Ezekiel 8 12

Ezekiel 8:12 kjv

Then said he unto me, Son of man, hast thou seen what the ancients of the house of Israel do in the dark, every man in the chambers of his imagery? for they say, the LORD seeth us not; the LORD hath forsaken the earth.

Ezekiel 8:12 nkjv

Then He said to me, "Son of man, have you seen what the elders of the house of Israel do in the dark, every man in the room of his idols? For they say, 'The LORD does not see us, the LORD has forsaken the land.' "

Ezekiel 8:12 niv

He said to me, "Son of man, have you seen what the elders of Israel are doing in the darkness, each at the shrine of his own idol? They say, 'The LORD does not see us; the LORD has forsaken the land.'?"

Ezekiel 8:12 esv

Then he said to me, "Son of man, have you seen what the elders of the house of Israel are doing in the dark, each in his room of pictures? For they say, 'The LORD does not see us, the LORD has forsaken the land.'"

Ezekiel 8:12 nlt

Then the LORD said to me, "Son of man, have you seen what the leaders of Israel are doing with their idols in dark rooms? They are saying, 'The LORD doesn't see us; he has deserted our land!'"

Ezekiel 8 verses

Ezekiel 8 12 Meaning

Ezekiel 8:12 unveils the secret idolatry practiced by the prominent leaders, or "elders," of Israel. They engaged in pagan worship within the privacy of their chambers, which were adorned with cultic images. Their actions were rooted in a fundamental theological delusion: a belief that the God of Israel neither observed their hidden transgressions nor remained present or concerned for the land, thus rationalizing their rebellion against Him.

Ezekiel 8 12 Context

Ezekiel 8:12 is embedded within a profound vision given to the prophet Ezekiel during his exile in Babylon, occurring approximately six years before Jerusalem's final destruction (around 592 BC). In this vision, God spiritually transports Ezekiel from Babylon to Jerusalem to witness the escalating abominations practiced within the very Temple courts. This particular verse describes the second of four increasingly severe idolatries God reveals to Ezekiel. It immediately follows the initial "image of jealousy" set up near the altar (Ezek 8:5) and precedes the worship of Tammuz (Ezek 8:14) and sun worship (Ezek 8:16) directly within the Temple's inner court. The historical context is a time of spiritual declension in Judah, marked by widespread syncretism and rebellion against God's covenant, even as Babylonian judgment looms. The elders, meant to be spiritual and civic leaders, instead led the people astray through their personal and secret corruption.

Ezekiel 8 12 Word analysis

• Then he said to me: Indicates a direct, divine address and the initiation of a new disclosure to Ezekiel, underscoring the authority and origin of the revelation.
• Son of man: Ben-ʾāḏām (בֶן־אָדָם), God's recurring title for Ezekiel, highlighting his human vulnerability and position as a prophet representing humanity before the divine, uniquely suited to receive these heavy truths.
• have you seen: A rhetorical divine question prompting Ezekiel's spiritual insight, not just physical sight. It draws his attention directly to a shocking truth, requiring him to truly perceive the depth of the corruption.
• what the elders: ziqnê (זִקְנֵי), refers to the spiritual and civic leaders of the community, those responsible for upholding justice, teaching the Law, and providing moral guidance. Their involvement signifies deep-seated, institutionalized corruption.
• of the house of Israel: The entire covenant community, specifically here the people in Jerusalem. It emphasizes that this spiritual rebellion was a pervasive national sin, starting at the top.
• are doing: A present participle in Hebrew, indicating an ongoing, habitual practice, suggesting deeply entrenched and continuous apostasy.
• in the dark: ḥōšeḵ (חֹשֶׁךְ), refers to literal physical darkness but metaphorically represents secrecy, concealment, evil, and spiritual blindness. It points to a deliberate attempt to hide their wicked deeds from human (and wrongly, divine) observation.
• each in his room: Denotes the personal, private nature of the idolatry, highlighting individual responsibility while revealing its widespread adoption among the elders.
• of pictures: maśkîtô (מַשְׂכִּיתֹו), refers to rooms or chambers decorated with "pictures," carvings, or frescoes. These were likely pagan cultic images, possibly depicting animal deities (Egyptian) or astral figures (Mesopotamian), used for various idolatrous or divinatory practices, suggesting syncretism.

• For they say: Introduces the elders' internal reasoning and justification for their sinful behavior, revealing their corrupt theological worldview. This isn't just an act; it's supported by a flawed belief system.
• ‘The LORD does not see us’: A direct denial of God's omnipresence and omniscience (His all-seeing nature). This delusion allowed them to feel immune from divine scrutiny and judgment, making sin easier.
• ‘the LORD has forsaken the land.’: Their cynical theological rationalization for abandoning Yahweh. They attributed their national distress and Babylonian incursions to God having abandoned Israel, thus justifying their seeking help from other gods or practicing forbidden rituals. This denies God's covenant faithfulness and sovereign control.

Ezekiel 8 12 Bonus section

The "room of pictures" (חַדְרֵי מַשְׂכִּיתֹו) likely refers to elaborate chambers possibly adorned with murals depicting various pagan deities or cosmic elements common in ancient Near Eastern religions. Such decorated private shrines suggest more than casual idolatry; they imply organized or esoteric rituals, potentially involving astrology, magic, or fertility cults, which were strictly forbidden under the Mosaic Law. This represents a more insidious and pervasive form of syncretism compared to publicly displayed idols. The divine "have you seen" and the revelation of what happens "in the dark" strongly challenge any notion of private or hidden sin being immune to God's sight. This vision directly contrasts with the often-cited lament of the prophet Habakkuk, who struggled with God's perceived inaction against public wickedness, yet here we see God actively exposing secret abominations, demonstrating His acute awareness and impending justice.

Ezekiel 8 12 Commentary

Ezekiel 8:12 exposes a critical facet of Judah's spiritual depravity just prior to God's judgment: the clandestine idolatry among its highest leadership. These "elders," entrusted with spiritual guardianship, systematically defiled themselves through secret pagan worship in private, imagery-laden rooms. Their actions were fueled by a distorted theology that questioned God's core attributes: His omniscience, believing their hidden acts were unseen, and His faithfulness, perceiving that God had abandoned the land and thus rendering their own apostasy justifiable. This deep-seated spiritual blindness and outright rejection of Yahweh's nature made Jerusalem ripe for divine judgment, demonstrating that sin, particularly that of leadership, runs deeper than outward appearances and carries severe consequences for a nation.For example, this highlights the danger of internalizing false beliefs about God, rationalizing personal or group sins by denying God's awareness or concern, or shifting blame for national woes onto God's supposed abandonment rather than the community's own unfaithfulness.