Ezekiel 8 15

Ezekiel 8:15 kjv

Then said he unto me, Hast thou seen this, O son of man? turn thee yet again, and thou shalt see greater abominations than these.

Ezekiel 8:15 nkjv

Then He said to me, "Have you seen this, O son of man? Turn again, you will see greater abominations than these."

Ezekiel 8:15 niv

He said to me, "Do you see this, son of man? You will see things that are even more detestable than this."

Ezekiel 8:15 esv

Then he said to me, "Have you seen this, O son of man? You will see still greater abominations than these."

Ezekiel 8:15 nlt

"Have you seen this?" he asked. "But I will show you even more detestable sins than these!"

Ezekiel 8 verses

Ezekiel 8 15 Meaning

Ezekiel 8:15 reveals a further, deeply offensive abomination taking place within the sacred precincts of the Jerusalem Temple. The prophet, led by the Spirit, observes women at the north gate engaged in a pagan mourning ritual: weeping for Tammuz. This vision exposes Israel's profound apostasy and spiritual infidelity, highlighting their embrace of foreign fertility cults even at the very heart of Yahweh's worship, thereby polluting God's holy dwelling place with idolatry.

Ezekiel 8 15 Context

Ezekiel 8:15 is situated within a profound visionary experience granted to the prophet Ezekiel during his exile in Babylon. The chapter describes Yahweh transporting Ezekiel in spirit to Jerusalem, specifically to the Temple complex, to witness the egregious abominations being committed there. This vision serves as God's justification for the impending destruction of Jerusalem and its Temple, revealing the depth of Israel's apostasy. The immediate context of Ezekiel 8 shows a progression of increasingly offensive acts: first, the "idol of jealousy" (v. 5); then, elders worshipping vile images in secret chambers (v. 7-12); and now, this public lamentation for Tammuz at the Temple's north gate, which will be followed by sun worship (v. 16). Historically, Judah, despite past reforms, had persistently dabbled in foreign religious practices, reflecting a spiritual decline exacerbated by political instability and proximity to powerful pagan cultures. The scene vividly portrays a blend of Yahwism with Mesopotamian fertility cults, revealing that idolatry was not just tolerated but actively practiced even within the most sacred spaces, underscoring the spiritual bankruptcy of God's people.

Ezekiel 8 15 Word analysis

• Then: Vayehi (וַיָּבֵא֙). A temporal marker indicating a sequential action in the vision, highlighting the progression of Ezekiel's guided tour of the abominations. It signifies the next stage of revelation.
• he brought me: The agent is the Spirit of the LORD, as established in Ezek 8:3. This emphasizes divine agency and intentional revelation to the prophet. Ezekiel is an eyewitness under divine guidance.
• to the entrance: Pethaḥ (פֶּתַח). An opening, doorway, or gate. It implies a place of access and passage, making the subsequent acts not hidden, but occurring at a recognizable point of entry to the sacred space.
• of the north gate: A specific location within the Temple precincts. Gates were significant architectural and symbolic points, often public areas. The "north" (צָפ֧וֹן, tsaphon) direction in prophetic literature can sometimes be associated with judgment or invasion (e.g., from Babylon), but here primarily denotes a particular access point within the Temple where this specific idolatry was occurring.
• of the house of the LORD: Beyt Yahweh (בֵית יְהוָה). The sacred Temple in Jerusalem. This phrase emphasizes the egregious nature of the sin: these pagan rites are being performed within the designated dwelling place of the one true God, making the profanation supremely blasphemous.
• and there I saw: Ezekiel's personal observation. The direct testimony adds weight and authenticity to the vision.
• women: Nāshīm (נָשִׁים). Specifically highlights the gender involved in this particular rite. Women often had prominent roles in fertility cults and lamentation ceremonies in ancient Near Eastern religions.
• sitting there: A posture indicative of ritual lament or mourning. It denotes their presence and active participation in the rite, not just casual observation.
• weeping: Bokhot (בּוֹכֹות). A vivid participle, suggesting an active, ongoing, and intense act of lamentation. It refers to deep sorrow or ritualistic mourning. This is not casual sadness but a religious devotion.
• for Tammuz: Tammuz (תַּמּוּז). A central and unique element of the verse. Tammuz is a significant pagan deity, specifically the Sumerian "Dumuzi" (Akkadian Tammuz), a dying-and-rising god of vegetation and fertility from Mesopotamia. His annual "death" during the dry season and "return" in the spring was believed to ensure agricultural prosperity. The ritual weeping was intended to accompany and assist in his supposed annual death and resurrection, making it a plea for fertility from a false god. This explicit pagan identification highlights the direct contravention of Yahwism.

• he brought me to the entrance of the north gate: The divine tour is very specific, moving to another strategic point in the Temple. This underscores that these were not random acts, but known, identifiable idolatries occurring at different, significant locations within God's sanctuary.
• women sitting there, weeping for Tammuz: This entire phrase depicts a specific cultic scene. It identifies the participants (women), their posture (sitting), action (weeping), and the object of their devotion (Tammuz). This public display, by women (who may have been seen as particularly susceptible or integral to fertility cults), for a well-known foreign deity, was a blatant rejection of Yahweh's sole worship.

Ezekiel 8 15 Bonus section

• The Dying-and-Rising God Motif: Tammuz (Dumuzi) cults were prevalent across Mesopotamia. The annual ritual mourning for his "death" was critical, often associated with female practitioners and aimed at revitalizing nature and fertility. This practice stands in stark contrast to the sovereignty of Yahweh, who brings life and sustains creation without human rituals to 'revive' Him.
• Temple's "Public" Desecration: While the earlier abominations (like the elders' secret chambers) pointed to clandestine idolatry, the women weeping for Tammuz at a "gate" implies a more public or at least semi-public acknowledgment and practice of this pagan rite, visible to anyone entering or passing through this area of the Temple complex.
• Significance of Gender: The explicit mention of "women" is notable. In ancient Near Eastern religions, women sometimes held specific roles in fertility cults, cultic prostitution, and lamentations, reinforcing gendered aspects of specific pagan worship, further showing the complete cultural penetration of these beliefs into Israelite society.
• Uniqueness in Scripture: The direct mention of "Tammuz" is unique to this verse in the entire Bible, providing a singular, precise insight into the diverse pagan influences prevalent in Judah at that time.

Ezekiel 8 15 Commentary

Ezekiel 8:15 graphically portrays yet another facet of Israel's spiritual adultery: women ritualistically weeping for Tammuz at the very threshold of the Temple's north gate. This specific scene exposes a deep syncretism where Babylonian fertility worship had infiltrated and polluted Yahweh's exclusive cult. Tammuz, a dying-and-rising god, symbolized the cycle of nature and agricultural fertility, making the women's lament a plea for harvest and sustenance from a pagan deity instead of the living God who controls all life. This act, occurring within the 'house of the LORD,' was not a discreet, private sin, but a public and direct affront to God's holiness, justifying His imminent judgment upon Jerusalem and demonstrating why His glory would depart from the defiled sanctuary. The prophet witnesses the deliberate adoption of detestable pagan practices, highlighting the thorough apostasy of Judah.