Ezekiel 20 – New American Standard Bible 2020 (NASB20)

God’s Dealings with Israel Rehearsed

1 Now in the seventh ^H7637 year ^H8141, in the fifth ^H2549 month, on the tenth ^H6218 of the month ^H2320, men ^H376 from the elders ^H2205 of Israel ^H3478 came ^H935 to inquire ^H1875 of the LORD ^H3068, and they sat ^H3427 before ^H6440 me.

2 Then the word ^H1697 of the LORD ^H3068 came ^H1961 to me, saying ^H559, 3 “Son ^H1121 of man ^H120, speak ^H1696 to the elders ^H2205 of Israel ^H3478 and say ^H559 to them, ‘This ^H3541 is ^H3541 what ^H3541 the Lord ^H136 [fn]GOD ^H3068 says ^H559: “Do you yourselves ^H859 come ^H935 to inquire ^H1875 of Me? As I live ^H2416,” declares ^H5002 the Lord ^H136 GOD ^H3068, “I certainly ^H518 will not be inquired ^H1875 of by you.”’ 4 Will you judge ^H8199 them, will you judge ^H8199 them, son ^H1121 of man ^H120? Make known ^H3045 to them the abominations ^H8441 of their fathers ^H1; 5 and say ^H559 to them, ‘This ^H3541 is ^H3541 what ^H3541 the Lord ^H136 GOD ^H3068 says ^H559: “On the day ^H3117 when I chose ^H977 Israel ^H3478 and [fn]swore ^H5375 H3027 to the [fn]descendants ^H2233 of the house ^H1004 of Jacob ^H3290 and made ^H3045 Myself known ^H3045 to them in the land ^H776 of Egypt ^H4714, when I [fn]swore ^H5375 H3027 to them, saying ^H559, I am the LORD ^H3068 your God ^H430, 6 on that day ^H3117 I swore ^H5375 H3027 to them, to bring ^H3318 them out ^H3318 from the land ^H776 of Egypt ^H4714 into a land ^H776 that I had [fn]selected ^H8446 for them, flowing ^H2100 with milk ^H2461 and honey ^H1706, which ^H1931 is the glory ^H6643 of all ^H3605 the lands ^H776. 7 And I said ^H559 to them, ‘Throw ^H7993 away ^H7993, each ^H376 of you, the detestable ^H8251 things ^H8251 of his eyes ^H5869, and do not defile ^H2930 yourselves with the idols ^H1544 of Egypt ^H4714; I am the LORD ^H3068 your God ^H430.’ 8 But they rebelled ^H4784 against Me and were ^H14 not willing ^H14 to listen ^H8085 to Me; they did not throw ^H7993 away ^H7993, each ^H376 of them, the detestable ^H8251 things ^H8251 of their eyes ^H5869, nor ^H3808 did they abandon ^H5800 the idols ^H1544 of Egypt ^H4714.

“Then I [fn]resolved ^H559 to pour ^H8210 out ^H8210 My wrath ^H2534 on them, to [fn]use ^H3615 up ^H3615 My anger ^H639 against them in the midst ^H8432 of the land ^H776 of Egypt ^H4714. 9 But I acted ^H6213 for the sake ^H4616 of My name ^H8034, that it would not be defiled ^H2490 in the sight ^H5869 of the nations ^H1471 among ^H8432 whom ^H834 they lived, in whose ^H834 sight ^H5869 I made ^H3045 Myself known ^H3045 to them by bringing ^H3318 them out ^H3318 of the land ^H776 of Egypt ^H4714. 10 So I took ^H3318 them out ^H3318 of the land ^H776 of Egypt ^H4714 and brought ^H935 them into the wilderness ^H4057. 11 I gave ^H5414 them My statutes ^H2708 and informed ^H3045 them of My ordinances ^H4941, which ^H834, if [fn]a person ^H120 [fn]follows ^H6213 them, then he will live ^H2421 by them. 12 Also ^H1571 I gave ^H5414 them My Sabbaths ^H7676 to be a sign ^H226 between ^H996 Me and them, so that they might know ^H3045 that I am the LORD ^H3068 who sanctifies ^H6942 them. 13 But the house ^H1004 of Israel ^H3478 rebelled ^H4784 against Me in the wilderness ^H4057. They did not walk ^H1980 in My statutes ^H2708 and they rejected ^H3988 My ordinances ^H4941, which ^H834, if [fn]a person ^H120 [fn]follows ^H6213 them, then he will live ^H2421 by them; and they greatly ^H3966 profaned ^H2490 My Sabbaths ^H7676. Then I [fn]resolved ^H559 to pour ^H8210 out ^H8210 My wrath ^H2534 on them in the wilderness ^H4057, to annihilate ^H3615 them. 14 But I acted ^H6213 for the sake ^H4616 of My name ^H8034, so that it would not be defiled ^H2490 before the eyes ^H5869 of the nations ^H1471, before whose ^H834 eyes ^H5869 I had brought ^H3318 them out ^H3318. 15 Also ^H1571 I swore ^H5375 H3027 to them in the wilderness ^H4057 that I would not bring ^H935 them into the land ^H776 which ^H834 I had given ^H5414 them, flowing ^H2100 with milk ^H2461 and honey ^H1706, which ^H1931 is the glory ^H6643 of all ^H3605 the lands ^H776, 16 because ^H3282 they rejected ^H3988 My ordinances ^H4941, and as for My statutes ^H2708, they did not walk ^H1980 in them; they also profaned ^H2490 My Sabbaths ^H7676, because ^H3588 their heart ^H3820 continually followed ^H1980 H310 their idols ^H1544. 17 Yet My eye ^H5869 spared ^H2347 them rather ^H4480 than ^H4480 destroying ^H7843 them, and I did not bring ^H6213 about ^H6213 their annihilation ^H3617 in the wilderness ^H4057.

18 “Instead, I said ^H559 to their [fn]children ^H1121 in the wilderness ^H4057, ‘Do not walk ^H1980 in the statutes ^H2706 of your fathers ^H1 or keep ^H8104 their ordinances ^H4941 or defile ^H2930 yourselves with their idols ^H1544. 19 I am the LORD ^H3068 your God ^H430; walk ^H1980 in My statutes ^H2708 and keep ^H8104 My ordinances ^H4941 and [fn]follow ^H6213 them. 20 Sanctify ^H6942 My Sabbaths ^H7676; and they shall be a sign ^H226 between ^H996 Me and you, so that you may know ^H3045 that I am the LORD ^H3068 your God ^H430.’ 21 But the children ^H1121 rebelled ^H4784 against Me; they did not walk ^H1980 in My statutes ^H2708, nor ^H3808 were ^H8104 they careful ^H8104 to [fn]follow ^H6213 My ordinances ^H4941 which ^H834, if [fn]a person ^H120 [fn]follows ^H6213 them, then he will live ^H2421 by them; they profaned ^H2490 My Sabbaths ^H7676. So I [fn]resolved ^H559 to pour ^H8210 out ^H8210 My wrath ^H2534 on them, to [fn]use ^H3615 up ^H3615 My anger ^H639 against them in the wilderness ^H4057. 22 But I withdrew ^H7725 My hand ^H3027 and acted ^H6213 for the sake ^H4616 of My name ^H8034, so that it would not be defiled ^H2490 in the sight ^H5869 of the nations ^H1471 in whose ^H834 sight ^H5869 I had brought ^H3318 them out ^H3318. 23 Also ^H1571 I swore ^H5375 H3027 to them in the wilderness ^H4057 that I would scatter ^H6327 them among the nations ^H1471 and disperse ^H2219 them among the lands ^H776, 24 because ^H3282 they had not [fn]complied ^H6213 with ^H6213 My ordinances ^H4941, but had rejected ^H3988 My statutes ^H2708 and had profaned ^H2490 My Sabbaths ^H7676, and their eyes ^H5869 were [fn]on the idols ^H1544 of their fathers ^H1. 25 I also ^H1571 gave ^H5414 them statutes ^H2706 that were not good ^H2896, and ordinances ^H4941 by which they could not live ^H2421; 26 and I pronounced ^H2930 them unclean ^H2930 because of their gifts ^H4979, in that they made all ^H3605 [fn]their firstborn ^H1060 H7358 pass ^H5674 through ^H5674 the fire so ^H4616 that ^H4616 I might make ^H8074 them desolate ^H8074, in ^H4616 order ^H4616 that ^H4616 they might know ^H3045 that I am the LORD ^H3068.”’

27 “Therefore ^H3651 speak ^H1696 to the house ^H1004 of Israel ^H3478, son ^H1121 of man ^H120, and say ^H559 to them, ‘This ^H3541 is ^H3541 what ^H3541 the Lord ^H136 GOD ^H3068 says ^H559: “Again ^H5750, in this ^H2088 your fathers ^H1 have blasphemed ^H1442 Me by being ^H4603 disloyal ^H4603 to Me. 28 When I had brought ^H935 them into the land ^H776 which ^H834 I swore ^H5375 H3027 to give ^H5414 to them, then they saw ^H7200 every ^H3605 high ^H7311 hill ^H1389 and every ^H3605 tree ^H6086 thick ^H5687 with branches ^H5687, and there ^H8033 they offered ^H2076 their sacrifices ^H2077 and there ^H8033 they presented ^H5414 the provocation ^H3708 of their offering ^H7133. There ^H8033 also they made ^H7760 their soothing ^H5207 aroma ^H7381 and there ^H8033 they poured ^H5258 out ^H5258 their drink ^H5262 offerings ^H5262. 29 Then I said ^H559 to them, ‘What ^H4100 is the high ^H1116 place ^H1116 to which ^H834 you go ^H935?’ So its name ^H8034 is called ^H7121 [fn]Bamah ^H1117 to this ^H2088 day ^H3117.”’ 30 Therefore ^H3651, say ^H559 to the house ^H1004 of Israel ^H3478, ‘This ^H3541 is ^H3541 what ^H3541 the Lord ^H136 GOD ^H3068 says ^H559: “Will you defile ^H2930 yourselves in the way ^H1870 of your fathers ^H1 and adulterously ^H2181 pursue ^H2181 H310 their detestable ^H8251 things ^H8251? 31 And [fn]when you offer ^H5375 your gifts ^H4979, when you make your sons ^H1121 pass ^H5674 through the fire ^H784, you are defiling ^H2930 yourselves with all ^H3605 your idols ^H1544 to this day ^H3117. So shall I be inquired ^H1875 of by you, house ^H1004 of Israel ^H3478? As I live ^H2416,” declares ^H5002 the Lord ^H136 GOD ^H3068, “I certainly ^H518 will not be inquired ^H1875 of by you. 32 And whatever comes ^H5927 [fn]into your mind ^H7307 certainly ^H1961 will not come ^H1961 about ^H1961, when ^H834 you say ^H559: ‘We will be like the nations ^H1471, like the families ^H4940 of the lands ^H776, serving ^H8334 wood ^H6086 and stone ^H68.’

God Will Restore Israel to Her Land

33 “As I live ^H2416,” declares ^H5002 the Lord ^H136 GOD ^H3068, “with a mighty ^H2389 hand ^H3027 and with an outstretched ^H5186 arm ^H2220 and with wrath ^H2534 poured ^H8210 out ^H5186, I assuredly ^H518 H3808 shall be ^H4427 king ^H4427 over ^H5921 you.

34 I will bring ^H3318 you out ^H3318 from the peoples ^H5971 and gather ^H6908 you from the lands ^H776 where ^H834 you are scattered ^H6327, with a mighty ^H2389 hand ^H3027 and with an outstretched ^H5186 arm ^H2220 and with wrath ^H2534 poured ^H8210 out ^H8210; 35 and I will bring ^H935 you into the wilderness ^H4057 of the peoples ^H5971, and there ^H8033 I will enter ^H8199 into ^H8199 judgment ^H8199 with you face ^H6440 to face ^H6440. 36 Just ^H834 as I entered ^H8199 into ^H8199 judgment ^H8199 with your fathers ^H1 in the wilderness ^H4057 of the land ^H776 of Egypt ^H4714, so ^H3651 I will enter ^H8199 into ^H8199 judgment ^H8199 with you,” declares ^H5002 the Lord ^H136 GOD ^H3068. 37 “I will make you pass ^H5674 under ^H8478 the rod ^H7626, and I will bring ^H935 you into the bond ^H4562 of the covenant ^H1285; 38 and I will purge ^H1305 from you the rebels ^H4775 and those who revolt ^H6586 against Me; I will bring ^H3318 them out ^H3318 of the land ^H776 where ^H4033 they reside ^H4033, but they will not enter ^H935 the [fn]land ^H127 of Israel ^H3478. So you will know ^H3045 that I am the LORD ^H3068.

39 “As for you, house ^H1004 of Israel ^H3478,” this ^H3541 is ^H3541 what ^H3541 the Lord ^H136 GOD ^H3068 says ^H559: “Go ^H1980, serve ^H5647, everyone ^H376 of you his idols ^H1544; [fn]but later ^H310 you will certainly ^H518 H369 listen ^H8085 to Me, and My holy ^H6944 name ^H8034 you will no ^H3808 longer ^H5750 defile ^H2490 with your gifts ^H4979 and your idols ^H1544. 40 For on My holy ^H6944 mountain ^H2022, on the high ^H4791 mountain ^H2022 of Israel ^H3478,” declares ^H5002 the Lord ^H136 GOD ^H3068, “there ^H8033 the entire ^H3605 house ^H1004 of Israel ^H3478, all ^H3605 of them, will serve ^H5647 Me in the land ^H776; there ^H8033 I will accept ^H7521 them and there ^H8033 I will demand ^H1875 your contributions ^H8641 and the choicest ^H7225 of your gifts ^H4864, with all ^H3605 your holy ^H6944 things ^H6944. 41 [fn]As a soothing ^H5207 aroma ^H7381 I will accept ^H7521 you when I bring ^H3318 you out ^H3318 from the peoples ^H5971 and gather ^H6908 you from the lands ^H776 where ^H834 you are scattered ^H6327; and I will show ^H6942 Myself to be ^H6942 holy ^H6942 among you in the sight ^H5869 of the nations ^H1471. 42 And you will know ^H3045 that I am the LORD ^H3068, when I bring ^H935 you into the land ^H127 of Israel ^H3478, into the land ^H776 which ^H834 I swore ^H5375 H3027 to give ^H5414 to your forefathers ^H1. 43 And there ^H8033 you will remember ^H2142 your ways ^H1870 and all ^H3605 your deeds ^H5949 by which ^H834 you have defiled ^H2930 yourselves; and you will loathe ^H6962 yourselves in your own [fn]sight ^H6440 for all ^H3605 the evil ^H7451 things ^H7451 that you have done ^H6213. 44 Then you will know ^H3045 that I am the LORD ^H3068, when I have dealt ^H6213 with you in behalf ^H4616 of My name ^H8034, not according to your evil ^H7451 ways ^H1870 or according to your corrupt ^H7843 deeds ^H5949, house ^H1004 of Israel ^H3478,” declares ^H5002 the Lord ^H136 GOD ^H3068.’”

45 [fn]Now the word ^H1697 of the LORD ^H3068 came ^H1961 to me, saying ^H559, 46 “Son ^H1121 of man ^H120, set ^H7760 your face ^H6440 toward ^H1870 the south ^H8486, and speak ^H5197 prophetically ^H5197 against ^H413 the south ^H1864 and prophesy ^H5012 against ^H413 the forest ^H3293 [fn]land ^H7704 of the Negev ^H5045, 47 and say ^H559 to the forest ^H3293 of the Negev ^H5045, ‘Hear ^H8085 the word ^H1697 of the LORD ^H3068: this ^H3541 is ^H3541 what ^H3541 the Lord ^H136 GOD ^H3068 says ^H559: “Behold ^H2009, I am going to kindle ^H3341 a fire ^H784 in you, and it will consume ^H398 every ^H3605 [fn]green ^H3892 tree ^H6086 in you, as well as every ^H3605 dry ^H3002 tree ^H6086; the blazing ^H3852 flame ^H3852 will not go ^H3518 out ^H3518 and [fn]the entire ^H3605 surface ^H6440 from south ^H5045 to north ^H6828 will be scorched ^H6866 by it. 48 And all ^H3605 [fn]mankind ^H1320 will see ^H7200 that I, the LORD ^H3068, have kindled ^H1197 it; it will not go ^H3518 out ^H3518.”’” 49 Then I said ^H559, “Oh ^H162, Lord ^H136 GOD ^H3068! They are saying ^H559 of me, ‘Is he not just speaking ^H4911 in riddles ^H4912?’”