Ezekiel 20 33

Ezekiel 20:33 kjv

As I live, saith the Lord GOD, surely with a mighty hand, and with a stretched out arm, and with fury poured out, will I rule over you:

Ezekiel 20:33 nkjv

"As I live," says the Lord GOD, "surely with a mighty hand, with an outstretched arm, and with fury poured out, I will rule over you.

Ezekiel 20:33 niv

As surely as I live, declares the Sovereign LORD, I will reign over you with a mighty hand and an outstretched arm and with outpoured wrath.

Ezekiel 20:33 esv

"As I live, declares the Lord GOD, surely with a mighty hand and an outstretched arm and with wrath poured out I will be king over you.

Ezekiel 20:33 nlt

As surely as I live, says the Sovereign LORD, I will rule over you with an iron fist in great anger and with awesome power.

Ezekiel 20 verses

Ezekiel 20 33 Meaning

Ezekiel 20:33 declares God's solemn, unwavering oath that He will assert His sovereign rule over Israel with undeniable power and a display of His righteous wrath. This is a divine declaration of forceful intervention, compelling Israel back under His dominion, even through means of judgment and severe discipline, which are necessary steps for their purification and ultimate restoration.

Ezekiel 20 33 Context

Ezekiel chapter 20 begins with the elders of Israel coming to Ezekiel to inquire of the Lord. God responds by recounting Israel's persistent history of rebellion and idolatry from Egypt, through the wilderness, and into the land. Despite their repeated transgressions, God continually restrained His full wrath for His name's sake, preserving a remnant. This history sets the stage for God's declaration in verse 33. The verse serves as a pivot point, moving from a lament about past disobedience to a definitive statement about God's future action. He declares that He will no longer simply delay judgment or tolerate their dual loyalties. Instead, He vows to forcefully bring them back under His complete sovereignty. This foreshadows a severe period of discipline, symbolized by bringing them into "the wilderness of the peoples" (Eze 20:34-38), where the unfaithful will be purged, and only those who come under His direct, powerful rule will truly return. It is a powerful affirmation of divine sovereignty and purpose amidst profound human rebellion during the Babylonian exile.

Ezekiel 20 33 Word analysis

• "As I live": Hebrew Chai Ani (חַי אָנִי). This is a solemn divine oath, spoken by God Himself. It underscores the absolute certainty and irrevocability of the declaration that follows. God, the living one, binds Himself by His own essence, indicating that His words are as real and true as His own existence.
• "declares": Hebrew Ne'um (נְאֻם). A common prophetic formula indicating direct divine utterance. It emphasizes that these are not Ezekiel's words but God's authoritative pronouncement.
• "the Sovereign Lord": Hebrew Adonai Yahweh (אֲדֹנָי יְהוִה). Adonai signifies "Lord" or "Master," emphasizing authority and control. Yahweh is God's covenant name, signifying His self-existent, faithful, and relational character. Together, it conveys His supreme, personal, and covenantal authority over all creation and His people.
• "surely": This adverb emphasizes the absolute certainty and determination of God's forthcoming action, reinforcing the oath.
• "with a mighty hand": Hebrew b'yad chazaqah (בְּיָד חֲזָקָה). This phrase denotes overwhelming strength, power, and active intervention. While often associated with God's redemptive power (e.g., the Exodus from Egypt), here it is applied to a powerful, even forceful, imposition of His rule.
• "and an outstretched arm": Hebrew u'vizroa netuyah (וּבִזְרֹעַ נְטוּיָה). Paired with "mighty hand," this phrase reinforces the concept of irresistible power and resolute divine action. It portrays God extending His full might and resolve to accomplish His purpose.
• "and with poured-out wrath": Hebrew u'vchemah shefuchah (וּבְחֵמָה שְׁפוּכָה). Chemah means "burning anger" or "wrath." Shefuchah (poured out) signifies a complete, unreserved, and intense outpouring of divine indignation. This is not arbitrary anger but God's righteous response to sin, idolatry, and rebellion, indicating a purifying judgment.
• "I will rule over you": Hebrew emloch aleichem (אֶמְלֹךְ עֲלֵיכֶם). From the root malak, "to reign" or "to be king." God here asserts His absolute kingship. This signifies a direct, compelling imposition of His dominion, not merely a gentle shepherding. It implies a forced subjugation to His authority, even against their rebellious will, bringing them back into undisputed covenant submission.

• Words-Group analysis:
• "As I live," declares the Sovereign Lord, "surely": This opening sets a tone of ultimate divine authority, certainty, and an unchallengeable resolve. It's a foundational statement upon which the rest of the declaration stands, signifying God's unbending commitment to His word.
• "with a mighty hand and an outstretched arm": This is a powerful, oft-repeated metaphor for God's overwhelming power and active, irresistible intervention. Its typical association with the Exodus and deliverance highlights that the same power that saves can also judge and compel, asserting God's full control over His people's destiny.
• "and with poured-out wrath I will rule over you": The combination of wrath with the intention to "rule" over them demonstrates that God's forceful governance is born out of righteous anger against sin, leading to a purification process. His rule is not merely for their blessing but first for their correction and purging of unholiness. The objective is to restore genuine submission to His divine kingship.

Ezekiel 20 33 Bonus section

The re-appropriation of the "mighty hand and outstretched arm" imagery, typically associated with Israel's deliverance from Egypt, is highly significant in Ezekiel 20:33. Instead of liberation from oppression, it speaks of divine intervention that brings Israel under God's rule. This illustrates God's sovereignty extends not only to salvation but also to necessary judgment and coercive discipline. It shows that God's covenant faithfulness endures despite Israel's unfaithfulness, demanding purification for true restoration. This verse stands as a powerful testament to the inevitability of God's divine will prevailing over human resistance, ensuring that His kingdom and His rightful reign are ultimately established in and through His people.

Ezekiel 20 33 Commentary

Ezekiel 20:33 presents a stark yet ultimately purposeful declaration of God's unbreakable resolve. By swearing "As I live," the Sovereign Lord underscores the absolute certainty of His word. He commits to reasserting His dominion over Israel, not with gentle persuasion, but "with a mighty hand and an outstretched arm," terms usually signifying His redemptive Exodus power. Here, this power is applied to forceful subjugation and divine discipline. Coupled with "poured-out wrath," this signifies a necessary, complete outpouring of God's righteous indignation against Israel's pervasive idolatry and spiritual adultery. This wrath is a purifying judgment, compelling His rebellious people back under His kingship. The outcome is not annihilation, but a purging designed to restore true relationship and genuine obedience, establishing a rule that allows for eventual blessing and a new covenant. It emphasizes that God's kingdom will ultimately prevail, often through rigorous, refining means.