Ezekiel 8 11

Ezekiel 8:11 kjv

And there stood before them seventy men of the ancients of the house of Israel, and in the midst of them stood Jaazaniah the son of Shaphan, with every man his censer in his hand; and a thick cloud of incense went up.

Ezekiel 8:11 nkjv

And there stood before them seventy men of the elders of the house of Israel, and in their midst stood Jaazaniah the son of Shaphan. Each man had a censer in his hand, and a thick cloud of incense went up.

Ezekiel 8:11 niv

In front of them stood seventy elders of Israel, and Jaazaniah son of Shaphan was standing among them. Each had a censer in his hand, and a fragrant cloud of incense was rising.

Ezekiel 8:11 esv

And before them stood seventy men of the elders of the house of Israel, with Jaazaniah the son of Shaphan standing among them. Each had his censer in his hand, and the smoke of the cloud of incense went up.

Ezekiel 8:11 nlt

Seventy leaders of Israel were standing there with Jaazaniah son of Shaphan in the center. Each of them held an incense burner, from which a cloud of incense rose above their heads.

Ezekiel 8 verses

Ezekiel 8 11 Meaning

Ezekiel 8:11 describes a specific scene of idolatry within the Jerusalem Temple precinct, witnessed by the prophet Ezekiel in a divine vision. It identifies Jaazaniah, a son of the prominent Shaphan, alongside seventy elders of Israel, engaged in pagan worship. Each elder held a censer, and the smoke of the idolatrous incense ascended, symbolizing a widespread and top-down spiritual apostasy among the nation's leadership. This act was a grave transgression against God, deeply defiling His holy sanctuary with rites dedicated to false gods.

Ezekiel 8 11 Context

Ezekiel 8:11 is part of a prophetic vision given to Ezekiel in the sixth year of King Jehoiachin's exile (592 BC). In this vision (Ezekiel 8-11), God transports Ezekiel spiritually from Babylonia to Jerusalem, specifically to the Temple courts. God reveals to him a series of increasing abominations committed by the people of Israel within and around His holy house, which are the true reason for the impending judgment and destruction of Jerusalem. This specific verse introduces the second of four "greater abominations" God shows Ezekiel: the idolatrous worship conducted by seventy elders in a hidden chamber. This follows the worship of creeping things (v.10) and precedes the worship of Tammuz (v.14) and sun worship (v.16). The presence of respected elders performing such acts underscores the deep moral and spiritual corruption pervading even the highest echelons of Israelite society. The chapter context is God's justification for His imminent judgment and the defilement of His dwelling place by His own chosen people. Historically, this period saw Judah entangled in political intrigue and apostasy, moving further away from the covenant of Yahweh.

Ezekiel 8 11 Word analysis

• And Jaazaniah: (וְיַאֲזַנְיָהוּ - wĕya'azanyah)
  • The prefix "וְ" (wĕ-) means "and," linking this act to the preceding scene of idolatry.
  • "Jaazaniah" (יַאֲזַנְיָהוּ - Ya'azanyah or Ya'azanyahu) literally means "YHWH hears" or "The Lord listens." This name carries profound irony, as someone whose name means "God hears" is shown participating in acts that deny God's authority and replace Him with idols. He does not listen to the God who hears.
  • His prominence suggests he was a leading figure in this idolatry.
• the son of Shaphan: (בֶּן־שָׁפָן - ben-Shāfān)
  • "Shaphan" (שָׁפָן - Shāfān) was a notable scribe during King Josiah's reign, instrumental in finding the Book of the Law in the Temple (2 Kgs 22). He was part of a respected family known for their piety and support of Josiah's reforms.
  • This connection highlights the extent of the nation's spiritual decay, showing apostasy had even infiltrated a family once closely associated with genuine faithfulness and obedience to the Torah.
  • It also suggests a tragic departure from his family's legacy.
• stood in the midst of them, (עֹמֵד בְּתוֹכָם - ‘omēḏ bəṯôḵām)
  • "Stood" (עֹמֵד - ‘omēḏ, present participle) implies active participation and a position of prominence or leadership among the idolatrous group.
  • "In the midst of them" reinforces his central role in this gathering.
• with seventy men of the elders (וְשִׁבְעִים אִישׁ מִזִּקְנֵי - wəšiv‘im ’îš mizzqnê)
  • "Seventy" (שִׁבְעִים - šiv‘im) is a significant number in biblical tradition, often symbolizing completion, representation, or a full body (e.g., seventy nations, seventy years of exile, the seventy elders Moses appointed). Here, it signifies a representative group of Israel's leadership.
  • "Men of the elders" (אִישׁ מִזִּקְנֵי - ’îš mizziqnê, literally "man from the elders") refers to the established leaders and authoritative figures of the community. They were supposed to provide moral and spiritual guidance. Their involvement signifies the comprehensive spiritual corruption from the top down.
• of the house of Israel; (בֵּית יִשְׂרָאֵל - bêṯ Yiśrā’ēl)
  • Refers to the people of Judah, encompassing the spiritual and political leadership of the nation. It indicates that the apostasy was not merely a private, fringe practice but deeply entrenched among those governing the spiritual and temporal affairs of God's people.
• and every man had his censer in his hand; (וְאִישׁ קְטֹרְתּוֹ בְּיָדוֹ - wə’îš qəṭorətô bəyāḏô)
  • "Censer" (קְטֹרֶת - qəṭōreṯ) here specifically refers to an incense burner, implying an act of worship.
  • Incense was an integral part of legitimate Temple worship, reserved for Yahweh alone (Exod 30). Its use here in a secret idolatrous ritual underscores the perversion of sacred rites for profane purposes, mocking true worship.
  • The phrase "every man" (אִישׁ - ’îš) emphasizes the uniformity and collective participation in this illicit worship, showing it wasn't just a few rogue individuals.
• and the smoke of the cloud of incense went up. (וְעֲלֵה עֲנַן הַקְּטֹרֶת - wə‘ălê ‘ănaṉ haqqəṭōreṯ)
  • "Smoke of the cloud of incense" (עֲנַן הַקְּטֹרֶת - ‘anaṉ haqqəṭōreṯ) directly parallels the smoke of legitimate incense offerings, which ascended to God as a pleasing aroma and a symbol of prayer (Psa 141:2, Rev 8:4).
  • Here, the ascent of this incense is to false deities, making it an abomination to Yahweh (Isa 1:13). It highlights the blasphemous imitation of true worship.

Ezekiel 8 11 Bonus section

The scene in Ezekiel 8:11 presents a striking contrast with previous biblical accounts of "seventy elders." In Exodus 24, seventy elders ascend with Moses to Mount Sinai, where they see God and eat in His presence, symbolizing communion and covenant affirmation. In Numbers 11, the seventy elders are gifted with the Spirit of prophecy, serving as spiritual leaders and counselors. The apostasy of the seventy elders in Ezekiel, engaged in dark rituals, dramatically reverses these positive precedents. They become figures of spiritual degradation rather than divine guidance, exemplifying how a representative body, once honored, can descend into utter corruption. This stark contrast serves as a powerful polemic against the existing leadership, portraying them as faithless guardians who actively lead the nation astray rather than back to God.

Ezekiel 8 11 Commentary

Ezekiel 8:11 offers a poignant snapshot of Israel's profound spiritual crisis, exposing the pervasive idolatry within the very heart of the Jerusalem Temple. The central figure, Jaazaniah, a leader bearing a name that ironically proclaims "YHWH hears," actively participates in rejecting the God whose name he carries, symbolizing the nation's failure to listen to divine warnings. His connection to the venerable Shaphan family, traditionally aligned with righteousness, magnifies the depth of corruption, showing that apostasy had infected even once-faithful lines.

The assembly of "seventy men of the elders of the house of Israel" is particularly damning. These men, charged with moral and spiritual guardianship, were supposed to represent wisdom and faithfulness. Their unanimous participation, each with a censer offering smoke, signifies a deliberate, organized, and widespread perversion of legitimate worship. The use of censers and incense, sacred instruments for honoring Yahweh, for illicit worship transforms an act meant for communion with God into an abomination, directly violating the First and Second Commandments (Exod 20:3-5). This scene dramatically underscores that the problem was not isolated to the common people but permeated the highest levels of authority, justifying the severe judgment that God was about to unleash upon Jerusalem and His Temple. The private, hidden nature of this idolatry (alluded to in v.12) further demonstrates their deceit and presumption that God did not see or care, a dangerous delusion preceding their downfall.