Ezekiel 20 28

Ezekiel 20:28 kjv

For when I had brought them into the land, for the which I lifted up mine hand to give it to them, then they saw every high hill, and all the thick trees, and they offered there their sacrifices, and there they presented the provocation of their offering: there also they made their sweet savour, and poured out there their drink offerings.

Ezekiel 20:28 nkjv

When I brought them into the land concerning which I had raised My hand in an oath to give them, and they saw all the high hills and all the thick trees, there they offered their sacrifices and provoked Me with their offerings. There they also sent up their sweet aroma and poured out their drink offerings.

Ezekiel 20:28 niv

When I brought them into the land I had sworn to give them and they saw any high hill or any leafy tree, there they offered their sacrifices, made offerings that aroused my anger, presented their fragrant incense and poured out their drink offerings.

Ezekiel 20:28 esv

For when I had brought them into the land that I swore to give them, then wherever they saw any high hill or any leafy tree, there they offered their sacrifices and there they presented the provocation of their offering; there they sent up their pleasing aromas, and there they poured out their drink offerings.

Ezekiel 20:28 nlt

for when I brought them into the land I had promised them, they offered sacrifices on every high hill and under every green tree they saw! They roused my fury as they offered up sacrifices to their gods. They brought their perfumes and incense and poured out their liquid offerings to them.

Ezekiel 20 verses

Ezekiel 20 28 Meaning

The verse signifies God's decision to allow Israel to go after their idols, leading to their eventual dispersion and suffering. It highlights God's justice in response to their persistent idolatry, which involved offering their sons and daughters to foreign gods. This action is described as profaning God's holy name by their abominable practices.

Ezekiel 20 28 Context

Ezekiel chapter 20 details God's recounting of Israel's history of rebellion, specifically their continued engagement with idolatry even after numerous divine interventions. The context is God speaking through Ezekiel to the elders of Israel in exile. This particular verse is part of a broader discourse explaining why God is judging them and giving them over to the consequences of their actions. Historically, the Israelites had a consistent struggle with idolatry, often adopting the practices of surrounding nations despite explicit commands against it in the Law. This disobedience led to their expulsion from the Promised Land.

Ezekiel 20 28 Word Analysis

• וַֽאֲנִי֙ (wa'ăṉî): "and I". Emphasizes God's active role and personal involvement in the events.
• הֵבֵאתִים֙ (hēḇē'ṯîm): "I brought them". Singular first-person perfect verb from בּוֹא (bo'), meaning to come or bring. Signifies God's sovereign act of bringing Israel into the land.
• אֶל־ (el-): "to" or "unto". A preposition indicating direction.
• הָאָ֣רֶץ (hā'āreṣ): "the land". Refers specifically to the Promised Land, Canaan. The definite article הַ (ha-) indicates "the".
• אֲשֶׁר־ (❜ăšer-): "which" or "that". A relative pronoun.
• נָשָׂאתִ֣י (nāśā'ṯî): "I had sworn" or "I lifted my hand". From נָשָׂא (nāśā'), often used idiomatically for making an oath or vow, signifying God's solemn promise.
• יָדִ֥י (yāḏî): "my hand". Here used with the verb נָשָׂא to signify the oath itself.
• לָתֵֽת־ (lāṯēṯ-): "to give". Infinitive of נָתַן (nāṯan), meaning to give. Refers to God giving the land.
• לָהֶֽם׃ (lāhem): "to them". Plural masculine dative pronoun.

Word Groups Analysis

• "I brought them into the land that I had sworn to give them": This phrase highlights God's faithfulness in fulfilling His promise of land to Abraham and his descendants, a promise sealed by a divine oath. It underscores God's initiative and gracious act of establishing them in the inheritance He pledged.

Ezekiel 20 28 Bonus Section

The imagery of "every high hill and every leafy tree" (v. 28) strongly connects to Canaanite worship practices prevalent during that period. These sites were often locations for fertility cults and ritualistic activities, including the sacrifice of children to deities like Molech. The "leafy tree" (asherah) itself was a common object of worship. Israel's failure to purge these elements from the land represented a fundamental betrayal of their covenant and a direct defiance of God's command to worship Him alone in designated places. The profanation of God's name is a recurring theme in Ezekiel, emphasizing how Israel's actions reflected upon God's character and reputation before the nations. The phrase "so they defiled me in the midst of them" (v. 28b, NASB) illustrates how their sin was not a private matter but one that had cosmic implications, bringing dishonor to the holy God they were meant to represent.

Ezekiel 20 28 Commentary

God, in His faithfulness, brought Israel into the land promised to their forefathers, an oath He Himself had sworn. However, upon entering this land, characterized by its fertile high places and abundant trees (symbols often associated with pagan worship), Israel failed to adhere to His commands. Instead of eradicating the existing idolatrous practices, they readily embraced them, offering their own children in sacrifice to foreign deities. This was a profound defilement of God's holy name and His covenant relationship with them. The verse articulates God's allowance of this defilement, which leads to the judgment of them becoming "profane" in their own eyes and among other nations, ultimately experiencing His severe wrath. It’s a statement of divine justice where God permits them to reap the bitter consequences of their willful apostasy and the profanation of His name through their detestable practices.