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 |
|---|---|---|
| Ezek 2:1 | And he said to me, “Son of man, stand on your feet, and I will speak to you.” | "Son of Man" address to Ezekiel. |
| Ezek 3:17 | “Son of man, I have made you a watchman for the house of Israel." | Prophet as watchman, bringing God's word. |
| Ezek 22:2 | "Now, son of man, will you judge, will you judge the bloodthirsty city?" | Parallel divine command to judge/expose. |
| Jer 1:10 | "See, I have set you this day over nations and over kingdoms, to pluck up and to break down, to destroy and to overthrow, to build and to plant." | Prophet's role in delivering God's judgments. |
| Hos 6:5 | Therefore I have hewn them in pieces by the prophets; I have slain them by the words of my mouth. | Prophetic word as an instrument of judgment. |
| John 12:48 | "The one who rejects me and does not receive my words has a judge... the word that I have spoken will judge him." | God's word as the ultimate judge. |
| Deut 18:9-12 | Describes abominations (תּוֹעֲבָה) to the Lord... child sacrifice, divination, sorcery. | Definition of practices considered abominable. |
| 2 Kgs 16:3 | "He walked in the ways of the kings of Israel... even burned his son as an offering." | Example of a king practicing abominations. |
| Jer 7:10 | "Will you steal, murder, commit adultery, swear falsely... and then come and stand before me?" | Listing abominations and false security. |
| Ezek 8:6 | "Son of man, do you see what they are doing—the great abominations that the house of Israel is committing here?" | Other instances of abominations in Ezekiel. |
| Rev 17:4 | "The woman was arrayed in purple and scarlet... holding a golden cup full of abominations." | Abominations symbolizing ultimate spiritual corruption. |
| Lev 26:39 | "And those of you who are left shall rot away in their iniquity in your enemies' lands, and also in the iniquities of their fathers..." | Iniquity of fathers influencing current generation. |
| Num 14:18 | "The LORD is slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love, forgiving iniquity and transgression, but he will by no means clear the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children to the third and the fourth generation." | Generational consequence of sin. |
| Psa 78:8 | "So that they should not be like their fathers, a stubborn and rebellious generation, a generation whose heart was not steadfast." | Warning against repeating fathers' rebellion. |
| Jer 16:11-12 | "Because your fathers have forsaken me... and have gone after other gods... and you yourselves have done worse than your fathers." | Israel's generational worsening of sin. |
| Zech 1:4 | "Do not be like your fathers, to whom the former prophets cried out, 'Thus says the LORD of hosts, Return from your evil ways and from your evil deeds!'" | Exhortation not to emulate rebellious ancestors. |
| Matt 23:32 | "Fill up, then, the measure of your fathers' sins." | Culmination of generational rejection of God. |
| Isa 58:1 | "Cry aloud; do not hold back; lift up your voice like a trumpet; declare to my people their transgression, to the house of Jacob their sins." | Prophet's mandate to declare sin boldly. |
| Ezek 2:7 | "And you shall speak my words to them, whether they hear or refuse to hear." | Prophet's responsibility regardless of response. |
| Rom 2:5-6 | "But because of your hard and unrepentant heart you are storing up wrath for yourself on the day of wrath." | Judgment for persistent unrepentant sin. |
| Gal 6:7 | "Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap." | Divine principle of consequence for actions. |
Ezekiel 20 verses
Ezekiel 20 4 Meaning
Ezekiel 20:4 begins a divine charge to the prophet, demanding he confront the idolatry and rebellion of the elders of Israel. The prophet, designated "son of man," is tasked not with a personal judicial decision but with acting as God's prosecutor. His role is to lay bare the long history of the nation's spiritual defilement, particularly the detestable practices inherited and perpetuated from their ancestors, which form the basis for God's impending judgment. It underscores a generational pattern of breaking the covenant through abominable acts.
Ezekiel 20 4 Context
Ezekiel chapter 20 takes place during the Babylonian exile. Elders of Israel, residing in Babylon, come to Ezekiel, a prophet exiled in their midst, "to inquire of the LORD" (v. 1). However, the LORD's immediate response is a stern refusal, stating that He will not be inquired of by those who remain rebellious and idolatrous (v. 3). Ezekiel 20:4 then introduces the LORD's command to Ezekiel: instead of providing a new word of guidance, Ezekiel is to judge them by exposing their accumulated sins. The subsequent verses (Ezek 20:5-31) chronicle a repeated history of Israel's rebellion and God's consistent faithfulness, mercy, and delayed judgment, from the exodus in Egypt through the wilderness, the conquest of Canaan, and into their present exile. This historical recital serves to demonstrate that the current exile is not arbitrary, but a just consequence of centuries of turning away from God, particularly through idolatry.
Ezekiel 20 4 Word analysis
- Wilt thou judge them (הֲתִשְׁפּוֹט, hatishpot): The Hebrew verb "judge" appears twice for emphasis, indicating a firm divine mandate. It's a rhetorical question posed by God, functioning as an imperative command. The judgment isn't personal but forensic: Ezekiel is to declare God's verdict and expose the guilt of the people. This "judgment" involves declaring the truth of their sinful history, not handing down a personal sentence.
- son of man (בֶן־אָדָם, ben-adam): This is the consistent address for Ezekiel throughout his book (over 90 times). It emphasizes Ezekiel's human nature and mortality, underscoring the vast gap between the prophet and the divine, while also highlighting his unique role as God's designated messenger and representative to humanity. It reminds him, and the audience, of his dependence on God for authority and revelation.
- Wilt thou judge them? The repetition serves to intensify the command and impress upon Ezekiel the solemnity and urgency of his task. It ensures there is no doubt about his responsibility.
- Cause them to know (הוֹדַע, hodha'): This imperative verb means "make known," "inform," or "declare." It goes beyond simply stating facts; it implies a confronting revelation that aims to enlighten them about their sin. It's an act of public indictment and testimony, bringing their actions into the light of divine scrutiny. This revealing serves as a form of judgment itself.
- the abominations (תּוֹעֲבָה, to'evah): This is a key term in Ezekiel, meaning "detestable thing" or "abomination," specifically anything that is morally or ritually repulsive to God, especially idolatry and the associated pagan practices (e.g., child sacrifice, illicit sexual acts, perversion of justice). It represents the severe breach of covenant and purity. The use of the plural ("abominations") indicates a multitude and variety of offensive acts.
- of their fathers (אֲבוֹתֵיהֶם, 'avotehem): This refers not merely to immediate parents but to previous generations and ancestors. It highlights a continuous pattern of sin and rebellion throughout Israel's history, establishing a collective, generational guilt. While God judges individuals for their own sin, here it highlights the deeply entrenched and long-standing nature of their apostasy as a people, rooted in historical precedents.
Words-group by words-group analysis:
- Wilt thou judge them, son of man? Wilt thou judge them?: This repeated question and unique divine address establishes Ezekiel's prophetic commission. The interrogation structure ("Wilt thou...?") draws the prophet directly into the task, making him actively acknowledge and take up his role. The repetition emphasizes the certainty and gravity of the judgment to be delivered through him, focusing on the people collectively, "them."
- Cause them to know the abominations of their fathers: This phrase reveals the specific method of judgment and its content. It is a judgment by revelation, making the truth of their ancestors' heinous acts known. The collective term "fathers" underscores the cumulative nature of Israel's covenant breaking, showing that their current state is a consequence of persistent, generational rebellion against God. The focus is on specific actions – the "abominations" – that define their spiritual defilement.
Ezekiel 20 4 Bonus section
The context of elders "inquiring of the Lord" suggests a superficial or insincere piety. They come seeking a word or direction from God while still clinging to their idols (Ezek 20:3, 7). This verse is God's categorical refusal to engage with such hypocrisy, instead demanding that their deepest sins be exposed. The specific nature of "abominations" (תּוֹעֲבָה) often implies a blatant disrespect for the covenant relationship and God's holiness, not just a minor transgression. Furthermore, the emphasis on the "abominations of their fathers" implies a collective identity and destiny; while individuals are accountable for their own sins, a nation can bear the corporate consequences and inherited spiritual blindness resulting from generations of apostasy. This intergenerational pattern forms a significant polemic against any notion that their current suffering is accidental or arbitrary; it is the natural culmination of a history of unfaithfulness.
Ezekiel 20 4 Commentary
Ezekiel 20:4 acts as a programmatic statement for much of the chapter, setting the stage for God's historical review of Israel's repeated rebellion. God uses Ezekiel not as an arbiter between two parties, but as His voice, acting as a divine prosecutor before the rebellious nation. The core of this "judgment" is a confrontation with historical truth: the people's long-standing tradition of idolatry and defilement, which they have perpetuated from their "fathers." This exposure of ancestral and present "abominations" serves several purposes: it demonstrates God's perfect justice in the face of their present suffering (exile), reveals His unwavering holiness, and, importantly, seeks to bring the people to a point of recognition and potential repentance by seeing their continuous and escalating sin. The repeated question "Wilt thou judge them?" ensures Ezekiel understands the gravity and the necessity of this painful but righteous prophetic task. It reminds both the prophet and the people that the Lord knows their full history and holds them accountable.