Ezekiel 20 20

Ezekiel 20:20 kjv

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

Ezekiel 20:20 nkjv

hallow My Sabbaths, and they will be a sign between Me and you, that you may know that I am the LORD your God.'

Ezekiel 20:20 niv

Keep my Sabbaths holy, that they may be a sign between us. Then you will know that I am the LORD your God."

Ezekiel 20:20 esv

and keep my Sabbaths holy that they may be a sign between me and you, that you may know that I am the LORD your God.'

Ezekiel 20:20 nlt

and keep my Sabbath days holy, for they are a sign to remind you that I am the LORD your God.'

Ezekiel 20 verses

Ezekiel 20 20 Meaning

Ezekiel 20:20 serves as a divine command and a foundational declaration within a larger context of Israel's repeated rebellion. It mandates the sanctification of God's Sabbaths, establishing them as a crucial identifying sign that distinguished the covenant relationship between the Lord and Israel. The ultimate purpose of this observance was for Israel to experientially and intimately "know" Yahweh as their unique and sovereign God. This verse encapsulates both a specific law and a profound theological statement about God's identity and His desire for a knowing relationship with His people through obedience to His appointed markers.

Ezekiel 20 20 Context

Ezekiel 20 records a lengthy prophetic address given by God through Ezekiel to the elders of Israel who sought a word from the Lord. God unequivocally refuses to be inquired of, launching instead into a scathing historical overview of Israel's persistent rebellion, idolatry, and covenant infidelity, stretching from their time in Egypt, through the wilderness generation, and into the promised land, right up to the present exilic crisis. Throughout this narrative of rebellion, God repeatedly highlights Israel's profanation of His Sabbaths and their idolatry, contrasting their actions with His gracious, steadfast determination to preserve them "for My name's sake." Verse 20 comes within this recounting of the wilderness generation's apostasy (Ezek 20:13-26), where God laments their refusal to obey His laws, especially concerning the Sabbath, a sign of His covenant and their distinction from the nations. Despite their rebellion, God still provides the Sabbath as a grace and a means for them to know Him. Historically, the Sabbath was the primary weekly marker distinguishing Israel's faith and way of life from surrounding Canaanite and Egyptian cultures, none of which had a comparable institution centered on a weekly rest in honor of a sole Creator God. Neglecting or profaning the Sabbath was a direct assault on Yahweh's identity and sovereignty, effectively dissolving their covenant loyalty to Him and indicating a drift toward the idolatrous practices of their neighbors.

Ezekiel 20 20 Word analysis

• And sanctify (וְקִדַּשְׁתֶּם - veqiddashtem):

  • Word: From the root qadash, meaning "to be holy, set apart." The verb here is in the Hiphil stem, imperfect, second person masculine plural, signifying a command or instruction to "cause to be holy" or "to set apart as holy."
  • Significance: It is an active injunction. Israel was not merely to observe a rest, but to treat the Sabbaths as inherently sacred and belonging exclusively to God. This implied not just cessation from labor, but also engaging in practices that affirmed its holy status. The act of "sanctifying" involves recognition and appropriate behavior stemming from that recognition.

• My Sabbaths (שַׁבְּתוֹתַי - shabbatotay):

  • Word: Plural of shabbat (Sabbath), with the first person singular possessive suffix "My" (-ay). Shabbat itself derives from the verb shabat, meaning "to cease, rest."
  • Significance: The "My" emphasizes divine ownership and the fact that these rest days are God-instituted and reflect His own rest after creation (Gen 2:2-3). It reinforces that observing them is an act of acknowledging God's authority and proprietary claim. The plural could indicate the weekly Sabbaths as well as other annual "sabbath" observances or feast days that functioned as special days of rest (e.g., Lev 23:3, 39).

• and they shall be a sign (וְהָיוּ לְאוֹת - vehayu lĕ'ot):

  • Word: vehayu ("and they shall be") from hayah ("to be"); lĕ'ot ("for a sign"). Ot (אוֹת) means "sign, mark, token, pledge, miracle."
  • Significance: A distinguishing mark that separates. It's not just a symbol, but a visible, tangible reminder and identifier of the covenant relationship. This sign communicates to both Israel and the surrounding nations their unique dedication to Yahweh. It serves as a visible witness to God's choice and Israel's reciprocal commitment, confirming their distinctiveness.

• between Me and you (בֵּינִי וּבֵינֵיכֶם - beyni uv̱eineḵem):

  • Word: beyni ("between Me") and uv̱eineḵem ("and between you").
  • Significance: This emphasizes the exclusive and intimate nature of the covenant relationship. The Sabbath was specifically designated for Yahweh and His chosen people, marking their special bond. It underscores that God initiated this distinction and holds Israel accountable to it.

• that you may know (לָדַעַת - lāḏaʿat):

  • Word: The infinitive construct of the verb yadaʿ (יָדַע), meaning "to know."
  • Significance: This "knowing" goes beyond mere intellectual assent; it is an experiential, relational, and transformative knowledge. It implies a recognition born out of living in obedience and observing the covenant. It leads to understanding God's character, power, and faithfulness through direct engagement with His commands. It's not just "knowing about" God, but "knowing" God personally and practically.

• that I am the Lord your God (כִּי אֲנִי יְהוָה אֱלֹהֵיכֶם - ki 'ani YHWH 'elohêkhem):

  • Word: ki ("that/for"); ani ("I"); YHWH (the unutterable personal name of God, rendered "the Lord"); 'elohêkhem ("your God," plural of elohim with second person masculine plural possessive suffix).
  • Significance: This is a fundamental theological affirmation. "YHWH" signifies God's self-existence, covenant faithfulness, and active presence. "Your God" emphasizes the personal, possessive relationship established by the covenant. Obedience to the Sabbath confirms experientially for Israel the singular truth that Yahweh is the one, true, sovereign God who entered into covenant with them, and no other. It affirms His power to save and sustain them, distinguishing Him from false deities.

Words-Group analysis

• "And sanctify My Sabbaths": This phrase functions as a direct command from God, urging His people not just to observe the Sabbath mechanically but to actively set it apart as holy. It implies a reverence for the day and for the One who instituted it, signifying a devotion that impacts their daily rhythms and values. It calls for an intentional action to treat something common as sacred due to divine decree and ownership.

• "and they shall be a sign between Me and you": This clarifies the covenantal role of the Sabbath. It’s not an arbitrary rule but a visible, tangible marker of a unique relationship. This "sign" serves both internally as a reminder for Israel of their God-given identity and externally as a testimony to other nations of their distinctive relationship with Yahweh. It functions as a public declaration of allegiance and a constant reaffirmation of the covenant.

• "that you may know that I am the Lord your God": This statement reveals the profound purpose behind the Sabbath command. Observance leads to a deeper, experiential knowledge of God’s character, power, and faithfulness. This knowledge isn't intellectual; it’s relational, gained through covenant obedience. It helps Israel understand God as their exclusive, covenant-keeping, and sovereign deity, distinguishing Him from the idols of other nations and affirming His unique relationship with them.

Ezekiel 20 20 Bonus section

The institution of the Sabbath also linked Israel to God's original creation. By observing a day of rest, they mirrored God's own creative week, connecting their daily lives to the divine order established from the beginning. This deep connection made the profanation of the Sabbath not just a violation of law, but an act of rebellion against the Creator Himself. The plural "My Sabbaths" (shabbatotay) not only points to the weekly Sabbath but may implicitly include other sabbatical observances such as the Sabbatical Year (every seventh year) and the Year of Jubilee (every fiftieth year), all designed to reinforce themes of divine ownership, rest, redemption, and provision, culminating in a deeper "knowing" of God's character. In a broader sense, the failures of Israel, particularly regarding the Sabbath, become a cautionary tale for all who claim to follow God, illustrating how outward religious observance without inward fidelity and a desire for true knowledge of God can lead to spiritual ruin.

Ezekiel 20 20 Commentary

Ezekiel 20:20 distills the core theological purpose of the Sabbath commandment, reasserting its importance amidst Israel's consistent failure. The command to "sanctify" indicates a demand for active reverence, setting apart these days not merely as a cessation from labor, but as a deliberate act of consecration to the Lord. The Sabbath, described as a "sign," served as the indelible identifier of God's covenant with Israel, a weekly declaration of their distinctiveness as His chosen people, in stark contrast to surrounding cultures. It visually articulated their special relationship, a token of divine promise and human obligation. The ultimate goal, "that you may know that I am the Lord your God," speaks to a deep, experiential knowledge, born out of faithful obedience. Through consistently honoring His appointed times, Israel would grasp Yahweh's unique identity, His sovereign claim over them, and His unfailing covenant love, a knowing that transformed intellectual understanding into lived relationship.

• Example for Practical Usage: In ancient Israel, imagine a family observing the Sabbath in their home: preparing food on the previous day, refraining from fieldwork or commerce, gathering for communal worship, and discussing God's law. This collective act of resting and refocusing would not only remind them of their heritage but also visibly declare to any passing merchant or neighbor their distinct allegiance to Yahweh, thereby practically affirming their covenant relationship. The tangible acts reinforce their spiritual identity, fostering a deeper knowledge of their God.