Ezekiel 20 22

Ezekiel 20:22 kjv

Nevertheless I withdrew mine hand, and wrought for my name's sake, that it should not be polluted in the sight of the heathen, in whose sight I brought them forth.

Ezekiel 20:22 nkjv

Nevertheless I withdrew My hand and acted for My name's sake, that it should not be profaned in the sight of the Gentiles, in whose sight I had brought them out.

Ezekiel 20:22 niv

But I withheld my hand, and for the sake of my name I did what would keep it from being profaned in the eyes of the nations in whose sight I had brought them out.

Ezekiel 20:22 esv

But I withheld my hand and acted for the sake of my name, that it should not be profaned in the sight of the nations, in whose sight I had brought them out.

Ezekiel 20:22 nlt

Nevertheless, I withdrew my judgment against them to protect the honor of my name before the nations that had seen my power in bringing them out of Egypt.

Ezekiel 20 verses

Ezekiel 20 22 Meaning

God declares His intention to scatter the people of Israel among the nations and disperse them throughout foreign lands, despite their unfaithfulness. This action is described as "a judgment" because they did not uphold God's statutes, walked in His ordinances they did not keep, and caused God's name to be profaned among the nations. It signifies a consequence of their disobedience and rebellion against divine commands.

Ezekiel 20 22 Context

This verse is part of Ezekiel's prophetic message to the elders of Israel during the Babylonian exile. The preceding verses (Ezekiel 20:1-21) recount God’s faithfulness and Israel's repeated acts of rebellion, including idolatry and violating the Sabbath. God expresses His grief and anger over their persistent sinfulness. In this verse, God declares the judicial consequence: He will scatter them among the nations. This judgment is a direct result of their failure to uphold God's laws and their defiling of His name before foreign peoples. The theme of divine judgment and scattering as a consequence of covenant breaking is a recurring motif throughout the Old Testament, signifying God's commitment to justice while also holding out the possibility of future restoration.

Ezekiel 20 22 Word analysis

• And - Connects this verse to the previous declarations of Israel's rebellion and God's resolve.
• I will - Indicates God's sovereign will and active decree concerning their fate.
• scatter - (Hebrew: patsah - to spread abroad, disperse). This word carries the sense of a deliberate, forced distribution, not a gentle scattering.
• them - Refers specifically to the people of Israel, who are the subject of God's judgment.
• for - Introduces the reason or cause for the scattering.
• a judgment - (Hebrew: mishpat - judgment, justice, legal sentence). Highlights that this dispersion is a righteous and just consequence.
• And - Connects the scattering with the specific reasons for the judgment.
• they - Refers to the people of Israel.
• did not - Negates their observance of God’s commands.
• keep - (Hebrew: natsar - to guard, observe, keep). Implies failing to protect, adhere to, or obey.
• my - Possessive pronoun indicating ownership and divine authority over the statutes.
• statutes - (Hebrew: choq - statute, ordinance, appointed portion, boundary). God’s fixed laws and regulations, establishing His covenant requirements.
• But - Contrasts their failure with their inherited responsibility.
• walked - (Hebrew: halak - to go, walk, live). Represents their conduct, lifestyle, and manner of life.
• in - Indicates the realm or sphere of their behavior.
• mine - Possessive pronoun indicating God's ownership of the ordinances.
• ordinances - (Hebrew: chuqqowth - ordinances, statutes, customs). These are established practices and decrees God set for His people.
• which - Refers back to the ordinances.
• they - The people of Israel.
• did not - Again, negates their adherence.
• keep - (Hebrew: natsar). Reinforces the persistent disobedience.
• them - The specific ordinances previously mentioned.
• And - Connects their failure to keep ordinances with the consequence on God's name.
• caused - (Hebrew: garem - to cause to profane, to pollute). They were instrumental in bringing about the profaning.
• my - Possessive pronoun, referring to God’s name.
• name - (Hebrew: shem - name, reputation, character). God’s divine identity and renown.
• to be profaned - (Hebrew: chalal - to defile, pollute, profane). To treat as common, impure, or desecrated, bringing dishonor.
• among - Indicates the sphere in which His name was profaned.
• the nations - The Gentile peoples surrounding Israel, who would witness Israel's behavior.

Group Analysis: The phrase "did not keep my statutes... walked in mine ordinances, which they did not keep" emphasizes the totality and pervasiveness of their disobedience. It wasn't a minor lapse, but a systemic rejection of God's way of life. The connection between their actions ("did not keep my statutes," "walked in... ordinances, which they did not keep") and the result ("caused my name to be profaned") establishes a clear cause-and-effect relationship in God’s judgment. Their lifestyle was a public declaration that contradicted the very nature of the God they claimed to serve.

Ezekiel 20 22 Bonus Section

The concept of Israel's scattering is often linked to the idea of being "cut off" from God's presence, a severe consequence of covenant violation. This verse underscores that sin has far-reaching consequences, affecting not only the individual sinner but also the reputation of God and the testimony of His people to the world. The "profaning of God's name" signifies that their disobedience provided a negative witness to the Gentiles about the God of Israel, presenting Him as weak or unjust. This foreshadows themes of diaspora and exile that become central to Jewish history and identity, but also points towards future restoration, where God’s name will be sanctified among the nations.

Ezekiel 20 22 Commentary

This verse plainly states God’s judicial decision to disperse Israel among the nations. The dispersion is a direct disciplinary measure due to their persistent rebellion. They ignored God’s statutes and lived contrary to His ordinances, which led to God’s name being dishonored and misunderstood by the surrounding Gentile nations. Their outward behavior did not reflect the inward devotion God required, thus profaning His reputation in the eyes of the world. This act of scattering serves as both a punishment and a witness to God's justice and sovereignty, even amidst Israel's failures.