Ezekiel 8 17

Ezekiel 8:17 kjv

Then he said unto me, Hast thou seen this, O son of man? Is it a light thing to the house of Judah that they commit the abominations which they commit here? for they have filled the land with violence, and have returned to provoke me to anger: and, lo, they put the branch to their nose.

Ezekiel 8:17 nkjv

And He said to me, "Have you seen this, O son of man? Is it a trivial thing to the house of Judah to commit the abominations which they commit here? For they have filled the land with violence; then they have returned to provoke Me to anger. Indeed they put the branch to their nose.

Ezekiel 8:17 niv

He said to me, "Have you seen this, son of man? Is it a trivial matter for the people of Judah to do the detestable things they are doing here? Must they also fill the land with violence and continually arouse my anger? Look at them putting the branch to their nose!

Ezekiel 8:17 esv

Then he said to me, "Have you seen this, O son of man? Is it too light a thing for the house of Judah to commit the abominations that they commit here, that they should fill the land with violence and provoke me still further to anger? Behold, they put the branch to their nose.

Ezekiel 8:17 nlt

"Have you seen this, son of man?" he asked. "Is it nothing to the people of Judah that they commit these detestable sins, leading the whole nation into violence, thumbing their noses at me, and provoking my anger?

Ezekiel 8 verses

Ezekiel 8 17 Meaning

Ezekiel 8:17 highlights the extreme and multi-faceted sinfulness of the house of Judah that led to God's judgment. The rhetorical question emphasizes the severity of their idolatry and abominable practices, deeming them not a "slight thing" but profound rebellion. Their sins included filling the land with social injustice and violence, and a constant, deliberate provocation of God's anger. The enigmatic act of putting "the twig to their nose" represents a particularly offensive and perhaps secret pagan ritual or an act of contempt directed against God, further solidifying their complete spiritual defection.

Ezekiel 8 17 Context

Ezekiel 8:17 is the culminating point of a profound vision granted to Ezekiel by God, who supernaturally transported him from Babylonian exile to Jerusalem. The vision, unfolding in Ezekiel 8-11, reveals the horrific abominations committed within the Temple precincts by the elders and the people of Judah. God sequentially unveils four categories of idolatry, each more egregious than the last: the "image of jealousy" (v. 5), the secret idolatry of seventy elders worshipping abominable creatures (v. 10-12), women weeping for Tammuz (v. 14), and twenty-five men worshipping the sun (v. 16). This verse serves as a summary statement of their total depravity, encapsulating not only the cultic sins witnessed but also the widespread social corruption of violence. Historically, this period was immediately prior to the final destruction of Jerusalem and the Temple by Babylon, and the intense idolatry and moral decay described by Ezekiel provided the divine rationale for God's impending severe judgment on His chosen people, a judgment frequently forewarned by earlier prophets like Isaiah and Jeremiah.

Ezekiel 8 17 Word analysis

• Then he said to me: This phrase marks a direct divine pronouncement by God to Ezekiel, indicating the culmination and summation of the preceding revealed abominations. It highlights the divine speaker's emphasis and the gravity of the message for the prophet to receive and communicate.
• Do you see this, son of man?: A rhetorical question, not asking if Ezekiel physically observed but calling for deep comprehension and acknowledgment of the appalling reality God is revealing. "Son of man" (ben-ʾādām בֶּן־אָדָם) emphasizes Ezekiel's human perspective receiving divine, extraordinary revelation. It also stresses the universality of the human condition, making his observations relatable to any human.
• Is it too slight a thing: (Haqal min הֲקַל מֵאָה) A highly rhetorical question expressing astonishment and indignation. It implies the opposite: "Is it not a trivial thing?" meaning, "Is it indeed a serious and great sin?" This rhetorical device underscores the magnitude and reprehensibility of their actions from God's perspective. Their sins were not minor transgressions but a monumental betrayal.
• for the house of Judah: Refers to the collective nation of Judah, including both those in Jerusalem and potentially those already in exile. It implies a corporate guilt, where the actions of the people, especially the leadership, were representative of the nation's spiritual state.
• to commit the abominations: (ʿǎśôṯ hattôʿēbôṯ עֲשׂוֹת הַתּוֹעֵבוֹת) "Abominations" (tôʿēbôṯ תּוֹעֵבוֹת) are practices detestable and repulsive to God, often referring to idolatry, cultic sexual practices, and various forms of wickedness prohibited by the Mosaic Law (e.g., Lev 18, Deut 18:9-12). It implies a deep moral and spiritual offense, signifying a rejection of God's holy standards.
• which they commit here: "Here" specifically refers to Jerusalem, and implicitly, within the sacred precincts of the Temple itself (as depicted in the prior verses), making their sin especially blasphemous. This emphasizes that the defilement was not merely in the land, but at the heart of their worship.
• that they have filled the land with violence: (ḥāmās חָמָס) This points to pervasive social injustice, oppression, and disregard for human life and dignity. It highlights that their cultic rebellion against God (idolatry) had direct consequences in the decay of their societal morality. The phrase connects their religious defilement directly to their moral depravity and civil wrongdoing, indicating that a nation's relationship with God impacts its treatment of fellow humans. The severity of ḥāmās is seen early in Gen 6:11 where it led to the Flood.
• and provoke Me repeatedly to anger?: This signifies persistent and willful rebellion against God, a sustained pattern of acts that grieve and anger the Holy God. "Repeatedly" (the Hebrew emphasizes the ongoing nature) underscores their insolence and unrepentant posture. It’s not an accidental offense but a deliberate, cumulative antagonism.
• Moreover, behold, they put the twig (zěmôrâ) to their nose (ʾap): This is the most debated and enigmatic phrase.
  • Moreover, behold: Introduces an additional, shocking, and specific act of provocation. "Behold" (hinnēh הִנֵּה) calls for urgent attention.
  • the twig: (zěmôrâ זְמוֹרָה) literally "a vine branch," "a shoot," or "a pruning." The term elsewhere refers to a vine branch (e.g., Num 13:23). In this context, it is widely interpreted as a ritual object. Interpretations vary: it could be a sacred branch offered in pagan rituals (like the Zoroastrian baresman in later periods, though historical synchronicity is debated for Ezekiel's time), or a fertility symbol. Some view it as a scepter-like object signifying illegitimate authority, while others propose it could be a literal branch used to sniff or smell in some divinatory or worship practice.
  • to their nose: (ʾap אַף) This word can mean "nose," "nostril," or also "anger" (by extension from the breathing through nostrils when angry). Interpretations for the act itself include:
    1. A gesture of contempt/mockery toward God: Like holding a rude object to the face in defiance.
    2. A pagan ritual gesture: Possibly sniffing or smelling a twig as an offering of incense, or a practice associated with fertility cults (e.g., sniffing potent aphrodisiacs). Some ancient rituals involved blowing into the nose or placing plants there as a protective or propitiatory gesture towards a deity or an idol. It might relate to worshipping the "breath of life" or sacred fumes.
    3. Worship of a deity: Many scholars suggest this points to some form of sun or nature worship where a twig (representing growth, life) was presented, perhaps to the sun, and then brought to the nose in reverence or as a form of sacred intake or exhalation in prayer.The exact practice is lost to history, but its inclusion suggests it was a particularly egregious and contemptuous act of idolatry or defiance against Yahweh. The deliberate choice of such an obscure, yet specific, ritual highlights the depth and variety of their pagan practices, venturing into the esoteric.
• Words-group by words-group analysis:
  • Is it too slight a thing for the house of Judah to commit the abominations: This phrase challenges the people's perceived triviality of their idolatrous practices. They may have viewed their syncretistic worship as culturally acceptable or benign, but God vehemently denounces it as grievous. It reflects a national spiritual apathy and delusion about the gravity of their sin.
  • that they have filled the land with violence and provoke Me repeatedly to anger: This links the cultic sin with social injustice. Their spiritual departure from God manifested not only in false worship but also in societal corruption and oppression. Furthermore, the persistent provocation ("repeatedly") shows a deep-seated rebellion and unwillingness to return to God, which is why His patience has run out, leading to imminent judgment.

Ezekiel 8 17 Bonus section

The exact ritual signified by "putting the twig to their nose" remains one of the most debated and obscure phrases in Ezekiel. The difficulty in identifying the precise custom only magnifies its enigmatic and offensive quality within the text, underscoring that the Judahites were engaging in deeply foreign and abhorrent practices, likely originating from Mesopotamian or possibly Persian (though that's anachronistic for Zoroastrianism proper) traditions. This obscurity also suggests that these were not widely known Israelite practices but rather secret or highly specialized cultic acts that God deemed particularly contemptuous. This escalation of depravity, from obvious idols to secret chamber rituals, then to established pagan cults like Tammuz, sun worship, and finally this "twig to nose" mystery, demonstrates a deliberate, comprehensive, and increasingly intense turning away from Yahweh, leaving no doubt about the severity of Judah's spiritual apostasy and the justification for God's impending wrath.

Ezekiel 8 17 Commentary

Ezekiel 8:17 serves as God's impassioned and comprehensive indictment against Judah, culminating a litany of offenses unveiled in Ezekiel's vision. It rhetorically dismisses any notion that their idolatry and moral depravity are minor issues. On the contrary, their sin is declared profound: a systemic rebellion against the Almighty. The "house of Judah" is implicated in the complete defilement of the sacred space of Jerusalem with abhorrent pagan rites. This spiritual impurity naturally spills into society, evidenced by the land being "filled with violence," signaling a breakdown of justice and compassion. The cumulative effect of these actions is a deliberate and continuous provocation of God's anger. The concluding and enigmatic act of putting "the twig to their nose" encapsulates the insidious nature and depth of their departure. Whether a pagan ritual associated with sun worship, fertility rites, or a gesture of defiance, its very obscurity hints at the depth of their perverse spiritual exploration and contempt for Yahweh. This verse justifies God's impending severe judgment, illustrating that both religious and social dimensions of their sin made divine intervention and punishment unavoidable.