Ezekiel 20 18

Ezekiel 20:18 kjv

But 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:

Ezekiel 20:18 nkjv

"But I said to their children in the wilderness, 'Do not walk in the statutes of your fathers, nor observe their judgments, nor defile yourselves with their idols.

Ezekiel 20:18 niv

I said to their children in the wilderness, "Do not follow the statutes of your parents or keep their laws or defile yourselves with their idols.

Ezekiel 20:18 esv

"And I said to their children in the wilderness, 'Do not walk in the statutes of your fathers, nor keep their rules, nor defile yourselves with their idols.

Ezekiel 20:18 nlt

"Then I warned their children not to follow in their parents' footsteps, defiling themselves with their idols.

Ezekiel 20 verses

Ezekiel 20 18 Meaning

Ezekiel 20:18 conveys God's specific instruction to the second generation of Israelites in the wilderness. Having witnessed the rebellion and consequent judgment upon their fathers, this new generation was explicitly commanded by God to forsake the idolatrous and defiling practices that their parents had embraced. It was a direct call to reject inherited customs ("statutes" and "rules") that contradicted God's will and led to spiritual impurity through the worship of "idols." The verse underscores God's persistent desire for an obedient people who would not repeat the sins of their ancestors but live in exclusive loyalty to Him.

Ezekiel 20 18 Context

Ezekiel chapter 20 presents a stern message from God through the prophet Ezekiel to the elders of Israel. They came to inquire of the Lord, but God emphatically refused to be consulted due to their persistent idolatry and rebellion, both in the present and throughout their history. Instead, He uses the occasion to recount Israel's sinful past, starting from Egypt, through the wilderness, and into the promised land.

This specific verse, Ezekiel 20:18, falls within God's historical recollection of the wilderness period. It focuses on God's interaction with the second generation of Israelites—those born in the wilderness after the Exodus. While the previous generation, their "fathers," had incurred God's wrath due to their rebellion and profanation of His laws (Ez 20:13-17), this new generation was given a renewed opportunity and explicit instruction. Historically, this aligns with the period of forty years of wilderness wandering, where the older, rebellious generation gradually passed away, and the younger generation was being prepared to enter Canaan. It was during this time that God reiterated His covenant and laws, intending for them to learn from their predecessors' failures and consecrate themselves wholly to Him before inheriting the land. The cultural context reflects the ongoing struggle against the pervasive idolatry practiced in Egypt and by the surrounding pagan nations, which threatened Israel's unique relationship with their one true God.

Ezekiel 20 18 Word analysis

• But I said: This phrase introduces a divine counterpoint and a new directive. Despite the fathers' rebellion and God's judgment upon them, His intention to have a pure people persisted. It highlights God's initiative in continuing His covenant relationship with the next generation.

• to their children: This refers to the generation born and raised in the wilderness, who had witnessed God's mighty acts and the consequences of their parents' disobedience. They were a distinct group, offered a fresh start and responsibility, not automatically condemned by the previous generation's sins.

• in the wilderness: This signifies a period and location of direct divine interaction, discipline, and education. It was a time when God provided Manna, Water, and Law, a critical period for national formation and covenant renewal before entering the Promised Land.

• Do not walk (אַל־תֵּלְכוּ - 'al-tēləḵū): This is a strong negative imperative, commanding against a particular way of life or course of action. "To walk" in Hebrew thought refers to one's entire conduct, lifestyle, or moral behavior. It's a call to active non-participation.

• in the statutes (חֻקּוֹת - chuqqôt): These refer to ordinances, decrees, or customary practices. Here, the context is negative; they are not God's divine and good statutes, but rather the humanly devised and corrupted practices adopted by the fathers. They were contrary to God's ways.

• of your fathers: This clearly identifies the source and nature of the proscribed "statutes" and "rules." It denotes the sinful traditions, idolatrous patterns, and disobedient ways inherited from the preceding generation who had departed from God's truth.

• nor observe (תִּשְׁמְרוּ - tishmə̄rū): Derived from the root "shamaru" (to keep, guard, watch), this verb implies active attention, adherence, and careful observance. The command is not merely to avoid adopting, but to actively reject and not cling to these customs.

• their rules (מִשְׁפָּטִים - mishpāṭîm): Similar to "statutes," these refer to judgments, ordinances, or customary laws. In this context, they signify human, defiled regulations of worship or life that are contrary to divine righteousness and justice.

• nor defile yourselves (וּבְגִלּוּלֵיהֶם תִטַּמָּאוּ - ûvəgillûlêhem tiṭṭammā’û): This is the dire consequence of following the aforementioned practices. The Hebrew "ṭāmē'" means to become ritually, morally, or spiritually unclean. It emphasizes self-pollution and active participation in uncleanness through one's actions.

• with their idols (גִּלּוּלִים - gillûlîm): This term, prominently used by Ezekiel, is highly derogatory, meaning "dung-gods" or "filthy things." It reflects God's contempt for these false deities and underscores their absolute worthlessness and defiling nature, connecting the "statutes" and "rules" directly to idolatry.

• Words-group by words-group analysis:

  • "But I said to their children in the wilderness": This highlights God's ongoing grace and educational role. He doesn't abandon His people despite their rebellion, but offers clear, direct guidance to the new generation at a pivotal time and place, expecting them to learn from past mistakes.
  • "Do not walk in the statutes of your fathers, nor observe their rules": This forms a dual negative command stressing total dissociation. It's a call for radical departure from inherited, ungodly traditions and a clear demarcation from the rebellious ways of their predecessors, urging them to establish their own path of obedience to God.
  • "nor defile yourselves with their idols": This concluding phrase explicitly links the proscribed customs and rules directly to idolatry, revealing the source of spiritual impurity. It underlines the severe consequence of engaging in such practices—self-inflicted defilement before a holy God, specifically by attaching oneself to detestable false gods.

Ezekiel 20 18 Bonus section

The concept of "fathers' statutes" being defiling contrasts sharply with God's good statutes given to Israel (Ez 20:11-12, 19). God's laws were intended for life and holiness, while the fathers' chosen customs led to death and defilement. This distinction is crucial to understanding God's consistent demand for a pure and set-apart people. The responsibility here is individual and collective; while the new generation did not inherit the guilt of their parents, they would incur their own if they continued in the same sin pattern. This passage also implicitly challenges the notion that ancient, inherited customs are automatically good simply because they are traditional. Instead, all traditions must be critically examined against God's revealed will.

Ezekiel 20 18 Commentary

Ezekiel 20:18 reveals a fundamental principle of divine expectation: each generation is called to choose faithful obedience, distinguishing themselves from any ungodly legacy. God, in His grace, directly intervened to provide explicit guidance to the new wilderness generation. They were presented with a stark choice: emulate the idolatry and rebellion of their fathers, or adhere strictly to God's righteous statutes. The danger of passively inheriting and perpetuating corrupt traditions, especially those tied to the detestable "dung-gods" (gillûlîm), is clearly articulated. Idolatry, whether subtle or overt, always leads to spiritual and moral defilement. This verse underscores God's persistent desire for a holy people, set apart from worldly influences and unholy family patterns, urging them to consciously reject all that pollutes and embrace the pure worship and conduct mandated by their covenant Lord. It's a profound reminder that personal and corporate purity hinges on an active rejection of any way, rule, or custom that originates outside of God's perfect will.For example, a family's historical reliance on superstitious rituals instead of prayer to God; a church tradition that replaces biblical commands with human inventions; or an individual continuing a harmful addiction pattern seen in previous family members, all can reflect variations of this warning against "fathers' statutes" that defile.