Ezekiel 20:5 kjv
And say unto them, Thus saith the Lord GOD; In the day when I chose Israel, and lifted up mine hand unto the seed of the house of Jacob, and made myself known unto them in the land of Egypt, when I lifted up mine hand unto them, saying, I am the LORD your God;
Ezekiel 20:5 nkjv
"Say to them, 'Thus says the Lord GOD: "On the day when I chose Israel and raised My hand in an oath to the descendants of the house of Jacob, and made Myself known to them in the land of Egypt, I raised My hand in an oath to them, saying, 'I am the LORD your God.'
Ezekiel 20:5 niv
and say to them: 'This is what the Sovereign LORD says: On the day I chose Israel, I swore with uplifted hand to the descendants of Jacob and revealed myself to them in Egypt. With uplifted hand I said to them, "I am the LORD your God."
Ezekiel 20:5 esv
and say to them, Thus says the Lord GOD: On the day when I chose Israel, I swore to the offspring of the house of Jacob, making myself known to them in the land of Egypt; I swore to them, saying, I am the LORD your God.
Ezekiel 20:5 nlt
Give them this message from the Sovereign LORD: When I chose Israel ? when I revealed myself to the descendants of Jacob in Egypt ? I took a solemn oath that I, the LORD, would be their God.
Ezekiel 20 5 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Rom 3:2 | To them were entrusted the oracles of God. | Spiritual Trust/Responsibility |
| Ex 4:22 | Israel is my firstborn son. | God's Special Relationship |
| Deut 7:6 | For you are a holy people to the Lord your God. | Covenantal Privilege |
| Psa 147:19,20 | He declares his word to Jacob, his statutes and rules to Israel. | Divine Revelation |
| John 1:17 | For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. | Law and Grace |
| Heb 9:1,2 | Now the first covenant had regulations for worship and this earthly sanctuary. | Worship and Sanctuary |
| Acts 1:4 | And holding to his assembly, he commanded them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for | Promise of the Holy Spirit |
| Gal 3:29 | And if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s offspring, heirs according to promise. | Abrahamic Promises |
| Rom 9:4 | They are Israelites, and to them belong the adoption as sons, the glory, the covenants, the giving of the law, the worship, and the promises. | Echoes Ezekiel's list |
| Deut 4:32,33 | For ask, please, of days before you, since the day that God created man on the earth, and from one end of heaven to the other, has anything ever happened like this great thing or has anything been heard like it? Has any people ever heard the voice of God speaking from the midst of the fire, as you have heard, and lived? | Unique relationship/covenants |
| Eph 2:12 | Remember that you were at that time separated from Christ, alienated from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world. | Israel's privileged position vs Gentile |
| Col 1:21-23 | And you, who once were alienated and hostile in mind because of your evil deeds, he has now reconciled in his body of flesh by his death, in order to present you holy and blameless and above reproach before him, if indeed you continue in the faith, grounded and steadfast, not shifting from the hope of the gospel that you heard... | Promises and Covenant continuation |
| Rom 11:29 | For the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable. | Unchanging nature of God's gifts |
| Heb 8:6 | But as it is, he has obtained a ministry most excellent by as much as the covenant that he mediates is more excellent, because it is enacted on better promises. | Superior New Covenant |
| Jer 31:33 | But this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, declares the Lord: I will put my law within them, and I will write it on their hearts. | Internalization of Law |
| John 17:3 | And this is eternal life, that they know you the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent. | Knowledge of God as Promise |
| 1 Cor 10:11 | Now these things happened to them as an example, but they were written down for admonishment on us on whom the end of the ages has come. | Israel's history as a model |
| Acts 13:32,33 | And we bring you the good news that what God promised to the fathers, this God has fulfilled to us their children by raising up Jesus, as also it is written in the second Psalm, “You are my Son, today I have begotten you.” | Fulfillment in Christ |
| Rom 1:16 | For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. | Gospel's power and scope |
| 2 Tim 2:19 | Nevertheless, the firm foundation of God stands, bearing this inscription: “The Lord knows those who are his,” and, “Let everyone who names the name of the Lord depart from iniquity.” | God's faithfulness and recognition |
Ezekiel 20 verses
Ezekiel 20 5 Meaning
To them belong the adoption, the glory, the covenants, the giving of the law, the worship, and the promises. This verse lists the spiritual privileges bestowed upon Israel, emphasizing God's special relationship and historical dealings with them.
Ezekiel 20 5 Context
Ezekiel chapter 20 is a dialogue between God and Ezekiel where God recounts Israel's history of rebellion, starting from their Egyptian sojourn. The people of Israel had come to Ezekiel seeking guidance. However, God tells Ezekiel to reveal their history of sin to them. Verse 5 is the beginning of this recounting, focusing on the positive aspects of God's relationship with Israel to highlight the stark contrast with their subsequent disobedience. This chapter sets the stage for God's judgment and reaffirmation of His covenantal faithfulness despite human faithlessness. The historical backdrop is the Babylonian exile, where the remnant of Israel in exile was likely questioning God's justice and His promises.
Ezekiel 20 5 Word Analysis
- "and" (וְ, ve): A conjunctive particle, linking the items in the list and indicating continuity.
- "to them" (לָהֶם, lahem): The masculine plural preposition "to" or "for" combined with the third-person masculine plural pronoun "them," referring to the descendants of Israel.
- "belong" (הִ, hi): Though not a direct translation, this phrasing conveys the sense of possession or rightful inheritance. In Hebrew, the verse states it positively as "to them belong..." indicating these were entitlements given to Israel.
- "adoption" (בְּנוּת, benuth): The abstract noun for "sonship" or "adoption." This signifies their status as God's special children. It relates to the covenant relationship where God called Israel His son (Exodus 4:22).
- "the glory" (וְהַכָּבוֹד, vehakkavod): "Kavod" refers to glory, honor, weight, or significance. This could refer to the visible manifestation of God's presence, such as the Shekinah glory that rested on the tabernacle and temple.
- "the covenants" (וְהַבְּרִיתֹת, vehabberith): "Berit" means covenant, a binding agreement. This plural indicates the multiple covenants God made, such as with Abraham, Moses, and David, underscoring His faithfulness and their unique position.
- "the giving of the law" (וְנִתַּן־הַתּוֹרָה, vennittan hatorah): "Nittan" is the niphal passive participle of "nathan" (to give), meaning "was given." "Torah" refers to the Law given through Moses, the guiding instruction from God, which was a unique privilege.
- "the worship" (וְהָעֲבֹדָה, veha'avodah): "Avodah" means service or worship. This encompasses the Levitical system, sacrifices, and the prescribed rituals that constituted their religious life and approach to God.
- "and the promises" (וְהַהַבְטָחוֹת, vehahaBTachoth): "HaBTachoth" refers to promises. These are the assurances and commitments God made to Israel throughout their history, particularly those related to the land, descendants, and divine favor.
Words Group Analysis
- Adoption, Glory, Covenants, Giving of the Law, Worship, and Promises: This entire list enumerates the divine privileges and foundational elements of God's special relationship with Israel. These were the bedrock of their national identity and spiritual heritage, distinguishing them from all other nations. They represent God's proactive engagement and His commitment to His chosen people.
Ezekiel 20 5 Bonus Section
This verse mirrors a similar list in Romans 9:4, underscoring the consistent theological understanding of Israel's unique position in God's redemptive plan across both Old and New Testaments. The concept of "adoption" is later expanded in the New Testament to include Gentiles who believe in Christ, indicating God's inclusive salvation plan through Jesus. The "glory" spoken of here ultimately finds its most profound manifestation in the person of Jesus Christ (John 1:14). The fulfillment of these covenants and promises is centered in Jesus, who is the mediator of a better covenant. This emphasizes that while Israel had privileges, the ultimate fulfillment and broader access to God's covenantal blessings come through faith in Christ.
Ezekiel 20 5 Commentary
This verse in Ezekiel is a solemn reminder to Israel of their elevated spiritual standing and the immense privileges they received from God. Despite their repeated transgressions, which Ezekiel was about to detail, God initially established a relationship with them characterized by unique blessings. The adoption points to their status as God's sons. The glory refers to His manifest presence among them. The covenants signify His binding commitments, and the giving of the law outlines the unique framework for their relationship and worship. The worship details the divinely ordained religious system, and the promises represent God's assurances for their future. By enumerating these, God establishes a baseline of divine favor and expectation against which their disobedience would be starkly contrasted, highlighting the gravity of their apostasy.