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 12 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Ezekiel 20:12 | "Moreover also I gave them my sabbaths, to be a sign between me and them..." | Eze 20:20; Ex 31:13, 17 |
| Exodus 31:13 | "Say thou to the children of Israel, saying, Notwithstanding and truly ye shall keep my sabbaths: for it is a sign between me and you throughout your generations..." | Eze 20:12; Ex 31:17 |
| Nehemiah 9:14 | "And madest known unto them thy holy sabbath, and commandedst them precepts, statutes, and thy law, by the hand of Moses thy servant:" | Eze 20:12; Deut 5:12 |
| Deuteronomy 5:12 | "Keep the sabbath day to sanctify it, as the LORD thy God hath commanded thee." | Eze 20:12; Ex 20:8 |
| Isaiah 56:2 | "Blessed is the man that doeth this, and the son of man that layeth hold on it; that keepeth the sabbath from polluting it, and keepeth his hand from doing any evil." | Eze 20:12; Isa 58:13-14 |
| Isaiah 58:13 | "If thou turn away thy foot from the sabbath, from doing thy pleasure on my holy day; and call the sabbath a delight, the holy of the LORD, honourable; and shalt honour him, not doing thine own ways, nor finding thine own pleasure, nor speaking thine own words:" | Eze 20:12; Isa 56:2 |
| Jeremiah 17:24 | "And it shall come to pass, if ye diligently hearken unto me, saith the LORD, to bring in no burden through the gates of this city on the sabbath day, but that ye hallow the sabbath day, to do no work therein;" | Eze 20:12; Jer 17:25-27 |
| Romans 14:5 | "One man esteemeth one day above another: another esteemeth every day alike. Let every man be fully persuaded in his own mind." | Eze 20:12; Col 2:16-17 |
| Colossians 2:16 | "Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days:" | Eze 20:12; Rom 14:5 |
| Hebrews 4:4 | "For he spake in a certain place of the seventh day on this wise, And God did rest the seventh day from all his works." | Eze 20:12; Gen 2:2 |
| Genesis 2:2 | "And on the seventh day God ended his work which he had made; and he rested on the seventh day from all his work which he had made." | Eze 20:12; Heb 4:4 |
| Exodus 13:21 | "And the LORD went before them by day in a pillar of a cloud, to lead them the way; and by night in a pillar of fire, to give them light, to go by day and night:" | Eze 20:12; Ex 13:22; Exo 14:19-20 |
| Exodus 20:8 | "Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy." | Eze 20:12; Deut 5:12 |
| Leviticus 20:8 | "And I will sanctify myself, and I will be sanctified among the children of Israel, and will not pollute my holy name: and ye shall know that I am the LORD which sanctify you." | Eze 20:12; Lev 22:31-32 |
| 1 Corinthians 10:31 | "Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do it all to the glory of God." | Eze 20:12; Col 3:17 |
| Psalm 145:21 | "My mouth shall speak the praise of the LORD: and let all flesh bless his holy name for ever and ever." | Eze 20:12; Ps 103:1 |
| Acts 15:20 | "But that we write unto them, that they abstain from pollutions of idols, and from fornication, and from things strangled, and from blood." | Eze 20:12; Acts 15:28-29 |
| Galatians 3:10 | "For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse: for it is written, Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them." | Eze 20:12; Gal 3:10-12 |
| John 17:17 | "Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth." | Eze 20:12; John 17:19 |
| 1 Peter 1:15 | "But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation;" | Eze 20:12; 1 Pet 1:16 |
Ezekiel 20 verses
Ezekiel 20 12 Meaning
This verse establishes the Sabbath and the Law as divine signs given by God. They were intended to distinguish Israel from other nations and serve as a perpetual covenant. This distinction was meant to reveal God's holiness and sanctification of His people.
Ezekiel 20 12 Context
This verse is part of Ezekiel's vision, delivered in the fifth year after Jehoiachin's exile. The prophet is recounting God's past dealings with Israel, particularly their repeated failures and rebellions, contrasting them with His enduring faithfulness and gracious provision. In this chapter, God is emphasizing how Israel, despite His gifts and covenants, repeatedly defiled themselves and rejected His commands. The Sabbath and the Law were foundational aspects of the covenant, designed to set Israel apart and make them holy, reflecting God's own holiness. However, as the chapter unfolds, Ezekiel details how Israel misused and profaned these very gifts, demonstrating a profound disrespect for God's divine order and their covenantal responsibilities.
Ezekiel 20 12 Word Analysis
Moreover (Hebrew: וְגַם - wə·ḡam): This indicates an addition or further point. God is adding more evidence of His faithfulness and provision, even amidst Israel's unfaithfulness.
also (Hebrew: אַף - ’ap̄): Reinforces the preceding "moreover," emphasizing another significant gift.
I gave them (Hebrew: נָתַתִּי לָהֶם - nāṯaṯtî lā·hem): A direct statement of God's action – the bestowal of gifts. This highlights His initiative in providing the means for their distinctiveness and sanctification.
my sabbaths (Hebrew: אֶת־שַׁבְּתֹתַי - ’eṯ-šabbə·ṯō·ṯay): Refers to the appointed times of rest, specifically the weekly Sabbath and possibly other festival Sabbaths. The possessive "my" emphasizes their divine origin and God's ownership and control over them.
to be a sign (Hebrew: לְאֹת הִיא - lə·’ōṯ hî): The Sabbath was a visible, tangible sign or token. This sign pointed to something greater.
between me and them (Hebrew: בֵּינִי וּבֵינֵיהֶם - bê·nî ū·ḇê·nê·hem): Establishes the Sabbath as a marker of the covenant relationship between God and His people, Israel.
that they might know (Hebrew: לְמַעַן יֵדְעוּ - lə·ma·‘an yē·ḏə‘ū): The purpose of this sign was to foster knowledge and understanding.
that I am the LORD (Hebrew: כִּי אֲנִי יְהוָה - kî ’ă·nî Yĕ·hovah): The ultimate knowledge to be gained was the recognition of God's identity as Yahweh, the covenant God.
which sanctify them (Hebrew: מְקַדְּשָׁם - mə·qad·dê·šām): God's role as the one who sets apart, purifies, and makes holy His people. The Sabbath was a means to facilitate this ongoing process of sanctification.
Group analysis: The structure of the sentence connects the "giving of the sabbaths" directly to their purpose as a "sign" and the resultant "knowledge" of God's identity and His act of sanctification. The Law and the Sabbath are presented not merely as rules but as divine provisions for the express purpose of revealing God and making Israel holy. This opposition to other nations implicitly highlights Israel's distinct calling and dependence on God's statutes, rather than on pagan practices.
Ezekiel 20 12 Bonus Section
The concept of the Sabbath as a sign is crucial. It's not just a day of rest but a symbol of Israel's covenant relationship with Yahweh, who is the source of true rest and holiness. This distinguishes them from nations who did not acknowledge or rest in this God. The prophecy of Ezekiel is a poignant lament over Israel's desecration of these sacred signs, which directly reflected a rejection of God Himself. It underscores the inseparable link between obedience to God's statutes and a true knowledge of His identity and character. The Law, including the Sabbath, was given to reveal God's holy nature and call His people into fellowship with Him, not to burden them. The New Testament reorients this principle, showing that the ultimate rest and sanctification are found in Jesus Christ, who is Lord of the Sabbath (Mark 2:28). While the Mosaic Sabbath laws are not directly binding on Christians in the same ceremonial way, the principle of setting apart time for God, spiritual rest, and corporate worship continues.
Ezekiel 20 12 Commentary
The Sabbath was a divinely instituted sign of the covenant, designed to demarcate Israel and foster an awareness of God's holy character and His redemptive work in setting them apart. It was a perpetual ordinance, a constant reminder of His presence and power. The intent was that through observing the Sabbath, Israel would actively know Yahweh as the God who sanctifies them. This required a deliberate turning away from worldly pursuits and a deliberate focus on God. When Israel failed to uphold the Sabbath, they were not just breaking a rule; they were severing the connection to God that the Sabbath signified and rejecting the holiness He intended for them. The Apostle Paul addresses aspects of these Old Testament laws concerning days and foods in Romans and Colossians, indicating that the substance of these signs finds its fulfillment in Christ. Christians are called to rest in Christ's finished work, and their sanctification comes through the Spirit by abiding in Him, though the principle of dedicated times for corporate worship and spiritual renewal remains vital.