What Does Ezekiel 20:1 Mean in the King James?

And it came to pass in the seventh year, in the fifth month, the tenth day of the month, that certain of the elders of Israel came to enquire of the LORD, and sat before me.

Ezekiel 20:1 · KJV

The analysis reads the King James wording.

King James Version The King James Version, first published in 1611. Selah Verse shows the standard text.

This verse in the Selah Decoded Version

THE KEY

The Hebrew joins seeking with sitting: inquiry is a way of coming near, then remaining before the word.

THE MEANING

When you seek the LORD, your question draws you near, and you take your place before the one who bears the word. The verse holds active inquiry together with settled presence, so the encounter is already underway before an answer is spoken.

THE ROOT

לִדְרֹשׁ

lidrosh

GROWS FROM

דרש

to seek, inquire, or resort to

“enquire” in this verse is lidrosh. The root ⁨דָּרַשׁ⁩ (darash, seek or inquire) carries more than putting a question into words: it is a movement toward the one being sought. Here the elders’ inquiry is an approach to the LORD, not merely a request for information.

ALSO GROWS

midrash: inquiry, exposition, or interpretation

מִדְרָשׁ

This branch shows seeking extended into careful engagement with a word; inquiry can become the work of understanding.

derishah: inquiry, request, or demand

דְּרִישָׁה

The same root can name a serious claim or request, giving the elders’ enquiry a weight beyond casual curiosity.

וַיֵּשְׁבוּ

vayyeshvu

GROWS FROM

ישב

to sit, dwell, or remain

“sat” in this verse is vayyeshvu. The root ⁨יָשַׁב⁩ (yashav, sit or dwell) connects a physical posture with taking up a place and remaining there. Paired with ⁨דָּרַשׁ⁩ (darash, seek or inquire), it shows search and settled presence as two parts of the same approach.

ALSO GROWS

yoshev: one who sits or dwells

יֹשֵׁב

The seeker’s posture belongs to the same root as dwelling, suggesting presence that lasts beyond the moment of asking.

moshav: seat, dwelling, or settlement

מוֹשָׁב

This branch extends sitting into a place one occupies, illuminating the elders’ act of taking their place before Ezekiel.

THE PATTERN

Seeking God is an active approach that brings the seeker into encounter.

When thou saidst, Seek ye my face; my heart said unto thee, Thy face, LORD, will I seek.

Psalm 27:8 · KJVThe search for God’s face becomes a response of the heart, joining inward desire to active seeking.

And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart.

Jeremiah 29:13 · KJVSeeking is described as a whole-hearted movement toward finding God.

Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you:

Matthew 7:7 · KJVSeeking appears as one movement in an approach that continues through asking and knocking.

THE THREAD

And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart.

Jeremiah 29:13 · KJV

The word translated “search” shares the root ⁨דָּרַשׁ⁩ (darash, seek or inquire) with “enquire” in Ezekiel. The elders’ inquiry and the whole-hearted search share one seed: seeking draws the heart toward encounter.

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