Ezekiel 20 12

Ezekiel 20:12 kjv

Moreover 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.

Ezekiel 20:12 nkjv

Moreover I also gave them My Sabbaths, to be a sign between them and Me, that they might know that I am the LORD who sanctifies them.

Ezekiel 20:12 niv

Also I gave them my Sabbaths as a sign between us, so they would know that I the LORD made them holy.

Ezekiel 20:12 esv

Moreover, I gave them my Sabbaths, as a sign between me and them, that they might know that I am the LORD who sanctifies them.

Ezekiel 20:12 nlt

And I gave them my Sabbath days of rest as a sign between them and me. It was to remind them that I am the LORD, who had set them apart to be holy.

Ezekiel 20 verses

Ezekiel 20 12 Meaning

Ezekiel 20:12 declares that God gave His Sabbaths to the Israelites for two primary, interwoven purposes: first, to serve as a distinctive sign or emblem of the covenant relationship between Him and His people; and second, to provide them with a concrete means of experientially knowing that He alone is the LORD who actively sets them apart and makes them holy. It emphasizes the Sabbath as a divinely appointed marker of identification and a pedagogical tool for understanding God's unique identity and His sanctifying work among them.

Ezekiel 20 12 Context

Ezekiel chapter 20 presents a challenging discourse from the prophet to the elders of Israel who sought to inquire of the LORD. God refuses to be consulted by them due to their consistent rebellion. Instead, He recounts Israel's long history of idolatry and disobedience, starting from their time in Egypt, through the wilderness, and into the promised land. This verse (20:12) is strategically placed within this historical retrospect, specifically when God reminds them of His gracious acts towards them in the wilderness. He emphasizes how He initially brought them out of Egypt with promises and gave them good statutes and rules (20:10-11). Amidst these divine gifts and laws, the Sabbath is highlighted as a singular and profound act of grace, intended to be both a sign of their unique relationship with Him and a means by which they would know Him as their sanctifier. However, the subsequent verses (20:13ff) immediately detail their repeated profanation of these very Sabbaths, forming a stark contrast between God's gracious provision and Israel's rebellious rejection. The verse therefore serves as a poignant reminder of God's covenant loyalty and His original, pure intentions, which Israel consistently spurned.

Ezekiel 20 12 Word analysis

• Moreover also: Emphasizes that this was an additional and significant gift, beyond the general statutes and rules mentioned earlier. It highlights a particular aspect of God's grace.
• I gave them: (Hebrew: natati) Underscores divine initiative and generosity. The Sabbaths were not invented by Israel but were a gracious impartation from God, a privilege and a blessing, not merely a burden.
• My Sabbaths: (Hebrew: שַׁבָּת֣וֹת shabbatot). The plural form often indicates the entire system of sacred times given by God, including the weekly Sabbath and perhaps the annual Sabbaths/festivals. Crucially, they are My Sabbaths, indicating God's ownership, holiness, and the divine pattern for these times of rest and worship. This signifies a departure from pagan conceptions of time and worship.
• to be a sign: (Hebrew: לְא֖וֹת l'ot). A specific, distinguishing mark or token. It was to visibly and experientially differentiate Israel from all other nations, who did not observe the LORD's Sabbaths. Like the rainbow (Gen 9) or circumcision (Gen 17), the Sabbath was a permanent covenant marker, a constant reminder of the unique relationship.
• between Me and them: Highlights the relational and reciprocal nature of the covenant. It was a relationship God initiated and maintained, inviting Israel into intimate partnership and mutual recognition. It defines the identity of both parties – God as sovereign, Israel as His chosen people.
• that they might know: (Hebrew: לָדַ֙עַת֙ lada'at). Implies an experiential, intimate, and practical knowledge, not merely intellectual assent. This knowledge comes through the act of observing the Sabbaths, leading to a deeper understanding of God's character and power.
• that I am the LORD: (Hebrew: אֲנִ֥י יְהוָ֖ה Ani YHWH). This is the sovereign, covenantal name of God (Yahweh), consistently emphasized in Ezekiel. It is a declaration of His self-existence, unique authority, and faithfulness. The Sabbath was meant to reveal and reinforce His identity as the one true God, distinct from any false gods.
• who sanctifies them: (Hebrew: מְקַדִּשָׁם֙ mekaddeshâm). This is the profound purpose and effect of the Sabbath. Qadash means "to set apart," "to make holy." By resting from work and dedicating the day to God, Israel acknowledged Him as the source of their holiness. The Sabbath distinguished them from pagan cultures and reminded them that their holy status derived from His action, not their own merit. It's a continuous, active process by God.

Ezekiel 20 12 Bonus section

The repeated emphasis on "knowing that I am the LORD" (Ani YHWH) throughout Ezekiel is directly tied to God's self-revelation through His actions of both judgment and salvation. Here, it is revealed through His gracious provision of the Sabbaths, intended for positive, experiential knowledge. This stands in contrast to later instances in Ezekiel where Israel will "know that I am the LORD" through divine judgment for their disobedience (e.g., Ezek 6:7, 7:4, 11:10), showing the duality of God's self-disclosure through different means. The Sabbath, in its original design, offered a way to willingly and joyfully encounter this knowing. Furthermore, the Sabbath was not merely an archaic ritual, but a deep theological statement against polytheism and human-centered work. In observing the Sabbath, Israel proclaimed that their God was both the omnipotent Creator (who rested after creation) and their loving Redeemer (who brought them to rest from slavery), attributes absent in the false gods of their neighbors.

Ezekiel 20 12 Commentary

Ezekiel 20:12 encapsulates a crucial aspect of God's covenant with Israel: the Sabbath was far more than a day off from labor. It was a foundational theological truth embodied in time. As a "sign," it inherently marked out God's people as distinct, signifying their unique bond with the Creator who rested, and the Redeemer who brought them out of Egyptian bondage, granting them rest. This distinction was vital in a world saturated with idolatry, serving as a constant counter-cultural declaration of allegiance to the one true God. The ultimate aim was for Israel to "know" Yahweh not just intellectually, but through the profound, sustained experience of rest, worship, and devotion—an experience that illuminated His identity as their sanctifier. The Sabbath practice thus inherently declared that holiness, or being set apart, was not an Israelite achievement but a divine impartation. It underscored that God's people derived their unique, holy status directly from His continuous work of making them holy, a work actively remembered and celebrated through Sabbath observance. The tragic irony, highlighted throughout Ezekiel 20, is Israel's repeated failure to grasp this profound truth, instead profaning the very gift intended for their sanctification and knowledge of God.Practical application: The principle resonates in Christ. In a busy world, Christians are called to a "Sabbath rest" (Heb 4) from our own efforts for righteousness, knowing our sanctification comes from God alone through Jesus.