Ezekiel 20 30

Ezekiel 20:30 kjv

Wherefore say unto the house of Israel, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Are ye polluted after the manner of your fathers? and commit ye whoredom after their abominations?

Ezekiel 20:30 nkjv

Therefore say to the house of Israel, 'Thus says the Lord GOD: "Are you defiling yourselves in the manner of your fathers, and committing harlotry according to their abominations?

Ezekiel 20:30 niv

"Therefore say to the Israelites: 'This is what the Sovereign LORD says: Will you defile yourselves the way your ancestors did and lust after their vile images?

Ezekiel 20:30 esv

"Therefore say to the house of Israel, Thus says the Lord GOD: Will you defile yourselves after the manner of your fathers and go whoring after their detestable things?

Ezekiel 20:30 nlt

"Therefore, give the people of Israel this message from the Sovereign LORD: Do you plan to pollute yourselves just as your ancestors did? Do you intend to keep prostituting yourselves by worshiping vile images?

Ezekiel 20 verses

Ezekiel 20 30 Meaning

Ezekiel 20:30 serves as a direct and rhetorical challenge from God, through the prophet Ezekiel, to the contemporary "house of Israel" in exile. Having recounted the historical pattern of Israel's unfaithfulness and idolatry from Egypt through the wilderness, God now directly confronts the present generation. The verse questions if they intend to perpetuate the spiritual defilement and idolatrous apostasy characteristic of their ancestors, implying they are indeed following this destructive path. It underscores their persistent rebellion against the covenant Lord by forsaking Him for "detestable things" – pagan idols and practices.

Ezekiel 20 30 Context

Ezekiel 20:30 stands as a pivot within a significant discourse where God reviews Israel's history of rebellion. The chapter begins with the elders of Israel coming to Ezekiel, seeking a word from the Lord. Instead of answering their immediate concerns, God launches into a comprehensive historical recount, detailing Israel's persistent idolatry and defiance, starting from their time in Egypt (vv. 5-9), through the wilderness generation (vv. 10-26), and up to their entrance into the Promised Land (vv. 27-29). This review highlights God's steadfastness despite Israel's consistent unfaithfulness. Verse 30 transitions from the past to the present, directly challenging the generation living during the Babylonian exile. It poses a rhetorical question to this current generation: after witnessing the devastating consequences of their forefathers' sins, will they repeat the same pattern of defilement and idolatry? Historically, the Israelites were in exile precisely because of their cumulative unfaithfulness. The continued inclination toward pagan worship, even in exile, underscored the deep-seated problem of their hearts, and the question served as a powerful indictment of their ongoing spiritual corruption despite God's disciplinary hand. The verse forms a key point in establishing their continuous spiritual depravity and setting the stage for subsequent warnings and promises in the chapter.

Ezekiel 20 30 Word analysis

• Therefore (לָכֵן, lakhen): This connective adverb signifies a conclusion or a consequence drawn from the preceding narrative. Here, it explicitly links God's historical recount of Israel's past rebellions and judgments (vv. 5-29) to the present generation's condition and challenge. It marks a decisive shift from historical summary to direct confrontation.
• say (אֱמֹר, emor): An imperative verb, "say!" or "speak!". It's a direct command to Ezekiel, emphasizing the divine origin and authoritative nature of the message he is to deliver. It is not Ezekiel's personal opinion but a pronouncement from the Almighty.
• to the house of Israel (אֶל בֵּית יִשְׂרָאֵל, el beit Yisra'el): This phrase designates the entire community of God's covenant people. Even though divided and partially in exile, they are addressed as a collective, reminding them of their identity and accountability to Yahweh, the God who established a covenant with their ancestors.
• Thus says the Lord GOD (כֹּה אָמַר אֲדֹנָי יְהוִה, koh amar Adonai Yahweh): This is the standard, authoritative prophetic formula that stamps the subsequent words as originating directly from the Sovereign Lord. Adonai (Master) emphasizes God's supreme authority, and Yahweh (the LORD) underscores His personal, covenantal relationship with Israel.
• Will you defile yourselves (הֲתִטַּמּוּ, hatittammu): This is a rhetorical question, indicated by the interrogative prefix 'הֲ' (ha-). The root verb is טָמֵא (tame), meaning to be or become unclean, impure, or defiled, particularly in a ritual, moral, or spiritual sense. The reflexive (Niphal) form emphasizes that they are actively making themselves unclean through their choices. This spiritual defilement directly contrasts with God's holiness.
• after the manner of your fathers (כְּדֶרֶךְ אֲבוֹתֵיכֶם, k'derekh avoteikhem): The Hebrew word derekh (דֶּרֶךְ) means "way," "path," "custom," or "manner." It points to a continuation of their ancestors' habitual practices and sinful lifestyle, highlighting a generational pattern of rebellion and idolatry that the present generation seems unwilling to break.
• and go astray (וְתִזְנוּ, v'tiznu): Literally "and you will prostitute yourselves." The verb זָנָה (zanah) primarily means to commit prostitution or fornication. Biblically, it is frequently used metaphorically to describe spiritual unfaithfulness to God, equating idolatry with adultery. It implies a betrayal of the exclusive covenant relationship with Yahweh, their divine "husband."
• after their detestable things (אַחֲרֵי שִׁקּוּצֵיהֶם, akharei shiqutzeyhem): Shiqutzim (שִׁקּוּץ) refers to "detestable things," "abominations," or "idols." This strong term denotes objects and practices that are utterly disgusting and abhorrent to God, often involving pagan cultic rituals. Following "after" them implies pursuit, devotion, and adherence to these loathsome religious practices.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• "Therefore say to the house of Israel": This phrase functions as the solemn introduction, stressing the divine origin of the message and its targeted recipient: the entirety of God's covenant people, reminding them of their collective identity and responsibility. It signals a pronouncement of profound consequence based on their shared history.
• "Thus says the Lord GOD": A formula that underlines the supreme authority and divine source of the upcoming rhetorical question. It makes clear that these are not merely Ezekiel's words, but a direct challenge from the Creator and Sovereign Master, Adonai Yahweh.
• "Will you defile yourselves... and go astray...": This paired rhetorical question powerfully juxtaposes spiritual corruption ("defile yourselves") with active spiritual unfaithfulness or betrayal ("go astray," i.e., prostitute yourselves). It portrays a deep-seated inner contamination leading to outward acts of covenant-breaking. It's a stark inquiry into their moral agency.
• "after the manner of your fathers, and... after their detestable things": These parallel phrases link the present generation's actions directly to the established patterns of their ancestors and specify the abhorrent objects of their apostasy. It points to both the cyclical nature of sin and the explicit, offensive nature of their idolatry as the chosen alternative to worshiping the true God.

Ezekiel 20 30 Bonus section

• Polemics against Idolatry: The use of "detestable things" (שִׁקּוּצִים, shiqutzim) serves a polemical purpose. It demeans the pagan idols, stripping them of any supposed power or glory that their worshipers might attribute to them. For God, they are not rival deities but loathsome, abominable objects. This redefines the nature of these false gods for the original audience, reinforcing their utter insignificance and offensiveness in the eyes of Yahweh.
• Covenant Nuptial Metaphor: The strong imagery of "going astray" (literally "prostituting yourselves," זָנָה, zanah) draws heavily on the biblical theme of God as Israel's husband and Israel as His covenant bride (e.g., Ezekiel 16; Hosea 1-3; Jeremiah 3). This powerful metaphor underscores the deep emotional and relational betrayal inherent in their idolatry, framing it not just as a breach of law, but as a violation of an intimate, exclusive love relationship. It highlights the depth of their treachery against a faithful God.
• Personal Responsibility within Corporate Identity: While the verse acknowledges the "manner of your fathers," it directly addresses the "house of Israel" in the second person ("will you defile yourselves?"). This balances corporate identity and the weight of ancestral sin with the present generation's individual and collective responsibility to make their own choices, either to perpetuate the sin or to repent and turn back to God. They are accountable for their own actions, even while being part of a larger historical trajectory.

Ezekiel 20 30 Commentary

Ezekiel 20:30 encapsulates God's poignant lament and sharp accusation against the current generation of Israel, using the stark history of their forefathers as a mirror to their own unrepentant hearts. Having meticulously detailed Israel's persistent idolatry from Egypt onward, God transitions from a historical overview to a direct, present-day challenge. The rhetorical questions, "Will you defile yourselves... and go astray after their detestable things?" are not posed out of genuine ignorance but serve as a searing indictment, revealing that despite generations of divine intervention, warnings, and judgments – including the Babylonian exile – the people continued to pursue the same spiritual harlotry.

The phrase "defile yourselves" speaks to their internal state and self-inflicted spiritual impurity through adherence to idols, which contrasts sharply with the holiness required of God's people. "Go astray" or "prostitute yourselves" vividly portrays their covenant infidelity, equating their turning to false gods with a bride abandoning her husband for lovers. The "detestable things" highlight the true, repulsive nature of these idols in God's sight, exposing their worthlessness despite the allure they held for Israel. This verse underscores the pervasive human tendency to repeat ancestral sins without genuine repentance, demanding self-examination and a conscious break from destructive patterns to pursue a life aligned with divine truth.