my statutes, and keep mine ordinances, and do them: and they shall be my people, and I will be their God.

JPSthat they may walk in My statutes, and keep Mine ordinances, and do them; and they shall be My people, and I will be their God.

ThomsonBut as the heart of these was entirely devoted to their abominations and their iniquities, I have requited their ways upon their heads, saith the Lord.

BrentonAnd as for the heart set upon their abominations and their iniquities, as their heart went after them, I have recompensed their ways on their heads, saith the Lord.

GreekΚαὶ εἰς τὴν καρδίαν τῶν βδελυγμάτων αὐτῶν καὶ τῶν ἀνομιῶν αὐτῶν, ὡς ἡ καρδία αὐτῶν ἐπορεύετο, τὰς ὁδοὺς αὐτῶν εἰς τὰς κεφαλὰς αὐτῶν δέδωκα, λέγει Κύριος.

KJVBut as for them whose heart walketh after the heart of their detestable things and their abominations, I will recompense their way upon their own heads, saith the Lord GOD.

JPSBut as for them whose heart walketh after the heart of their detestable things and their abominations, I will bring their way upon their own heads, saith the Lord GOD.’

ThomsonThen the cherubims raised their wings and the wheels were close by them and the glory of the God of Israel was above over them.

BrentonThen the cherubs lifted up their wings, and the wheels beside them; and the glory of the God of Israel was over them above.

GreekΚαὶ ἐξῇραν τὰ χερουβὶμ τὰς πτέρυγας αὐτῶν, καὶ οἱ τροχοὶ ἐχόμενοι αὐτῶν, καὶ ἡ δόξα Θεοῦ Ἰσραὴλ ἐπʼ αὐτὰ ὑπεράνω αὐτῶν.

KJVThen did the cherubims lift up their wings, and the wheels beside them; and the glory of the God of Israel was over them above.

JPSThen did the cherubim lift up their wings, and the wheels were beside them; and the glory of the God of Israel was over them above.

ThomsonAnd the glory of the Lord ascended up out of the midst of the city and halted on the mountain which was over against the city.

BrentonAnd the glory of the Lord went up from the midst of the city, and stood on the mountain which was in front of the city.

GreekΚαὶ ἀνέβη ἡ δόξα Κυρίου ἐκ μέσης τῆς πόλεως, καὶ ἔστη ἐπὶ τοῦ ὄρους ὃ ἦν ἀπέναντι τῆς πόλεως.

KJVAnd the glory of the LORD went up from the midst of the city, and stood upon the mountain which is on the east side of the city.

JPSAnd the glory of the LORD went up from the midst of the city, and stood upon the mountain which is on the east side of the city.

ThomsonAnd a blast of wind took me up and brought me to the land of the Chaldeans, to the captivity, in a vision, by the spirit of God.

BrentonAnd the Spirit took me up, and brought me to the land of the Chaldeans, to the captivity, in a vision by the Spirit of God: and I went up after the vision which I saw.

GreekΚαὶ ἀνέλαβέ με πνεῦμα, καὶ ἤγαγέ με εἰς γῆν Χαλδαίων εἰς τὴν αἰχμαλωσίαν ἐν ὁράσει ἐν πνεύματι Θεοῦ· καὶ ἀνέβην ἀπὸ τῆς ὁράσεως ἧς ἴδον.

KJVAfterwards the spirit took me up, and brought me in a vision by the Spirit of God into Chaldea, to them of the captivity. So the vision that I had seen went up from me.

JPSAnd a spirit lifted me up, and brought me in the vision by the spirit of God into Chaldea, to them of the captivity. So the vision that I had seen went up from Me.

ThomsonAnd I went up on account of the vision which I saw and spoke to all the captivity all the things which the Lord had shewn me.

BrentonAnd I spoke to the captivity all the words of the Lord which he had shewed me.

GreekΚαὶ ἐλάλησα πρὸς τὴν αἰχμαλωσίαν πάντας τοὺς λόγους τοῦ Κυρίου οὓς ἔδειξέ μοι.

KJVThen I spake unto them of the captivity all the things that the LORD had shewed me.

JPSThen I spoke unto them of the captivity all the things that the LORD had shown me.