Ezekiel 7:26
New International Version
Calamity upon calamity will come, and rumor upon rumor. They will go searching for a vision from the prophet, priestly instruction in the law will cease, the counsel of the elders will come to an end.

New Living Translation
Calamity will follow calamity; rumor will follow rumor. They will look in vain for a vision from the prophets. They will receive no teaching from the priests and no counsel from the leaders.

English Standard Version
Disaster comes upon disaster; rumor follows rumor. They seek a vision from the prophet, while the law perishes from the priest and counsel from the elders.

Berean Standard Bible
Disaster upon disaster will come, and rumor after rumor. Then they will seek a vision from a prophet, but instruction from the priests will perish, as will counsel from the elders.

King James Bible
Mischief shall come upon mischief, and rumour shall be upon rumour; then shall they seek a vision of the prophet; but the law shall perish from the priest, and counsel from the ancients.

New King James Version
Disaster will come upon disaster, And rumor will be upon rumor. Then they will seek a vision from a prophet; But the law will perish from the priest, And counsel from the elders.

New American Standard Bible
Disaster will come upon disaster and rumor will be added to rumor; then they will seek a vision from a prophet, but the Law will be lost from the priest, and counsel from the elders.

NASB 1995
Disaster will come upon disaster and rumor will be added to rumor; then they will seek a vision from a prophet, but the law will be lost from the priest and counsel from the elders.

NASB 1977
‘Disaster will come upon disaster, and rumor will be added to rumor; then they will seek a vision from a prophet, but the law will be lost from the priest and counsel from the elders.

Legacy Standard Bible
Disaster will come upon disaster, and report will be added to report; then they will seek a vision from a prophet, but the law will be lost from the priest and counsel from the elders.

Amplified Bible
Disaster will come upon disaster and rumor will be heaped on rumor; they will seek a vision from a prophet, but the law and guidance will be lost from the priest and [wise] counsel [will cease] from the elders.

Christian Standard Bible
Disaster after disaster will come, and there will be rumor after rumor. Then they will look for a vision from a prophet, but instruction will perish from the priests and counsel from the elders.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Disaster after disaster will come, and there will be rumor after rumor. Then they will seek a vision from a prophet, but instruction will perish from the priests and counsel from the elders.

American Standard Version
Mischief shall come upon mischief, and rumor shall be upon rumor; and they shall seek a vision of the prophet; but the law shall perish from the priest, and counsel from the elders.

Contemporary English Version
One tragedy will follow another, and you'll hear only bad news. People will beg prophets to give them a message from me. Priests will stop teaching my Law, and wise leaders won't be able to give advice.

English Revised Version
Mischief shall come upon mischief, and rumour shall be upon rumour; and they shall seek a vision of the prophet; but the law shall perish from the priest, and counsel from the ancients.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
One disaster will happen after another. One rumor will follow another. People will ask for a vision from a prophet. The teachings of priests and the advice of leaders will disappear.

Good News Translation
One disaster will follow another, and a steady stream of bad news will pour in. You will beg the prophets to reveal what they foresee. The priests will have nothing to teach the people, and the elders will have no advice to give.

International Standard Version
Disaster upon disaster will come, followed by rumor after rumor. They'll seek an oracle from the prophet, but the Law will be gone from the priests, and counsel from the elders.

Majority Standard Bible
Disaster upon disaster will come, and rumor after rumor. Then they will seek a vision from a prophet, but instruction from the priests will perish, as will counsel from the elders.

NET Bible
Disaster after disaster will come, and one rumor after another. They will seek a vision from a prophet; priestly instruction will disappear, along with counsel from the elders.

New Heart English Bible
Disaster shall come upon disaster, and rumor shall follow rumor; and they shall seek a vision from a prophet; but the law shall perish from the priest, and counsel from the elders.

Webster's Bible Translation
Mischief shall come upon mischief, and rumor shall be upon rumor; then shall they seek a vision of the prophet; but the law shall perish from the priest, and counsel from the elders.

World English Bible
Mischief will come on mischief, and rumor will be on rumor. They will seek a vision of the prophet; but the law will perish from the priest, and counsel from the elders.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
Disaster comes on disaster, and report is on report, "" And they have sought a vision from a prophet, "" And law perishes from [the] priest, "" And counsel from [the] elderly,

Young's Literal Translation
Mischief on mischief cometh, and report is on report, And they have sought a vision from a prophet, And law doth perish from the priest, And counsel from the elders,

Smith's Literal Translation
And ruin upon ruin shall come, and report shall be to report; and they sought a vision from the prophet; and law shall perish from the priest, and counsel from the old men.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
Trouble shall come upon trouble, and rumour upon rumour, and they shall seek a vision of the prophet, and the law shall perish from the priest, and counsel from the ancients.

Catholic Public Domain Version
Disturbance will follow after disturbance, and rumor after rumor. And they will seek the vision of the prophet, and the law will perish from the priest, and counsel will perish from the elders.

New American Bible
Disaster after disaster, rumor upon rumor. They keep seeking a vision from the prophet; instruction from the priest is missing, and counsel from the elders.

New Revised Standard Version
Disaster comes upon disaster, rumor follows rumor; they shall keep seeking a vision from the prophet; instruction shall perish from the priest, and counsel from the elders.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
Calamity shall come upon calamity, and rumor shall be upon rumor; then they shall seek a vision from the prophets; but the law shall perish from the priests, and counsel from the elders.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
Woe upon woe will come, and report upon report shall be heard, and they shall seek the vision of the Prophets, and the Law will be destroyed from the Priests, and counsel from the Elders
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
Calamity shall come upon calamity, and rumour shall be upon rumour; and they shall seek a vision of the prophet, and instruction shall perish from the priest, and counsel from the elders.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
There shall be woe upon woe, and there shall be message upon message; and a vision shall be sought from a prophet; but the law shall perish from the priest, and counsel from the elders.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
The Desolation of Israel
25Anguish is coming! They will seek peace, but find none. 26Disaster upon disaster will come, and rumor after rumor. Then they will seek a vision from a prophet, but instruction from the priests will perish, as will counsel from the elders. 27The king will mourn, the prince will be clothed with despair, and the hands of the people of the land will tremble. I will deal with them according to their conduct, and I will judge them by their own standards. Then they will know that I am the LORD.’ ”…

Cross References
Amos 8:11-12
Behold, the days are coming, declares the Lord GOD, when I will send a famine on the land—not a famine of bread or a thirst for water, but a famine of hearing the words of the LORD. / People will stagger from sea to sea and roam from north to east, seeking the word of the LORD, but they will not find it.

Isaiah 8:19-20
When men tell you to consult mediums and spiritists who whisper and mutter, shouldn’t a people consult their God instead? Why consult the dead on behalf of the living? / To the law and to the testimony! If they do not speak according to this word, they have no light of dawn.

Lamentations 2:9
Her gates have sunk into the ground; He has destroyed and shattered their bars. Her king and her princes are exiled among the nations, the law is no more, and even her prophets find no vision from the LORD.

Micah 3:6-7
Therefore night will come over you without visions, and darkness without divination. The sun will set on these prophets, and the daylight will turn black over them. / Then the seers will be ashamed and the diviners will be disgraced. They will all cover their mouths because there is no answer from God.”

Hosea 4:6
My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge. Because you have rejected knowledge, I will also reject you as My priests. Since you have forgotten the law of your God, I will also forget your children.

Jeremiah 8:9
The wise will be put to shame; they will be dismayed and trapped. Since they have rejected the word of the LORD, what wisdom do they really have?

2 Chronicles 15:3
For many years Israel has been without the true God, without a priest to instruct them, and without the law.

Isaiah 29:10-12
For the LORD has poured out on you a spirit of deep sleep. He has shut your eyes, O prophets; He has covered your heads, O seers. / And the entire vision will be to you like the words sealed in a scroll. If it is handed to someone to read, he will say, “I cannot, because it is sealed.” / Or if the scroll is handed to one unable to read, he will say, “I cannot read.”

Zechariah 7:11-13
But they refused to pay attention and turned a stubborn shoulder; they stopped up their ears from hearing. / They made their hearts like flint and would not listen to the law or to the words that the LORD of Hosts had sent by His Spirit through the earlier prophets. Therefore great anger came from the LORD of Hosts. / And just as I had called and they would not listen, so when they called I would not listen, says the LORD of Hosts.

Proverbs 1:28-30
Then they will call on me, but I will not answer; they will earnestly seek me, but will not find me. / For they hated knowledge and chose not to fear the LORD. / They accepted none of my counsel; they despised all my reproof.

Matthew 13:14-15
In them the prophecy of Isaiah is fulfilled: ‘You will be ever hearing but never understanding; you will be ever seeing but never perceiving. / For this people’s heart has grown callous; they hardly hear with their ears, and they have closed their eyes. Otherwise they might see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their hearts, and turn, and I would heal them.’

Romans 1:21-22
For although they knew God, they neither glorified Him as God nor gave thanks to Him, but they became futile in their thinking and darkened in their foolish hearts. / Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools,

1 Corinthians 1:19-20
For it is written: “I will destroy the wisdom of the wise; the intelligence of the intelligent I will frustrate.” / Where is the wise man? Where is the scribe? Where is the philosopher of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world?

2 Timothy 4:3-4
For the time will come when men will not tolerate sound doctrine, but with itching ears they will gather around themselves teachers to suit their own desires. / So they will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths.

Matthew 23:37-39
O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, who kills the prophets and stones those sent to her, how often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were unwilling! / Look, your house is left to you desolate. / For I tell you that you will not see Me again until you say, ‘Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord.’”


Treasury of Scripture

Mischief shall come on mischief, and rumor shall be on rumor; then shall they seek a vision of the prophet; but the law shall perish from the priest, and counsel from the ancients.

Mischief shall

Leviticus 26:18,21,24,28
And if ye will not yet for all this hearken unto me, then I will punish you seven times more for your sins…

Deuteronomy 32:23
I will heap mischiefs upon them; I will spend mine arrows upon them.

Jeremiah 4:20
Destruction upon destruction is cried; for the whole land is spoiled: suddenly are my tents spoiled, and my curtains in a moment.

then

Ezekiel 14:1
Then came certain of the elders of Israel unto me, and sat before me.

Ezekiel 20:1-3
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 inquire of the LORD, and sat before me…

Ezekiel 33:31
And they come unto thee as the people cometh, and they sit before thee as my people, and they hear thy words, but they will not do them: for with their mouth they shew much love, but their heart goeth after their covetousness.

but

Psalm 74:9
We see not our signs: there is no more any prophet: neither is there among us any that knoweth how long.

Lamentations 2:9
Her gates are sunk into the ground; he hath destroyed and broken her bars: her king and her princes are among the Gentiles: the law is no more; her prophets also find no vision from the LORD.

Amos 8:11,12
Behold, the days come, saith the Lord GOD, that I will send a famine in the land, not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water, but of hearing the words of the LORD: …

ancients

Ezekiel 8:1
And it came to pass in the sixth year, in the sixth month, in the fifth day of the month, as I sat in mine house, and the elders of Judah sat before me, that the hand of the Lord GOD fell there upon me.

Ezekiel 14:1
Then came certain of the elders of Israel unto me, and sat before me.

Ezekiel 20:1
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 inquire of the LORD, and sat before me.

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Added Ancients Calamity Counsel Destruction Disaster Elders End Follows Instruction Law Mischief Perish Perishes Priest Priests Prophet Report Rumor Rumour Seek Shamed Sought Story Teaching Try Vision Wisdom
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Added Ancients Calamity Counsel Destruction Disaster Elders End Follows Instruction Law Mischief Perish Perishes Priest Priests Prophet Report Rumor Rumour Seek Shamed Sought Story Teaching Try Vision Wisdom
Ezekiel 7
1. The final desolation of Israel
16. The mournful repentance from that escape
20. The enemies defile the sanctuary because of the Israelites' abominations
23. Under the type of a chain is shown the miserable captivity of all orders of men














Disaster after disaster
The Hebrew word for "disaster" is "הָרָעָה" (ha-ra'ah), which conveys a sense of calamity or evil. In the context of Ezekiel, this phrase emphasizes the relentless and overwhelming nature of the judgment that God is bringing upon the people of Israel due to their persistent disobedience and idolatry. Historically, this reflects the period leading up to the Babylonian exile, where successive calamities befell the nation. The repetition underscores the certainty and severity of God's impending judgment, serving as a sobering reminder of the consequences of turning away from divine commandments.

will come
The phrase "will come" indicates the inevitability of these events. The Hebrew verb "בּוֹא" (bo) is used here, suggesting an arrival or coming forth. This conveys the certainty of God's prophetic word through Ezekiel. The use of future tense highlights the prophetic nature of the message, assuring that what God has declared will indeed take place. It serves as a call to repentance, urging the people to recognize the seriousness of their situation and turn back to God before it is too late.

and rumor after rumor
The word "rumor" in Hebrew is "שְׁמוּעָה" (shemu'ah), which can mean a report or news. In the ancient Near Eastern context, rumors often spread fear and uncertainty, especially during times of political instability or impending invasion. This phrase suggests a time of confusion and panic among the people, as they hear conflicting reports and are unable to discern the truth. It reflects the chaos and lack of reliable guidance that accompanies divine judgment, emphasizing the breakdown of societal order when God’s presence and truth are ignored.

They will seek a vision from the prophet
The role of the prophet in Israel was to be a mouthpiece for God, providing divine guidance and revelation. The Hebrew word for "vision" is "חָזוֹן" (chazon), which refers to a divine communication or revelation. In times of crisis, people naturally turn to prophets for insight and direction. However, this phrase implies a tragic irony: despite their seeking, the people will find no true vision, as their relationship with God has been severed by their sin. It underscores the futility of seeking divine guidance when one has persistently rejected God’s word.

but instruction will perish from the priest
The Hebrew word for "instruction" is "תּוֹרָה" (torah), which is often translated as "law" or "teaching." Priests were responsible for teaching the Torah and guiding the people in worship and obedience to God. The phrase "will perish" suggests a loss or disappearance, indicating that the priests will no longer be able to fulfill their role. This reflects a spiritual desolation where the foundational teachings of God are no longer accessible, highlighting the dire consequences of neglecting the covenant relationship with God.

and counsel from the elders
Elders in Israelite society were respected leaders and decision-makers, often sought for their wisdom and experience. The Hebrew word for "counsel" is "עֵצָה" (etsah), meaning advice or guidance. The loss of counsel from the elders signifies a breakdown in communal leadership and wisdom. This absence of guidance further compounds the chaos and despair, illustrating the complete unraveling of societal structures when God’s wisdom is absent. It serves as a poignant reminder of the importance of godly leadership and the peril of ignoring divine counsel.

(26) Then shall they seek a vision.--Comp. Ezekiel 20:1-3. The three chief sources of counsel, the prophets, the priests, and the elders, are all represented as applied to in vain. God had forsaken the people who had rejected Him. (Comp. Proverbs 1:28, and the story of Saul's despair at his abandonment by God, 1Samuel 28:15.) In the following verse the trouble is described as affecting all classes alike, the king, the prince, and the people of the land, and, further, as being the fitting consequence and retribution of their own chosen way.

Here closes the first series of Ezekiel's prophecies, extending from the beginning of the fourth to the end of the seventh chapter. They were all uttered within the period of a year and two months. Like the following series (Ezekiel 8-19), they begin with a remarkable series of symbolic acts, or rather of descriptions of such acts, and are continued by plain prophecies. Ezekiel and his fellow-captives had now been between five and six years in exile, and they still looked to Jerusalem and the Temple as their pride and the strength of their nation, and doubtless many of them hoped to be able to return there to lead again their former lives. There could be no hope of affecting a thorough and lasting reformation among the people except by utterly dashing these hopes to the ground, and showing that the people must be led to repentance through a thorough humiliation and heavy punishment. Such is the purpose of these prophecies, and it is carried out with extraordinary vigour and power of language.

Verse 26. - Mischief... turnout. The combination reminds us of the "wars and rumours of wars" of Matthew 24:6. The floating uncertain reports of a time of invasion aggravate the actual misery (comp. Isaiah 37:7; Jeremiah 51:46; Obadiah 1:1). They shall seek a vision of the prophet, etc. The words paint a picture of political chaos and confusion. The people turn in their distress to the three representativtes of wisdom - the prophet as the bearer of an immediate message from Jehovah, the priest as the interpreter of his Law (Malachi 2:7), the "ancients" or "elders" as those who had learnt the lessons of experience, - and all alike in vain. (For illustrative facts, see Jeremiah 5:31; Jeremiah 6:13; Jeremiah 21:2; Jeremiah 23:21-40; Jeremiah 27:9-18; Jeremiah 28:1-9, and generally Micah 3:6; Amos 8:11; 1 Samuel 28:6; Lamentations 2:9.)

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
Disaster
הֹוָ֤ה (hō·wāh)
Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 1943: A ruin, disaster

upon
עַל־ (‘al-)
Preposition
Strong's 5921: Above, over, upon, against

disaster
הֹוָה֙ (hō·wāh)
Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 1943: A ruin, disaster

will come,
תָּב֔וֹא (tā·ḇō·w)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person feminine singular
Strong's 935: To come in, come, go in, go

and
תִּֽהְיֶ֑ה (tih·yeh)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person feminine singular
Strong's 1961: To fall out, come to pass, become, be

rumor
וּשְׁמֻעָ֥ה (ū·šə·mu·‘āh)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 8052: Something heard, an announcement

after
אֶל־ (’el-)
Preposition
Strong's 413: Near, with, among, to

rumor.
שְׁמוּעָ֖ה (šə·mū·‘āh)
Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 8052: Something heard, an announcement

Then they will seek
וּבִקְשׁ֤וּ (ū·ḇiq·šū)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Piel - Conjunctive perfect - third person common plural
Strong's 1245: To search out, to strive after

a vision
חָזוֹן֙ (ḥā·zō·wn)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 2377: A sight, a dream, revelation, oracle

from a prophet,
מִנָּבִ֔יא (min·nā·ḇî)
Preposition-m | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 5030: A spokesman, speaker, prophet

but instruction
וְתוֹרָה֙ (wə·ṯō·w·rāh)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 8451: Direction, instruction, law

from the priests
מִכֹּהֵ֔ן (mik·kō·hên)
Preposition-m | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 3548: Priest

and counsel
וְעֵצָ֖ה (wə·‘ê·ṣāh)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 6098: Advice, plan, prudence

from the ancients
מִזְּקֵנִֽים׃ (miz·zə·qê·nîm)
Preposition-m | Adjective - masculine plural
Strong's 2205: Old

will perish.
תֹּאבַ֣ד (tō·ḇaḏ)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person feminine singular
Strong's 6: To wander away, lose oneself, to perish


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OT Prophets: Ezekiel 7:26 Mischief shall come on mischief and rumor (Ezek. Eze Ezk)
Ezekiel 7:25
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