Ezekiel 8 6

Ezekiel 8:6 kjv

He said furthermore unto me, Son of man, seest thou what they do? even the great abominations that the house of Israel committeth here, that I should go far off from my sanctuary? but turn thee yet again, and thou shalt see greater abominations.

Ezekiel 8:6 nkjv

Furthermore He said to me, "Son of man, do you see what they are doing, the great abominations that the house of Israel commits here, to make Me go far away from My sanctuary? Now turn again, you will see greater abominations."

Ezekiel 8:6 niv

And he said to me, "Son of man, do you see what they are doing?the utterly detestable things the Israelites are doing here, things that will drive me far from my sanctuary? But you will see things that are even more detestable."

Ezekiel 8:6 esv

And he said to me, "Son of man, do you see what they are doing, the great abominations that the house of Israel are committing here, to drive me far from my sanctuary? But you will see still greater abominations."

Ezekiel 8:6 nlt

"Son of man," he said, "do you see what they are doing? Do you see the detestable sins the people of Israel are committing to drive me from my Temple? But come, and you will see even more detestable sins than these!"

Ezekiel 8 verses

Ezekiel 8 6 Meaning

The prophet Ezekiel is spiritually transported to Jerusalem and confronted by the Lord with the profound wickedness of the house of Israel. This verse unveils God's sorrowful declaration, exposing the "great abominations" that His people are perpetrating within the consecrated Temple precincts. These detestable acts are so grievous they effectively compel the Lord to remove His divine presence from His own sanctuary. Furthermore, God warns Ezekiel that he is about to witness an even greater escalation of these horrifying defilements.

Ezekiel 8 6 Context

Ezekiel chapter 8 initiates a profound prophetic vision received by Ezekiel in Babylon, during the sixth year of his exile. The prophet is spiritually transported to Jerusalem and brought into the Temple courtyards, where he is granted a harrowing revelation of the rampant idolatry and defilement being practiced within God's sanctuary. This specific verse, Ezekiel 8:6, serves as an introductory indictment. It sets the stage by God explicitly articulating that the reason for His subsequent judgment and the departure of His glory (as detailed in chapters 9-11) is precisely these "great abominations" that Israel is committing. The immediate historical context is pre-exilic Judah, where, despite God's previous warnings through other prophets, a false sense of security persisted concerning Jerusalem and the Temple's inviolability. This vision shatters that delusion by showcasing God's active disassociation from a desecrated dwelling place.

Ezekiel 8 6 Word analysis

• He said further to me, - This signals a continuation of the divine dialogue from Eze 8:1-5, emphasizing that this specific pronouncement comes directly from God to Ezekiel, underlining its authoritative and weighty nature. It shows God actively engaged in revealing these crucial truths.
• 'Son of man, - A recurrent address used by God for Ezekiel throughout the book. It highlights Ezekiel's mortal nature, emphasizing his humanity in stark contrast to the divine majesty he is encountering. It also serves to connect him with all humanity as a representative witness to divine judgment.
• do you see what they are doing - An imperative question that demands not just visual perception but spiritual understanding and acknowledgment. God directs Ezekiel's gaze to the observable yet deeply offensive acts. It underlines the transparency of the sin to God's eyes and invites the prophet into divine discernment.
• —the great abominations -
  • great (גדֹלות, gĕdôlôṯ): Signifies the extreme magnitude and gravity of the offenses, denoting their severity and the depth of Israel's spiritual decline.
  • abominations (תּוֹעֵבֹת, tô‘ēvôṯ): This plural term is central. The singular (tô‘ēvâ) is a potent Hebrew word meaning "detestable thing" or "abhorrent act," often used for idolatry (Dt 7:25), sexual perversion (Lev 18:22), and unethical behavior that offends God's holiness (Prov 6:16-19). Its use here strongly indicates that Israel's practices were not just morally wrong but deeply repugnant to God's holy character, a profound breach of covenant and defilement of His sacred space.
• that the house of Israel is committing here, -
  • house of Israel: Refers to the collective people of God, implying that this pervasive apostasy affects the nation as a whole, not just an isolated group or individual. It indicates a deep-seated, systemic spiritual failure among those who claimed God's covenant.
  • is committing (‘ōsîm): This participle suggests continuous, habitual action, highlighting that these were ongoing and entrenched practices rather than isolated incidents of lapse.
  • here (מִזֶּה, mizzəh): Emphatically points to the very Temple complex in Jerusalem, God's dwelling place, making the desecration all the more audacious and blasphemous. The place of holy worship had become a site of detestable practices.
• to drive me far from my sanctuary? -
  • to drive me far (מֵרַחֶקֶת, mêraḥeqeṯ): Derived from raḥaq, meaning "to be far" or "to remove oneself/another." This reveals the consequence of their sin—it forces God, who is holy, to withdraw from the midst of their defilement. It’s an active act of pushing God away through their offensive worship, rather than Him arbitrarily choosing to leave. It underlines the causal link between sin and the removal of divine presence.
  • my sanctuary: Refers to the Temple, built by divine command as the unique place for God's presence on earth among His people. The phrase emphasizes God's personal ownership and the sacred, consecrated nature of the space, which their abominations had now utterly violated.
• But you will see still greater abominations.' - This concluding statement is a grim warning of escalation. It builds dramatic tension, indicating that the sins already presented are merely the prelude to deeper and more grievous offenses yet to be revealed. It underscores the profound and unchecked spiritual degradation occurring within Judah, setting the stage for the progressive visions in the rest of chapter 8.

Ezekiel 8 6 Bonus section

The "great abominations" in Ezekiel 8:6 are elaborated throughout the rest of chapter 8, showing a systematic, four-fold progression of defilement. This ranges from the publicly displayed "idol of jealousy" at the outer gate (Eze 8:5) to the hidden worship of "detestable things" and animal images by seventy elders (Eze 8:9-12), then the ritualistic mourning for Tammuz by women (Eze 8:13-14), and finally the sun worship in the inner court, directly facing away from God's altar (Eze 8:15-16). This deliberate sequence signifies increasing proximity to the Holy of Holies, escalating blasphemy, and the comprehensive infiltration of pagan practices into every layer of Israelite society and religious observance.

Ezekiel 8 6 Commentary

Ezekiel 8:6 encapsulates the core divine grievance against Judah: their pervasive and audacious idolatry, explicitly called "great abominations." These acts were not merely external pagan practices; they occurred within God's consecrated Temple, symbolizing a profound betrayal of the covenant. God laments that these detestable behaviors were actively "driving Him far" from His own dwelling place. This signifies not God's inability to remain, but His inherent holiness that recoils from profanity, rendering His presence incompatible with such defilement. The verse sets the theological justification for the Temple's ultimate destruction and the nation's final judgment, by showing God Himself departing. The ominous promise of "still greater abominations" portends an escalating series of blasphemies, leading to the climactic departure of God's glory and the ensuing destruction of Jerusalem.