Ezekiel 18:6
And hath not eaten upon the mountains, neither hath lifted up his eyes to the idols of the house of Israel, neither hath defiled his neighbour's wife, neither hath come near to a menstruous woman,
Original Language Analysis
הֶֽהָרִים֙
upon the mountains
H2022
הֶֽהָרִים֙
upon the mountains
Strong's:
H2022
Word #:
2 of 21
a mountain or range of hills (sometimes used figuratively)
לֹ֣א
H3808
לֹ֣א
Strong's:
H3808
Word #:
3 of 21
not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no; often used with other particles
וְעֵינָיו֙
his eyes
H5869
וְעֵינָיו֙
his eyes
Strong's:
H5869
Word #:
5 of 21
an eye (literally or figuratively); by analogy, a fountain (as the eye of the landscape)
לֹ֣א
H3808
לֹ֣א
Strong's:
H3808
Word #:
6 of 21
not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no; often used with other particles
נָשָׂ֔א
neither hath lifted up
H5375
נָשָׂ֔א
neither hath lifted up
Strong's:
H5375
Word #:
7 of 21
to lift, in a great variety of applications, literal and figurative, absolute and relative
גִּלּוּלֵ֖י
to the idols
H1544
גִּלּוּלֵ֖י
to the idols
Strong's:
H1544
Word #:
9 of 21
properly, a log (as round); by implication, an idol
בֵּ֣ית
of the house
H1004
בֵּ֣ית
of the house
Strong's:
H1004
Word #:
10 of 21
a house (in the greatest variation of applications, especially family, etc.)
יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל
of Israel
H3478
יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל
of Israel
Strong's:
H3478
Word #:
11 of 21
he will rule as god; jisral, a symbolical name of jacob; also (typically) of his posterity
וְאֶת
H853
וְאֶת
Strong's:
H853
Word #:
12 of 21
properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)
לֹ֣א
H3808
לֹ֣א
Strong's:
H3808
Word #:
15 of 21
not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no; often used with other particles
טִמֵּ֔א
neither hath defiled
H2930
טִמֵּ֔א
neither hath defiled
Strong's:
H2930
Word #:
16 of 21
to be foul, especially in a ceremial or moral sense (contaminated)
נִדָּ֖ה
to a menstruous
H5079
נִדָּ֖ה
to a menstruous
Strong's:
H5079
Word #:
19 of 21
properly, rejection; by implication, impurity, especially personal (menstruation) or moral (idolatry, incest)
Cross References
Ezekiel 18:15That hath not eaten upon the mountains, neither hath lifted up his eyes to the idols of the house of Israel, hath not defiled his neighbour's wife,Deuteronomy 4:19And lest thou lift up thine eyes unto heaven, and when thou seest the sun, and the moon, and the stars, even all the host of heaven, shouldest be driven to worship them, and serve them, which the LORD thy God hath divided unto all nations under the whole heaven.Ezekiel 6:13Then shall ye know that I am the LORD, when their slain men shall be among their idols round about their altars, upon every high hill, in all the tops of the mountains, and under every green tree, and under every thick oak, the place where they did offer sweet savour to all their idols.Ezekiel 20:24Because they had not executed my judgments, but had despised my statutes, and had polluted my sabbaths, and their eyes were after their fathers' idols.Leviticus 20:10And the man that committeth adultery with another man's wife, even he that committeth adultery with his neighbour's wife, the adulterer and the adulteress shall surely be put to death.Leviticus 20:18And if a man shall lie with a woman having her sickness, and shall uncover her nakedness; he hath discovered her fountain, and she hath uncovered the fountain of her blood: and both of them shall be cut off from among their people.Numbers 25:2And they called the people unto the sacrifices of their gods: and the people did eat, and bowed down to their gods.
Historical Context
High places were Canaanite worship sites where Israelites syncretistically worshiped Yahweh alongside Baal and Asherah. Archaeological excavations confirm widespread high place worship in pre-exilic Israel. Sexual purity laws (Leviticus 18, 20) distinguished Israel from surrounding fertility cults where ritual prostitution was common.
Questions for Reflection
- What are modern 'high places'—respectable settings where we compromise spiritual faithfulness?
- How does our culture's sexual ethic contradict the biblical standard outlined here?
Related Resources
Explore related topics, people, and study resources to deepen your understanding of this passage.
Analysis & Commentary
'And hath not eaten upon the mountains, neither hath lifted up his eyes to the idols of the house of Israel.' The righteous person avoids idolatrous worship. 'Eaten upon the mountains' refers to participating in sacrificial meals at high places—pagan worship sites. 'Lifted up his eyes to idols' indicates devotion or worship. The phrase also mentions sexual purity: 'neither hath defiled his neighbour's wife, neither hath come near to a menstruous woman'—respecting God's sexual boundaries and ceremonial law.