Ezekiel 8:9 kjv
And he said unto me, Go in, and behold the wicked abominations that they do here.
Ezekiel 8:9 nkjv
And He said to me, "Go in, and see the wicked abominations which they are doing there."
Ezekiel 8:9 niv
And he said to me, "Go in and see the wicked and detestable things they are doing here."
Ezekiel 8:9 esv
And he said to me, "Go in, and see the vile abominations that they are committing here."
Ezekiel 8:9 nlt
"Go in," he said, "and see the wicked and detestable sins they are committing in there!"
Ezekiel 8 9 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Isa 6:9-10 | He said, āGo and tell this people: āBe ever seeing, but never perceiving...āā | God's command to observe blindness |
| Jer 5:1 | "Go up and down the streets of Jerusalem... search its public squares... " | Look for righteousness |
| Amos 7:7-9 | He showed me: behold, the Lord was standing beside a wall built with a plumb line... | Vision of judgment revealed |
| Hab 1:3 | Why do you make me look at injustice? Why do you tolerate wrongdoing? | Prophet questioning evil he sees |
| 2 Ki 21:11 | āBecause Manasseh king of Judah has done these detestable things... | Idolatry provoking judgment |
| Ezek 5:9 | "And because of all your detestable things, I will do among you what I have never done..." | Judgment due to detestable things |
| Ezek 6:9 | "Then those of you who escape will remember Me among the nations... they will loathe themselves for the evil they have done, because they have looked to their idols..." | Remembering evil seen |
| Deut 4:16 | "...not to make for yourselves an idol in the form of anything..." | Command against making images |
| Ps 106:39 | "They defiled themselves by their own actions, and were unfaithful through their deeds." | Self-defilement by deeds |
| Is 1:15 | "When you spread out your hands in prayer, I hide My eyes from you; even when you offer many prayers, I am not listening." | God ignoring worship due to sin |
| Lev 18:30 | "Therefore you are to keep My requirements and not follow any of the detestable customs..." | Keep commands, avoid detestable |
| Jer 32:34-35 | "They set up their detestable idols in the house that bears My Name and defiled it." | Idolatry defiles God's house |
| 1 Pet 4:17 | For it is time for judgment to begin with Godās household... | Judgment begins with God's house |
| Mal 3:5 | "So I will come to put you on trial. I will be quick to testify against sorcerers..." | God sees, testifies against sin |
| Heb 4:13 | "Nothing in all creation is hidden from God's sight. Everything is uncovered..." | God's all-seeing knowledge |
| Eph 5:11 | Have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them. | Expose unfruitful works |
| Rev 1:11-19 | John sees visions and is commanded to write what he sees. | Command to see and record |
| Jer 23:14 | "But in the prophets of Jerusalem I have seen a horrible thing..." | God sees prophets' evil |
| Ezra 9:6-7 | "O my God, I am too ashamed and disgraced to lift up my face to You, my God, because our sins are higher than our heads..." | Shame over widespread sin |
| 2 Chron 33:1-9 | Manasseh built altars to Baal, set up idols in the temple, filled Jerusalem with blood. | Extreme idolatry and defilement |
| Deut 12:29-31 | "Do not inquire about their gods, saying, 'How do these nations serve their gods?'" | Avoid foreign idolatry practices |
Ezekiel 8 verses
Ezekiel 8 9 Meaning
Ezekiel 8:9 marks a crucial moment where the prophet is commanded by God to observe closely the hidden abominations and idolatries occurring within the sacred precincts of the Jerusalem Temple. It serves as a direct instruction to actively lift his spiritual and physical gaze to perceive the extent of the desecration, underscoring that God Himself is revealing the depravity that necessitated His forthcoming judgment and the Temple's abandonment. The verse emphasizes divine initiative in uncovering the rebellion of His people, compelling Ezekiel to become an eyewitness to the very acts provoking God's wrath.
Ezekiel 8 9 Context
Ezekiel 8:9 occurs during a vivid prophetic vision where the Lord transports Ezekiel, then exiled in Babylon, back to Jerusalem in spirit. This chapter reveals to the prophet the specific, abhorrent idolatries taking place within the very Temple complex. Before verse 9, Ezekiel is shown "the image of jealousy" at the Temple gate (v. 5) and is then led into an inner court. The instruction in verse 9, "lift up thine eyes now, and see what they do," serves as an imperative command for Ezekiel to make a direct, deliberate observation of the previously hidden idolatry. It immediately precedes a series of revelations (vv. 10-18) where he witnesses elders worshipping detestable things in a secret chamber, women weeping for Tammuz, and men worshipping the sun. Historically, this vision justifies the impending destruction of Jerusalem and the Temple, showing God's people's profound unfaithfulness, which rendered their religious rituals meaningless and invoked divine judgment. The context underscores that God does not abandon His people or Temple arbitrarily but in response to their persistent and deep-seated sin.
Ezekiel 8 9 Word analysis
- Then said he: Refers to the Lord God, the divine guide. This phrasing consistently denotes direct divine revelation and authoritative instruction to the prophet, establishing the absolute truth and origin of the subsequent command.
- unto me: Identifies Ezekiel as the direct, personal recipient of the divine word and vision. It highlights his role as God's chosen messenger, burdened with witnessing and conveying these grievous truths.
- Son of man (ben Adam, ×Ö¶×Ö¾×Öø×Öø×): A title emphasizing Ezekielās human, mortal nature in contrast to Godās divinity. It reiterates his vulnerability and the great chasm between humanity and the Almighty, even while being an agent for divine revelation. In later New Testament usage, it gains Messianic significance, identifying with both humanity and divine authority.
- lift up thine eyes (nasa eynayim, × Öøש×Öø× ×¢Öµ×× Ö¶××Öø): A specific command for attentive, directed observation. It means to look deliberately, often at something not immediately obvious or hidden. It's an active gesture, suggesting that seeing the truth required a conscious effort to focus beyond surface appearances.
- now (āattah, ×¢Ö·×ŖÖøÖ¼×): Imparts a sense of immediacy and urgency. The abominations are not historical but current and active, demanding immediate attention and confirming the present state of corruption that needs to be exposed.
- and see (reāeh, ×ØÖ°×Öµ×): An imperative verb meaning "to perceive" or "to understand," not merely to physically glimpse. It implies comprehension and acknowledgment of what is revealed, a seeing that leads to knowing and bearing witness to the truth.
- what they do: Refers to the specific, ongoing actions of the people, the "seventy elders of the house of Israel" mentioned in verse 11, and others within the Temple courts. It highlights the active nature of their sinātheir deliberate choices and participation in detestable practices. The use of "do" implies culpability and accountability for their chosen behavior.
Ezekiel 8 9 Bonus section
This verse initiates God's guided tour of the Temple's corruption, similar to a courtroom presentation where evidence is meticulously laid out before a witness. It highlights the principle that God often provides undeniable proof of iniquity before executing judgment, especially concerning those who claimed a covenant relationship with Him. The use of the specific Hebrew imperative "lift up thine eyes" (nasa eynayim) combined with "and see" (re'eh) suggests that some things required an intentional effort to discern, often because they were done covertly or veiled by religious facades, indicating spiritual blindness among the populace that only God could remove. This concept finds an echo in the New Testament's call to spiritual discernment and the idea that sin thrives in darkness but is exposed by light (Eph 5:11-14). Furthermore, the fact that Ezekiel is commanded to see what they do indicates that the actions (works) of the people are what concern God and are the direct cause of His reaction, not just their beliefs. This underscores the biblical emphasis on righteous living as a demonstration of true faith.
Ezekiel 8 9 Commentary
Ezekiel 8:9 is a pivotal instruction within the prophet's vision, serving as an explicit command from the Lord for meticulous observation. God is not just telling Ezekiel about the abominations but requiring him to "see" them, thereby experiencing firsthand the profound desecration of His holy sanctuary. This directive moves beyond passive reception of prophecy to active witnessing, demonstrating God's thoroughness in building a case against His people. The phrase "Son of man" continually reminds Ezekiel of his humanity, reinforcing the gravity of the divine revelation to a mortal. The urgency of "now" emphasizes the present and dire state of their unfaithfulness, demanding immediate attention before God's imminent judgment. "Lift up thine eyes...and see what they do" highlights the deliberate and active nature of the people's idolatry and the corresponding demand for an equally deliberate and discerning gaze from the prophet. This detailed visual exposition prepares Ezekiel, and through him the exiled community, to understand the righteous basis for God's impending severe judgment on Jerusalem. It is a powerful reminder that God not only knows all but meticulously reveals the justifications for His actions, leaving no doubt about the severity of sin within His very household.