Ezekiel 20:6 kjv
In the day that I lifted up mine hand unto them, to bring them forth of the land of Egypt into a land that I had espied for them, flowing with milk and honey, which is the glory of all lands:
Ezekiel 20:6 nkjv
On that day I raised My hand in an oath to them, to bring them out of the land of Egypt into a land that I had searched out for them, 'flowing with milk and honey,' the glory of all lands.
Ezekiel 20:6 niv
On that day I swore to them that I would bring them out of Egypt into a land I had searched out for them, a land flowing with milk and honey, the most beautiful of all lands.
Ezekiel 20:6 esv
On that day I swore to them that I would bring them out of the land of Egypt into a land that I had searched out for them, a land flowing with milk and honey, the most glorious of all lands.
Ezekiel 20:6 nlt
I took a solemn oath that day that I would bring them out of Egypt to a land I had discovered and explored for them ? a good land, a land flowing with milk and honey, the best of all lands anywhere.
Ezekiel 20 6 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Gen 26:3 | "...I will be with you and will bless you... to your offspring I will give all these lands, and I will establish the oath that I swore to Abraham your father." | God's oath concerning the land, inherited from Abraham. |
| Exo 3:8 | "So I have come down to deliver them out... to a land flowing with milk and honey." | God's purpose for deliverance and the promise of the land. |
| Exo 3:17 | "and I promise that I will bring you up out... to a land flowing with milk and honey." | Divine pledge of future abundance in the land. |
| Exo 13:5 | "When the LORD brings you into the land... a land flowing with milk and honey..." | Instruction tied to future entry into the bountiful land. |
| Lev 20:24 | "You shall inherit their land... a land flowing with milk and honey. I am the LORD your God, who has separated you from the peoples." | The land as a unique inheritance and Israel's separation. |
| Num 13:27 | "...We came to the land... indeed flowing with milk and honey, and this is its fruit." | Spies confirm the land's fertility. |
| Num 14:8 | "If the LORD delights in us, He will bring us into this land and give it to us, a land flowing with milk and honey." | Conditions for receiving the promised land, Israel's unbelief. |
| Deut 1:8 | "See, I have set the land before you. Go in and take possession... the land that the LORD swore to your fathers..." | Command to inherit based on God's oath to patriarchs. |
| Deut 6:3 | "...that it may be well with you, and that you may multiply greatly in a land flowing with milk and honey..." | Blessings of the land tied to obedience. |
| Deut 8:7-9 | "For the LORD your God is bringing you into a good land... a land of wheat and barley... of olive trees and honey..." | Detailed description of the land's diverse agricultural wealth. |
| Deut 11:9 | "...that you may live long in the land that the LORD swore to your fathers... a land flowing with milk and honey." | Longevity in the land based on the covenant promise. |
| Deut 11:10-12 | "...not like the land of Egypt... a land of hills and valleys... a land that the LORD your God cares for..." | Contrasts the Promised Land's divine provision with Egypt. |
| Josh 5:6 | "...who had not obeyed the voice of the LORD, to whom the LORD swore that He would not let them see the land that the LORD had sworn to their fathers..." | Disobedience prevented the wilderness generation from entering the land. |
| Psa 105:8-11 | "He remembers His covenant forever... the oath that He swore to Isaac... To Israel as an everlasting covenant, saying, 'To you I will give the land of Canaan as your portion.'" | God's eternal faithfulness to His land covenant. |
| Psa 106:24 | "Then they despised the pleasant land... they did not believe His word..." | Israel's unfaithfulness and rejection of the promised land. |
| Jer 3:19 | "I thought how I would set you among My sons, and give you a pleasant land, a heritage most beautiful of all nations." | God's benevolent intent for Israel and the land's glory. |
| Isa 4:2 | "In that day the branch of the LORD shall be beautiful and glorious, and the fruit of the land shall be the pride and glory of the survivors of Israel." | Messianic promise of future glory for the land and people. |
| Dan 8:9 | "Out of one of them came a little horn... and it grew exceedingly great toward the south, toward the east, and toward the glorious land." | The Land of Israel as the 'glorious land' in prophecy. |
| Heb 4:9 | "So then, there remains a Sabbath-rest for the people of God." | Spiritual fulfillment of the land's 'rest' theme. |
| Heb 11:9-10 | "By faith he went to live in the land of promise, as in a foreign land... looking forward to the city that has foundations..." | Patriarchs seeking a spiritual, ultimate fulfillment beyond earthly land. |
| Rev 21:1-2 | "Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth... New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God..." | The ultimate, perfect inheritance of God's people. |
Ezekiel 20 verses
Ezekiel 20 6 Meaning
Ezekiel 20:6 encapsulates God's foundational, sworn commitment to the people of Israel: to deliver them from the oppressive land of Egypt and lead them into a uniquely chosen, extraordinarily abundant, and divinely consecrated land. This verse highlights the initiating grace and steadfast faithfulness of the LORD towards Israel, underscoring the precious nature of the inheritance He promised them before their rebellion truly manifested.
Ezekiel 20 6 Context
Ezekiel 20 is a stern message from the LORD to the elders of Israel who sought His counsel. Rather than offering a direct oracle, God uses Ezekiel to recount Israel's history of rebellion against Him, from the time they were in Egypt, through the wilderness, and into the Promised Land, even up to Ezekiel's present exilic period. Verse 6 initiates this historical overview, emphasizing God's gracious, initial promise before their rebellion began. It sets the backdrop for understanding the extent of God's covenant faithfulness versus Israel's consistent idolatry and disobedience. The exile itself is framed as the just consequence for their repeated forsaking of this foundational covenant.
Ezekiel 20 6 Word analysis
- "that I swore": Hebrew:
וָאֶשָּׁבַע(va'eshava'), from the rootשָׁבַע(shava'), meaning 'to swear, make an oath, bind oneself by an oath'. This emphasizes God's absolute commitment and the unchangeable nature of His covenant, binding Himself with a divine vow. It underlines the immutability of God's promise and immense grace shown to a people yet to prove themselves rebellious (Gen 22:16-17; Deut 7:8). - "to them": Refers to the generation of Israelites held captive in Egypt, representing the nation as a whole, to whom this initial, foundational promise was made.
- "to bring them out": Emphasizes divine deliverance (
יָצָא, yatsa), signifying the foundational redemptive act of Israel's history. This exodus established God as their mighty Redeemer from slavery and an oppressive power. This was a direct challenge and polemic against the false deities and power of Egypt. - "of the land of Egypt": This denotes the specific geographical location of Israel's bondage and severe oppression. It signifies a place of idolatry, darkness, and human servitude from which God chose to liberate His chosen people, setting them apart (Exo 1:11-14; Deut 4:20).
- "into a land that I had selected for them": The Hebrew implies a divine and purposeful exploration or preparation (
תּוּר, tur – to spy out, search out) or an active choice (בָּחַר, bakhar – to choose). This highlights God's sovereign and deliberate choice of the land specifically for Israel (Deut 4:37; 7:6). It was not randomly stumbled upon but divinely ordained, underscoring God's meticulous care and unique purpose for Israel. - "a land flowing with milk and honey": Hebrew:
זָבַת חָלָב וּדְבַשׁ(zavat chalav u-dvash). This is a standard, oft-repeated biblical idiom describing extraordinary fertility, abundance, and prosperity (Exo 3:8, 17; Deut 27:3). It signifies a land that supernaturally sustains life, provides bountiful provision, and represents the richness of God's blessings to His covenant people, in contrast to the arid wilderness or the artificial irrigation of Egypt. - "the most glorious of all lands": Hebrew:
צְבִי הִיא לְכָל־הָאֲרָצוֹת(tsvi hi lekhol-ha'aretzot).צְבִי(tsvi) signifies 'glory', 'splendor', 'beauty', or 'ornament'. This descriptor elevates the promised land beyond mere physical bounty. Its 'glory' stemmed primarily from its unique status as God's chosen inheritance for His people, the place where His presence (Shekinah) would dwell among them. This designation also held polemical weight, implying this land's unique, sacred, and superior status over any pagan land known for its grandeur, as its glory was inherently tied to the Holy One of Israel. This term later signifies Jerusalem/Judah's beauty and importance in prophetic contexts (Dan 8:9; 11:16, 41; Zech 9:16).
Words-group analysis
- "I swore to them to bring them out... into a land...": This phrase encapsulates the core covenant and redemptive action of God. It firmly places the initiative, power, and faithfulness squarely on God, providing the foundational grace against which Israel's subsequent rebellion is contrasted throughout the chapter. It's a testament to God's proactive election and saving work.
- "land that I had selected... flowing with milk and honey, the most glorious of all lands": This tripartite description details the extraordinary nature of the Promised Land. It emphasizes its divine origin (chosen by God), its supernatural provision (abundance), and its spiritual uniqueness (glory derived from God's presence). It communicates that the land's value wasn't intrinsic but was imparted by God's purpose and presence, making it unparalleled among all lands.
Ezekiel 20 6 Bonus section
The rhetorical strategy of Ezekiel 20 hinges on God reminding Israel of His consistent faithfulness before exposing their unfaithfulness. Verse 6 therefore serves as a potent reminder of divine love and intention at the outset of the covenant relationship. The emphasis on God having "selected" and "sworn" to give this land signifies that their possession was solely due to His grace, not any merit of their own. Furthermore, the earthly promised land functions as a type, foreshadowing the ultimate spiritual "rest" and eternal inheritance God promises His people through Christ (Heb 4; 11). The land's "glory" ultimately finds its fulfillment in the new creation, where God's presence is fully and eternally manifested (Rev 21).
Ezekiel 20 6 Commentary
Ezekiel 20:6 lays the groundwork for God's historical indictment against Israel. It powerfully contrasts the LORD's unconditional, initiating grace and the magnificent destiny He ordained for His people with their subsequent and persistent rebellion. This verse underscores that the Exodus was not merely a physical liberation but a covenantal act, bringing Israel into a uniquely blessed land that was both abundantly fruitful and consecrated by divine presence. The "glorious land" was God's chosen place for His dwelling among them, a reflection of His intention to bestow upon them a distinguished heritage among the nations. The failure to appreciate and live worthy of this divine gift forms the basis of God's later judgments upon Israel.