Ezekiel 20:9 kjv
But I wrought for my name's sake, that it should not be polluted before the heathen, among whom they were, in whose sight I made myself known unto them, in bringing them forth out of the land of Egypt.
Ezekiel 20:9 nkjv
But I acted for My name's sake, that it should not be profaned before the Gentiles among whom they were, in whose sight I had made Myself known to them, to bring them out of the land of Egypt.
Ezekiel 20:9 niv
But for the sake of my name, I brought them out of Egypt. I did it to keep my name from being profaned in the eyes of the nations among whom they lived and in whose sight I had revealed myself to the Israelites.
Ezekiel 20:9 esv
But I acted for the sake of my name, that it should not be profaned in the sight of the nations among whom they lived, in whose sight I made myself known to them in bringing them out of the land of Egypt.
Ezekiel 20:9 nlt
But I didn't do it, for I acted to protect the honor of my name. I would not allow shame to be brought on my name among the surrounding nations who saw me reveal myself by bringing the Israelites out of Egypt.
Ezekiel 20 9 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Exod 32:12 | "Why should the Egyptians speak, saying, ‘He brought them out with evil | God defends His name to Moses |
| Num 14:13 | Then Moses said to the Lord, “Then the Egyptians will hear of it... | Moses appeals to God's glory |
| Deut 9:5 | Not because of your righteousness or the uprightness of your heart | God's motive not Israel's merit |
| Deut 32:27 | Had I not feared the provocation of the enemy... | God acts for His own glory |
| 1 Sam 12:22 | For the Lord will not abandon his people, for his great name's sake... | God's covenant loyalty |
| Psa 23:3 | He restores my soul; He guides me in the paths of righteousness for His | God's name for guidance |
| Psa 25:11 | For Your name’s sake, O Lord, pardon my iniquity, for it is great. | Forgiveness for His name's sake |
| Psa 79:9 | Help us, O God of our salvation, for the glory of Your name... | Appeal for deliverance |
| Psa 106:8 | Yet He saved them for His name’s sake, that He might make His mighty | Salvation for His name's sake |
| Isa 48:9 | "For My name's sake I defer My wrath, and for My praise I restrain it | God's patience for His name's |
| Isa 48:11 | "For My own sake, for My own sake, I will do it... My glory I will | God acts to guard His glory |
| Jer 14:7 | "Though our iniquities testify against us, O Lord, act for Your name’s | Prophet appeals to God's name |
| Jer 14:21 | Do not despise us, for Your name's sake; Do not dishonor the throne... | Prayer for Jerusalem's honor |
| Ez 20:14 | But I acted for My name’s sake, that it should not be profaned... | Recurrence of the motif |
| Ez 36:22-23 | "Therefore say to the house of Israel, ‘Thus says the Lord God, “It is | Future restoration for His name |
| Dan 9:19 | O Lord, hear! O Lord, forgive! O Lord, listen and take action! For | Daniel's prayer to God's name |
| John 14:13 | Whatever you ask in My name, that will I do, so that the Father may be | Prayer in Jesus' name |
| Rom 1:5 | through whom we have received grace and apostleship to bring about the | Gospel for His name's sake |
| Rom 9:17 | For the Scripture says to Pharaoh, “For this very purpose I have raised | God demonstrates His power |
| 1 Cor 10:31 | So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory | Do everything for God's glory |
| Rev 11:13 | And in that hour there was a great earthquake... and the rest were | Nations witness God's power |
| Psa 74:10 | How long, O God, will the adversary revile? Will the enemy scoff at | Plea against blasphemy |
| Zeph 3:20 | At that time I will bring you in, At that time when I gather you together | God's honor in gathering |
| Hag 2:7 | 'And I will shake all the nations; and they will come with the wealth | God's glory recognized globally |
| Heb 6:10 | For God is not unjust so as to overlook your work and the love that | God remembers actions of love |
Ezekiel 20 verses
Ezekiel 20 9 Meaning
Ezekiel 20:9 states that God, despite Israel's persistent rebellion and defiance even while in Egypt, chose to act not based on their merit but for the sake of His own holy name. He did this to prevent His reputation and power from being discredited or defiled in the eyes of the nations who observed His dealings with His people. His divine motivation was the preservation of His own honor and glory, demonstrating His faithfulness even when His people were unfaithful.
Ezekiel 20 9 Context
Ezekiel 20:9 is part of a longer prophetic discourse where God addresses the elders of Israel who came to inquire of Him. Instead of an answer, God recounts Israel's rebellious history from their time in Egypt through the wilderness and into the Promised Land, demonstrating their consistent rejection of His commands and embrace of idolatry. This verse specifically refers to God's decision to preserve Israel and lead them out of Egypt, not because they deserved it, but to prevent His name from being dishonored among the observing nations. The recurrent phrase "But I acted for My name's sake" underscores God's steadfast character as the ultimate motive for His redemptive and disciplinary actions, even in the face of persistent apostasy, and sets the stage for future actions.
Ezekiel 20 9 Word analysis
- But: (Heb. waw connective, here adversative) Signals a sharp contrast between Israel's conduct (rebellion described in previous verses) and God's action. It emphasizes God's sovereign choice despite human failure.
- I acted: (Heb. wa-'a'aśeh, וָאַעֲשֶׂה) From the verb 'asah (עָשָׂה), "to do, to make, to act." This is a divine declaration of sovereign, intentional action. It is perfect tense, conveying a completed action with lasting effects, referring to God's restraint from annihilating Israel in Egypt.
- for my name's sake: (Heb. ləmaʿan šəmiy, לְמַעַן שְׁמִי) This is a crucial theological phrase. Shem (שֵׁם) means "name," but in biblical theology, a name represents the essence, character, reputation, authority, and presence of the person. God acting "for His name's sake" means He acts to uphold His own divine character, honor, faithfulness, power, and glory. It implies His commitment to His covenant and to Himself. This motive is internal to God, not external (i.e., not Israel's righteousness).
- that it should not be profaned: (Heb. lēbiltiy-ḥallelō, לְבִלְתִּי חַלְּלֽוֹ) Ḥallel (חָלַל) means "to profane, defile, pollute, make common, dishonor." It specifically means treating something holy as common or desacralized. God prevented His name (His holy character and power) from being made "common" or mocked by the nations. His actions were necessary to demonstrate His holy nature and distinctiveness.
- before the nations: (Heb. lāʿeiney hagōyim, לְעֵינֵי הַגּוֹיִם) Goyim (גּוֹיִם) refers to "Gentiles, non-Israelite peoples." The phrase means "in the sight of the eyes of the nations," emphasizing the public, observed nature of God's actions. The surrounding pagan nations were observers and witnesses of God's interaction with Israel, and His reputation was at stake in their perception.
- among whom they lived: This phrase clearly locates the initial context in Egypt, where the Israelites were slaves among the Egyptians, the most prominent goyim at that time. God's mighty acts of deliverance served as a public demonstration of His supremacy to the Egyptians and all surrounding peoples.
Ezekiel 20 9 Bonus section
The "for My name's sake" motif is one of the most prominent theological ideas in the Book of Ezekiel and throughout the Old Testament. It challenges anthropocentric views of salvation, asserting God's sovereignty and self-sufficiency as the primary driving force behind all His actions concerning His people. It ensures that God, and not His creation, receives all glory and credit. This theme implicitly counters any claims that Israel earned God's favor or that their obedience was the fundamental cause of God's continued presence among them. Instead, it underscores that God remains faithful to His own character, even when His people are not, because His ultimate concern is His own unblemished glory among all creation. This theme becomes critically important as Ezekiel moves from recounting past rebellion to foretelling future judgment and eventual restoration.
Ezekiel 20 9 Commentary
Ezekiel 20:9 establishes a foundational principle of divine action throughout redemptive history: God's ultimate motive is the preservation of His own holy name and glory, not human merit. Despite Israel's ingrained idolatry and rebellion even in the midst of Egyptian bondage, God chose not to abandon or destroy them. To do so would have diminished His reputation in the eyes of the watching nations. If the God who promised to deliver His people failed, or if His people were annihilated under His watch, the nations would interpret it as His weakness or inability, thereby profaning His holy name. Thus, God's intervention to deliver Israel from Egypt was a sovereign act of grace rooted in His self-preservation of glory. This concept becomes a recurring motif in Ezekiel, highlighting that even Israel's future restoration (e.g., Ezekiel 36) would likewise be for God's name's sake, a powerful reminder that all salvation originates from His unyielding commitment to Himself and His holy character.