Ezekiel Chapter 20 · Verse 5
And say unto them, Thus saith the Lord GOD; In the day when I chose Israel, and lifted up mine hand unto the seed of the house of Jacob, and made myself known unto them in the land of Egypt, when I lifted up mine hand unto them, saying, I am the LORD your God;
Original Language Analysis
כֹּֽה
H3541
כֹּֽה
Strong's:
H3541
Word #:
3 of 25
properly, like this, i.e., by implication, (of manner) thus (or so); also (of place) here (or hither); or (of time) now
בְּיוֹם֙
In the day
H3117
בְּיוֹם֙
In the day
Strong's:
H3117
Word #:
7 of 25
a day (as the warm hours), whether literal (from sunrise to sunset, or from one sunset to the next), or figurative (a space of time defined by an asso
בָּחֳרִ֣י
when I chose
H977
בָּחֳרִ֣י
when I chose
Strong's:
H977
Word #:
8 of 25
properly, to try, i.e., (by implication) select
בְיִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל
Israel
H3478
בְיִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל
Israel
Strong's:
H3478
Word #:
9 of 25
he will rule as god; jisral, a symbolical name of jacob; also (typically) of his posterity
וָאֶשָּׂ֨א
and lifted up
H5375
וָאֶשָּׂ֨א
and lifted up
Strong's:
H5375
Word #:
10 of 25
to lift, in a great variety of applications, literal and figurative, absolute and relative
יָדִ֤י
mine hand
H3027
יָדִ֤י
mine hand
Strong's:
H3027
Word #:
11 of 25
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
לְזֶ֙רַע֙
unto the seed
H2233
לְזֶ֙רַע֙
unto the seed
Strong's:
H2233
Word #:
12 of 25
seed; figuratively, fruit, plant, sowing-time, posterity
בֵּ֣ית
of the house
H1004
בֵּ֣ית
of the house
Strong's:
H1004
Word #:
13 of 25
a house (in the greatest variation of applications, especially family, etc.)
וָאִוָּדַ֥ע
and made myself known
H3045
וָאִוָּדַ֥ע
and made myself known
Strong's:
H3045
Word #:
15 of 25
to know (properly, to ascertain by seeing); used in a great variety of senses, figuratively, literally, euphemistically and inferentially (including o
בְּאֶ֣רֶץ
unto them in the land
H776
בְּאֶ֣רֶץ
unto them in the land
Strong's:
H776
Word #:
17 of 25
the earth (at large, or partitively a land)
וָאֶשָּׂ֨א
and lifted up
H5375
וָאֶשָּׂ֨א
and lifted up
Strong's:
H5375
Word #:
19 of 25
to lift, in a great variety of applications, literal and figurative, absolute and relative
יָדִ֤י
mine hand
H3027
יָדִ֤י
mine hand
Strong's:
H3027
Word #:
20 of 25
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
Cross References
Exodus 4:31And the people believed: and when they heard that the LORD had visited the children of Israel, and that he had looked upon their affliction, then they bowed their heads and worshipped.Exodus 3:8And I am come down to deliver them out of the hand of the Egyptians, and to bring them up out of that land unto a good land and a large, unto a land flowing with milk and honey; unto the place of the Canaanites, and the Hittites, and the Amorites, and the Perizzites, and the Hivites, and the Jebusites.Genesis 14:22And Abram said to the king of Sodom, I have lift up mine hand unto the LORD, the most high God, the possessor of heaven and earth,Deuteronomy 7:6For thou art an holy people unto the LORD thy God: the LORD thy God hath chosen thee to be a special people unto himself, above all people that are upon the face of the earth.Ezekiel 20:15Yet 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;Ezekiel 47:14And ye shall inherit it, one as well as another: concerning the which I lifted up mine hand to give it unto your fathers: and this land shall fall unto you for inheritance.Ezekiel 20:23I lifted up mine hand unto them also in the wilderness, that I would scatter them among the heathen, and disperse them through the countries;
Historical Context
The Egyptian period (Genesis 46-Exodus 12) saw Israel grow from 70 to perhaps 2 million. God revealed Himself to Moses (Exodus 3-4) and performed signs, demonstrating His power over Egyptian gods. The Passover and exodus demonstrated covenant faithfulness to Abraham's descendants.
Questions for Reflection
- How does remembering God's initiative in salvation prevent pride?
- What does God's self-revelation in Egypt teach about His character and covenant faithfulness?
Analysis & Commentary
'And say unto them, Thus saith the Lord GOD; In the day when I chose Israel, and lifted up mine hand unto the seed of the house of Jacob, and made myself known unto them in the land of Egypt, when I lifted up mine hand unto them, saying, I am the LORD your God.' This begins the historical review. God 'chose' (bachar) Israel—divine election, not human merit. 'Lifted up mine hand' signifies oath-taking. God's self-revelation in Egypt ('made myself known') and covenant formula ('I am the LORD your God') established relationship. Grace initiated the covenant.