King James Version

What Does Ezekiel 20:49 Mean?

Ezekiel 20:49 in the King James Version says “Then said I, Ah Lord GOD! they say of me, Doth he not speak parables?” — study this verse from Ezekiel chapter 20 with commentary, cross-references, and original Hebrew word analysis.

“Then said I, Ah Lord GOD! they say of me, Doth he not speak parables?”

Ezekiel 20:49 · KJV

Context

47

And say to the forest of the south, Hear the word of the LORD; Thus saith the Lord GOD; 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 burned therein.

48

And all flesh shall see that I the LORD have kindled it: it shall not be quenched.

49

Then said I, Ah Lord GOD! they say of me, Doth he not speak parables?

Read Ezekiel 20 full chapter

Commentary

KJV Study Commentary
Then said I, Ah Lord GOD! they say of me, Doth he not speak parables? This verse captures Ezekiel's frustration with his audience's dismissive response to God's prophetic word. The Hebrew interjection "Ah" (ahah, אֲהָהּ) expresses deep emotion—here, exasperation and perhaps despair. "Lord GOD" translates Adonai Yahweh (אֲדֹנָי יְהוִה), the most solemn divine name, indicating the gravity of Ezekiel's complaint.

"They say of me, Doth he not speak parables?" reveals the people's evasion of prophetic truth. The Hebrew mashal (מָשָׁל, "parable") can mean allegory, proverb, or riddle—here used pejoratively to dismiss Ezekiel's messages as obscure, irrelevant, or merely literary rather than direct divine revelation. The people preferred to intellectualize and distance themselves from the uncomfortable truths rather than repent.

This resistance to God's word is a recurring biblical theme. Jesus Himself spoke in parables partly because people had hardened their hearts (Matthew 13:10-15). Ezekiel's lament reveals the tragedy of willful spiritual blindness—when truth is unwelcome, people relabel it as metaphor to avoid its claims. The passage warns against treating Scripture as mere literature rather than God's authoritative word demanding response. True hearing requires humble submission, not clever interpretation that sidesteps obedience.

KJV Study — Public Domain

Historical & Cultural Context

This verse concludes Ezekiel 20, which recounts Israel's history of rebellion from Egypt through the wilderness to the exile. Ezekiel prophesied to Jewish exiles in Babylon (593-571 BC) who were in denial about their sin and judgment. They preferred to view their situation as temporary bad luck rather than divine discipline.

The exiles' dismissal of Ezekiel as a mere storyteller reflects their hard-heartedness. Despite witnessing Jerusalem's fall (597 BC) and being themselves captives in a foreign land, they resisted the prophet's call to repentance. They wanted encouraging messages, not confrontational truth about their covenant unfaithfulness.

In ancient Near Eastern culture, prophets were respected but also feared and sometimes persecuted. Dismissing a prophet's message as "mere parables" was a defense mechanism—if Ezekiel was just using symbolic language, his warnings could be ignored. This attitude parallels our contemporary tendency to treat difficult biblical passages as "cultural" or "metaphorical" to avoid their challenging implications. The exiles' resistance ultimately delayed their restoration, teaching that rejecting God's word prolongs judgment rather than escaping it.

Reflection Questions

  1. Do you ever dismiss biblical teachings as "just metaphorical" to avoid their challenging demands?
  2. How can we cultivate hearts that receive God's word humbly rather than intellectualize it away?
  3. What truths in Scripture make you uncomfortable, and how do you respond to that discomfort?
  4. How does this verse warn against preferring comforting messages over confrontational truth?
  5. In what ways might we be resisting God's word while appearing to engage with it?

Original Language Analysis

Hebrew · 11 words
אֹמְרִ֣ים1 of 11

“they say”

H559

to say (used with great latitude)

אֲהָ֖הּ2 of 11

“I Ah”

H162

oh!

אֲדֹנָ֣י3 of 11

“Lord”

H136

the lord (used as a proper name of god only)

יְהוִ֑ה4 of 11

“GOD”

H3069

god

הֵ֚מָּה5 of 11
H1992

they (only used when emphatic)

אֹמְרִ֣ים6 of 11

“they say”

H559

to say (used with great latitude)

לִ֔י7 of 11
H0
הֲלֹ֛א8 of 11
H3808

not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no; often used with other particles

מְמַשֵּׁ֥ל9 of 11

“of me Doth he not speak”

H4911

to liken, i.e., (transitively) to use figurative language (an allegory, adage, song or the like); intransitively, to resemble

מְשָׁלִ֖ים10 of 11

“parables”

H4912

properly, a pithy maxim, usually of metaphorical nature; hence, a simile (as an adage, poem, discourse)

הֽוּא׃11 of 11
H1931

he (she or it); only expressed when emphatic or without a verb; also (intensively) self, or (especially with the article) the same; sometimes (as demo

Study Guide

Historical Context

This verse is found in the book of Ezekiel. Understanding the historical and cultural background helps illuminate its meaning for the original audience and for us today.

Theological Significance

Ezekiel 20:49 contributes to our understanding of God's character and His relationship with humanity. Consider how this verse connects to the broader themes of Scripture.

Cross-References

Verses related to Ezekiel 20:49 from Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

John 16:25Ezekiel 17:2Acts 17:18Matthew 13:13-14

Test Your Knowledge

Ezekiel 20 QuizTest your knowledge of this chapterEzekiel Book QuizComprehensive quiz for the entire book

Continue Your Study

Read Ezekiel 20 with CommentaryAll Ezekiel ChaptersComplete Ezekiel QuizBible CharactersNave's Topical BibleAll Bible Quizzes