Ezekiel 20:31 Meaning and Explanation
“For when ye offer your gifts, when ye make your sons to pass through the fire, ye pollute yourselves with all your idols, even unto this day: and shall I be enquired of by you, O house of Israel? As I live, saith the Lord GOD, I will not be enquired of by you.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →Israel's continuation of child sacrifice and idolatry means God will not listen to their prayers.
The Context of Ezekiel 20:31
God refuses to hear the prayers of those continuing in idolatry and child sacrifice.
What Does Ezekiel 20:31 Mean?
The practices of the fathers—child sacrifice and comprehensive idolatry—continue even in exile. 'Even unto this day' indicates that the generation in exile had not separated themselves from these abominations. They had brought their spiritual defilement with them into exile, suggesting that exile had not purified their hearts or changed their loyalties.
The refusal to be 'enquired of' echoes the opening of this oracle. God will not hear prayers from people who persist in idolatry while calling on Him. This is not arbitrary rejection but the necessary consequence of living in contradiction—wanting God's help while serving idols. Repentance, not prayer, is what God requires.
Frequently Asked Questions About Ezekiel 20:31
What does Ezekiel 20:31 mean?
Israel's continuation of child sacrifice and idolatry means God will not listen to their prayers.
What is the context of Ezekiel 20:31?
God refuses to hear the prayers of those continuing in idolatry and child sacrifice.