Ezekiel 20

King James Version

Full text for Ezekiel Chapter 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 enquire of the LORD, and sat before me.

2Then came the word of the LORD unto me, saying,

3Son of man, speak unto the elders of Israel, and say unto them, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Are ye come to enquire of me? [As] I live, saith the Lord GOD, I will not be enquired of by you.

4Wilt thou judge them, son of man, wilt thou judge [them]? cause them to know the abominations of their fathers:

5¶ And say unto them, Thus saith the Lord GOD; In the day when I chose Israel, and lifted up mine hand unto the seed of the house of Jacob, and made myself known unto them in the land of Egypt, when I lifted up mine hand unto them, saying, I [am] the LORD your God;

6In the day [that] I lifted up mine hand unto them, to bring them forth of the land of Egypt into a land that I had espied for them, flowing with milk and honey, which [is] the glory of all lands:

7Then 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.

8But they rebelled against me, and would not hearken unto me: they did not every man cast away the abominations of their eyes, neither did they forsake the idols of Egypt: then I said, I will pour out my fury upon them, to accomplish my anger against them in the midst of the land of Egypt.

9But I wrought for my name's sake, that it should not be polluted before the heathen, among whom they [were], in whose sight I made myself known unto them, in bringing them forth out of the land of Egypt.

10¶ Wherefore I caused them to go forth out of the land of Egypt, and brought them into the wilderness.

11And I gave them my statutes, and shewed them my judgments, which [if] a man do, he shall even live in them.

12Moreover also I gave them my sabbaths, to be a sign between me and them, that they might know that I [am] the LORD that sanctify them.

13But the house of Israel rebelled against me in the wilderness: they walked not in my statutes, and they despised my judgments, which [if] a man do, he shall even live in them; and my sabbaths they greatly polluted: then I said, I would pour out my fury upon them in the wilderness, to consume them.

14But I wrought for my name's sake, that it should not be polluted before the heathen, in whose sight I brought them out.

15Yet also I lifted up my hand unto them in the wilderness, that I would not bring them into the land which I had given [them], flowing with milk and honey, which [is] the glory of all lands;

16Because they despised my judgments, and walked not in my statutes, but polluted my sabbaths: for their heart went after their idols.

17Nevertheless mine eye spared them from destroying them, neither did I make an end of them in the wilderness.

18But I said unto their children in the wilderness, Walk ye not in the statutes of your fathers, neither observe their judgments, nor defile yourselves with their idols:

19I [am] the LORD your God; walk in my statutes, and keep my judgments, and do them;

20And hallow my sabbaths; and they shall be a sign between me and you, that ye may know that I [am] the LORD your God.

21Notwithstanding the children rebelled against me: they walked not in my statutes, neither kept my judgments to do them, which [if] a man do, he shall even live in them; they polluted my sabbaths: then I said, I would pour out my fury upon them, to accomplish my anger against them in the wilderness.

22Nevertheless I withdrew mine hand, and wrought for my name's sake, that it should not be polluted in the sight of the heathen, in whose sight I brought them forth.

23I lifted up mine hand unto them also in the wilderness, that I would scatter them among the heathen, and disperse them through the countries;

24Because they had not executed my judgments, but had despised my statutes, and had polluted my sabbaths, and their eyes were after their fathers' idols.

25Wherefore I gave them also statutes [that were] not good, and judgments whereby they should not live;

26And I polluted them in their own gifts, in that they caused to pass through [the fire] all that openeth the womb, that I might make them desolate, to the end that they might know that I [am] the LORD.

27¶ Therefore, son of man, speak unto the house of Israel, and say unto them, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Yet in this your fathers have blasphemed me, in that they have committed a trespass against me.

28[For] when I had brought them into the land, [for] the which I lifted up mine hand to give it to them, then they saw every high hill, and all the thick trees, and they offered there their sacrifices, and there they presented the provocation of their offering: there also they made their sweet savour, and poured out there their drink offerings.

29Then I said unto them, What [is] the high place whereunto ye go? And the name thereof is called Bamah unto this day.

30Wherefore say unto the house of Israel, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Are ye polluted after the manner of your fathers? and commit ye whoredom after their abominations?

31For when ye offer your gifts, when ye make your sons to pass through the fire, ye pollute yourselves with all your idols, even unto this day: and shall I be enquired of by you, O house of Israel? [As] I live, saith the Lord GOD, I will not be enquired of by you.

32And that which cometh into your mind shall not be at all, that ye say, We will be as the heathen, as the families of the countries, to serve wood and stone.

33¶ [As] I live, saith the Lord GOD, surely with a mighty hand, and with a stretched out arm, and with fury poured out, will I rule over you:

34And I will bring you out from the people, and will gather you out of the countries wherein ye are scattered, with a mighty hand, and with a stretched out arm, and with fury poured out.

35And I will bring you into the wilderness of the people, and there will I plead with you face to face.

36Like as I pleaded with your fathers in the wilderness of the land of Egypt, so will I plead with you, saith the Lord GOD.

37And I will cause you to pass under the rod, and I will bring you into the bond of the covenant:

38And I will purge out from among you the rebels, and them that transgress against me: I will bring them forth out of the country where they sojourn, and they shall not enter into the land of Israel: and ye shall know that I [am] the LORD.

39As for you, O house of Israel, thus saith the Lord GOD; Go ye, serve ye every one his idols, and hereafter [also], if ye will not hearken unto me: but pollute ye my holy name no more with your gifts, and with your idols.

40For in mine holy mountain, in the mountain of the height of Israel, saith the Lord GOD, there shall all the house of Israel, all of them in the land, serve me: there will I accept them, and there will I require your offerings, and the firstfruits of your oblations, with all your holy things.

41I will accept you with your sweet savour, when I bring you out from the people, and gather you out of the countries wherein ye have been scattered; and I will be sanctified in you before the heathen.

42And ye shall know that I [am] the LORD, when I shall bring you into the land of Israel, into the country [for] the which I lifted up mine hand to give it to your fathers.

43And there shall ye remember your ways, and all your doings, wherein ye have been defiled; and ye shall lothe yourselves in your own sight for all your evils that ye have committed.

44And ye shall know that I [am] the LORD, when I have wrought with you for my name's sake, not according to your wicked ways, nor according to your corrupt doings, O ye house of Israel, saith the Lord GOD.

45¶ Moreover the word of the LORD came unto me, saying,

46Son of man, set thy face toward the south, and drop [thy word] toward the south, and prophesy against the forest of the south field;

47And say to the forest of the south, Hear the word of the LORD; Thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I will kindle a fire in thee, and it shall devour every green tree in thee, and every dry tree: the flaming flame shall not be quenched, and all faces from the south to the north shall be burned therein.

48And all flesh shall see that I the LORD have kindled it: it shall not be quenched.

49Then said I, Ah Lord GOD! they say of me, Doth he not speak parables?

AI Analysis

AI Summaries

Short Summary

Ezekiel 20 recounts the Lord's refusal to be enquired of by the elders of Israel, due to their long history of rebellion and idolatry from Egypt through the wilderness and into the promised land. Despite their repeated disobedience and pollution of His statutes and Sabbaths, God consistently withheld His full wrath for the sake of His holy name. He declares a future judgment where He will gather them, purge the rebels, and bring a remnant into the land, where they will finally recognize Him and loathe their past evils.

Medium Summary

The chapter opens with elders seeking the Lord, but God emphatically refuses to answer them, citing Israel's persistent rebellion from their time in Egypt. He recounts how they rejected His commands to cast away idols, polluted His Sabbaths in the wilderness, and continued their idolatry, including child sacrifice, even after entering the promised land. Despite their provocations, God repeatedly spared them from utter destruction for the sake of His holy name, lest it be profaned among the heathen. The Lord declares that their desire to be like other nations will not come to pass. Instead, He vows to gather them with a mighty hand into a “wilderness of the people” to plead with them. There, He will purge the rebels and transgressors, bringing only a purified remnant into the land of Israel, where they will remember their wicked ways and loathe themselves, thereby knowing that He is the Lord.

Long Summary

Ezekiel 20 begins with certain elders of Israel coming to inquire of the Lord, but God, through Ezekiel, sternly refuses to be enquired of, condemning their deep-seated history of unfaithfulness. He recounts His election of Israel in Egypt, where they immediately rebelled by refusing to cast away their idols, yet God spared them for His name's sake. In the wilderness, God gave them His life-giving statutes and the sanctifying sign of the Sabbaths, but the first generation rebelled, polluting His laws. God threatened to consume them, but again acted for His name's sake, swearing they would not enter the promised land, yet preserving them from complete destruction. He then warned their children not to follow their fathers' idolatrous ways, but they too rebelled, polluting His Sabbaths and judgments, leading to a promise of scattering among the heathen, again for His name's sake. God even gave them “statutes that were not good” and judgments “whereby they should not live,” referring to the consequences of their idolatrous practices, including child sacrifice. Upon entering the promised land, Israel continued their blasphemies, offering sacrifices on every high hill and under every thick tree, perpetuating their fathers' abominations. God reiterates His refusal to be enquired of by such a people, declaring that their desire to be like the heathen will not come to pass. Instead, He vows to rule over them with a mighty hand and poured-out fury, gathering them out of the nations where they are scattered. He will bring them into a “wilderness of the people” to plead with them face to face, purging the rebels and transgressors, who will not enter the land of Israel. The faithful remnant will be brought to His holy mountain, where they will serve Him, and He will accept their offerings, sanctifying Himself in them before the heathen. There, they will remember their defiled ways, loathe themselves for their evils, and finally know that He is the Lord, who acts for His name's sake, not according to their wickedness. The chapter concludes with a prophecy against the “forest of the south field,” symbolizing an unquenchable divine fire of judgment.

Core Concepts

  • God's Refusal to be Enquired OfThe Lord emphatically declares that He will not answer the elders of Israel, due to their persistent and deep-seated history of rebellion and idolatry from generation to generation.
  • Israel's Persistent RebellionFrom their time in Egypt, through their journey in the wilderness, and after entering the promised land, Israel consistently rejected God's statutes, polluted His Sabbaths, and pursued idols, including the abomination of child sacrifice.
  • God's Name's SakeA recurring divine motivation for withholding complete destruction from Israel; God acts to prevent His holy name from being profaned or polluted among the heathen nations in whose sight He has revealed Himself.
  • Pollution of SabbathsThe desecration of the Sabbath is highlighted as a specific and repeated act of rebellion, signifying Israel's disregard for God's covenant and His sanctifying power, leading to divine judgment.
  • Future Judgment and RestorationGod promises a future period of severe judgment where He will gather Israel, purge the rebels from among them, and bring a purified remnant back to the land of Israel.
  • The Wilderness of the PeopleA symbolic place where God will gather Israel after their scattering, to 'plead' with them face to face, signifying a period of intense divine judgment and purification before their ultimate restoration.
  • Self-Loathing and Recognition of GodA key outcome of God's future actions, where the restored Israel will remember their past evils, loathe themselves for their abominations, and thereby fully know and acknowledge the Lord.