Ezekiel Chapter 20 · Verse 13

Authorized King James Version

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But the house of Israel rebelled against me in the wilderness: they walked not in my statutes, and they despised my judgments, which if a man do, he shall even live in them; and my sabbaths they greatly polluted: then I said, I would pour out my fury upon them in the wilderness, to consume them.

Original Language Analysis

וַיַּמְרוּ rebelled H4784
וַיַּמְרוּ rebelled
Strong's: H4784
Word #: 1 of 27
to be (causatively, make) bitter (or unpleasant); (figuratively) to rebel (or resist; causatively, to provoke)
בִ֨י H0
בִ֨י
Strong's: H0
Word #: 2 of 27
בֵֽית But the house H1004
בֵֽית But the house
Strong's: H1004
Word #: 3 of 27
a house (in the greatest variation of applications, especially family, etc.)
יִשְׂרָאֵ֜ל of Israel H3478
יִשְׂרָאֵ֜ל of Israel
Strong's: H3478
Word #: 4 of 27
he will rule as god; jisral, a symbolical name of jacob; also (typically) of his posterity
בַּמִּדְבָּ֖ר against me in the wilderness H4057
בַּמִּדְבָּ֖ר against me in the wilderness
Strong's: H4057
Word #: 5 of 27
a pasture (i.e., open field, whither cattle are driven); by implication, a desert
בְּחֻקּוֹתַ֨י not in my statutes H2708
בְּחֻקּוֹתַ֨י not in my statutes
Strong's: H2708
Word #: 6 of 27
a statute
לֹא H3808
לֹא
Strong's: H3808
Word #: 7 of 27
not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no; often used with other particles
הָלָ֜כוּ they walked H1980
הָלָ֜כוּ they walked
Strong's: H1980
Word #: 8 of 27
to walk (in a great variety of applications, literally and figuratively)
וְאֶת H853
וְאֶת
Strong's: H853
Word #: 9 of 27
properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)
מִשְׁפָּטַ֣י my judgments H4941
מִשְׁפָּטַ֣י my judgments
Strong's: H4941
Word #: 10 of 27
properly, a verdict (favorable or unfavorable) pronounced judicially, especially a sentence or formal decree (human or (participant's) divine law, ind
מָאָ֗סוּ and they despised H3988
מָאָ֗סוּ and they despised
Strong's: H3988
Word #: 11 of 27
to spurn; also (intransitively) to disappear
אֲשֶׁר֩ H834
אֲשֶׁר֩
Strong's: H834
Word #: 12 of 27
who, which, what, that; also (as an adverb and a conjunction) when, where, how, because, in order that, etc
יַעֲשֶׂ֨ה do H6213
יַעֲשֶׂ֨ה do
Strong's: H6213
Word #: 13 of 27
to do or make, in the broadest sense and widest application
אֹתָ֤ם H853
אֹתָ֤ם
Strong's: H853
Word #: 14 of 27
properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)
הָֽאָדָם֙ which if a man H120
הָֽאָדָם֙ which if a man
Strong's: H120
Word #: 15 of 27
ruddy i.e., a human being (an individual or the species, mankind, etc.)
וָחַ֣י he shall even live H2425
וָחַ֣י he shall even live
Strong's: H2425
Word #: 16 of 27
to live; causatively to revive
בָּהֶ֔ם H0
בָּהֶ֔ם
Strong's: H0
Word #: 17 of 27
וְאֶת H853
וְאֶת
Strong's: H853
Word #: 18 of 27
properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)
שַׁבְּתֹתַ֖י in them and my sabbaths H7676
שַׁבְּתֹתַ֖י in them and my sabbaths
Strong's: H7676
Word #: 19 of 27
intermission, i.e (specifically) the sabbath
חִלְּל֣וּ polluted H2490
חִלְּל֣וּ polluted
Strong's: H2490
Word #: 20 of 27
properly, to bore, i.e., (by implication) to wound, to dissolve; figuratively, to profane (a person, place or thing), to break (one's word), to begin
מְאֹ֑ד they greatly H3966
מְאֹ֑ד they greatly
Strong's: H3966
Word #: 21 of 27
properly, vehemence, i.e., (with or without preposition) vehemently; by implication, wholly, speedily, etc. (often with other words as an intensive or
וָאֹמַ֞ר then I said H559
וָאֹמַ֞ר then I said
Strong's: H559
Word #: 22 of 27
to say (used with great latitude)
לִשְׁפֹּ֨ךְ I would pour out H8210
לִשְׁפֹּ֨ךְ I would pour out
Strong's: H8210
Word #: 23 of 27
to spill forth (blood, a libation, liquid metal; or even a solid, i.e., to mound up); also (figuratively) to expend (life, soul, complaint, money, etc
חֲמָתִ֧י my fury H2534
חֲמָתִ֧י my fury
Strong's: H2534
Word #: 24 of 27
heat; figuratively, anger, poison (from its fever)
עֲלֵיהֶ֛ם H5921
עֲלֵיהֶ֛ם
Strong's: H5921
Word #: 25 of 27
above, over, upon, or against (yet always in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great variety of applications
בַּמִּדְבָּ֖ר against me in the wilderness H4057
בַּמִּדְבָּ֖ר against me in the wilderness
Strong's: H4057
Word #: 26 of 27
a pasture (i.e., open field, whither cattle are driven); by implication, a desert
לְכַלּוֹתָֽם׃ to consume H3615
לְכַלּוֹתָֽם׃ to consume
Strong's: H3615
Word #: 27 of 27
to end, whether intransitive (to cease, be finished, perish) or transitive (to complete, prepare, consume)

Cross References

Ezekiel 20:21Notwithstanding the children rebelled against me: they walked not in my statutes, neither kept my judgments to do them, which if a man do, he shall even live in them; they polluted my sabbaths: then I said, I would pour out my fury upon them, to accomplish my anger against them in the wilderness.Ezekiel 20:8But they rebelled against me, and would not hearken unto me: they did not every man cast away the abominations of their eyes, neither did they forsake the idols of Egypt: then I said, I will pour out my fury upon them, to accomplish my anger against them in the midst of the land of Egypt.Isaiah 56:6Also the sons of the stranger, that join themselves to the LORD, to serve him, and to love the name of the LORD, to be his servants, every one that keepeth the sabbath from polluting it, and taketh hold of my covenant;Deuteronomy 9:8Also in Horeb ye provoked the LORD to wrath, so that the LORD was angry with you to have destroyed you.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.Exodus 32:10Now therefore let me alone, that my wrath may wax hot against them, and that I may consume them: and I will make of thee a great nation.Numbers 14:22Because all those men which have seen my glory, and my miracles, which I did in Egypt and in the wilderness, and have tempted me now these ten times, and have not hearkened to my voice;Numbers 14:29Your carcases shall fall in this wilderness; and all that were numbered of you, according to your whole number, from twenty years old and upward, which have murmured against me,

Analysis & Commentary

'But the house of Israel rebelled against me in the wilderness: they walked not in my statutes, and they despised my judgments, which if a man do, he shall even live in them; and my sabbaths they greatly polluted: then I said, I would pour out my fury upon them in the wilderness, to consume them.' Israel's wilderness rebellion: rejecting statutes, despising judgments, polluting Sabbaths. The verb ma'as ('despised') indicates contemptuous rejection. God's response: fury ready to consume them. This refers to repeated rebellions: golden calf (Exodus 32), complaining about manna (Numbers 11), rejecting the promised land (Numbers 13-14), Korah's rebellion (Numbers 16).

Historical Context

The wilderness generation's rebellion is documented throughout Exodus-Numbers. Despite seeing God's miracles, they repeatedly doubted, complained, and disobeyed. Their unbelief resulted in the decree that the exodus generation would die in the wilderness (Numbers 14:20-35). Only Joshua and Caleb entered the promised land from that generation.

Questions for Reflection