Ezekiel 20:38
And I will purge out from among you the rebels, and them that transgress against me: I will bring them forth out of the country where they sojourn, and they shall not enter into the land of Israel: and ye shall know that I am the LORD.
Original Language Analysis
וּבָרוֹתִ֣י
And I will purge out
H1305
וּבָרוֹתִ֣י
And I will purge out
Strong's:
H1305
Word #:
1 of 18
to clarify (i.e., brighten), examine, select
מִכֶּ֗ם
H4480
מִכֶּ֗ם
Strong's:
H4480
Word #:
2 of 18
properly, a part of; hence (prepositionally), from or out of in many senses
וְהַפּֽוֹשְׁעִים֙
and them that transgress
H6586
וְהַפּֽוֹשְׁעִים֙
and them that transgress
Strong's:
H6586
Word #:
4 of 18
to break away (from just authority), i.e., trespass, apostatize, quarrel
מֵאֶ֤רֶץ
out of the country
H776
מֵאֶ֤רֶץ
out of the country
Strong's:
H776
Word #:
6 of 18
the earth (at large, or partitively a land)
מְגֽוּרֵיהֶם֙
where they sojourn
H4033
מְגֽוּרֵיהֶם֙
where they sojourn
Strong's:
H4033
Word #:
7 of 18
a temporary abode; by extension, a permanent residence
אוֹצִ֣יא
against me I will bring them forth
H3318
אוֹצִ֣יא
against me I will bring them forth
Strong's:
H3318
Word #:
8 of 18
to go (causatively, bring) out, in a great variety of applications, literally and figuratively, direct and proxim
אוֹתָ֔ם
H853
אוֹתָ֔ם
Strong's:
H853
Word #:
9 of 18
properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)
יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל
of Israel
H3478
יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל
of Israel
Strong's:
H3478
Word #:
12 of 18
he will rule as god; jisral, a symbolical name of jacob; also (typically) of his posterity
לֹ֣א
H3808
לֹ֣א
Strong's:
H3808
Word #:
13 of 18
not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no; often used with other particles
יָב֑וֹא
and they shall not enter
H935
יָב֑וֹא
and they shall not enter
Strong's:
H935
Word #:
14 of 18
to go or come (in a wide variety of applications)
וִֽידַעְתֶּ֖ם
and ye shall know
H3045
וִֽידַעְתֶּ֖ם
and ye shall know
Strong's:
H3045
Word #:
15 of 18
to know (properly, to ascertain by seeing); used in a great variety of senses, figuratively, literally, euphemistically and inferentially (including o
Cross References
Psalms 95:11Unto whom I sware in my wrath that they should not enter into my rest.Ezekiel 13:9And mine hand shall be upon the prophets that see vanity, and that divine lies: they shall not be in the assembly of my people, neither shall they be written in the writing of the house of Israel, neither shall they enter into the land of Israel; and ye shall know that I am the Lord GOD.Jeremiah 44:14So that none of the remnant of Judah, which are gone into the land of Egypt to sojourn there, shall escape or remain, that they should return into the land of Judah, to the which they have a desire to return to dwell there: for none shall return but such as shall escape.Ezekiel 6:7And the slain shall fall in the midst of you, and ye shall know that I am the LORD.Malachi 3:3And he shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver: and he shall purify the sons of Levi, and purge them as gold and silver, that they may offer unto the LORD an offering in righteousness.Psalms 9:16The LORD is known by the judgment which he executeth: the wicked is snared in the work of his own hands. Higgaion. Selah.Ezekiel 23:49And they shall recompense your lewdness upon you, and ye shall bear the sins of your idols: and ye shall know that I am the Lord GOD.Ezekiel 15:7And I will set my face against them; they shall go out from one fire, and another fire shall devour them; and ye shall know that I am the LORD, when I set my face against them.Ezekiel 11:21But as for them whose heart walketh after the heart of their detestable things and their abominations, I will recompense their way upon their own heads, saith the Lord GOD.
Historical Context
Not all exiles returned—some remained in Babylon, some assimilated into pagan culture. The return required faith and commitment. In eschatological fulfillment, not all ethnic Israel is saved, only the remnant according to election (Romans 9:6-8, 11:1-5). Salvation is through faith, not ethnicity.
Questions for Reflection
- How does God's purging of rebels demonstrate that covenant blessing requires faith, not mere ethnicity?
- What does the faithful remnant theme teach about God's preservation of His people?
Related Resources
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Analysis & Commentary
'And I will purge out from among you the rebels, and them that transgress against me: I will bring them forth out of the country where they sojourn, and they shall not enter into the land of Israel: and ye shall know that I am the LORD.' God promises to purge rebels, preventing unrepentant idolaters from entering restored Israel. As the wilderness generation perished before entering the promised land, unrepentant exiles won't experience restoration. This establishes that restoration is for the faithful remnant, not automatic for all ethnic Israel.