Ezekiel 8 7

Ezekiel 8:7 kjv

And he brought me to the door of the court; and when I looked, behold a hole in the wall.

Ezekiel 8:7 nkjv

So He brought me to the door of the court; and when I looked, there was a hole in the wall.

Ezekiel 8:7 niv

Then he brought me to the entrance to the court. I looked, and I saw a hole in the wall.

Ezekiel 8:7 esv

And he brought me to the entrance of the court, and when I looked, behold, there was a hole in the wall.

Ezekiel 8:7 nlt

Then he brought me to the door of the Temple courtyard, where I could see a hole in the wall.

Ezekiel 8 verses

Ezekiel 8 7 Meaning

Ezekiel 8:7 describes the initial step in Ezekiel's visionary tour of abominations within the Jerusalem temple. Upon being shown by God a specific location within the temple court, Ezekiel observes an unexpected, hidden opening—a "hole in the wall." This discovery initiates the revelation of the clandestine idolatrous practices that were desecrating the sacred space and provoking divine wrath. It highlights a hidden access point to a deeper, more private chamber of sin, symbolizing the secret rebellion against God taking place among the people, particularly the elders and leaders.

Ezekiel 8 7 Context

Ezekiel 8:7 opens a profound prophetic vision received by the prophet Ezekiel during his exile in Babylon in 592 BC, five years after King Jehoiachin and many Judeans were taken captive. Chapter 8 describes Ezekiel's transportation by the "hand of the Lord" (Ez 8:1) in a vision from Babylon to Jerusalem. He is brought to the inner court of the temple, specifically to the entrance of the gate facing north. The purpose of this vision is to reveal the egregious idolatries being practiced within the very sanctuary of God, demonstrating the profound spiritual apostasy of Judah and providing divine justification for the impending final destruction of Jerusalem and its temple. The "hole in the wall" is the initial discovery point, leading Ezekiel deeper into the hidden chambers of these abominations. This sets the stage for God to meticulously unveil four increasingly offensive acts of idolatry (verses 7-18), showing that the defilement permeated all levels of society and within the very core of their religious practice.

Ezekiel 8 7 Word analysis

• And when I looked (וָאֵרֶא, va'ereh):

  • Word: The conjunction "and" (va) links this observation directly to the previous action (God setting him down in the temple courtyard).
  • Significance: The verb "I looked" (ereh, from ra'ah, "to see") emphasizes Ezekiel's direct, personal, and investigative observation, guided by divine instruction. It implies an active gaze, rather than a casual glance, underscoring the revelatory nature of the vision. This seeing is often a prelude to understanding in prophetic literature.

• behold (הִנֵּה, hinnēh):

  • Word: An interjection, equivalent to "look!" or "indeed!" It immediately captures attention.
  • Significance: It introduces something unexpected, significant, or requiring specific notice. In this context, it signals the discovery of something out of place within the holy temple—a tell-tale sign of hidden corruption.

• a hole (חֹר, ḥôr):

  • Word: Ḥôr means an actual physical opening, a cavity, or a boring. It implies something made or revealed, rather than a natural fissure.
  • Significance: This term suggests a deliberate alteration to the wall, implying secrecy, clandestine activity, and a hidden access point. It is not an overt feature but a concealed entryway, pointing to the covert nature of the abominations. It highlights the deliberate attempt to hide sinful practices.

• in the wall (בַּקִּיר, baqqîr):

  • Word: Ba- is the preposition "in" or "on"; qîr specifically refers to a constructed wall, likely within the temple precincts, which defined the boundaries of sacred space.
  • Significance: The fact that the "hole" is in a "wall"—a barrier and boundary—is crucial. It signifies a breach of the sacred boundaries, allowing defiling elements to penetrate and corrupt the holiness of God's dwelling place. Walls normally provide protection and define consecrated areas, but here, one is compromised.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• And when I looked, behold: This phrase together emphasizes a moment of discovery under divine guidance. Ezekiel's observation is not accidental but orchestrated, preparing him and the reader for a shocking revelation of concealed defilement. It underscores God's intentional exposure of sin.
• a hole in the wall: This specific description signifies more than just damage; it points to a deliberate creation of a hidden passage. The wall, meant to protect and separate the sacred from the profane, has been subtly breached to allow forbidden access. It metaphorically represents a hidden pathway to sin and compromise, demonstrating how Israel’s covenant relationship with God was subtly undermined from within by secret apostasy.

Ezekiel 8 7 Bonus section

The Hebrew word ḥôr (hole) appears infrequently in the Old Testament, but when it does, it often refers to a natural cavity, a serpent's den, or a dark prison (e.g., 1 Sam 14:11; Isa 11:8; Jer 41:9). Its application here to a constructed temple wall underscores the unnatural, man-made disruption of the sacred architecture. The very existence of this "hole" challenges the integrity and sanctity of the temple structure. This detail highlights God’s meticulous examination of every part of their supposed worship. The vision itself begins after the initial defilement; the "hole" implies that the act of carving or breaking into the wall had already occurred, setting the stage for the revelation of the consequences within. The gradual unveiling of sins in Chapter 8 from the elders in secret to women mourning Tammuz to sun worship at the temple entrance suggests a progression of defilement from the private to the more public (though still in restricted areas) within the holy precincts.

Ezekiel 8 7 Commentary

Ezekiel 8:7 serves as the opening act of a dramatic divine exposition of Israel's spiritual adultery. The vision reveals not gross public displays of idolatry—which were condemned in previous times—but insidious, hidden acts of worship directed to other gods within the very sanctuary of Yahweh. The "hole in the wall" is pivotal: it is a hidden doorway, symbolizing the deliberate secrecy and clandestine nature of the people's rebellion, particularly among the leadership, against God's covenant demands. This suggests that the idolatry had permeated the heart of religious life, even cloaked by outward appearances of devotion. God, however, is omniscient, and no secret act of disobedience remains hidden from His sight, nor can it prevent His righteous judgment. This hole leads to further shocking discoveries, emphasizing that sin, even when concealed, still defiles and provokes divine wrath, inevitably leading to devastating consequences.A practical lesson here is that hidden sin, even in the heart or unseen places, impacts one's relationship with God and the purity of spiritual life, much like a breach in a fortress wall makes the entire structure vulnerable.