Ezekiel 20:21
Notwithstanding 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.
Original Language Analysis
וַיַּמְרוּ
rebelled
H4784
וַיַּמְרוּ
rebelled
Strong's:
H4784
Word #:
1 of 29
to be (causatively, make) bitter (or unpleasant); (figuratively) to rebel (or resist; causatively, to provoke)
הַבָּנִ֗ים
Notwithstanding the children
H1121
הַבָּנִ֗ים
Notwithstanding the children
Strong's:
H1121
Word #:
3 of 29
a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative relationship, including grandson, subject, nation, quality or
לֹֽא
H3808
לֹֽא
Strong's:
H3808
Word #:
5 of 29
not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no; often used with other particles
הָ֠לָכוּ
against me they walked
H1980
הָ֠לָכוּ
against me they walked
Strong's:
H1980
Word #:
6 of 29
to walk (in a great variety of applications, literally and figuratively)
וְאֶת
H853
וְאֶת
Strong's:
H853
Word #:
7 of 29
properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)
מִשְׁפָּטַ֨י
my judgments
H4941
מִשְׁפָּטַ֨י
my judgments
Strong's:
H4941
Word #:
8 of 29
properly, a verdict (favorable or unfavorable) pronounced judicially, especially a sentence or formal decree (human or (participant's) divine law, ind
לֹא
H3808
לֹא
Strong's:
H3808
Word #:
9 of 29
not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no; often used with other particles
שָׁמְר֜וּ
neither kept
H8104
שָׁמְר֜וּ
neither kept
Strong's:
H8104
Word #:
10 of 29
properly, to hedge about (as with thorns), i.e., guard; generally, to protect, attend to, etc
יַעֲשֶׂ֨ה
do
H6213
יַעֲשֶׂ֨ה
do
Strong's:
H6213
Word #:
11 of 29
to do or make, in the broadest sense and widest application
אוֹתָ֗ם
H853
אוֹתָ֗ם
Strong's:
H853
Word #:
12 of 29
properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)
אֲשֶׁר֩
H834
אֲשֶׁר֩
Strong's:
H834
Word #:
13 of 29
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 #:
14 of 29
to do or make, in the broadest sense and widest application
אוֹתָ֤ם
H853
אוֹתָ֤ם
Strong's:
H853
Word #:
15 of 29
properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)
הָֽאָדָם֙
them which if a man
H120
הָֽאָדָם֙
them which if a man
Strong's:
H120
Word #:
16 of 29
ruddy i.e., a human being (an individual or the species, mankind, etc.)
אֶת
H853
אֶת
Strong's:
H853
Word #:
19 of 29
properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)
שַׁבְּתוֹתַ֖י
my sabbaths
H7676
שַׁבְּתוֹתַ֖י
my sabbaths
Strong's:
H7676
Word #:
20 of 29
intermission, i.e (specifically) the sabbath
חִלֵּ֑לוּ
in them they polluted
H2490
חִלֵּ֑לוּ
in them they polluted
Strong's:
H2490
Word #:
21 of 29
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
לִשְׁפֹּ֧ךְ
I would pour out
H8210
לִשְׁפֹּ֧ךְ
I would pour out
Strong's:
H8210
Word #:
23 of 29
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
חֲמָתִ֣י
my fury
H2534
חֲמָתִ֣י
my fury
Strong's:
H2534
Word #:
24 of 29
heat; figuratively, anger, poison (from its fever)
עֲלֵיהֶ֗ם
H5921
עֲלֵיהֶ֗ם
Strong's:
H5921
Word #:
25 of 29
above, over, upon, or against (yet always in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great variety of applications
לְכַלּ֥וֹת
upon them to accomplish
H3615
לְכַלּ֥וֹת
upon them to accomplish
Strong's:
H3615
Word #:
26 of 29
to end, whether intransitive (to cease, be finished, perish) or transitive (to complete, prepare, consume)
Cross References
Ezekiel 20:13But 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.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.Numbers 21:5And the people spake against God, and against Moses, Wherefore have ye brought us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness? for there is no bread, neither is there any water; and our soul loatheth this light bread.Deuteronomy 31:27For I know thy rebellion, and thy stiff neck: behold, while I am yet alive with you this day, ye have been rebellious against the LORD; and how much more after my death?
Historical Context
Even the conquest generation showed periodic rebellion (Achan's sin, compromise with Canaanites). The book of Judges documents the cyclical pattern: sin, oppression, crying out, deliverance, and return to sin. Human nature requires divine intervention for lasting transformation.
Questions for Reflection
- Why do we repeat patterns of rebellion despite knowing the consequences?
- How does recognizing our inability to maintain faithfulness drive us to dependence on God's transforming grace?
Related Resources
Explore related topics, people, and study resources to deepen your understanding of this passage.
Analysis & Commentary
'Notwithstanding 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.' Tragic repetition: the second generation also rebelled. Same sins (despising statutes, polluting Sabbaths), same divine response (fury ready to pour out). The pattern repeats, demonstrating human depravity and need for heart transformation (anticipated in Ezekiel 36:26-27).