Ezekiel 20:17
Ezekiel 20:17 in Multiple Translations
Yet I looked on them with pity and did not destroy them or bring them to an end in the wilderness.
Nevertheless mine eye spared them from destroying them, neither did I make an end of them in the wilderness.
Nevertheless mine eye spared them, and I destroyed them not, neither did I make a full end of them in the wilderness.
But still my eye had pity on them and I kept them from destruction and did not put an end to them completely in the waste land.
Even so I was sorry for them and I didn't destroy them; I didn't wipe them out in the desert.
Neuerthelesse, mine eye spared them, that I would not destroye them, neither would I consume them in the wildernes.
And Mine eye hath pity on them — against destroying them, And I have not made of them an end in the wilderness.
Nevertheless my eye spared them, and I didn’t destroy them. I didn’t make a full end of them in the wilderness.
Nevertheless my eye spared them from destroying them, neither did I make an end of them in the wilderness.
Yet my eye spared them, so that I destroyed them not: neither did I consume them in the desert.
But, I still pitied them and did not get rid of all of them in the desert.
Berean Amplified Bible — Ezekiel 20:17
BAB
Word Study
Hover over any word to see its amplified meaning. Click a word to explore its full definition and translation comparisons.
Amplified text is generated using scripting to tie together English translations for comparison. Always refer to the core BSB translation and original Hebrew/Greek text for accuracy. Anomalies may occur.
Ezekiel 20:17 Interlinear (Deep Study)
BIB
HEB
וַ/תָּ֧חָס
עֵינִ֛/י
עֲלֵי/הֶ֖ם
מִֽ/שַּׁחֲתָ֑/ם
וְ/לֹֽא
עָשִׂ֧יתִי
אוֹתָ֛/ם
כָּלָ֖ה
בַּ/מִּדְבָּֽר
וַ/תָּ֧חָס
chûwç
H2347
to pity
Conj | V-Qal-ConsecImperf-3fs
עֵינִ֛/י
ʻayin
H5869
eye
N-cs | Suff
עֲלֵי/הֶ֖ם
ʻal
H5921
upon
Prep | Suff
מִֽ/שַּׁחֲתָ֑/ם
shâchath
H7843
to ruin
Prep | V-Piel-Inf-a | Suff
וְ/לֹֽא
lôʼ
H3808
not
Conj | Part
עָשִׂ֧יתִי
ʻâsâh
H6213
to make
V-Qal-Perf-1cs
אוֹתָ֛/ם
ʼêth
H853
Obj.
DirObjM | Suff
כָּלָ֖ה
kâlâh
H3617
consumption
N-fs
בַּ/מִּדְבָּֽר
midbâr
H4057
mouth
Prep | N-ms
Hebrew Word Study
Select any word above to explore its original meaning, root, and usage across Scripture.
Use ← → arrow keys to navigate between words.
Hebrew Word Reference — Ezekiel 20:17
וַ/תָּ֧חָס
chûwç
H2347
"to pity"
Conj | V-Qal-ConsecImperf-3fs
To pity or have compassion on someone means to show kindness and care for their well-being, like God's compassion for his people. It involves covering or protecting them from harm.
Definition: (Qal) to pity, have compassion, spare, look upon with compassion
Usage: Occurs in 24 OT verses. KJV: pity, regard, spare. See also: Genesis 45:20; Ezekiel 5:11; Psalms 72:13.
עֵינִ֛/י
ʻayin
H5869
"eye"
N-cs | Suff
This word can mean a spring or fountain, but also refers to the eye or a source of something. It is often translated as affliction, outward appearance, or countenance, and is used in various contexts throughout the Bible.
Definition: : eye 1) eye 1a) eye 1a1) of physical eye 1a2) as showing mental qualities 1a3) of mental and spiritual faculties (fig.)
Usage: Occurs in 828 OT verses. KJV: affliction, outward appearance, [phrase] before, [phrase] think best, colour, conceit, [phrase] be content, countenance, [phrase] displease, eye((-brow), (-d), -sight), face, [phrase] favour, fountain, furrow (from the margin), [idiom] him, [phrase] humble, knowledge, look, ([phrase] well), [idiom] me, open(-ly), [phrase] (not) please, presence, [phrase] regard, resemblance, sight, [idiom] thee, [idiom] them, [phrase] think, [idiom] us, well, [idiom] you(-rselves). See also: Genesis 3:5; Exodus 34:9; Deuteronomy 28:67.
עֲלֵי/הֶ֖ם
ʻal
H5921
"upon"
Prep | Suff
This Hebrew word means on or above something, like a physical object or a situation. It can also imply a sense of responsibility or accountability, as in being on behalf of someone.
Definition: prep 1) upon, on the ground of, according to, on account of, on behalf of, concerning, beside, in addition to, together with, beyond, above, over, by, on to, towards, to, against 1a) upon, on the ground of, on the basis of, on account of, because of, therefore, on behalf of, for the sake of, for, with, in spite of, notwithstanding, concerning, in the matter of, as regards 1b) above, beyond, over (of excess) 1c) above, over (of elevation or pre-eminence) 1d) upon, to, over to, unto, in addition to, together with, with (of addition) 1e) over (of suspension or extension) 1f) by, adjoining, next, at, over, around (of contiguity or proximity) 1g) down upon, upon, on, from, up upon, up to, towards, over towards, to, against (with verbs of motion) 1h) to (as a dative)
Usage: Occurs in 4493 OT verses. KJV: above, according to(-ly), after, (as) against, among, and, [idiom] as, at, because of, beside (the rest of), between, beyond the time, [idiom] both and, by (reason of), [idiom] had the charge of, concerning for, in (that), (forth, out) of, (from) (off), (up-) on, over, than, through(-out), to, touching, [idiom] with. See also: Genesis 1:2; Genesis 24:13; Genesis 41:33.
מִֽ/שַּׁחֲתָ֑/ם
shâchath
H7843
"to ruin"
Prep | V-Piel-Inf-a | Suff
This verb means to ruin or destroy something, and it is used in various forms throughout the Bible to describe corruption and decay.
Definition: 1) to destroy, corrupt, go to ruin, decay 1a) (Niphal) to be marred, be spoiled, be corrupted, be corrupt, be injured, be ruined, be rotted 1b) (Piel) 1b1) to spoil, ruin 1b2) to pervert, corrupt, deal corruptly (morally) 1c) (Hiphil) 1c1) to spoil, ruin, destroy 1c2) to pervert, corrupt (morally) 1c3) destroyer (participle) 1d) (Hophal) spoiled, ruined (participle) Aramaic equivalent: she.chat (שְׁחַת "to corrupt" H7844)
Usage: Occurs in 136 OT verses. KJV: batter, cast off, corrupt(-er, thing), destroy(-er, -uction), lose, mar, perish, spill, spoiler, [idiom] utterly, waste(-r). See also: Genesis 6:11; Psalms 14:1; Psalms 53:2.
וְ/לֹֽא
lôʼ
H3808
"not"
Conj | Part
The Hebrew word for not or no is used to indicate absence or negation, as when God says no to the Israelites' requests, or when they disobey His commands.
Definition: 1) not, no 1a) not (with verb-absolute prohibition) 1b) not (with modifier-negation) 1c) nothing (subst) 1d) without (with particle) 1e) before (of time) Aramaic equivalent: la (לָא "not" H3809)
Usage: Occurs in 3967 OT verses. KJV: [idiom] before, [phrase] or else, ere, [phrase] except, ig(-norant), much, less, nay, neither, never, no((-ne), -r, (-thing)), ([idiom] as though...,(can-), for) not (out of), of nought, otherwise, out of, [phrase] surely, [phrase] as truly as, [phrase] of a truth, [phrase] verily, for want, [phrase] whether, without. See also: Genesis 2:5; Genesis 31:15; Exodus 4:9.
עָשִׂ֧יתִי
ʻâsâh
H6213
"to make"
V-Qal-Perf-1cs
This verb means to make or do something, and is used over 2,600 times in the Bible. It is first used in Genesis 1:7 to describe God's creation of the world and is also used in Exodus 31:5 to describe the work of skilled craftsmen.
Definition: : make(OBJECT) 1) to do, fashion, accomplish, make 1a) (Qal) 1a1) to do, work, make, produce 1a1a) to do 1a1b) to work 1a1c) to deal (with) 1a1d) to act, act with effect, effect 1a2) to make 1a2a) to make 1a2b) to produce 1a2c) to prepare 1a2d) to make (an offering) 1a2e) to attend to, put in order 1a2f) to observe, celebrate 1a2g) to acquire (property) 1a2h) to appoint, ordain, institute 1a2i) to bring about 1a2j) to use 1a2k) to spend, pass 1b) (Niphal) 1b1) to be done 1b2) to be made 1b3) to be produced 1b4) to be offered 1b5) to be observed 1b6) to be used 1c) (Pual) to be made
Usage: Occurs in 2286 OT verses. KJV: accomplish, advance, appoint, apt, be at, become, bear, bestow, bring forth, bruise, be busy, [idiom] certainly, have the charge of, commit, deal (with), deck, [phrase] displease, do, (ready) dress(-ed), (put in) execute(-ion), exercise, fashion, [phrase] feast, (fight-) ing man, [phrase] finish, fit, fly, follow, fulfill, furnish, gather, get, go about, govern, grant, great, [phrase] hinder, hold (a feast), [idiom] indeed, [phrase] be industrious, [phrase] journey, keep, labour, maintain, make, be meet, observe, be occupied, offer, [phrase] officer, pare, bring (come) to pass, perform, pracise, prepare, procure, provide, put, requite, [idiom] sacrifice, serve, set, shew, [idiom] sin, spend, [idiom] surely, take, [idiom] thoroughly, trim, [idiom] very, [phrase] vex, be (warr-) ior, work(-man), yield, use. See also: Genesis 1:7; Genesis 34:19; Exodus 18:24.
אוֹתָ֛/ם
ʼêth
H853
"Obj."
DirObjM | Suff
In the original Hebrew, this word points out the object of a verb or preposition, like 'namely' or 'even'. It appears in many books, including Genesis and Exodus. It's not directly translated in English, but helps clarify the meaning of sentences.
Definition: sign of the definite direct object, not translated in English but generally preceding and indicating the accusative Aramaic equivalent: yat (יָת "whom" H3487)
Usage: Occurs in 6782 OT verses. KJV: (as such unrepresented in English). See also: Genesis 1:1; Genesis 10:8; Genesis 19:21.
כָּלָ֖ה
kâlâh
H3617
"consumption"
N-fs
This word refers to the act of completely destroying or consuming something, like the complete destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah in Genesis 19:28.
Definition: 1) completion, termination, full end, complete destruction, consumption, annihilation 1a) completion 1a1) completely, altogether (adv) 1b) complete destruction, consumption, annihilation
Usage: Occurs in 19 OT verses. KJV: altogether, (be, utterly) consume(-d), consummation(-ption), was determined, (full, utter) end, riddance. See also: Genesis 18:21; Jeremiah 5:18; Isaiah 10:23.
בַּ/מִּדְבָּֽר
midbâr
H4057
"mouth"
Prep | N-ms
The wilderness refers to a desert or open field, like the one the Israelites wandered in after leaving Egypt. It can also mean a place of solitude or a region without many people. In the Bible, it is often associated with the journey to the Promised Land.
Definition: 1) mouth 1a) mouth (as organ of speech)
Usage: Occurs in 257 OT verses. KJV: desert, south, speech, wilderness. See also: Genesis 14:6; Joshua 5:4; Psalms 29:8.
Study Notes — Ezekiel 20:17
Show Verse Quote Highlights
- Context
- Cross References
- Ezekiel 20:17 Summary
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Reflection Questions
- Gill's Exposition on Ezekiel 20:17
- Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Ezekiel 20:17
- Matthew Poole's Commentary on Ezekiel 20:17
- Trapp's Commentary on Ezekiel 20:17
- Cambridge Bible on Ezekiel 20:17
- Whedon's Commentary on Ezekiel 20:17
- Sermons on Ezekiel 20:17
Context — Israel’s Rebellion in the Wilderness
15Moreover, with an uplifted hand I swore to them in the wilderness that I would not bring them into the land that I had given them—a land flowing with milk and honey, the glory of all lands—
16because they kept rejecting My ordinances, refusing to walk in My statutes, and profaning My Sabbaths; for their hearts continually went after their idols.
17Yet I looked on them with pity and did not destroy them or bring them to an end in the wilderness.
18In the wilderness I said to their children: ‘Do not walk in the statutes of your fathers or keep their ordinances or defile yourselves with their idols. 19I am the LORD your God; walk in My statutes, keep My ordinances, and practice them.Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ezekiel 11:13 | Now as I was prophesying, Pelatiah son of Benaiah died. Then I fell facedown and cried out in a loud voice, “Oh, Lord GOD, will You bring the remnant of Israel to a complete end?” |
| 2 | Jeremiah 4:27 | For this is what the LORD says: “The whole land will be desolate, but I will not finish its destruction. |
| 3 | Jeremiah 5:18 | “Yet even in those days,” declares the LORD, “I will not make a full end of you. |
| 4 | Ezekiel 9:10 | But as for Me, I will not look on them with pity, nor will I spare them. I will bring their deeds down upon their own heads.” |
| 5 | Ezekiel 7:2 | “O son of man, this is what the Lord GOD says to the land of Israel: ‘The end! The end has come upon the four corners of the land. |
| 6 | Psalms 78:37–38 | Their hearts were disloyal to Him, and they were unfaithful to His covenant. And yet He was compassionate; He forgave their iniquity and did not destroy them. He often restrained His anger and did not unleash His full wrath. |
| 7 | Nahum 1:8–9 | But with an overwhelming flood He will make an end of Nineveh and pursue His enemies into darkness. Whatever you plot against the LORD, He will bring to an end. Affliction will not rise up a second time. |
| 8 | 1 Samuel 24:10 | Behold, this day you have seen with your own eyes that the LORD delivered you into my hand in the cave. I was told to kill you, but I spared you and said, ‘I will not lift my hand against my lord, since he is the LORD’s anointed.’ |
| 9 | Nehemiah 9:19 | You in Your great compassion did not forsake them in the wilderness. By day the pillar of cloud never turned away from guiding them on their path; and by the night the pillar of fire illuminated the way they should go. |
| 10 | Ezekiel 8:18 | Therefore I will respond with wrath. I will not look on them with pity, nor will I spare them. Although they shout loudly in My ears, I will not listen to them.” |
Ezekiel 20:17 Summary
This verse, Ezekiel 20:17, tells us that even though the Israelites were disobedient and rebellious, God chose not to destroy them. Instead, He looked on them with pity and spared their lives. This shows us that God is a merciful and compassionate God, who wants to forgive and restore His people, as seen in (Psalm 86:5) and (Luke 15:20). This is a powerful reminder of God's love and mercy towards us, and encourages us to seek His forgiveness and restoration in our own lives, just like the Israelites did in (Deuteronomy 30:1-3).
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did God not destroy the Israelites in the wilderness?
God looked on them with pity, as stated in Ezekiel 20:17, and chose not to destroy them, demonstrating His mercy and compassion, similar to His actions in Exodus 32:14 where He relented from destroying them after the golden calf incident.
What does it mean that God 'did not bring them to an end'?
This phrase suggests that God chose not to completely eliminate or annihilate the Israelites, instead preserving them as a nation, as promised in Jeremiah 31:35-37, where He says He will preserve them as a nation forever.
How does this verse relate to God's overall character?
This verse showcases God's mercy and compassion, as seen in Ezekiel 20:17, which is a fundamental aspect of His character, also highlighted in Psalm 103:8, where it says 'The LORD is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in love.'
What can we learn from God's actions in this verse?
We can learn about God's patience and mercy towards His people, even when they are disobedient, as seen in Ezekiel 20:17, and also in Romans 5:8, where it says 'But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.'
Reflection Questions
- What are some times in my life when I have experienced God's pity and mercy, similar to what is described in Ezekiel 20:17?
- How can I balance the understanding of God's justice and mercy, as seen in this verse and other parts of Scripture, such as Psalm 89:14?
- In what ways can I show pity and mercy to others, as God has shown to me, as encouraged in Micah 6:8?
- What does this verse teach me about God's character and how He relates to His people, and how can I apply this to my own relationship with Him?
Gill's Exposition on Ezekiel 20:17
Nevertheless, mine eye spared them from destroying them,.... Utterly, so as to leave neither root nor branch; for though the whole generation died excepting two, either by the immediate hand of God
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Ezekiel 20:17
Nevertheless mine eye spared them from destroying them, neither did I make an end of them in the wilderness. Nevertheless mine eye spared them. How marvelous that God should spare such sinners!
Matthew Poole's Commentary on Ezekiel 20:17
Nevertheless mine eye spared them; though they did highly provoke God, and deserved to be cut off, yet his eye pitied them: they provoked his wrath, he stirred up his compassions. Them; not all of them, for many did die in the wilderness, and, among these, some by immediate wrath; but how many soever they were, yet the growing generation was spared, and the nation was not extirpated.
Trapp's Commentary on Ezekiel 20:17
Ezekiel 20:17 Nevertheless mine eye spared them from destroying them, neither did I make an end of them in the wilderness.Ver. 17. Nevertheless mine eye spared them.] It was by a non obstante of God’ s mercy, and by a prop of his extraordinary patience, that they subsisted.
Cambridge Bible on Ezekiel 20:17
17. Another motive besides regard for his own name moved Jehovah to spare Israel—pity for the sinners; cf. Psalms 78:38, “But he being full of compassion forgave their iniquity and destroyed them not; yea many a time he turned his anger away”. Numbers 14:20.
Whedon's Commentary on Ezekiel 20:17
17. Nevertheless mine eye spared them — So identified were Israel and Jehovah in the eyes of the nations that he could not have utterly annihilated the nation, as justice seemed to demand, without
Sermons on Ezekiel 20:17
| Sermon | Description | |
|---|---|---|
|
Letter 51 by James Bourne | James Bourne shares his personal journey of affliction and redemption, emphasizing the importance of heeding warnings and staying faithful in spiritual teachings. He reflects on th |
|
The Great Commission by Paul Washer | In this sermon, the preacher emphasizes the importance of not getting distracted from the main purpose of Christianity. He highlights that Christianity is not just about being mora |
|
Jehovah Raphi-the Lord That Heals by David Wilkerson | In this sermon, the preacher emphasizes that there is something of God that will not let go of us. He speaks of God's love, mercy, and compassion, and how He sends His servants to |
|
Darkness Pursuing the Sinner. by Horatius Bonar | Horatius Bonar delivers a powerful sermon on Nahum 1:8, emphasizing that darkness pursues those who are enemies of God, as exemplified by Nineveh and Assyria. He describes the sinn |
|
Nehemiah 9 by Chuck Smith | Chuck Smith emphasizes the character of God as revealed in Nehemiah 9, highlighting His righteousness, mercy, and faithfulness to His people. The chapter recounts the Israelites' s |
|
Marked Men #2 by Gareth Evans | In this sermon, the speaker shares two powerful stories that illustrate the brokenness and suffering in the world. The first story is about a missionary in Haiti who brings doctors |