Discovery BoxEzekiel 33:31-33 
Context33:31 They come to you in crowds, 1 and they sit in front of you as 2 my people. They hear your words, but do not obey 3 them. For they talk lustfully, 4 and their heart is set on 5 their own advantage. 6 33:32 Realize 7 that to them you are like a sensual song, a beautiful voice and skilled musician. 8 They hear your words, but they do not obey them. 9 33:33 When all this comes true – and it certainly will 10 – then they will know that a prophet was among them.”
1 tn Heb “as people come.” Apparently this is an idiom indicating that they come in crowds. See D. I. Block, Ezekiel (NICOT), 2:264.
2 tn The word “as” is supplied in the translation.
3 tn Heb “do.”
4 tn Heb “They do lust with their mouths.”
5 tn Heb “goes after.”
6 tn The present translation understands the term often used for “unjust gain” in a wider sense, following M. Greenberg, who also notes that the LXX uses a term which can describe either sexual or ritual pollution. See M. Greenberg, Ezekiel (AB), 2:687.
7 tn The word הִנֵּה (hinneh, traditionally “behold”) indicates becoming aware of something and has been translated here as a verb.
8 tn Heb “one who makes playing music well.”
9 sn Similar responses are found in Isa 29:13; Matt 21:28-32; James 1:22-25.
10 tn Heb “behold it is coming.”
