The Meaning of Ezekiel 33:31 Explained

Ezekiel 33:31

KJV: And they come unto thee as the people cometh, and they sit before thee as my people, and they hear thy words, but they will not do them: for with their mouth they shew much love, but their heart goeth after their covetousness.

YLT: And they come in unto thee as the coming in of a people, And they sit before thee -- My people, And have heard thy words, and they do them not, For doting loves with their mouth they are making, After their dishonest gain their heart is going.

Darby: And they come unto thee as a people cometh, and they sit before thee as my people, and they hear thy words, but they do them not; for with their mouth they shew much love, but their heart goeth after their dishonest gain.

ASV: And they come unto thee as the people cometh, and they sit before thee as my people, and they hear thy words, but do them not; for with their mouth they show much love, but their heart goeth after their gain.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

And they come  unto thee as the people  cometh,  and they sit  before  thee [as] my people,  and they hear  thy words,  but they will not do  them: for with their mouth  they shew  much love,  [but] their heart  goeth  after  their covetousness. 

What does Ezekiel 33:31 Mean?

Chapter Summary: Ezekiel 33

1  According to the duty of a watchman in warning the people
7  Ezekiel is admonished of his duty
10  God shows the justice of his ways toward the penitent and toward revolters
17  He maintains his justice
21  Upon the news of the taking of Jerusalem
25  he prophecies the desolation of the land
30  God's judgment upon the mockers of the prophets

What do the individual words in Ezekiel 33:31 mean?

So they come to you as do people and they sit before you [as] My people and they hear - your words but them do not they do for much love with their mouth they show after their [own] gain their hearts [but] pursue
וְיָב֣וֹאוּ אֵ֠לֶיךָ כִּמְבוֹא־ עָ֞ם וְיֵשְׁב֤וּ לְפָנֶ֙יךָ֙ עַמִּ֔י וְשָֽׁמְעוּ֙ אֶת־ דְּבָרֶ֔יךָ וְאוֹתָ֖ם לֹ֣א יַֽעֲשׂ֑וּ כִּֽי־ עֲגָבִ֤ים בְּפִיהֶם֙ הֵ֣מָּה עֹשִׂ֔ים אַחֲרֵ֥י בִצְעָ֖ם לִבָּ֥ם הֹלֵֽךְ

וְיָב֣וֹאוּ  So  they  come 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Conjunctive imperfect, third person masculine plural
Root: בֹּוא 
Sense: to go in, enter, come, go, come in.
אֵ֠לֶיךָ  to  you 
Parse: Preposition, second person masculine singular
Root: אֶל  
Sense: to, toward, unto (of motion).
כִּמְבוֹא־  as  do 
Parse: Preposition-k, Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: מָבֹוא  
Sense: entrance, a coming in, entering.
עָ֞ם  people 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: עַם 
Sense: nation, people.
וְיֵשְׁב֤וּ  and  they  sit 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Conjunctive imperfect, third person masculine plural
Root: יָשַׁב 
Sense: to dwell, remain, sit, abide.
לְפָנֶ֙יךָ֙  before  you 
Parse: Preposition-l, Noun, common plural construct, second person masculine singular
Root: לִפְנֵי 
Sense: face.
עַמִּ֔י  [as]  My  people 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct, first person common singular
Root: עַם 
Sense: nation, people.
וְשָֽׁמְעוּ֙  and  they  hear 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Conjunctive perfect, third person common plural
Root: שָׁמַע 
Sense: to hear, listen to, obey.
אֶת־  - 
Parse: Direct object marker
Root: אֹות 
Sense: sign of the definite direct object, not translated in English but generally preceding and indicating the accusative.
דְּבָרֶ֔יךָ  your  words 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural construct, second person masculine singular
Root: דָּבָר  
Sense: speech, word, speaking, thing.
וְאוֹתָ֖ם  but  them 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Direct object marker, third person masculine plural
Root: אֹות 
Sense: sign of the definite direct object, not translated in English but generally preceding and indicating the accusative.
לֹ֣א  do  not 
Parse: Adverb, Negative particle
Root: הֲלֹא 
Sense: not, no.
יַֽעֲשׂ֑וּ  they  do 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, third person masculine plural
Root: עָשָׂה 
Sense: to do, fashion, accomplish, make.
עֲגָבִ֤ים  much  love 
Parse: Noun, common plural
Root: עֲגָבִים  
Sense: (sensuous) love.
בְּפִיהֶם֙  with  their  mouth 
Parse: Preposition-b, Noun, masculine singular construct, third person masculine plural
Root: פֶּה  
Sense: mouth.
עֹשִׂ֔ים  show 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Participle, masculine plural
Root: עָשָׂה 
Sense: to do, fashion, accomplish, make.
אַחֲרֵ֥י  after 
Parse: Preposition
Root: אַחַר 
Sense: after the following part, behind (of place), hinder, afterwards (of time).
בִצְעָ֖ם  their  [own]  gain 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct, third person masculine plural
Root: בֶּצַע  
Sense: profit, unjust gain, gain (profit) acquired by violence.
לִבָּ֥ם  their  hearts 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct, third person masculine plural
Root: לֵב 
Sense: inner man, mind, will, heart, understanding.
הֹלֵֽךְ  [but]  pursue 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Participle, masculine singular
Root: הָלַךְ  
Sense: to go, walk, come.