Ezekiel 20 8

Ezekiel 20:8 kjv

But they rebelled against me, and would not hearken unto me: they did not every man cast away the abominations of their eyes, neither did they forsake the idols of Egypt: then I said, I will pour out my fury upon them, to accomplish my anger against them in the midst of the land of Egypt.

Ezekiel 20:8 nkjv

But they rebelled against Me and would not obey Me. They did not all cast away the abominations which were before their eyes, nor did they forsake the idols of Egypt. Then I said, 'I will pour out My fury on them and fulfill My anger against them in the midst of the land of Egypt.'

Ezekiel 20:8 niv

"?'But they rebelled against me and would not listen to me; they did not get rid of the vile images they had set their eyes on, nor did they forsake the idols of Egypt. So I said I would pour out my wrath on them and spend my anger against them in Egypt.

Ezekiel 20:8 esv

But they rebelled against me and were not willing to listen to me. None of them cast away the detestable things their eyes feasted on, nor did they forsake the idols of Egypt. "Then I said I would pour out my wrath upon them and spend my anger against them in the midst of the land of Egypt.

Ezekiel 20:8 nlt

"But they rebelled against me and would not listen. They did not get rid of the vile images they were obsessed with, or forsake the idols of Egypt. Then I threatened to pour out my fury on them to satisfy my anger while they were still in Egypt.

Ezekiel 20 verses

Ezekiel 20 8 Meaning

Ezekiel 20:8 describes Israel's profound idolatry while still enslaved in Egypt, long before the Exodus. Despite being chosen and witnessing God's initial signs, they actively rejected Him, clinging to the "detestable things" and "idols of Egypt" that captivated their senses. This profound rebellion against God's holy character immediately incurred His righteous wrath, which He intended to pour out upon them, yet mercifully withheld for the sake of His holy name.

Ezekiel 20 8 Context

Ezekiel 20 presents a scathing indictment of Israel's spiritual history, beginning with their time in Egypt. In 591 BC, elders of Israel came to inquire of the Lord through Ezekiel, expecting a favorable oracle for those in exile. However, God, through the prophet, recounts their rebellious past from the Exodus generation to the prophet's contemporary audience, declaring that their ongoing idolatry is merely a continuation of a long-standing pattern. Verse 8 specifically refers to their idolatry and disobedience before God had delivered them from Egyptian bondage, a period where they were meant to be cleansed for holy service. The preceding verses (Ezek 20:5-7) outline God's covenant with Israel in Egypt, His election of them, His promise of deliverance to a "land flowing with milk and honey," and then their immediate, ungrateful rejection of Him through clinging to Egyptian idols, which consequently aroused His wrath.

Ezekiel 20 8 Word analysis

• "But" (וַיַּמְרוּ, vayyam'ru): This conjunctive immediately signals a sharp contrast, juxtaposing God's merciful intentions (Ezek 20:5-7) with Israel's direct and negative response.
• "they rebelled against me" (וַיַּמְרוּ בִי, vayyam'ru vi):
  • Vayyam'ru (from marah) means "to be disobedient, contentious, rebellious," highlighting a conscious and active defiance of God's authority.
  • "Against me" signifies a direct, personal affront to God's holiness and His very Person, not merely breaking abstract rules.
• "and would not listen to me" (וְלֹא שָׁמְעוּ אֵלָי, v'lo shamu'u elay):
  • Shamu'u (from shama) implies not just passive hearing, but also active heeding and obeying. Their "not listening" was a deliberate refusal to internalize and follow God's commands for purity.
  • This indicates a closed heart, unwilling to engage with or yield to God's instruction and voice.
• "they did not cast away" (לֹא הִשְׁלִיכוּ, lo hishlichu):
  • Hishlichu means "to throw, cast, or hurl away." It underscores a failure to physically and spiritually divest themselves of idols, as commanded (Ezek 20:7).
  • This shows an inherent attachment to their sinful ways, an unwillingness to let go of practices God deemed "detestable."
• "the detestable things" (שִׁקּוּצֵי, shiqquței):
  • Shiqquṣ is a potent term meaning "abomination" or "detestable thing," describing something profoundly offensive and ritually abhorrent to God, primarily used for idolatry.
  • It covers not just physical images, but also the accompanying defiling practices and ceremonies.
• "their eyes feasted on" (אֲשֶׁר נֶפֶשׁ עֵינֵיהֶם, asher nefesh eineyhem):
  • This phrase emphasizes the strong visual attraction and inward desire that drew them to idols. It indicates active participation fueled by longing, not just passive exposure.
  • The eyes are portrayed as a gateway for sin, fueling their idolatrous lust and desire (compare Num 15:39; 1 Jn 2:16).
• "nor did they forsake" (וְאֶת גִּלּוּלֵי לֹא עָזָבוּ, v'et gilluley lo azavu):
  • Azavu means "to abandon, forsake, leave." This reinforces their stubborn persistence in idolatry, a deliberate choice to remain connected rather than separate from sin.
  • This further demonstrates an unwillingness to renounce their practices even after God's promise of deliverance.
• "the idols of Egypt" (גִּלּוּלֵי מִצְרָיִם, gilluley mitzrayim):
  • Gillûl is a pejorative, often translated as "dung-gods" or "worthless things," commonly used by Ezekiel to express contempt for idols.
  • "Of Egypt" specifies the source and cultural context of their idolatry, highlighting their conformity to pagan norms instead of God's call to be distinct.
• "So I said" (וָאֹמַר, va'omar): This clearly marks the immediate divine response and the consequence of their profound rebellion.
• "I would pour out my wrath on them" (אֶשְׁפֹּךְ חֲמָתִי עֲלֵיהֶם, eshpōkh chamatí aleyhem):
  • Eshpōkh ("pour out") vividly depicts an abundant, complete, and unrestrained release of divine judgment.
  • Chamatí ("my wrath/fury") signifies God's intense, burning, and holy indignation against their profound sin and unfaithfulness.
• "and spend my anger against them" (לְכַלּוֹת אַפִּי בָּהֶם, lekhallot appí bahem):
  • Lekhallot (from kalah, "to complete, consume, bring to an end") conveys the idea of a full expenditure of His anger, indicating God's intent to completely execute His judgment.
  • Appí ("my anger") further emphasizes His righteous displeasure, highlighting the seriousness of the rebellion to warrant such a total response.
• "in the midst of the land of Egypt" (בְּתוֹךְ אֶרֶץ מִצְרָיִם, b'tokh eretz Mitzrayim): This precise geographical detail stresses that the rebellion occurred in Egypt, and judgment was intended there as well, marking the very place of promised deliverance as the potential site of their destruction.

Words-group Analysis:

• "they rebelled against me and would not listen to me": This parallel structure powerfully conveys Israel's dual rejection. "Rebelled" speaks of outward defiance and opposition, while "would not listen" describes an inward resistance, a stubborn refusal to heed God's voice and obey. Together, they represent a comprehensive denial of God's authority and communication.
• "did not cast away the detestable things their eyes feasted on, nor did they forsake the idols of Egypt": This intricate phrase connects their deep-seated desire ("eyes feasted on") with their persistent attachment to sin ("detestable things," "idols of Egypt"). The use of two verbs ("cast away," "forsake") and two nouns ("detestable things," "idols") emphasizes the deliberate and ingrained nature of their idolatry, chosen despite God's clear intentions to separate them from such practices. It shows active attachment, not just passive exposure.
• "So I said I would pour out my wrath on them and spend my anger against them": This pair of phrases emphatically expresses God's intention for complete and consuming judgment. The vivid imagery of "pouring out" (a flood of wrath) and "spending/consuming" (fully exhausting) conveys the overwhelming and uncompromising nature of His holy displeasure, a just response proportional to their grievous rebellion.

Ezekiel 20 8 Bonus section

• Covenantal Foundations: The text implies an early covenantal relationship in Egypt (Ezek 20:5-6) where God's promises of deliverance required their exclusive allegiance. Their actions in verse 8 are therefore a foundational breach, even pre-dating the Sinai Covenant.
• The Depth of Sin: Ezekiel challenges any notion that Israel's sin began only in the wilderness or Canaan. By placing their profound idolatry and rebellion in Egypt, it portrays a deep-seated spiritual sickness present at the very beginning of their national history.
• Timeless Temptation: The allure of "detestable things their eyes feasted on" and "idols of Egypt" speaks to a universal human tendency to desire and pursue what is forbidden or worldly, conforming to the spiritual landscape around them rather than upholding exclusive devotion to the true God.
• Divine Restraint: The verse sets the stage for God's incredible mercy shown in Ezekiel 20:9. Despite their just deserving of His full wrath, God chose to restrain His hand for the sake of His own reputation among the nations, showcasing a profound aspect of His sovereignty and grace.

Ezekiel 20 8 Commentary

Ezekiel 20:8 lays bare Israel's original sin problem, tracing their deep-seated spiritual rebellion back to their enslavement in Egypt. Despite God choosing them and showing preliminary signs of His power and intention to redeem, the Israelites deliberately turned from Him. They refused to listen to His divine directives and stubbornly clung to the "detestable things" and contemptible "idols of Egypt." This persistent, chosen embrace of pagan practices, fueled by their own desires, immediately provoked God's intense, holy wrath. He had fully intended to execute overwhelming judgment upon them right there in Egypt. This verse serves as a stark reminder of humanity's propensity for rebellion and idolatry even in the face of divine grace, and God's consistent standard of justice, though His mercy would ultimately delay this specific, initial outpouring of wrath for the sake of His name.