Ezekiel 20:15
Yet also I lifted up my hand unto them in the wilderness, that I would not bring them into the land which I had given them, flowing with milk and honey, which is the glory of all lands;
Original Language Analysis
וְגַם
H1571
וְגַם
Strong's:
H1571
Word #:
1 of 20
properly, assemblage; used only adverbially also, even, yea, though; often repeated as correl. both...and
נָשָׂ֧אתִי
Yet also I lifted up
H5375
נָשָׂ֧אתִי
Yet also I lifted up
Strong's:
H5375
Word #:
3 of 20
to lift, in a great variety of applications, literal and figurative, absolute and relative
יָדִ֛י
my hand
H3027
יָדִ֛י
my hand
Strong's:
H3027
Word #:
4 of 20
a hand (the open one [indicating power, means, direction, etc.], in distinction from h3709, the closed one); used (as noun, adverb, etc.) in a great v
בַּמִּדְבָּ֑ר
unto them in the wilderness
H4057
בַּמִּדְבָּ֑ר
unto them in the wilderness
Strong's:
H4057
Word #:
6 of 20
a pasture (i.e., open field, whither cattle are driven); by implication, a desert
לְבִלְתִּי֩
H1115
לְבִלְתִּי֩
Strong's:
H1115
Word #:
7 of 20
properly, a failure of, i.e., (used only as a negative particle, usually with a prepositional prefix) not, except, without, unless, besides, because n
הָבִ֨יא
that I would not bring
H935
הָבִ֨יא
that I would not bring
Strong's:
H935
Word #:
8 of 20
to go or come (in a wide variety of applications)
אוֹתָ֜ם
H853
אוֹתָ֜ם
Strong's:
H853
Word #:
9 of 20
properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)
הָאֲרָצֽוֹת׃
of all lands
H776
הָאֲרָצֽוֹת׃
of all lands
Strong's:
H776
Word #:
11 of 20
the earth (at large, or partitively a land)
אֲשֶׁר
H834
אֲשֶׁר
Strong's:
H834
Word #:
12 of 20
who, which, what, that; also (as an adverb and a conjunction) when, where, how, because, in order that, etc
נָתַ֗תִּי
which I had given
H5414
נָתַ֗תִּי
which I had given
Strong's:
H5414
Word #:
13 of 20
to give, used with greatest latitude of application (put, make, etc.)
זָבַ֤ת
them flowing
H2100
זָבַ֤ת
them flowing
Strong's:
H2100
Word #:
14 of 20
to flow freely (as water), i.e., (specifically) to have a (sexual) flux; figuratively, to waste away; also to overflow
הִ֖יא
H1931
הִ֖יא
Strong's:
H1931
Word #:
18 of 20
he (she or it); only expressed when emphatic or without a verb; also (intensively) self, or (especially with the article) the same; sometimes (as demo
Historical Context
Numbers 14:20-35 records this oath after Israel rejected the promised land based on the spies' report. Despite Caleb and Joshua's faithful testimony, the people believed the fearful majority. God decreed 40 years of wandering until that generation died. This became a warning about unbelief's consequences (Hebrews 3:7-19, 4:1-11).
Questions for Reflection
- How does unbelief prevent us from experiencing God's promised blessings?
- What does the wilderness generation teach about the relationship between faith and inheriting promises?
Related Resources
Explore related topics, people, and study resources to deepen your understanding of this passage.
Analysis & Commentary
'Yet also I lifted up my hand unto them in the wilderness, that I would not bring them into the land which I had given them, flowing with milk and honey, which is the glory of all lands.' God's oath in the wilderness: the rebellious generation wouldn't enter the promised land. The oath formula ('lifted up my hand') solemnizes the decree. The irony: the land 'flowing with milk and honey' which God 'had given them' was forfeited through unbelief. Unbelief disqualifies from receiving God's promised blessings.