Ezekiel 20:4 kjv
Wilt thou judge them, son of man, wilt thou judge them? cause them to know the abominations of their fathers:
Ezekiel 20:4 nkjv
Will you judge them, son of man, will you judge them? Then make known to them the abominations of their fathers.
Ezekiel 20:4 niv
"Will you judge them? Will you judge them, son of man? Then confront them with the detestable practices of their ancestors
Ezekiel 20:4 esv
Will you judge them, son of man, will you judge them? Let them know the abominations of their fathers,
Ezekiel 20:4 nlt
"Son of man, bring charges against them and condemn them. Make them realize how detestable the sins of their ancestors really were.
Ezekiel 20 4 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Eze 14:3 | "Son of man, these men have set up idols in their hearts..." | Israel's idolatry |
| Eze 14:7 | "... I will set my face against that man and make him an example..." | God's judgment on apostates |
| Jer 2:5 | "What iniquity have your fathers found in me..." | God's faithfulness |
| Jer 3:13 | "Only acknowledge your iniquity..." | Repentance commanded |
| Hos 5:10 | "The princes of Judah have become like those who move a boundary..." | Israel's transgression |
| Ps 106:6 | "We have sinned, as our fathers did; we have committed iniquity..." | Inherited sin |
| Rom 3:23 | "for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God" | Universal sin |
| John 10:10 | "...I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly." | God's true purpose |
| Acts 7:51 | "You stiff-necked and uncircumcised in heart and ears!" | Resistance to God |
| Isa 1:4 | "Ah, sinful nation, a people laden with iniquity..." | Israel's sinfulness |
| Lev 26:41 | "...their uncircumcised heart may be humbled..." | Humiliation in exile |
| Deut 29:18 | "...rooted bearing poison and wormwood." | Wickedness bringing curse |
| Eze 2:3 | "And he said to me, 'Son of man, I send you to the people of Israel...'" | God's commission |
| Eze 3:4 | "But the house of Israel will not be willing to listen to you..." | Israel's rebellion |
| Eze 4:1-3 | Illustrating Jerusalem's siege and Israel's sin | Symbolic prophecy |
| Jer 18:11 | "Now therefore, speak to the men of Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem..." | Call to repentance |
| Isa 43:25 | "I, even I, am he who blots out your transgressions for my own sake..." | God's forgiveness |
| Gal 3:10 | "For all who rely on the works of the law are under a curse..." | Curse of the law |
| Gal 3:24 | "So then the law was our guardian until Christ came..." | Purpose of the law |
| 1 Cor 10:11 | "Now these things occurred as examples for us..." | Examples for believers |
| 2 Tim 3:16 | "All Scripture is God-breathed..." | Divine inspiration |
| 1 Pet 1:18 | "...by the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without blemish or spot." | Redemption |
Ezekiel 20 verses
Ezekiel 20 4 Meaning
This verse is a divine indictment, establishing a solemn and authoritative inquiry by God directed at the elders of Israel. It highlights God's right to judge His people, setting the stage for a detailed exposition of their history of rebellion and disobedience. The phrase "ask them" signifies not a genuine quest for information, but a rhetorical question to underscore their guilt and God's intimate knowledge of their sins.
Ezekiel 20 4 Context
Ezekiel chapter 20 is part of Ezekiel's prophetic ministry to the exiles in Babylon. God instructs Ezekiel to answer the elders of Israel who are seeking His counsel. The chapter unfolds God's long history of dealing with Israel, emphasizing their persistent disobedience and idolatry from their early days in Egypt through their wilderness wanderings and settlement in the Promised Land, all the way to their present exile. The verse sets the stage for a detailed recounting of these historical failures, designed to expose the root causes of God's judgment and to hold them accountable.
Ezekiel 20 4 Word analysis
"And it came to pass": A common introductory phrase in Hebrew narrative literature (וַֽהֲיָ֣ה; va-haya) marking a transition to a new event or setting.
"in the seventh year": Specifies the temporal setting of the prophecy, lending historical specificity. This year marks a particular point in the exilic period.
"in the fifth month": Further precision in the timeline, indicative of specific calendar reckoning and potentially linking to memorial days.
"on the tenth day of the month": Pinpoints the exact date. Some scholars suggest this might relate to Yom Kippur (Day of Atonement) which occurred on the tenth day of Tishri, although the Hebrew month here is not specified as Tishri.
"certain of the elders of Israel came": Indicates a delegation, perhaps those genuinely seeking understanding, or those who still clung to their rebellious ways.
"to seek the LORD": Expresses their stated intent to inquire of God's will or to seek His favor.
"and sat before me": Signifies a formal setting, with Ezekiel acting as God's mouthpiece, facing the elders who are seated to listen.
Words-group analysis: The phrase "ask them" (וִֽישְׁא֥וּ; vi-ysheu) in Hebrew implies inquiry or questioning. In this context, it's not a neutral question but a prelude to divine accusation and pronouncement of judgment, similar to how God challenges prophets or people in other instances.
Ezekiel 20 4 Bonus section
This verse functions as a divine tribunal's opening statement. The elders come to "seek the LORD," but the Lord declares His intention to "answer them." This highlights God's sovereign initiative in the encounter. Their seeking of God is insufficient; God will speak first, and His word will be an accounting of their sin. This pattern reflects God's dealings throughout redemptive history where human action, often driven by mixed or impure motives, is met by God's unwavering plan and His righteous judgment or mercy. The date, the fifth month and tenth day, aligns with other significant historical moments of loss and judgment in Israel's history, subtly reminding them of past failures.
Ezekiel 20 4 Commentary
God allows the elders of Israel to present themselves seeking His counsel, but this is merely an opportunity for Him to declare their inherited guilt and consistent pattern of rebellion. The prophecy is not about providing comfort but about exposing the depth of their sin. Their seeking the LORD is met not with blessing, but with a retrospective examination of their ancestral and personal transgressions, demonstrating that their current suffering is a direct consequence of their ongoing unfaithfulness. This passage underscores that God knows the hearts of His people and their history of turning away from Him, even when they appear to seek Him.