Ezekiel 20 43

Ezekiel 20:43 kjv

And there shall ye remember your ways, and all your doings, wherein ye have been defiled; and ye shall lothe yourselves in your own sight for all your evils that ye have committed.

Ezekiel 20:43 nkjv

And there you shall remember your ways and all your doings with which you were defiled; and you shall loathe yourselves in your own sight because of all the evils that you have committed.

Ezekiel 20:43 niv

There you will remember your conduct and all the actions by which you have defiled yourselves, and you will loathe yourselves for all the evil you have done.

Ezekiel 20:43 esv

And there you shall remember your ways and all your deeds with which you have defiled yourselves, and you shall loathe yourselves for all the evils that you have committed.

Ezekiel 20:43 nlt

You will look back on all the ways you defiled yourselves and will hate yourselves because of the evil you have done.

Ezekiel 20 verses

Ezekiel 20 43 Meaning

Ezekiel 20:43 describes a future state for the house of Israel, where, in the context of their spiritual restoration and re-gathering by God, they will intensely recall their past sinful ways and wicked deeds by which they deeply defiled themselves. This vivid recollection, combined with God's merciful presence, will lead to a profound internal abhorrence and self-loathing for all the evil acts they committed. This "loathing" signifies a deep, heartfelt repentance, characterized by a godly sorrow that acknowledges the heinousness of their rebellion against the Holy God.

Ezekiel 20 43 Context

Ezekiel chapter 20 is a powerful prophetic message delivered to the elders of Israel who sought a word from the Lord. Instead of a new oracle, God confronts them with their long history of rebellion, disobedience, and idolatry, recounting their stubbornness from Egypt, through the wilderness, and into the land. The central theme is Israel's persistent spiritual defilement contrasted with God's steadfast faithfulness to His covenant, restraining His wrath and preserving a remnant "for His name's sake" (Ezek 20:9, 14, 22).

Verse 43 falls within a significant turning point in the chapter (Ezek 20:33-44). After detailing the nation's past failures and predicting judgment and dispersion, God promises a future, gracious act of restoration. He will gather His people from the nations, bring them back into their own land, and enter into a new, purifying relationship with them. This future restoration is not based on Israel's merit or repentance as a precondition, but solely on God's initiative to honor His holy name. It is after God has acted in power to bring them back and remove the "rebels" that a spiritual transformation will occur. Thus, remembering their past and loathing themselves is the profound internal consequence and sign of a truly repentant heart that God sovereignly produces in them upon their restoration.

Ezekiel 20 43 Word analysis

• And there you will remember (וּזְכַרְתֶּם שָׁם, u-zkahrtem sham):

  • וּזְכַרְתֶּם (u-zkahrtem) from the root זָכַר (zakhar), meaning "to remember," "to recall," but in a more profound sense than mere intellectual recollection. It signifies a cognitive process that evokes a deep emotional and volitional response. It implies an attentive consideration and a turning toward what is remembered, often with strong implications for present action or deep regret. Here, it is an active, deep realization of past transgressions, not just a mental recall.
  • שָׁם (sham): "there," referring to the promised land where God will restore them. The physical return facilitates the spiritual remembrance.

• your ways (דַרְכֵיכֶם, darkeikhem): From דֶּרֶךְ (derekh), meaning "way," "path," "course of life," or "conduct." Refers to their habitual sinful behavior, their chosen lifestyle that diverged from God's commands.

• and all your deeds (וְכֹל עֲלִילוֹתֵיכֶם, v'chol ʿaliloteikhem):

  • וְכֹל (v'chol): "and all," emphasizing the comprehensive nature of their wickedness.
  • עֲלִילֹתֵיכֶם (ʿaliloteikhem): From עֲלִילָה (ʿalilah), meaning "deed," "action," often carrying a negative connotation, implying misdeeds, wicked acts, or abuses.

• by which you have defiled yourselves (אֲשֶׁר נִטְמֵאתֶם בָּהֶן, asher nitmeitem bahen):

  • נִטְמֵאתֶם (nitmeitem): From the root טָמֵא (tame), "to be unclean," "to be defiled," in the Hithpael stem ("to defile oneself"). This highlights that the defilement was self-inflicted and active, a direct consequence of their choices rather than something merely done to them. Their idolatry and moral perversions made them spiritually impure. This is a significant polemic against the idea that cultic rituals alone could defile, showing that moral and spiritual choices fundamentally defiled their being before God.

• and you will loathe yourselves (וּנְקֹטְתֶם פְּנֵיכֶם, u-neqotem p'neikhem):

  • וּנְקֹטְתֶם (u-neqoṭtem): From the root קוּט (qut), "to be disgusted," "to be loathsome," "to abhor," or "to feel self-revulsion." This is a very strong word, conveying an intense inner feeling of repugnance or nausea towards their own past actions. It’s a profound moral and spiritual aversion.
  • פְּנֵיכֶם (p'neikhem): Literally "your faces," often used idiomatically for "yourselves" or "your presence/person." It underscores that the loathing is directed inwards, at their own identity and moral character, reflecting deep shame and repentance. This is not despairing self-hatred, but rather a godly sorrow (2 Cor 7:10) over sin against a holy God.

• for all the evils (בְּכָל־רָעוֹתֵיכֶם, b'chol-raʿoteikhem):

  • רָעוֹתֵיכֶם (raʿoteikhem): From רָעָה (raʿah), meaning "evil," "wickedness," "calamity." Here, it signifies moral evil, wrongdoing, sins, and harmful practices.

• that you have committed (אֲשֶׁר עֲשִׂיתֶם, asher asitem): From עָשָׂה (ʿasah), "to do," "to make," "to perform." Emphasizes their active role in bringing about these evils.

• Words-group by words-group analysis:

  • "And there you will remember your ways and all your deeds...": This phrase points to a comprehensive internal inventory of their entire past lifestyle and specific actions. It implies an unavoidable, piercing clarity in acknowledging their personal responsibility for their sin, brought about by God's gracious intervention after restoration.
  • "...by which you have defiled yourselves...": This directly links their remembered "ways" and "deeds" to self-inflicted spiritual pollution. It’s not about ritual impurity from touching a corpse, but deep moral and spiritual uncleanness that sprang from their idolatry and disobedience. This refutes any notion that external actions could cleanse what their inner person defiled, and highlights the seriousness of individual culpability.
  • "...and you will loathe yourselves for all the evils that you have committed.": This is the culmination of their remembrance and realization. The extreme language of "loathing" (disgust, abhorrence) indicates a profound change of heart. It expresses utter repentance, a revulsion not merely at the consequences of sin but at sin itself, its nature, and its impact on their relationship with a holy God. This level of godly sorrow is indicative of genuine spiritual awakening.

Ezekiel 20 43 Bonus section

The profound spiritual transformation described in Ezekiel 20:43 is often understood as a future eschatological event, fulfilled particularly in the end times with the restoration of Israel. The internal change of "remembering" and "loathing" signifies a genuine national repentance that aligns with other prophecies about God giving a "new heart" and "new spirit" (Ezek 11:19, 36:26-27; Jer 31:33). This spiritual renewal, instigated by the Holy Spirit (though not explicitly named in this verse, the effect implies His work), marks the culmination of God's covenant faithfulness and His ultimate vindication of His holy name before the nations (Ezek 20:44). It assures a future when Israel's service to God will no longer be mere outward form, but flow from hearts utterly devoted to Him, abhorring the sin that separated them.

Ezekiel 20 43 Commentary

Ezekiel 20:43 presents a powerful prophetic insight into the nature of true repentance for the house of Israel following their divinely orchestrated return from exile. It’s a crucial verse that reverses the historical narrative of the chapter, where Israel repeatedly forgot God and rebelled. Here, God ensures they will remember and understand the depth of their rebellion.

This "remembering" is more than intellectual recall; it’s a deep spiritual awakening where they truly apprehend the gravity of their past conduct—their chosen lifestyles and specific acts (their "ways" and "deeds"). Critically, the defilement (טָמֵא) is explicitly self-inflicted (Hithpael stem). This means their impurity was not due to external factors or misfortune, but the direct outcome of their idolatrous and disobedient choices, which actively rendered them abominable in God’s sight and spiritually diseased. This is a stark truth about the personal responsibility for sin.

The profound consequence of this remembrance and realization is expressed as "loathing themselves" (קוּט). This is a strong word, signifying intense disgust and abhorrence for their own wickedness. It reflects a contrite spirit, not despair or self-destruction, but a godly sorrow (2 Cor 7:10) that drives true change. This loathing comes not before God’s gracious action of restoring them, but as a result of it. It’s the divinely initiated transformation of hearts, acknowledging God's sustained holiness and mercy despite their chronic rebellion. This internal revolution of feeling makes them eager to abandon the very sins that once captivated them, paving the way for sincere obedience. It serves as a guarantee that their future worship will be heartfelt and genuine, recognizing the holiness of God and their utter unworthiness apart from His grace.