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 20 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Exodus 20:8-10 | "Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days you shall labor, and do all your work, but the seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord your God." | Commandment; Sanctity of Sabbath |
| Leviticus 19:30 | "You shall keep My Sabbaths and reverence My sanctuary: I am the Lord." | Repeated command; Reverence |
| Leviticus 26:2 | "You shall keep My Sabbaths and reverence My sanctuary: I am the Lord." | Promise of blessing for obedience |
| Deuteronomy 5:12-14 | "Observe the Sabbath day, to keep it holy, as the Lord your God commanded you." | Reiterates Sabbath commandment |
| Isaiah 56:2 | "Blessed is the man who does this, and the son of man who lays hold of it, who keeps the Sabbath from being profaned, and keeps his hand from doing any evil." | Blessing for Sabbath observance |
| Isaiah 58:13-14 | "If you turn away your foot from the Sabbath, from doing your pleasure on my holy day, and call the Sabbath a delight, the holy of the Lord, honorable, and shall honor it, not doing your own ways, nor seeking your own pleasure, nor speaking your own words, then you shall delight yourself in the Lord..." | Blessing for honoring the Sabbath |
| Matthew 12:8 | "For the Son of Man is Lord of the Sabbath." | Jesus asserts authority over Sabbath |
| Mark 2:27-28 | "And He said to them, 'The Sabbath was made for man, and not man for the Sabbath. Therefore the Son of Man is also Lord of the Sabbath.'" | Sabbath's purpose for humanity |
| Luke 4:16 | "So He came to Nazareth, where He had been brought up. And as His custom was, He went into the synagogue on the Sabbath day, and stood up to read." | Jesus' practice of Sabbath observance |
| Acts 13:14 | "But when they departed from Perga, they came to Antioch in Pisidia, and went into the synagogue on the Sabbath day." | Early Church practice |
| Acts 15:21 | "For Moses has had, from ancient generations, those who preach him in every city, every Sabbath day in the synagogues." | Spread of the Gospel on Sabbath |
| Hebrews 4:4 | "For He has at some time said this in the second place: 'And on the seventh day God rested from all His works.'" | Sabbath rest in creation |
| Hebrews 4:9 | "There remains therefore a rest for the people of God." | Spiritual Sabbath rest |
| Revelation 1:10 | "I was in the Spirit on the Lord's Day, and I heard a loud voice behind me, like a trumpet..." | Lord's Day (Christian Sabbath) |
| Jeremiah 17:21-27 | Warnings against profaning the Sabbath, and blessings for observance. | Sabbath covenant and its importance |
| Nehemiah 13:15-22 | Nehemiah's zeal in stopping commerce on the Sabbath. | Enforcement of Sabbath observance |
| Exodus 31:13 | "Indeed my Sabbaths you shall keep, for it is a sign between Me and you throughout your generations, that you may know that I am the Lord who sanctifies you." | Sabbath as a sign of sanctification |
| Ezekiel 44:24 | "And they shall stand guard over My temple to keep all its responsibility and all My rites, and they shall keep them; and they shall guard My house from all its holy services and from all its holy watches." | Priestly duties in the sanctuary |
| Ezekiel 46:3 | "Likewise the people of the land shall worship at the entrance of this gate before the Lord on the Sabbaths and on the New Moons." | Public worship on Sabbath |
| Ezekiel 46:12 | "Now when the prince provides as a freewill offering a burnt offering or peace offerings willingly to the Lord, the gate which faces east shall be opened for him; and he shall prepare his burnt offering and his peace offerings as he does on the Sabbath day. Then he shall go out, and after he goes out, the gate shall be shut." | Prince's offerings on Sabbath |
Ezekiel 20 verses
Ezekiel 20 20 Meaning
The verse commands the Israelites to "keep my Sabbaths and revere my sanctuary." It emphasizes obedience to God's commands regarding the Sabbath and the sacredness of the sanctuary, presented as a perpetual covenant and a sign of God's sanctification. This indicates that observance is not a temporary measure but an ongoing commitment marking them as God's people.
Ezekiel 20 20 Context
This verse is part of Ezekiel's vision of a future temple and renewed covenant. The prophet is addressing the scattered Israelites, reminding them of God's laws and promises. In chapter 20, God recounts Israel's history of disobedience and rebellion, particularly concerning idolatry and the desecration of the Sabbath. The chapter establishes a pattern of God's faithfulness despite Israel's sin. Ezekiel 20:20 follows this discourse, reiterating fundamental commands that signify true covenant faithfulness. The exilic context implies a longing for restored worship and a reminder of what holiness and relationship with God entail, especially concerning the Sabbath, which was a visible sign of Israel's distinctiveness and relationship with Yahweh.
Ezekiel 20 20 Word analysis
- "And": Connects this command to the preceding dialogue about Israel's failures.
- "you": Refers to the people of Israel, both in Ezekiel's time and future generations.
- "shall keep": Indicates a positive, active command of observance. The Hebrew root (shamaru) implies guarding, protecting, and obeying.
- "my Sabbaths": The plural form may refer to the regular weekly Sabbath as well as other Sabbath observances like the Feast of Weeks, Yom Kippur, and the Sabbatical year. It emphasizes multiple times of sacred rest and devotion.
- "and": Links the two commands.
- "revere": From the Hebrew root (yera'u), it means to fear, stand in awe of, or show reverence and respect. This goes beyond mere physical presence.
- "my sanctuary": Refers to the Tabernacle originally, and in Ezekiel's vision, the future Temple. It signifies the place of God's dwelling and the center of Israel's worship and relationship with Him.
- ":": Introduces an explanation or statement of purpose.
- "they": Refers to the Sabbaths.
- "are": State of being.
- "a sign": From the Hebrew root (oth), meaning a mark, signal, or token. It signifies something that identifies or proves a relationship.
- "between": Indicates a relational context.
- "me": God.
- "and": Connects God and the people.
- "you": The people of Israel.
- "throughout your generations": Signifies perpetuity, indicating the lasting nature of this covenant sign.
words-group by words-group analysis
- "keep my Sabbaths and revere my sanctuary": This phrase is a direct repetition from Leviticus 19:30, underscoring its importance. It combines outward observance of sacred time (Sabbath) with inward reverence for God's holy dwelling (sanctuary). Both are essential components of true worship and covenant faithfulness. The instruction is to actively observe and respect these divine institutions.
- "they are a sign between me and you": The Sabbath and sanctuary observance are presented as a visible, tangible marker of the covenant relationship between God and His people. This sign sets Israel apart from surrounding nations, signifying their dedication to the God of Israel. It's an identifier of their covenant status.
- "that you may know that I am the Lord who sanctifies you": The purpose of this sign is theological: to foster the people's knowledge of God's identity as Yahweh, the covenant-making and covenant-keeping God. Crucially, it links His sanctification of them to their obedience. His act of making them holy is demonstrated and recognized through their participation in these holy observances.
Ezekiel 20 20 Bonus section
The instruction to "keep my Sabbaths" might be interpreted as including not just the weekly Sabbath, but also other divinely appointed Sabbath periods mentioned in the Mosaic Law. The singular emphasis on Sabbath observance as a covenant sign points to its foundational role in Israel's spiritual identity and their unique relationship with Yahweh. The concept of sanctification (making holy) is directly linked to these actions, implying that adherence to God's commands is instrumental in experiencing and acknowledging His holiness working in and through His people.
Ezekiel 20 20 Commentary
Ezekiel 20:20 serves as a foundational instruction, reminding Israel of two crucial elements of their relationship with God: the observance of the Sabbath and reverence for the sanctuary. These are not arbitrary rules but tangible expressions of their covenant commitment and identity. The Sabbath was designed as a holy pause, a remembrance of creation and redemption, and a distinct mark of God's people. The sanctuary was the earthly representation of God's presence. By commanding the people to "keep" the Sabbath and "revere" the sanctuary, God establishes these practices as vital to maintaining a vibrant connection with Him. This verse highlights that true knowledge of God (knowing "that I am the Lord") is intertwined with obedience to His commands, which in turn demonstrate His sanctifying work in their lives. The repetitive phrasing from Leviticus emphasizes the continuity and enduring significance of these directives across generations. The future temple, envisioned by Ezekiel, would also incorporate specific Sabbath observances for public worship and leadership.