Ezekiel 20:36 kjv
Like as I pleaded with your fathers in the wilderness of the land of Egypt, so will I plead with you, saith the Lord GOD.
Ezekiel 20:36 nkjv
Just as I pleaded My case with your fathers in the wilderness of the land of Egypt, so I will plead My case with you," says the Lord GOD.
Ezekiel 20:36 niv
As I judged your ancestors in the wilderness of the land of Egypt, so I will judge you, declares the Sovereign LORD.
Ezekiel 20:36 esv
As I entered into judgment with your fathers in the wilderness of the land of Egypt, so I will enter into judgment with you, declares the Lord GOD.
Ezekiel 20:36 nlt
I will judge you there just as I did your ancestors in the wilderness after bringing them out of Egypt, says the Sovereign LORD.
Ezekiel 20 36 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Ezekiel 20:35 | "And I will bring you into the wilderness of the peoples..." | Ezekiel 20:35 (Context) |
| Leviticus 26:28 | "then I will proceed to strike you seven times more for your sins." | Leviticus 26:28 (Punishment) |
| Numbers 14:29 | "Your carcasses shall fall in this wilderness." | Numbers 14:29 (Wilderness |
| Deuteronomy 8:2 | "And you shall remember all the way which the LORD your God led you these..." | Deuteronomy 8:2 (Remembrance) |
| Jeremiah 2:7 | "But I brought you into a fertile land to eat its fruit and its good things." | Jeremiah 2:7 (Initial State) |
| Hosea 2:14 | "Therefore, behold, I will allure her, and bring her into the wilderness..." | Hosea 2:14 (God's action) |
| Micah 6:14 | "You will eat, but you will not be satisfied;" | Micah 6:14 (Consequence) |
| Matthew 11:23 | "And you, Capernaum, will not be exalted to heaven? You will be brought..." | Matthew 11:23 (Judgment) |
| 1 Corinthians 10:1-5 | "Now these things happened as examples for us...they were overthrown..." | 1 Corinthians 10:1-5 (Exhortation) |
| Revelation 11:2 | "But exclude the courtyard which is outside the temple; do not measure..." | Revelation 11:2 (Separation) |
| Romans 11:22 | "Behold therefore the kindness and severity of God..." | Romans 11:22 (God's duality) |
| 1 Corinthians 5:5 | "that his spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus." | 1 Corinthians 5:5 (Purpose) |
| Deuteronomy 4:30 | "In your distress, when these things have found you in the latter days..." | Deuteronomy 4:30 (Future Hope) |
| Psalm 95:8 | "Do not harden your hearts, as at Meribah, as on the day at Massah in..." | Psalm 95:8 (Warning) |
| Isaiah 5:13 | "Therefore my people go into exile for want of knowledge;" | Isaiah 5:13 (Cause) |
| Isaiah 43:16 | "Thus says the LORD, who makes a way in the sea, a path in the mighty waters," | Isaiah 43:16 (God's power) |
| Ezekiel 22:17-22 | Detailed account of Israel's judgment and purification. | Ezekiel 22:17-22 (Judgement) |
| Ezekiel 37:11 | "Then he said to me, “Son of man, these bones are the whole house of Israel." | Ezekiel 37:11 (Restoration) |
| Revelation 18:4 | "Come out of her, my people, lest you take part in her sins..." | Revelation 18:4 (Separation) |
| 2 Thessalonians 1:9 | "they will suffer the punishment of eternal destruction, away from..." | 2 Thessalonians 1:9 (Destruction) |
| Hebrews 3:17 | "With whom was he provoked for forty years? Was it not with those who..." | Hebrews 3:17 (Disobedience) |
Ezekiel 20 verses
Ezekiel 20 36 Meaning
This verse signifies God’s judgment upon Israel for their continued disobedience and rebellion. It explains that God will bring them into the wilderness, just as he did in their exodus from Egypt, as a consequence of their actions. This is not a literal repeat of the wilderness journey but a metaphorical representation of separation, testing, and facing the direct consequences of sin outside the Promised Land. God's intention, however, is ultimately redemptive – to purge the rebellious from their midst and recommit the faithful to Himself.
Ezekiel 20 36 Context
Ezekiel 20 is a long and detailed chapter where God recounts Israel’s history of disobedience, from Egypt to their current exile in Babylon. The prophet is instructed to confront the elders of Israel with their ancestors' sins and the consequences God brought upon them. In the preceding verses (Ezekiel 20:33-35), God declares his intention to gather them from their dispersions, bring them out from the nations, and enter into judgment with them in the wilderness. Verse 36 is a direct continuation and explanation of this judgment. The historical context is the Babylonian exile, a period of profound national crisis and spiritual searching for the Judean people. They are asking for messages from God, and Ezekiel is commissioned to reveal God's perspective on their situation – a consequence of generations of sin and a precursor to eventual restoration.
Ezekiel 20 36 Word Analysis
- וְהִבְרַ֤אתִי (vehivRaa'ti): "and I will bring." The verb bow (לבא - lavo) is used here in a causative Hif'il form, meaning "to cause to enter," "to bring in." This indicates God’s active role in bringing the people to this state of judgment.
- אֶתְכֶם (et'khem): "you." Plural, referring to the descendants of Israel, particularly those living during Ezekiel’s time and hearing his prophecy.
- מִדְבַּר (midbar): "wilderness." Derived from the root davav (דּבב - dabav), meaning "to drive." It signifies a barren, uncultivated, or desert place. This evokes the period of Israel’s journey after leaving Egypt, a time of testing and purification.
- עַמִּים ('ammim): "peoples," "nations." This indicates the surrounding gentile nations from which God will separate Israel.
- וְשָׁם (vesham): "and there." Points to the place where the judgment will occur – the wilderness of the peoples.
- נִשְׁפַּטְתִּי (nishpatt'ti): "I will judge," "I will contend." From the root shaphat (שׁפט - shafat), meaning "to judge," "to govern," "to decide." This verb is in the Niphal (passive) stem, which often indicates an action done by God to someone, or a state of being judged. Here, it means God will contend or hold court with them.
- אִתְּכֶם (it'khem): "with you." The preposition et (את - et) here denotes the object or company with whom God will judge.
- אֶת־פְּנֵי (et-p'nei): "the face of." Refers to the presence or direct engagement with.
- מִצְרָֽיִם (mitzrayim): "Egypt." This specifically evokes the memory of the exodus and the judgment and salvation that occurred then, particularly God’s dealing with Israel in the desert following their liberation. It’s a direct parallel.
Word-group Analysis:
- "bring you into the wilderness of the peoples": This phrase encapsulates the core judgment. It's a removal from established places and a separation among the nations, but within a context that mirrors the earlier wilderness experience. It implies a stripping away of outward supports and reliance on God alone, but now as a consequence of sin, not liberation from slavery.
- "and there I will judge you": The placement of judgment is crucial. It’s not a swift annihilation but a process in a desolate place, akin to the wilderness, where God’s dealings are more apparent and individual accountability is highlighted.
Ezekiel 20 36 Bonus Section
The imagery of God bringing His people into the wilderness for judgment is not punitive for the sake of punishment. It parallels the earlier wilderness experience where Israel was tested, sustained, and instructed. In this instance, it is a trial through which rebellion will be exposed and purged. God’s intention, as consistently demonstrated throughout Ezekiel's prophecy, is to bring about holiness and faithfulness, even through severe disciplinary measures. This foreshadows the concept in the New Testament of being "crucified with Christ" to be cleansed from sin, leading to a new life in Him (Galatians 2:20). The "wilderness of the peoples" is a space where God "finds" them, indicating a sovereign oversight even in their dispersion and punishment, and it's where His character and justice are most directly revealed to them in their present state.
Ezekiel 20 36 Commentary
This verse is a stark reminder of God’s faithfulness to His covenant, even in judgment. God’s pronouncements here echo His earlier actions. Just as He brought Israel out of Egypt and dealt with them in the wilderness for forty years due to their sin, He will now bring them out from among the nations and enter into judgment with them. This "wilderness" is a spiritual and disciplinary space, where the unfaithfulness that characterized the earlier journey will be addressed. It signifies God’s unwavering demand for fidelity. The judgment in the "wilderness of the peoples" is a process of purging and refining. God intends to separate those who continue in rebellion from the faithful remnant. This purging is necessary for the eventual restoration of His people. The reference to Egypt is a poignant reminder: the same God who delivered them will now judge them for their repeated failings, demonstrating that proximity to God necessitates accountability. The ultimate purpose, as seen throughout Ezekiel, is not solely condemnation but a recalibration of their relationship with God, preparing them for a future where they will live in a new covenant relationship, fully devoted to Him.