Ezekiel 20:18
But I said unto their children in the wilderness, Walk ye not in the statutes of your fathers, neither observe their judgments, nor defile yourselves with their idols:
Original Language Analysis
בְּנֵיהֶם֙
unto their children
H1121
בְּנֵיהֶם֙
unto their children
Strong's:
H1121
Word #:
3 of 15
a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative relationship, including grandson, subject, nation, quality or
בַּמִּדְבָּ֔ר
in the wilderness
H4057
בַּמִּדְבָּ֔ר
in the wilderness
Strong's:
H4057
Word #:
4 of 15
a pasture (i.e., open field, whither cattle are driven); by implication, a desert
בְּחוּקֵּ֤י
ye not in the statutes
H2706
בְּחוּקֵּ֤י
ye not in the statutes
Strong's:
H2706
Word #:
5 of 15
an enactment; hence, an appointment (of time, space, quantity, labor or usage)
אֲבֽוֹתֵיכֶם֙
of your fathers
H1
אֲבֽוֹתֵיכֶם֙
of your fathers
Strong's:
H1
Word #:
6 of 15
father, in a literal and immediate, or figurative and remote application
אַל
H408
אַל
Strong's:
H408
Word #:
7 of 15
not (the qualified negation, used as a deprecative); once (job 24:25) as a noun, nothing
תֵּלֵ֔כוּ
H1980
תֵּלֵ֔כוּ
Strong's:
H1980
Word #:
8 of 15
to walk (in a great variety of applications, literally and figuratively)
וְאֶת
H853
וְאֶת
Strong's:
H853
Word #:
9 of 15
properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)
מִשְׁפְּטֵיהֶ֖ם
their judgments
H4941
מִשְׁפְּטֵיהֶ֖ם
their judgments
Strong's:
H4941
Word #:
10 of 15
properly, a verdict (favorable or unfavorable) pronounced judicially, especially a sentence or formal decree (human or (participant's) divine law, ind
אַל
H408
אַל
Strong's:
H408
Word #:
11 of 15
not (the qualified negation, used as a deprecative); once (job 24:25) as a noun, nothing
תִּשְׁמֹ֑רוּ
neither observe
H8104
תִּשְׁמֹ֑רוּ
neither observe
Strong's:
H8104
Word #:
12 of 15
properly, to hedge about (as with thorns), i.e., guard; generally, to protect, attend to, etc
וּבְגִלּוּלֵיהֶ֖ם
yourselves with their idols
H1544
וּבְגִלּוּלֵיהֶ֖ם
yourselves with their idols
Strong's:
H1544
Word #:
13 of 15
properly, a log (as round); by implication, an idol
Cross References
Ezekiel 20:7Then said I unto them, Cast ye away every man the abominations of his eyes, and defile not yourselves with the idols of Egypt: I am the LORD your God.1 Peter 1:18Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers;
Historical Context
The wilderness generation's children (ages 0-20 at the exodus, Numbers 14:29) became the conquest generation. They witnessed their parents' rebellion and judgment, providing negative examples. Joshua and Caleb modeled faithful alternatives. Deuteronomy addresses this second generation, calling them to covenant faithfulness their parents rejected.
Questions for Reflection
- How do we break negative generational patterns while honoring our parents?
- What responsibility do we bear to teach the next generation from both positive and negative examples?
Related Resources
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Analysis & Commentary
'But I said unto their children in the wilderness, Walk ye not in the statutes of your fathers, neither observe their judgments, nor defile yourselves with their idols.' God's command to the next generation: don't follow your parents' rebellion. 'Walk ye not in the statutes of your fathers' requires breaking generational patterns. Each generation faces its own choice—repeat ancestral rebellion or pursue covenant faithfulness. This connects to Ezekiel 18's emphasis on individual responsibility.