What Does Ezekiel 21:23 Mean in the King James?

And it shall be unto them as a false divination in their sight, to them that have sworn oaths: but he will call to remembrance the iniquity, that they may be taken.

Ezekiel 21:23 · 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

What looks like a false sign does not erase what is being brought to remembrance; that very exposure becomes the way they are caught.

THE MEANING

When you dismiss what confronts you as false, the verse says that dismissal does not erase what is being brought to remembrance. What you thought was behind you comes into view and becomes the point at which you are caught. The oath offers no shelter from that exposure.

WHAT THIS UNDOES

It undoes the belief that judging a sign false, or having sworn an oath, makes you untouchable when wrongdoing is brought to light.

THE ROOT

מַזְכִּיר

mazkir

GROWS FROM

זכר

Remember, call to mind, mention (⁨זכר⁩, zakhar).

“call to remembrance” in this verse is mazkir. ⁨מַזְכִּיר⁩ (mazkir, calls to remembrance) comes from ⁨זכר⁩ (zakhar, remember or mention). Here remembrance actively brings what was hidden into view; the next phrase makes that recalling the hinge by which they are caught.

ALSO GROWS

zikaron: A remembrance or memorial.

זִכָּרוֹן

A memorial keeps something present in view, echoing how the verse brings the past into the present.

nizkar: Is remembered or brought to mind.

נִזְכָּר

This form makes clear that remembrance is something that happens to what was hidden: it is brought back into view.

לְהִתָּפֵשׂ

lehitappēs

GROWS FROM

תפשׂ

Take hold of, seize, catch (⁨תפשׂ⁩, tafas).

“taken” in this verse is lehitappēs. ⁨לְהִתָּפֵשׂ⁩ (lehitappēs, to be caught or seized) comes from ⁨תפשׂ⁩ (tafas, seize). Beside ⁨מַזְכִּיר⁩ (mazkir, brings to remembrance), the verse makes exposure the route to capture: what is recalled is what catches them.

ALSO GROWS

tāfaś: Seized, grasped, or taken hold of.

תָּפַשׂ

The root carries the concrete force of being physically caught, giving the verse’s ending a sharp edge.

nitpaś: Is caught or seized.

נִתְפַּשׂ

This related form makes the passive force explicit: the one taken is caught by another.

THE PATTERN

What is hidden or dismissed can still be brought into view, and the wrongdoing can become what catches its keeper.

And they consider not in their hearts that I remember all their wickedness: now their own doings have beset them about; they are before my face.

Hosea 7:2 · KJVWhat they fail to reckon with is remembered, and their own actions surround them in plain view.

But if ye will not do so, behold, ye have sinned against the LORD: and be sure your sin will find you out.

Numbers 32:23 · KJVWhat is done does not stay hidden; it finds and catches the one who thought it was out of sight.

For there is nothing covered, that shall not be revealed; neither hid, that shall not be known.

Luke 12:2 · KJVThe covering gives way, bringing what was hidden into the open.

THE THREAD

Remember not the sins of my youth, nor my transgressions: according to thy mercy remember thou me for thy goodness’ sake, O LORD.

Psalm 25:7 · KJV

Ezekiel’s ⁨מַזְכִּיר⁩ (mazkir, brings to remembrance) and Psalm’s ⁨תִּזְכֹּר⁩ (tizkor, remember) and ⁨זְכָר⁩ (zekhor, remember) share the root ⁨זכר⁩ (zakhar, remember). Psalm uses the same root first for what is not to be recalled and then for the speaker who is to be recalled, showing how remembrance actively determines what stands in view.

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