Ezekiel 20:7
Ezekiel 20:7 in Multiple Translations
And I said to them: ‘Each of you must throw away the abominations before his eyes, and you must not defile yourselves with the idols of Egypt. I am the LORD your God.’
Then said I unto them, Cast ye away every man the abominations of his eyes, and defile not yourselves with the idols of Egypt: I am the LORD your God.
And I said unto them, Cast ye away every man the abominations of his eyes, and defile not yourselves with the idols of Egypt; I am Jehovah your God.
And I said to them, Let every man among you put away the disgusting things to which his eyes are turned, and do not make yourselves unclean with the images of Egypt; I am the Lord your God.
I told them: ‘All of you have to get rid of your disgusting pagan images. Don't make yourselves unclean by worshiping the idols of Egypt. I am the Lord your God.’
Then sayd I vnto them, Let euery man cast away the abominations of his eyes, and defile not your selues with the idols of Egypt: for I am the Lord your God.
And I say unto them, Let each cast away the detestable things of his eyes, And with the idols of Egypt be not defiled, I [am] Jehovah your God.
I said to them, ‘Each of you throw away the abominations of his eyes. Don’t defile yourselves with the idols of Egypt. I am the LORD your God.’
Then said I to them, Cast ye away every man the abominations of his eyes, and defile not yourselves with the idols of Egypt: I am the LORD your God.
And I said to them: Let every man cast away the scandals of his eyes, and defile not yourselves with the idols of Egypt: I am the Lord your God.
Each of you must get rid of the disgusting idols that you loved [IDM], and do not defile yourselves byworshiping those idolsthat you saw in Egypt. I, Yahweh your God, am saying this to you.” ’
Berean Amplified Bible — Ezekiel 20:7
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 20:7 Interlinear (Deep Study)
BIB
HEB
וָ/אֹמַ֣ר
אֲלֵ/הֶ֗ם
אִ֣ישׁ
שִׁקּוּצֵ֤י
עֵינָי/ו֙
הַשְׁלִ֔יכוּ
וּ/בְ/גִלּוּלֵ֥י
מִצְרַ֖יִם
אַל
תִּטַּמָּ֑אוּ
אֲנִ֖י
יְהוָ֥ה
אֱלֹהֵי/כֶֽם
וָ/אֹמַ֣ר
ʼâmar
H559
to say
Conj | V-Qal-ConsecImperf-1cs
אֲלֵ/הֶ֗ם
ʼêl
H413
to(wards)
Prep | Suff
אִ֣ישׁ
ʼîysh
H376
man
N-ms
שִׁקּוּצֵ֤י
shiqqûwts
H8251
abomination
N-mp
עֵינָי/ו֙
ʻayin
H5869
eye
N-cd | Suff
הַשְׁלִ֔יכוּ
shâlak
H7993
to throw
V-Hiphil-Impv-2mp
וּ/בְ/גִלּוּלֵ֥י
gillûwl
H1544
idol
Conj | Prep | N-mp
מִצְרַ֖יִם
Mitsrayim
H4714
Egypt
N-proper
אַל
ʼal
H408
not
Part
תִּטַּמָּ֑אוּ
ṭâmêʼ
H2930
to defile
V-Hithpael-Juss-2mp
אֲנִ֖י
ʼănîy
H589
I
Pron
יְהוָ֥ה
Yᵉhôvâh
H3068
The Lord
N-proper
אֱלֹהֵי/כֶֽם
ʼĕlôhîym
H430
God
N-mp | Suff
Hebrew Word Study
Select any word above to explore its original meaning, root, and usage across Scripture.
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Hebrew Word Reference — Ezekiel 20:7
וָ/אֹמַ֣ר
ʼâmar
H559
"to say"
Conj | V-Qal-ConsecImperf-1cs
This Hebrew word means to say or speak, and it's used in many different ways in the Bible. It can mean to command, promise, or think, and it's translated in the KJV as 'answer', 'appoint', or 'command'.
Definition: 1) to say, speak, utter 1a) (Qal) to say, to answer, to say in one's heart, to think, to command, to promise, to intend 1b) (Niphal) to be told, to be said, to be called 1c) (Hithpael) to boast, to act proudly 1d) (Hiphil) to avow, to avouch Aramaic equivalent: a.mar (אֲמַר "to say" H0560)
Usage: Occurs in 4337 OT verses. KJV: answer, appoint, avouch, bid, boast self, call, certify, challenge, charge, [phrase] (at the, give) command(-ment), commune, consider, declare, demand, [idiom] desire, determine, [idiom] expressly, [idiom] indeed, [idiom] intend, name, [idiom] plainly, promise, publish, report, require, say, speak (against, of), [idiom] still, [idiom] suppose, talk, tell, term, [idiom] that is, [idiom] think, use (speech), utter, [idiom] verily, [idiom] yet. See also: Genesis 1:3; Genesis 18:23; Genesis 25:32.
אֲלֵ/הֶ֗ם
ʼêl
H413
"to(wards)"
Prep | Suff
This Hebrew word means 'to' or 'toward', showing direction or movement. It appears in many books, including Genesis and Exodus, to indicate where someone is going. The KJV translates it in various ways, like 'about', 'according to', or 'against'.
Definition: 1) to, toward, unto (of motion) 2) into (limit is actually entered) 2a) in among 3) toward (of direction, not necessarily physical motion) 4) against (motion or direction of a hostile character) 5) in addition to, to 6) concerning, in regard to, in reference to, on account of 7) according to (rule or standard) 8) at, by, against (of one's presence) 9) in between, in within, to within, unto (idea of motion to)
Usage: Occurs in 4205 OT verses. KJV: about, according to, after, against, among, as for, at, because(-fore, -side), both...and, by, concerning, for, from, [idiom] hath, in(-to), near, (out) of, over, through, to(-ward), under, unto, upon, whether, with(-in). See also: Genesis 1:9; Genesis 21:14; Genesis 31:13.
אִ֣ישׁ
ʼîysh
H376
"man"
N-ms
The Hebrew word for man, referring to a male person or individual, is used in the Bible to describe humans in contrast to God or animals, as seen in Genesis and Psalms. It can also mean husband or servant. In the KJV, it is translated as man or male.
Definition: : man 1) man 1a) man, male (in contrast to woman, female) 1b) husband 1c) human being, person (in contrast to God) 1d) servant 1e) mankind 1f) champion 1g) great man 2) whosoever 3) each (adjective)
Usage: Occurs in 1851 OT verses. KJV: also, another, any (man), a certain, [phrase] champion, consent, each, every (one), fellow, (foot-, husband-) man, (good-, great, mighty) man, he, high (degree), him (that is), husband, man(-kind), [phrase] none, one, people, person, [phrase] steward, what (man) soever, whoso(-ever), worthy. Compare H802 (אִשָּׁה). See also: Genesis 2:23; Genesis 42:25; Exodus 32:23.
שִׁקּוּצֵ֤י
shiqqûwts
H8251
"abomination"
N-mp
This word describes something disgusting or filthy, often referring to idol worship, as seen in Deuteronomy's warnings against false gods.
Definition: detestable thing or idol, abominable thing, abomination, idol, detested thing
Usage: Occurs in 26 OT verses. KJV: abominable filth (idol, -ation), detestable (thing). See also: Deuteronomy 29:16; Ezekiel 7:20; Isaiah 66:3.
עֵינָי/ו֙
ʻayin
H5869
"eye"
N-cd | 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.
הַשְׁלִ֔יכוּ
shâlak
H7993
"to throw"
V-Hiphil-Impv-2mp
To throw or cast away is the meaning of this Hebrew verb. It is used in various contexts, including throwing lots or casting out something unwanted. The word appears in stories like Jonah being thrown into the sea.
Definition: 1) to throw, cast, hurl, fling 1a) (Hiphil) 1a1) to throw, cast, throw away, cast off, shed, cast down 1a2) to cast (lots) (fig) 1b) (Hophal) 1b1) to be thrown, be cast 1b2) to be cast forth or out 1b3) to be cast down 1b4) to be cast (metaph)
Usage: Occurs in 121 OT verses. KJV: adventure, cast (away, down, forth, off, out), hurl, pluck, throw. See also: Genesis 21:15; Nehemiah 9:11; Psalms 2:3.
וּ/בְ/גִלּוּלֵ֥י
gillûwl
H1544
"idol"
Conj | Prep | N-mp
This Hebrew word refers to an idol, which is an object worshipped as a god. It literally means a log or a round piece of wood, but it's used to describe false gods and idols in the Bible. It's often used in a negative sense to criticize idol worship.
Definition: idols
Usage: Occurs in 45 OT verses. KJV: idol. See also: Leviticus 26:30; Ezekiel 18:12; Jeremiah 50:2.
מִצְרַ֖יִם
Mitsrayim
H4714
"Egypt"
N-proper
This word means Egypt, a country in northeastern Africa, and is used in the Bible to describe the land and its people. It appears in books like Genesis and Isaiah, often referring to the Nile River and the Egyptians. Egypt is an important setting for many biblical events.
Definition: § Egypt = "land of the Copts" a country at the northeastern section of Africa, adjacent to Palestine, and through which the Nile flows Egyptians = "double straits" adj 2) the inhabitants or natives of Egypt
Usage: Occurs in 569 OT verses. KJV: Egypt, Egyptians, Mizraim. See also: Genesis 10:6; Exodus 6:13; Exodus 34:18.
אַל
ʼal
H408
"not"
Part
Means not or nothing, used to express negation, as in the phrase do not or let not be.
Definition: 1) not, no, nor, neither, nothing (as wish or preference) 1a) do not, let not (with a verb) 1b) let there not be (with a verb understood) 1c) not, no (with substantive) 1d) nothing (as substantive) Aramaic equivalent: al (אַל "not" H0409)
Usage: Occurs in 572 OT verses. KJV: nay, neither, [phrase] never, no, nor, not, nothing (worth), rather than. See also: Genesis 13:8; Joshua 11:6; 1 Chronicles 22:13.
תִּטַּמָּ֑אוּ
ṭâmêʼ
H2930
"to defile"
V-Hithpael-Juss-2mp
This Hebrew word means to be foul or contaminated, often in a moral or ceremonial sense. It is used in the Bible to describe something that is unclean or polluted. In the book of Leviticus, it talks about being unclean and how to become clean again.
Definition: 1) to be unclean, become unclean, become impure 1a) (Qal) to be or become unclean 1a1) sexually 1a2) religiously 1a3) ceremonially 1b) (Niphal) 1b1) to defile oneself, be defiled 1b1a) sexually 1b1b) by idolatry 1b1c) ceremonially 1b2) to be regarded as unclean 1c) (Piel) 1c1) to defile 1c1a) sexually 1c1b) religiously 1c1c) ceremonially 1c2) to pronounce unclean, declare unclean (ceremonially) 1c3) to profane (God's name) 1d) (Pual) to be defiled 1e) (Hithpael) to be unclean 1f) (Hothpael) to be defiled
Usage: Occurs in 142 OT verses. KJV: defile (self), pollute (self), be (make, make self, pronounce) unclean, [idiom] utterly. See also: Genesis 34:5; Leviticus 22:5; Psalms 79:1.
אֲנִ֖י
ʼănîy
H589
"I"
Pron
This Hebrew word is a simple way of saying 'I' or 'me', often used for emphasis. It is used by people like David in the Psalms to express their thoughts and feelings. The word is a basic part of the Hebrew language.
Definition: I (first pers. sing. -usually used for emphasis)
Usage: Occurs in 803 OT verses. KJV: I, (as for) me, mine, myself, we, [idiom] which, [idiom] who. See also: Genesis 6:17; Leviticus 19:36; 1 Samuel 25:24.
יְהוָ֥ה
Yᵉhôvâh
H3068
"The Lord"
N-proper
Yehovah is another name for God, often translated as 'the Lord'. It is a national name for God in the Jewish faith. This name is used throughout the Old Testament.
Definition: Another name of ye.ru.sha.laim (יְרוּשָׁלִַ֫ם, יְרוּשְׁלֵם "Jerusalem" H3389)
Usage: Occurs in 5522 OT verses. KJV: Jehovah, the Lord. Compare H3050 (יָהּ), H3069 (יְהֹוִה). See also: Genesis 2:4; Genesis 24:42; Exodus 8:8.
אֱלֹהֵי/כֶֽם
ʼĕlôhîym
H430
"God"
N-mp | Suff
The Hebrew word for God, elohim, refers to the one supreme God, and is sometimes used to show respect to judges or magistrates. It is also used to describe angels or mighty beings. This word is closely related to the name of the Lord, Yahweh, and is often translated as God or gods in the Bible.
Definition: This name means "gods" (plural intensive-singular meaning), "God" Another name of ye.ho.vah (יהוה "LORD" H3068G)
Usage: Occurs in 2246 OT verses. KJV: angels, [idiom] exceeding, God (gods) (-dess, -ly), [idiom] (very) great, judges, [idiom] mighty. See also: Genesis 1:1; Genesis 22:12; Exodus 3:11.
Study Notes — Ezekiel 20:7
Show Verse Quote Highlights
- Context
- Cross References
- Ezekiel 20:7 Summary
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Reflection Questions
- Gill's Exposition on Ezekiel 20:7
- Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Ezekiel 20:7
- Matthew Poole's Commentary on Ezekiel 20:7
- Trapp's Commentary on Ezekiel 20:7
- Adam Clarke's Commentary on Ezekiel 20:7
- Cambridge Bible on Ezekiel 20:7
- Whedon's Commentary on Ezekiel 20:7
- Sermons on Ezekiel 20:7
Context — Israel’s Rebellion in Egypt
5and tell them that this is what the Lord GOD says: On the day I chose Israel, I swore an oath to the descendants of the house of Jacob and made Myself known to them in the land of Egypt. With an uplifted hand I said to them, ‘I am the LORD your God.’
6On that day I swore to bring them out of the land of Egypt into a land that I had searched out for them, a land flowing with milk and honey, the glory of all lands.
7And I said to them: ‘Each of you must throw away the abominations before his eyes, and you must not defile yourselves with the idols of Egypt. I am the LORD your God.’
8But they rebelled against Me and refused to listen. None of them cast away the abominations before their eyes, and they did not forsake the idols of Egypt. So I resolved to pour out My wrath upon them and vent My anger against them in the land of Egypt. 9But I acted for the sake of My name, that it should not be profaned in the eyes of the nations among whom they were living, in whose sight I had revealed Myself to Israel by bringing them out of the land of Egypt.Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Leviticus 18:3 | You must not follow the practices of the land of Egypt, where you used to live, and you must not follow the practices of the land of Canaan, into which I am bringing you. You must not walk in their customs. |
| 2 | Ezekiel 20:8 | But they rebelled against Me and refused to listen. None of them cast away the abominations before their eyes, and they did not forsake the idols of Egypt. So I resolved to pour out My wrath upon them and vent My anger against them in the land of Egypt. |
| 3 | Leviticus 11:44 | For I am the LORD your God; consecrate yourselves, therefore, and be holy, because I am holy. You must not defile yourselves by any creature that crawls along the ground. |
| 4 | Ezekiel 18:31 | Cast away from yourselves all the transgressions you have committed, and fashion for yourselves a new heart and a new spirit. Why should you die, O house of Israel? |
| 5 | Deuteronomy 29:16–18 | For you yourselves know how we lived in the land of Egypt and how we passed through the nations on the way here. You saw the abominations and idols among them made of wood and stone, of silver and gold. Make sure there is no man or woman, clan or tribe among you today whose heart turns away from the LORD our God to go and worship the gods of those nations. Make sure there is no root among you that bears such poisonous and bitter fruit, |
| 6 | 2 Chronicles 15:8 | When Asa heard these words and the prophecy of Azariah son of Oded the prophet, he took courage and removed the detestable idols from the whole land of Judah and Benjamin and from the cities he had captured in the hill country of Ephraim. He then restored the altar of the LORD that was in front of the portico of the LORD’s temple. |
| 7 | Joshua 24:14 | Now, therefore, fear the LORD and serve Him in sincerity and truth; cast aside the gods your fathers served beyond the Euphrates and in Egypt, and serve the LORD. |
| 8 | Ezekiel 20:19 | I am the LORD your God; walk in My statutes, keep My ordinances, and practice them. |
| 9 | Exodus 20:2 | “I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery. |
| 10 | Ezekiel 6:9 | Then in the nations to which they have been carried captive, your survivors will remember Me—how I have been grieved by their adulterous hearts that turned away from Me, and by their eyes that lusted after idols. So they will loathe themselves for the evil they have done and for all their abominations. |
Ezekiel 20:7 Summary
In Ezekiel 20:7, God is telling the Israelites to get rid of the things that are sinful and wrong in their lives, specifically the idols of Egypt, and to worship Him alone as their loving and holy God. This means turning away from anything that is not pleasing to God and focusing on Him, as we see in Matthew 22:37-38. By doing so, we can experience a deeper relationship with God and live a life that is pleasing to Him, as seen in Colossians 1:10. Just like the Israelites, we need to remember that God is our God and that He desires us to be set apart for Him, as stated in 1 Peter 2:9.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the abominations being referred to in Ezekiel 20:7?
The abominations in Ezekiel 20:7 are the idols of Egypt, which the Israelites were worshiping, as seen in Exodus 32:1-6 and Deuteronomy 29:17, where we learn about the dangers of idolatry and the importance of worshiping the one true God.
Why did God tell the Israelites to throw away the abominations before their eyes?
God told the Israelites to throw away the abominations before their eyes because He is a holy God who desires His people to be set apart from the world and to worship Him alone, as stated in Leviticus 20:26 and 1 Peter 1:15-16.
How does this verse relate to the concept of spiritual purity?
This verse emphasizes the importance of spiritual purity, as God calls His people to separate themselves from the sinful practices of the world, just as we see in 2 Corinthians 6:17-18, where we are called to be separate from the world and to be holy.
What is the significance of God saying 'I am the LORD your God' in this verse?
When God says 'I am the LORD your God', He is reminding the Israelites of His covenant relationship with them, as seen in Exodus 20:2 and Deuteronomy 5:6, and establishing His authority over them as their loving and holy God.
Reflection Questions
- What are the 'abominations' in my life that I need to throw away in order to draw closer to God?
- How can I practically apply the command to 'not defile myself with the idols' of this world, as seen in 1 John 5:21?
- What are some ways that I can 'cast away the abominations before my eyes' and focus on worshiping the one true God, as seen in Psalm 101:3-5?
- How can I remind myself of God's covenant relationship with me, as stated in Ezekiel 20:7, and live in light of that relationship, as seen in Jeremiah 31:33?
Gill's Exposition on Ezekiel 20:7
Then I said unto them,.... Having promised and swore to do such great and good things for them; which must lay them under an obligation to regard what he should command them: promises and blessings
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Ezekiel 20:7
Then said I unto them, Cast ye away every man the abominations of his eyes, and defile not yourselves with the idols of Egypt: I am the LORD your God. Cast ye away every man the abominations of his eyes.
Matthew Poole's Commentary on Ezekiel 20:7
Then, Heb. And, which connects the words; and though we read it then, this doth not point out the time when God spake this, though it is certain, when he had brought them out of Egypt he gave them his ordinances and laws of worship; nay, it is sufficiently included, in that they were to go out that they might serve the Lord. Cast ye away every man; let every one of you, man by man, and family by family, cast away with abhorrence and indignation; the word is used . The abominations of his eyes; which your eyes should have abhorred, but you rather lifted up your eyes to them, and looked for help from them; and it includes their own voluntary act in this idolatry. Defile not yourselves with the idols: this explains the former passage. Of Egypt; which were in veneration among the Egyptians, and with whose worship too many of them had been insnared and polluted while they were in Egypt. I am the Lord your God; the only true God, and therefore you should worship none other. See . You are my covenant people, and therefore ought to have no other God as . Thus God prepared them, by his mercies and by his law, for himself.
Trapp's Commentary on Ezekiel 20:7
Ezekiel 20:7 Then said I unto them, Cast ye away every man the abominations of his eyes, and defile not yourselves with the idols of Egypt: I [am] the LORD your God.Ver. 7. Then said I unto them,] viz., While yet in Egypt. This we find not in Exodus; it is enough that we find it here. See Job 5:9. Cast ye away every man the abominations of his eyes.] The idols to which your eyes are lifted up, and which are, or should be, to you, as Alexander called the Persian maids, dolores oculorum, eye griefs.
Adam Clarke's Commentary on Ezekiel 20:7
Verse 7. Cast ye away - the abominations] Put away all your idols; those incentives to idolatry that ye have looked on with delight.
Cambridge Bible on Ezekiel 20:7
7. abominations of his eyes] Those to which his eyes and desires were directed, the idols, cf. Ezekiel 18:6; Numbers 15:39. The prophet charges Israel with idolatry in Egypt (ch. Ezekiel 23:3). Though history as we have it says little of such a thing, it may be assumed as certain, considering the people’s receptivity to the worship of their neighbours throughout their history. The same view, Joshua 24:14; cf. Leviticus 18:3. The question how far Jehovah was known and worshipped in Egypt is an obscure one. The name could not have been altogether unknown or the people could not have been rallied by Moses to his service nor induced to put themselves under his protection. That his worship, however, was mixed with impurities may be assumed.
How far the people partook in the worship of Egyptian deities cannot be ascertained.
Whedon's Commentary on Ezekiel 20:7
7. Defile not yourselves with the idols of Egypt — The animal worship of Egypt, with its unexampled multitude of “graven images,” ought to have been a most offensive abomination to the eyes of the
Sermons on Ezekiel 20:7
| Sermon | Description | |
|---|---|---|
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Fourfold Challenge to Holiness by Alan Redpath | In this sermon, the speaker emphasizes the importance of holiness in the lives of believers. He references Ephesians 1:4, which states that believers are chosen in Christ to be hol |
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The Tabernacle of the Most High by C.H. Spurgeon | In this sermon, the speaker highlights the contrasting aspects of God's nature and how he reveals himself in different settings. The speaker uses examples such as a professor who i |
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(1 John #4) Since God Is Light by J. Glyn Owen | In this sermon, the preacher emphasizes the importance of the message of Jesus Christ, which was taught by Him and received by the apostles. The preacher highlights that Jesus is n |
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Jap-04 True Fellowship by Art Katz | In this sermon, the speaker shares a personal experience of feeling burdened and convicted to confess their faults in church. They emphasize the importance of confession in buildin |
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The Holiness of God by J. Glyn Owen | In this sermon, the speaker discusses the topic of the holiness of God. He emphasizes that holiness is not just a characteristic of God, but it also represents His will for His cre |
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Studies in 1 Peter-04 1 Peter 1:14-20 by Dwight Pentecost | In this sermon, the preacher emphasizes the importance of believers living a holy life, as God is holy. He highlights that many people struggle to accept the simplicity of the gosp |
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Intoxicated With Babylon-Chapter Five by Steve Gallagher | In this video, Steve Gallagher discusses the importance of holiness in the Christian life. He emphasizes that holiness is not a popular concept in today's society, but it is still |