Ezekiel 20 27

Ezekiel 20:27 kjv

Therefore, son of man, speak unto the house of Israel, and say unto them, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Yet in this your fathers have blasphemed me, in that they have committed a trespass against me.

Ezekiel 20:27 nkjv

"Therefore, son of man, speak to the house of Israel, and say to them, 'Thus says the Lord GOD: "In this too your fathers have blasphemed Me, by being unfaithful to Me.

Ezekiel 20:27 niv

"Therefore, son of man, speak to the people of Israel and say to them, 'This is what the Sovereign LORD says: In this also your ancestors blasphemed me by being unfaithful to me:

Ezekiel 20:27 esv

"Therefore, son of man, speak to the house of Israel and say to them, Thus says the Lord GOD: In this also your fathers blasphemed me, by dealing treacherously with me.

Ezekiel 20:27 nlt

"Therefore, son of man, give the people of Israel this message from the Sovereign LORD: Your ancestors continued to blaspheme and betray me,

Ezekiel 20 verses

Ezekiel 20 27 Meaning

Ezekiel 20:27 conveys God's declaration to the exiled Israelites that their current plight is a direct consequence of a deeply ingrained pattern of sin spanning generations. It highlights the profound unfaithfulness of their ancestors, who not only rebelled against God's commands but treated Him with contempt, thereby desecrating His name and violating the covenant relationship. This verse acts as a direct accusation, underlining the continuous historical rebellion of Israel against their covenant Lord.

Ezekiel 20 27 Context

Ezekiel 20:27 is part of a crucial discourse where the prophet Ezekiel addresses the elders of Israel in Babylonian exile, who have come to inquire of the Lord. God explicitly refuses to be consulted by them due to their and their ancestors' pervasive idolatry and unfaithfulness. Instead, God instructs Ezekiel to recount Israel's long history of rebellion, starting from their time in Egypt, through the wilderness, and into the Promised Land.The verses immediately preceding (20:25-26) describe how God, in consequence of their persistent unfaithfulness and defilement through their firstborn, allowed them to receive "statutes that were not good" – indicating practices or outcomes their own depravity brought upon themselves, leading to even further sin like child sacrifice. Verse 27 serves as a climactic summation of this deep-rooted problem, attributing the pervasive idolatry and unfaithfulness not merely to recent generations but to their very "fathers." This emphasizes a continuous, generational pattern of contempt for God and betrayal of the covenant, which ultimately led to the exiles' current predicament. Historically, the audience (exiles) would understand this as a divine justification for their judgment and a call for repentance that acknowledges their profound, long-standing national sin.

Ezekiel 20 27 Word analysis

• Therefore: Connects this declaration to the preceding historical narrative of Israel's rebellion. It marks a conclusion drawn from the extensive evidence of their unfaithfulness.

• speak unto the house of Israel: A direct divine mandate through Ezekiel to the entire community of God's people, particularly the exiles, to address their collective history and present state.

• and say unto them, Thus saith the Lord GOD;: This is the authoritative prophetic formula (Koh amar Adonai YHWH in Hebrew), asserting that the following message comes directly from God Himself. "Lord GOD" emphasizes God's supreme authority as both master (Adonai) and the self-existent covenant God (YHWH).

• Yet in this: Points to a specific manner or ongoing behavior of their forefathers that constitutes the core accusation, preparing the listener for the subsequent explanation of their sin. It means "even in this specific area" or "it is by this very action."

• your fathers: Refers to previous generations of Israelites, highlighting a deep-seated and consistent pattern of rebellion that spanned across time. This connects the current generation to a heritage of spiritual failure.

• have blasphemed me (נִאֵצוּנִי ni'eṣûnî): The Hebrew word na'ats means to scorn, despise, spurn, treat with contempt, or rebel against. It is not limited to verbal profanity but encompasses a profound disrespect and rejection of God expressed through actions, primarily idolatry and disobedience to His covenant. It implies treating God as if He were worthless or inconsequential.

• in that they have committed a trespass against me (מָעֲלוּ בִי מַעַל ma'alu bî ma'al): The Hebrew verb ma'al refers specifically to acting treacherously, being unfaithful, breaking trust, or violating a sacred obligation. It carries the nuance of defrauding, especially in spiritual contexts. Here, it denotes Israel's betrayal of their covenant relationship with God, as if they had stolen from or lied to their divine King, to whom they owed exclusive loyalty.

• Words-group analysis:

  • "speak unto the house of Israel... Thus saith the Lord GOD;": This initial phrase establishes the divine origin and authoritative nature of the message, leaving no doubt that this is God's direct word to His people.
  • "your fathers have blasphemed me, in that they have committed a trespass against me.": This critical statement defines the dual nature of their ancestors' sin: deep-seated contempt (blasphemy by action) and outright covenant betrayal (trespass). These two aspects together describe a complete rejection of God's Lordship and faithfulness.

Ezekiel 20 27 Bonus section

The recurring theme of the "fathers'" sins in Ezekiel 20, including this verse, reveals a principle in biblical theology where the consequences of corporate sin can affect subsequent generations. This is not necessarily about individual guilt for ancestors' specific deeds, but about inheriting a spiritual climate, a societal culture of rebellion, and the accumulated judgment it entails. While God emphasizes individual responsibility (Ez 18), here He highlights a continuous pattern that demonstrates a deep-seated heart problem within the nation, illustrating how unrepentant sin leads to entrenched national character and inevitable divine discipline. It foreshadows the need for a new heart and a new spirit that only God can provide, as promised later in Ezekiel (Ez 36:26-27), to break this cycle of inherited faithlessness. This verse underscores the holiness of God and His unwavering expectation of exclusive worship and fidelity from His covenant people, even when generation after generation fails Him.

Ezekiel 20 27 Commentary

Ezekiel 20:27 powerfully encapsulates God's verdict on Israel's historical relationship with Him. It's not just a recitation of isolated infractions, but an indictment of a generational legacy of profound unfaithfulness. The "fathers" (ancestors) systematically rejected God's commands and character through their idolatry, which the prophet identifies as both "blaspheming" Him – treating Him with utter contempt – and committing "trespass" – a direct breach of the solemn covenant they had made. This persistent, intentional spurning of the Holy One of Israel established a pattern that logically led to the judgment of exile. The verse serves as a crucial theological justification for the exile, asserting that their punishment is not arbitrary but a just consequence of long-standing, deep-seated corporate sin that affronted God's holiness and fidelity. It also implicitly calls for the current generation to acknowledge and break free from this inherited spiritual trajectory.