Ezekiel 20 41

Ezekiel 20:41 kjv

I will accept you with your sweet savour, when I bring you out from the people, and gather you out of the countries wherein ye have been scattered; and I will be sanctified in you before the heathen.

Ezekiel 20:41 nkjv

I will accept you as a sweet aroma when I bring you out from the peoples and gather you out of the countries where you have been scattered; and I will be hallowed in you before the Gentiles.

Ezekiel 20:41 niv

I will accept you as fragrant incense when I bring you out from the nations and gather you from the countries where you have been scattered, and I will be proved holy through you in the sight of the nations.

Ezekiel 20:41 esv

As a pleasing aroma I will accept you, when I bring you out from the peoples and gather you out of the countries where you have been scattered. And I will manifest my holiness among you in the sight of the nations.

Ezekiel 20:41 nlt

When I bring you home from exile, you will be like a pleasing sacrifice to me. And I will display my holiness through you as all the nations watch.

Ezekiel 20 verses

Ezekiel 20 41 Meaning

The verse signifies God's acceptance of His people into His presence and their recognition of Him as their sanctifier. It points to a future restoration and fellowship where God's holiness is demonstrated in them. This acceptance is based on His grace and covenant.

Ezekiel 20 41 Context

This verse is part of Ezekiel's prophecy of restoration, following his visions of judgment upon Israel due to their idolatry and rebellion. The prophet is speaking to the elders of Israel who had also gone astray. God declares His intention to gather them, cleanse them from their impurities, and establish a new covenant relationship. The preceding verses speak of gathering scattered Israel, purging them, and restoring them to their land. This particular verse marks a turning point towards future divine acceptance and sanctification. The immediate historical context is the Babylonian exile, but the prophecy looks beyond that to a redeemed remnant.

Ezekiel 20 41 Word analysis

• I (אָנֹכִי, anokhi): First-person singular pronoun, referring to God Himself, emphasizing His personal action and initiative.
• will accept (אָרִיעַ, ari‘a): Although the precise vocalization for this verse isn't universally agreed upon, the root idea suggests acceptance, lifting up, or favor. It implies God recognizing them and granting them access to His presence.
• you (אֶתְכֶם, etchem): Plural masculine pronoun, referring to the people of Israel collectively.
• with (בְּ, bə): A preposition indicating the means, manner, or context of the acceptance and sanctification.
• all (כָּל, kol): Denotes entirety, encompassing the entirety of their being or action.
• My pleasure (רַצוני, ratzonî): The root רָצָה (ratzah) means to be pleased, to favor, to accept. It speaks of God’s will and good pleasure as the basis of their acceptance. It signifies His gracious approval.
• And (וְ, wə): Conjunction connecting two parallel clauses, indicating the sequence or addition of God’s action.
• I (וַאֲנִי, wə-anokhi): Again, God personally taking action.
• will sanctify (קִדַּשְׁתִּי, qiddashti): The Hebrew root קָדַשׁ (qadash) means to be holy, to set apart, to consecrate. The causative form here indicates God’s action of making them holy. This is not merely a forensic declaration but an ongoing process of purification and consecration.
• You (אֶתְכֶם, etchem): Again, referring to the people of Israel.
• in (בְּ, bə): Similar to the previous preposition, indicating the sphere or manner in which they are sanctified.
• The midst (תוֹכְכֶם, tokhchem): Implies being within, among, or in their presence, reinforcing God's intimate relationship with His people.
• of (מִן, min - implied in construct state): Connecting to the holiness, indicating the source or measure of their sanctification.
• The holiness (קֹדֶשׁ, qodesh): The abstract noun for holiness, perfection, separation. It signifies God’s intrinsic nature as the source of their sanctification.

Word Group Analysis:

• "I will accept you with all My pleasure": This phrase highlights God’s sovereign and unmerited favor. It’s not about human merit but divine will. It implies a restored relationship where God looks upon His people with delight.
• "And I will sanctify you in the midst of you": This is a powerful statement of God’s immanent work. He sanctifies them by His presence among them and by working His holiness within their midst. It’s an internal transformation empowered by God Himself.

Ezekiel 20 41 Bonus Section

The concept of God's "pleasure" (ratzon) here is crucial. It's the foundation of His gracious acceptance, entirely independent of human worthiness. This is echoed in Ephesians 1:4-5, where God chose believers before the foundation of the world according to His good pleasure. The intimate connection between God’s presence and His people's sanctification is also a theme that runs through Scripture, from the Tabernacle’s dwelling to the indwelling Spirit of believers in the New Testament. The phrase "in the midst of you" signifies that God’s sanctifying power is internal, working within His people, not just an external imposition. This anticipates Christ dwelling within believers and the Holy Spirit empowering them.

Ezekiel 20 41 Commentary

This verse is a cornerstone of God's promises for a restored Israel. It speaks to a future where God will not only forgive but actively transform His people, making them holy as He is holy. The acceptance is complete and originates entirely from God's pleasure. The sanctification is also God’s work, carried out through His presence within the community. This points forward to the New Covenant described in Jeremiah 31:33 and fulfilled in Christ, where God’s law is written on their hearts and they are empowered by His Spirit to live holy lives. It’s about being set apart for God’s purposes, a continuous process initiated by God’s grace.