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Ezekiel 20
Expanded Bible
Ezekiel 20
Expanded Bible
Israel Has Refused God
20 It was the seventh year [C since Jehoiachin’s exile (1:2)], in the fifth month, on the tenth day of the month [C August 14, 591 bc]. Some of the elders of Israel came to ask about the Lord and sat down in front of me.
2 The ·Lord spoke his word [L word of the Lord came] to me, saying: 3 “·Human [T Son of man; 2:1], speak to the elders of Israel and say to them: ‘This is what the Lord God says: Did you come to ·ask me questions [inquire of/consult me]? As surely as I live, I will not let you ·ask me questions [inquire of/consult me].’
4 “Will you judge them? Will you judge them, ·human [T son of man; 2:1]? Let them know the ·hateful [detestable; abominable] things their ·ancestors [fathers] did. 5 Say to them: ‘This is what the Lord God says: ·When [L On the day when] I chose Israel, I ·made a promise [L lifted my hand] to the ·descendants [offspring; seed] of Jacob. I made myself known to them in the land of Egypt, and I ·promised them [L lifted my hand to them, saying], “I am the Lord your God.” 6 ·At that time [On that day] I ·promised them I would [L lifted my hand to them to] bring them out of Egypt into a land I had ·found [searched out] for them, a ·fertile land [land flowing with milk and honey; Ex. 3:8], the ·best [most beautiful] land in the world. 7 I said to them, “Each one of you must throw away the ·hateful idols [detestable/abominable things] you have ·seen and liked [L set your eyes on]. Don’t ·make yourselves unclean [defile yourselves] with the idols of Egypt. I am the Lord your God.”
8 “‘But they ·turned [rebelled] against me and refused to listen to me. They did not throw away the ·hateful idols [detestable/abominable things] which they ·saw and liked [L set your eyes on]; they did not give up the idols of Egypt. Then I decided to pour out my anger against them while they were still in Egypt. 9 But I acted for the sake of my name so it would not be ·dishonored [profaned; C ritually] in ·full view [L the eyes] of the nations where the Israelites lived. I made myself known to ·the Israelites [L them] by bringing them out of Egypt ·while the nations were watching [before their eyes]. 10 So I took them out of Egypt and brought them into the ·desert [wilderness]. 11 I gave them my ·rules [statutes; ordinances; requirements] and told them about my ·laws [judgments], by which people will live if they ·obey [do; practice] them. 12 I also gave them my Sabbaths [Ex. 20:8–11; Deut. 5:12–15] to be a sign [Ex. 31:13] between us so they would know that I am the Lord who ·made them holy [sanctified them; set them apart].
13 “‘But in the ·desert [wilderness] ·Israel [L the house of Israel] ·turned [rebelled] against me. They did not follow my ·rules [statutes], and they rejected my ·laws [rules; judgments], by which people will live if they obey them. They ·dishonored [desecrated; profaned; C ritually] my Sabbaths. Then I decided to pour out my ·anger [wrath] against them and destroy them in the ·desert [wilderness]. 14 But I acted for the sake of my name so it would not be ·dishonored [profaned; C ritually] in ·full view [L the eyes] of the nations ·who watched as [before whose eyes] I had brought the Israelites out of Egypt. 15 And in the ·desert [wilderness] I ·swore [L lifted my hand] to the Israelites that I would not bring them into the land I had given them. It is a ·fertile land [land flowing with milk and honey; Ex. 3:8], the ·best [most beautiful] land in the world. 16 This was because they rejected my ·laws [judgments] and did not ·follow [L walk in] my ·rules [statutes; ordinances; requirements]. They ·dishonored [desecrated; profaned; C ritually] my Sabbaths and ·wanted to worship [L their hearts went after] their idols. 17 But I ·had pity on [or spared] them. I did not destroy them or put an end to them in the ·desert [wilderness]. 18 I said to their children in the ·desert [wilderness], “Don’t ·live by [L walk in] the ·rules [statutes; ordinances; requirements] of your ·parents [fathers], or obey their ·laws [judgments]. Don’t ·make yourselves unclean [defile yourselves] with their idols. 19 I am the Lord your God. ·Live by [L Walk in] my ·rules [statutes; ordinances; requirements], obey my ·laws [judgments], and follow them. 20 Keep my Sabbaths holy, and they will be a sign between me and you [Ex. 31:13]. Then you will know that I am the Lord your God.”
21 “‘But the children turned against me. They did not ·live by [walk in] my ·rules [statutes; ordinances; requirements], nor were they careful to obey my ·laws [judgments], by which people will live if they obey them. They ·dishonored [desecrated; profaned; C ritually] my Sabbaths. So I decided to pour out my anger and ·rage [L vent/exhaust my rage] against them in the ·desert [wilderness]. 22 But I ·held back my anger [L withdrew my hand]. I acted for the sake of my name so it would not be ·dishonored [profaned; C ritually] in ·full view [L the eyes] of the nations ·who watched as [L before whose eyes] I brought the Israelites out. 23 And in the ·desert [wilderness] I swore to the Israelites that I would scatter them among the nations and spread them among the ·countries [lands], 24 because they had not obeyed my ·laws [judgments]. They had rejected my ·rules [statutes; ordinances; requirements] and ·dishonored [profaned; C ritually] my Sabbaths and ·worshiped [L set their eyes on] the idols of their ·parents [fathers]. 25 I also allowed them to follow ·rules [statutes] that were not good and ·laws [judgments] by which they could not live. 26 I ·let the Israelites make themselves unclean [L defiled them; C ritually] by the gifts they brought to their gods when they sacrificed their first children in the fire [16:20–21]. I wanted to ·terrify [or devastate] them so they would know that I am the Lord.’
27 “So, ·human [T son of man; 2:1], speak to the ·people [L house] of Israel. Say to them, ‘This is what the Lord God says: Your ·ancestors [fathers] ·spoke against [blasphemed] me by being unfaithful to me in another way. 28 When I had brought them into the land I ·promised [L lifted my hand] to give them, they saw every high hill and every leafy tree. There they offered their sacrifices to gods. They brought offerings that ·made me angry [provoked my anger] and burned their incense and poured out their drink offerings. 29 Then I said to them: What is this high place where you go to worship?’” (It is still called ·High Place [L Bamah] today.)
30 “So say to the ·people [L house] of Israel: ‘This is what the Lord God says: Are you going to ·make yourselves unclean [defile yourselves; C ritually] as your ·ancestors [fathers] did? Are you going to ·be unfaithful and desire [prostitute yourselves with] their ·hateful idols [detestable/abominable things]? 31 When you offer your children as gifts and sacrifice them in the fire, you ·are making yourselves unclean [defile yourselves; C ritually] with all your idols even today. So, ·people [L house] of Israel, should I let you ·ask me questions [consult with me]? As surely as I live, says the Lord God, I will not ·accept questions from you [let you seek/inquire of me].
32 “‘What you ·want [or plan] will not come true. You say, “We want to be like the other nations, like the ·people [clans; families] in other lands. We want to worship ·idols made of wood and stone [L wood and stone].” 33 As surely as I live, says the Lord God, ·I will use my great power and strength and anger to [L with a mighty hand and an outstretched arm I will; Deut. 4:34; 5:15] ·rule [be king] over you. 34 I will bring you out from the foreign nations. With ·my great power and strength [L a mighty hand and an outstretched arm] and anger I will gather you from the lands where you are scattered. 35 I will bring you into the ·desert [wilderness] of the ·peoples [nations]. There I will judge you face to face. 36 I will judge you the same way I judged your ·ancestors [fathers] in the ·desert [wilderness] of the land of Egypt, says the Lord God. 37 I will ·count you like sheep [L make you pass under the rod/shepherd’s staff; Lev. 27:32] and will bring you into ·line with [L the bond of] my ·agreement [covenant; treaty]. 38 I will ·get rid of [purge out] those who ·refuse to obey me [revolt] and ·who turn [rebel] against me. I will bring them out of the land where they are now living, but they will never enter the land of Israel. Then you will know that I am the Lord.
39 “‘This is what the Lord God says: ·People [L House] of Israel, go serve your idols for now. ·But later you will [or …if you will not] listen to me; you will not continue to ·dishonor [profane; C ritually] my holy name with your gifts and ·gods [idols]. 40 [L For] On my holy mountain [C Mount Zion; Ps. 2:6; 3:4; 15:1], the high mountain of Israel, all [L the house of] Israel will serve me in the land, says the Lord God. There I will accept you. There I will ·expect [require] your ·offerings [contributions], ·the first harvest of your offerings [or your choicest gifts], and all your holy gifts. 41 I will accept you like ·the pleasing smell of sacrifices [a pleasing aroma; a fragrant incense; Ps. 141:2] when I bring you out from the nations and gather you from the lands where you are scattered. Then through you I will ·show how holy I am [manifest/display my holiness] ·so the nations will see [L in the eyes/sight of the nations]. 42 When I bring you into the land of Israel, the land I ·promised [swore to] your ancestors, you will know that I am the Lord. 43 There you will remember ·everything you did [L your ways and deeds] that ·made you unclean [defiled you; C ritually], and then you will ·hate [despise; loathe] yourselves for all the evil things you have done. 44 I will deal with you for the sake of my name, not because of your evil ways or ·unclean [corrupt] actions. Then you will know I am the Lord, ·people [L house] of Israel, says the Lord God.’”
Babylon, the Lord’s Sword
45 Now the ·Lord spoke his word [L word of the Lord came] to me, saying: 46 “·Human [T Son of man; 2:1], ·look [L set your face] toward the south. Prophesy against the south and against the ·forest [or shrubland] of the ·southern area [L Negev]. 47 Say to that ·forest [or shrubland]: ‘Hear the word of the Lord. This is what the Lord God says: I am ready to start a fire in you that will destroy all your green trees and all your dry trees. The flames that burn will not be put out. Every face from south to north will ·feel their heat [or be scorched by it]. 48 Then all ·the people [L flesh] will see that I, the Lord, have ·started the fire [kindled it]. It will not be ·put out [extinguished].’”
49 Then I said, “Ah, Lord God! The people are saying about me, ‘·He is only [L Isn’t he just…?] telling ·stories [parables].’”
Ezekiel 20
New International Version
Ezekiel 20
New International Version
Rebellious Israel Purged
20 In the seventh year, in the fifth month on the tenth day, some of the elders of Israel came to inquire(A) of the Lord, and they sat down in front of me.(B)
2 Then the word of the Lord came to me: 3 “Son of man, speak to the elders(C) of Israel and say to them, ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: Have you come to inquire(D) of me? As surely as I live, I will not let you inquire of me, declares the Sovereign Lord.(E)’
4 “Will you judge them? Will you judge them, son of man? Then confront them with the detestable practices of their ancestors(F) 5 and say to them: ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: On the day I chose(G) Israel, I swore with uplifted hand(H) to the descendants of Jacob and revealed myself to them in Egypt. With uplifted hand I said to them, “I am the Lord your God.(I)” 6 On that day I swore(J) to them that I would bring them out of Egypt into a land I had searched out for them, a land flowing with milk and honey,(K) the most beautiful of all lands.(L) 7 And I said to them, “Each of you, get rid of the vile images(M) you have set your eyes on, and do not defile yourselves with the idols(N) of Egypt. I am the Lord your God.(O)”
8 “‘But they rebelled against me and would not listen to me;(P) they did not get rid of the vile images they had set their eyes on, nor did they forsake the idols of Egypt.(Q) So I said I would pour out my wrath on them and spend my anger against them in Egypt.(R) 9 But for the sake of my name, I brought them out of Egypt.(S) I did it to keep my name from being profaned(T) in the eyes of the nations among whom they lived and in whose sight I had revealed myself to the Israelites. 10 Therefore I led them out of Egypt and brought them into the wilderness.(U) 11 I gave them my decrees and made known to them my laws, by which the person who obeys them will live.(V) 12 Also I gave them my Sabbaths(W) as a sign(X) between us,(Y) so they would know that I the Lord made them holy.(Z)
13 “‘Yet the people of Israel rebelled(AA) against me in the wilderness. They did not follow my decrees but rejected my laws(AB)—by which the person who obeys them will live—and they utterly desecrated my Sabbaths.(AC) So I said I would pour out my wrath(AD) on them and destroy(AE) them in the wilderness.(AF) 14 But for the sake of my name I did what would keep it from being profaned(AG) in the eyes of the nations in whose sight I had brought them out.(AH) 15 Also with uplifted hand I swore(AI) to them in the wilderness that I would not bring them into the land I had given them—a land flowing with milk and honey, the most beautiful of all lands(AJ)— 16 because they rejected my laws(AK) and did not follow my decrees and desecrated my Sabbaths. For their hearts(AL) were devoted to their idols.(AM) 17 Yet I looked on them with pity and did not destroy(AN) them or put an end to them in the wilderness. 18 I said to their children in the wilderness, “Do not follow the statutes of your parents(AO) or keep their laws or defile yourselves(AP) with their idols. 19 I am the Lord your God;(AQ) follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws.(AR) 20 Keep my Sabbaths(AS) holy, that they may be a sign(AT) between us. Then you will know that I am the Lord your God.(AU)”
21 “‘But the children rebelled against me: They did not follow my decrees, they were not careful to keep my laws,(AV) of which I said, “The person who obeys them will live by them,” and they desecrated my Sabbaths. So I said I would pour out my wrath on them and spend my anger(AW) against them in the wilderness.(AX) 22 But I withheld(AY) my hand, and for the sake of my name(AZ) I did what would keep it from being profaned in the eyes of the nations in whose sight I had brought them out. 23 Also with uplifted hand I swore to them in the wilderness that I would disperse them among the nations and scatter(BA) them through the countries, 24 because they had not obeyed my laws but had rejected my decrees(BB) and desecrated my Sabbaths,(BC) and their eyes lusted after(BD) their parents’ idols.(BE) 25 So I gave(BF) them other statutes that were not good and laws through which they could not live;(BG) 26 I defiled them through their gifts—the sacrifice(BH) of every firstborn—that I might fill them with horror so they would know that I am the Lord.(BI)’
27 “Therefore, son of man, speak to the people of Israel and say to them, ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: In this also your ancestors(BJ) blasphemed(BK) me by being unfaithful to me:(BL) 28 When I brought them into the land(BM) I had sworn to give them and they saw any high hill or any leafy tree, there they offered their sacrifices, made offerings that aroused my anger, presented their fragrant incense and poured out their drink offerings.(BN) 29 Then I said to them: What is this high place(BO) you go to?’” (It is called Bamah[a] to this day.)
Rebellious Israel Renewed
30 “Therefore say to the Israelites: ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: Will you defile yourselves(BP) the way your ancestors did and lust after their vile images?(BQ) 31 When you offer your gifts—the sacrifice of your children(BR) in the fire—you continue to defile yourselves with all your idols to this day. Am I to let you inquire of me, you Israelites? As surely as I live, declares the Sovereign Lord, I will not let you inquire of me.(BS)
32 “‘You say, “We want to be like the nations, like the peoples of the world, who serve wood and stone.” But what you have in mind will never happen. 33 As surely as I live, declares the Sovereign Lord, I will reign over you with a mighty hand and an outstretched arm(BT) and with outpoured wrath.(BU) 34 I will bring you from the nations(BV) and gather(BW) you from the countries where you have been scattered—with a mighty hand(BX) and an outstretched arm and with outpoured wrath.(BY) 35 I will bring you into the wilderness(BZ) of the nations and there, face to face, I will execute judgment(CA) upon you. 36 As I judged your ancestors in the wilderness of the land of Egypt, so I will judge you, declares the Sovereign Lord.(CB) 37 I will take note of you as you pass under my rod,(CC) and I will bring you into the bond of the covenant.(CD) 38 I will purge(CE) you of those who revolt and rebel against me. Although I will bring them out of the land where they are living, yet they will not enter the land of Israel. Then you will know that I am the Lord.(CF)
39 “‘As for you, people of Israel, this is what the Sovereign Lord says: Go and serve your idols,(CG) every one of you! But afterward you will surely listen to me and no longer profane my holy name(CH) with your gifts and idols.(CI) 40 For on my holy mountain, the high mountain of Israel,(CJ) declares the Sovereign Lord, there in the land all the people of Israel will serve me, and there I will accept them. There I will require your offerings(CK) and your choice gifts,[b] along with all your holy sacrifices.(CL) 41 I will accept you as fragrant incense(CM) when I bring you out from the nations and gather(CN) you from the countries where you have been scattered, and I will be proved holy(CO) through you in the sight of the nations.(CP) 42 Then you will know that I am the Lord,(CQ) when I bring you into the land of Israel,(CR) the land I had sworn with uplifted hand to give to your ancestors.(CS) 43 There you will remember your conduct(CT) and all the actions by which you have defiled yourselves, and you will loathe yourselves(CU) for all the evil you have done.(CV) 44 You will know that I am the Lord, when I deal with you for my name’s sake(CW) and not according to your evil ways and your corrupt practices, you people of Israel, declares the Sovereign Lord.(CX)’”
Prophecy Against the South
45 The word of the Lord came to me: 46 “Son of man, set your face toward(CY) the south; preach against the south and prophesy against(CZ) the forest of the southland.(DA) 47 Say to the southern forest:(DB) ‘Hear the word of the Lord. This is what the Sovereign Lord says: I am about to set fire to you, and it will consume(DC) all your trees, both green and dry. The blazing flame will not be quenched, and every face from south to north(DD) will be scorched by it.(DE) 48 Everyone will see that I the Lord have kindled it; it will not be quenched.(DF)’”
49 Then I said, “Sovereign Lord,(DG) they are saying of me, ‘Isn’t he just telling parables?(DH)’”[c]
Footnotes
- Ezekiel 20:29 Bamah means high place.
- Ezekiel 20:40 Or and the gifts of your firstfruits
- Ezekiel 20:49 In Hebrew texts 20:45-49 is numbered 21:1-5.
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