Ezekiel 20

1 In the seventh [seventh year of exile] year, on the tenth day of the fifth month, some of the elders [responsible men, leaders] of Israel [Jacob’s descendants, God’s chosen people] came to inquire [seek, ask] of the LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God], and they sat down [dwelled, remained] before me [in my presence, face to face]. word study 2 Then the word [message from God, divine communication] of the LORD [Yehovah] came [existed, came into being] to me, saying [to speak, to command, to declare], word study 3 “Son of man [human, a mortal], speak to the elders [responsible men, leaders] of Israel [Jacob’s descendants, God’s chosen people] and tell them that this is what the Lord [Adonay, the sovereign God] GOD [Yehovah] says: Have you come [approached, inquired] to inquire [seek, ask] of Me? As surely as I live [am alive, exist], I will not be consulted [sought, inquired of] by you, declares the Lord [the sovereign God] GOD [Yehovah]. word study 4 Will you [condemn, declare guilty] judge them, will you [vindicate, punish] judge them, son [descendant] of man [humanity, Adam]? Confront them with the [detestable, disgusting] abominations of their fathers [ancestors, forefathers] word study 5 and tell them that this is what the Lord [Adonay, the sovereign Master] GOD [Yehovah, the covenant God] says: On the day [a period of time, an era] I chose [selected, elected] Israel [the descendants of Jacob, God’s people], I swore [made a solemn promise, vowed] an oath [a binding promise, a vow] to the descendants [seed, offspring] of the house [family, household] of Jacob [Israel, the father of the twelve tribes] and made Myself known [revealed, disclosed] to them in the land [country, territory] of Egypt [a country in northeastern Africa, a place of bondage]. With an uplifted [raised, extended] hand [an open hand; strength, a side or share] I said to them, ‘I am [exist, have existence] the LORD [Adonai, the Master] your God [Elohim, the one true God].’ word study 6 On that day [in that specific time, from the very beginning] I swore [gave my oath, made a promise] to bring them out of the land [country, territory] of Egypt [a place of bondage] into a land [country, region] that I had searched out [explored, spied out] for them, a land [territory, region] flowing [abundant, overflowing] with milk and honey [a sweet and valuable food], the glory [beauty, splendor] of all lands [countries, territories, the entire world]. word study 7 And I said to them: ‘Each of you must throw away [cast off, reject] the abominations [detestable things, idols] before his eyes, and you must not defile [make unclean, pollute] yourselves with the idols [images, false gods] of Egypt. I am the LORD [Yehovah, the covenant God] your God [Elohim, the supreme Creator].’ word study 8 But they rebelled [resisted, disobeyed] against Me and refused [would not, were unwilling] to listen [to hear and obey]. None of them cast away [threw off, rejected] the abominations [detestable things, idols] before their eyes [their gaze, attention], and they did not forsake [abandon, leave behind] the idols [false gods, images] of Egypt [the land of the Nile, a place of spiritual bondage]. So I resolved [determined, decided] to pour out [to shed, to unleash] My wrath [anger, fury] upon them and vent [to express, to satisfy] My anger [indignation, rage] against them in the land [the territory, the midst] of Egypt [the place of their former slavery]. word study 9 But I acted [for My own reputation, to preserve My honor] for the sake of My name [My identity, character, and authority], that it should not be profaned [polluted, dishonored, or misrepresented] in the eyes [sight, gaze, or perception] of the nations [Gentiles, non-Hebrew peoples] among whom they were living, in whose sight [presence, observation, or awareness] I had revealed [made known, disclosed, or manifested] Myself to Israel by bringing them out [leading them forth, liberating them] of the land [territory, region, or country] of Egypt. word study 10 So I brought [caused to go forth, led] them out of the land [country, territory] of Egypt [a country in northeastern Africa] and led [took, brought] them into the wilderness [desert, open field, a place of testing]. word study 11 And I gave them My statutes [divine laws, ordinances] and made known to them My ordinances [judgments, decrees]—for the man [human being, Adam] who does these things [obeys, follows them] will live [have life, be alive] by them [in obedience to them, through them]. word study 12 I also [even, too] gave them My Sabbaths [days of rest, appointed times] as a sign [miraculous token] between us, so that they would know [understand, perceive] that I am the LORD [Yehovah, the self-existent God] who sanctifies [sets apart, makes holy] them. word study 13 Yet the house [family, descendants] of Israel rebelled [resisted, disobeyed] against Me in the wilderness [desert, barren land]. They did not follow [obey, walk in] My statutes [ordinances, divine laws] and they rejected [spurned, despised] My ordinances [judgments, decrees]—though the man [individual, person] who does these things [obeys, keeps them] will live [have life, thrive] by them—and they utterly [completely, greatly] profaned [desecrated, polluted] My Sabbaths [days of rest, worship]. Then I resolved [determined, decided] to pour out [shed, unleash] My wrath [anger, fury] upon them and put an end [consume, destroy] to them in the wilderness [wild, uninhabited land]. word study 14 But I acted [for My own reputation, to preserve My honor] for the sake of My name [My identity, character, and power], so that it would not be profaned [polluted, dishonored] in the eyes [sight, gaze] of the nations [Gentiles, non-Hebrew peoples] in whose sight [presence, observation] I had brought them out [led them forth, delivered them]. word study 15 Moreover, with an uplifted [raised in oath or promise] hand I swore [made a solemn vow, pledged] to them in the wilderness [desert, barren land] that I would not bring them into the land [territory, promised inheritance] that I had given them—a land [region, country] flowing with milk and honey, the glory [beauty, splendor] of all lands— word study 16 because they kept rejecting [spurning, despising] My ordinances [judgments, regulations], refusing [not willing] to walk [follow, obey] in My statutes [laws, decrees], and profaning [polluting, desecrating] My Sabbaths [days of rest, worship]; for their hearts [inner beings, will] continually went after [pursuing, devoted to] their idols [false gods, images]. word study 17 Yet I looked on them with [tender] pity [to spare them from judgment] and did not destroy [ruin or corrupt] them or bring them to an end [complete consumption] in the wilderness [a desolate and barren land]. word study 18 In the wilderness [desert, open field] I said [spoke, commanded] to their children [sons, descendants]: ‘Do not [refrain from, avoid] walk [live, follow] in the statutes [decrees, laws] of your fathers [ancestors, forefathers] or keep [obey, observe] their ordinances [judgments, rules] or defile [make unclean, pollute] yourselves with their idols [false gods, images]. word study 19 I [the Lord] am the LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God] your God [Elohim, the one supreme God]; walk [to live, to conduct one’s life] in My statutes [ordinances, divine laws], keep [to protect, to obey] My ordinances [judgments, justice], and practice [to do, to make] them [faithfully, with diligence]. word study 20 Keep My Sabbaths [holy days of rest, sanctified times] holy, that they may be a sign [miraculous token, divine wonder] between us, so that you may know [perceive, understand, acknowledge] that I am the LORD [Yehovah, the self-existent God] your God [Elohim, the supreme Ruler].’ word study 21 But the children [sons, descendants] rebelled [resisted, disobeyed] against Me. They did not walk [follow, obey] in My statutes [ordinances, divine laws] or carefully observe [keep, guard] My ordinances [judgments, precepts]—though the man [person, individual] who does these things [obeys, follows] will live [have life, thrive] by them—and they profaned [desecrated, polluted] My Sabbaths [days of rest, worship]. So I resolved [determined, decided] to pour out [shed, unleash] My wrath [anger, indignation] upon them and vent [express, satisfy] My anger [fury, rage] against them in the wilderness [desert, barren land]. word study 22 But I withheld [turned back, restrained] My hand [power, strength] and acted [made, did] for the sake [because, on account] of My name [reputation, character], so that it would not be profaned [polluted, dishonored] in the eyes [sight, presence] of the nations [Gentiles, heathen] in whose sight [eyes, presence] I had brought them out [led them forth, delivered]. word study 23 However, with an uplifted [lifted high, raised] hand I swore [made a solemn oath, vowed] to them in the wilderness [desert, barren land] that I would scatter [disperse, spread abroad] them among the nations [Gentiles, foreign countries] and disperse [scatter, winnow] them throughout the lands [countries, territories]. word study 24 For they did not practice [execute, carry out] My ordinances [statutes, laws], but they rejected [despised, spurned] My statutes [rules, regulations] and profaned [polluted, violated] My Sabbaths [days of rest, worship], fixing their eyes [gazing, looking] on the idols [images, false gods] of their fathers [ancestors, forefathers]. word study 25 I [even] also gave them over to statutes [unbeneficial] that were not [in any way] good [pleasant, beneficial] and ordinances [judgments, laws] by which [through obedience to them] they could not [be able to] live [have life, thrive]. word study 26 And I pronounced them unclean [defiled, polluted] through their gifts [sacrificial offerings, bribes]—the sacrifice of every firstborn [first child, firstling] in the fire [as a burnt offering]—so that I might devastate them [make them desolate, destroy], in order that they would know [understand, recognize] that I am the LORD [Yehovah, the one true God]. word study 27 Therefore, son [descendant, human] of man, speak [communicate, proclaim] to the house [dwelling place, family] of Israel, and tell them that this is what the Lord [Adonay, sovereign God] GOD [Yehovah] says: In this way [manner, fashion] also your fathers [ancestors, forefathers] blasphemed [reviled, spoke badly of] Me by their unfaithfulness [treachery, disloyalty] against Me. word study 28 When I brought them into the land [which I swore to give them, that I had promised] that I swore to give them and they saw any high hill [every lofty elevation] or leafy tree [thick with foliage], there they offered their sacrifices [to idols, in provocation], presented offerings [which were an abomination] that provoked Me, sent up their fragrant incense [a soothing aroma, a pleasant fragrance], and poured out their drink offerings [as an act of worship, in devotion]. word study 29 So I asked them: ‘What [the meaning or purpose of] is this high place [a cultic platform or mountain, Bamah] to which you go [approach or come to]?’ (And to this day [the present time, until now] it is called [named or known as] Bamah [a high place, a location of idol worship]. ) word study 30 Therefore tell the house [family, descendants] of Israel that this is what the Lord [Adonay, God of authority] GOD [Yehovah] says: Will you defile [make unclean, pollute] yourselves the way [manner, path] your fathers [ancestors, forefathers] did, prostituting [committing idolatry, being unfaithful] yourselves with their abominations [detestable things, disgusting practices]? word study 31 When you offer your gifts [sacrificial offerings, presents to idols], sacrificing your sons [causing them to pass through the fire, a form of idolatrous worship] in the fire [burning, flame], you continue to defile [pollute, make unclean] yourselves with all your idols [false gods, objects of worship] to this day [even until now, continuously]. So should I be consulted [sought, inquired of] by you, O house [family, nation] of Israel [God’s chosen people]? As surely as I live [am alive, exist], declares the Lord [Adonai, the supreme Ruler] GOD [Yehovah], I will not be consulted [sought, inquired of] by you! word study 32 When you say, ‘Let us be like the nations [Gentiles, non-Hebrew peoples], like the peoples [families, tribes] of the lands [countries, territories], serving [worshipping, ministering to] wood [trees, wooden idols] and stone [rocks, idols],’ what you have in mind [think, consider] will never come to pass [happen, occur]. word study 33 As surely as I live [with the breath of life], declares the Lord [Adonay, the sovereign Master] GOD [Yehovah], with a [mighty, powerful] strong hand, an outstretched [extended] arm, and outpoured [overflowing] wrath I will [reign, exercise sovereign authority] rule over you. word study 34 With a strong [mighty, powerful] hand, an outstretched [stretched-out, extended] arm, and outpoured [poured out, shed] wrath [intense anger, rage] I will bring you out [lead you forth, gather you] from the peoples [nations, Gentiles] and gather you from the lands [countries, territories] to which you have been scattered [dispersed, spread abroad]. word study 35 And I will bring you into the wilderness [desert, open field] of the nations [peoples, Gentiles], where I will enter into judgment [plead with you, govern] with you face [in your presence] to face [in direct confrontation]. word study 36 Just as I entered into judgment [pleading a case] with your fathers [ancestors, forefathers] in the wilderness [desert, open field] of the land [earth, territory] of Egypt, so I will enter into [vindicate, punish] judgment with you, declares the Lord [Adonay, Master] GOD [Yehovah]. word study 37 I will make you pass [cross over, transition] under the rod [a staff] and will bring you into the bond [pledge, solemn agreement] of the covenant [a promise, agreement between God and his people]. word study 38 And I will purge [clear, cleanse] you of those who rebel [resist, defy authority] and transgress [break away, sin] against Me. I will bring them out [lead them forth] of the land [country, territory] in which they dwell [sojourn, reside], but they will not enter [come into] the land [territory, region] of Israel [God’s chosen people]. Then you will know [understand, recognize] that I am [exist, am present] the LORD [Yehovah, the supreme God]. word study 39 And as for you, O house [dwelling place, family] of Israel [symbolic name of Jacob, referring to his descendants], this is what the Lord [Adonay, a title of reverence] GOD [Yehovah] says: Go [walk, move from one place to another] and serve [work, worship] your idols [objects worshipped as gods, logs or round pieces of wood], every one of you [each individual, man]. But afterward [later, in the future], you will surely listen [hear and obey] to Me, and you will no longer defile [profane, bore] My holy [set-apart, sacred] name [identity, character] with your gifts [sacrificial offerings, presents] and idols [false gods, images]. word study 40 For on My [set-apart] holy mountain, the high [elevated, exalted] mountain of Israel, declares the Lord [Adonay, Master] GOD [Yehovah], there the whole [entire, complete] house of Israel, all [every single one] of them, will serve [worship, obey] Me in the land [earth, territory]. There I will accept [receive, be pleased with] them and will require [seek, ask for] your offerings [sacrifices, gifts] and choice [best, firstfruits] gifts, along with all [everything, every part] your holy [set-apart, sacred] sacrifices. word study 41 When I bring you from the peoples [nations, Gentiles] and gather you from the lands [countries, territories] to which you have been scattered [dispersed, broken apart], I will accept you as a pleasing aroma [sweet savor, fragrant incense] [a soothing and calming presence]. And I will show My holiness [set-apartness, divine nature] through you in the sight of the nations [Gentiles, heathen]. word study 42 Then you will know [be certain, understand] that I am the LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God], when I bring [lead, guide] you into the land [territory, region] of Israel [the descendants of Jacob], the land [country, earth] that I swore [promised, vowed] to give [bestow, grant] your fathers [ancestors, forefathers]. word study 43 There [in that place, at that time] you will remember [recall, think about] your ways [path, journey, manner of life] and all [everything, every aspect] the deeds [actions, wantonness, evil deeds] with which [by means of, through] you have defiled [made unclean, polluted] yourselves, and you will loathe [hate, be disgusted with] yourselves [your own nature, character] for all [every, each] the evils [bad things, wicked deeds] you have done [committed, made]. word study 44 Then you will know [be certain, have absolute assurance], O house [family, descendants] of Israel, that I am the LORD [Yehovah, the self-existent God], when I have dealt [acted, intervened] with you for the sake [honor, reputation] of My name [character, identity] and not according to your wicked [morally wrong, evil] ways [lifestyle, behavior] and corrupt [morally decayed, ruined] acts [deeds, actions], declares [utters, proclaims] the Lord [Adonay, the sovereign God] GOD [Yehovah, the covenant God].” word study 46 “Son of man, set your face [gaze, countenance] toward the south, preach [proclaim, declare] against it, and prophesy [foretell, speak] against the forest [woodland, trees] of the Negev [south field, southern region]. word study 47 Say to the forest [woodland, trees] of the Negev: Hear [listen, give ear] the word of the LORD! This is what the Lord GOD says: I am about to ignite [kindle, set on fire] in you a fire, and it will devour [consume, destroy] all your trees, both green [living, moist] and dry [dead, withered]. The blazing [burning, flaming] flame will not be quenched [extinguished, put out], and by it every face [countenance, person] from south to north will be scorched [burned, burned up]. word study 48 Then all people [flesh, humanity] will see [recognize, understand] that I, the LORD [Yehovah, the Sovereign One], have kindled [started, ignited] it; it will not be quenched [put out, extinguished].” word study 49 Then I said, “Ah, Lord GOD [Yehovah, Sovereign Lord], they are saying of me, ‘Is he not just [merely, really] telling parables [similes, stories]?’” word study