Ezekiel 20:24

Authorized King James Version

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Because they had not executed my judgments, but had despised my statutes, and had polluted my sabbaths, and their eyes were after their fathers' idols.

Original Language Analysis

יַ֜עַן H3282
יַ֜עַן
Strong's: H3282
Word #: 1 of 14
properly, heed; by implication, purpose (sake or account); used adverbially to indicate the reason or cause
מִשְׁפָּטַ֤י my judgments H4941
מִשְׁפָּטַ֤י my judgments
Strong's: H4941
Word #: 2 of 14
properly, a verdict (favorable or unfavorable) pronounced judicially, especially a sentence or formal decree (human or (participant's) divine law, ind
לֹֽא H3808
לֹֽא
Strong's: H3808
Word #: 3 of 14
not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no; often used with other particles
עָשׂוּ֙ Because they had not executed H6213
עָשׂוּ֙ Because they had not executed
Strong's: H6213
Word #: 4 of 14
to do or make, in the broadest sense and widest application
וְחֻקּוֹתַ֣י my statutes H2708
וְחֻקּוֹתַ֣י my statutes
Strong's: H2708
Word #: 5 of 14
a statute
מָאָ֔סוּ but had despised H3988
מָאָ֔סוּ but had despised
Strong's: H3988
Word #: 6 of 14
to spurn; also (intransitively) to disappear
וְאֶת H853
וְאֶת
Strong's: H853
Word #: 7 of 14
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 #: 8 of 14
intermission, i.e (specifically) the sabbath
חִלֵּ֑לוּ and had polluted H2490
חִלֵּ֑לוּ and had polluted
Strong's: H2490
Word #: 9 of 14
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
וְאַחֲרֵי֙ were after H310
וְאַחֲרֵי֙ were after
Strong's: H310
Word #: 10 of 14
properly, the hind part; generally used as an adverb or conjunction, after (in various senses)
גִּלּוּלֵ֣י idols H1544
גִּלּוּלֵ֣י idols
Strong's: H1544
Word #: 11 of 14
properly, a log (as round); by implication, an idol
אֲבוֹתָ֔ם their fathers H1
אֲבוֹתָ֔ם their fathers
Strong's: H1
Word #: 12 of 14
father, in a literal and immediate, or figurative and remote application
הָי֖וּ H1961
הָי֖וּ
Strong's: H1961
Word #: 13 of 14
to exist, i.e., be or become, come to pass (always emphatic, and not a mere copula or auxiliary)
עֵינֵיהֶֽם׃ and their eyes H5869
עֵינֵיהֶֽם׃ and their eyes
Strong's: H5869
Word #: 14 of 14
an eye (literally or figuratively); by analogy, a fountain (as the eye of the landscape)

Analysis & Commentary

'Because they had not executed my judgments, but had despised my statutes, and had polluted my sabbaths, and their eyes were after their fathers' idols.' The cause of exile reiterated: despising law, polluting Sabbaths, following ancestral idols. 'Their eyes were after their fathers' idols' shows they repeated rather than learned from previous generations' errors. Generational unfaithfulness compounds when each generation follows predecessors' bad examples.

Historical Context

The Deuteronomistic History (Joshua-2 Kings) documents how each generation often 'did evil in the sight of the LORD' like their fathers. The northern kingdom's persistent Jeroboam-instituted calf worship (1 Kings 12:25-33) and Judah's recurring high place worship demonstrate stubborn pattern-following despite prophetic warnings.

Questions for Reflection

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