Ezekiel 20:8
But 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.
Original Language Analysis
וַיַּמְרוּ
But they rebelled
H4784
וַיַּמְרוּ
But they rebelled
Strong's:
H4784
Word #:
1 of 27
to be (causatively, make) bitter (or unpleasant); (figuratively) to rebel (or resist; causatively, to provoke)
וְלֹ֤א
H3808
וְלֹ֤א
Strong's:
H3808
Word #:
3 of 27
not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no; often used with other particles
אָבוּ֙
against me and would
H14
אָבוּ֙
against me and would
Strong's:
H14
Word #:
4 of 27
to breathe after, i.e., (figuratively) to be acquiescent
לִּשְׁמֹ֣עַ
not hearken
H8085
לִּשְׁמֹ֣עַ
not hearken
Strong's:
H8085
Word #:
5 of 27
to hear intelligently (often with implication of attention, obedience, etc.; causatively, to tell, etc.)
אִ֣ישׁ
unto me they did not every man
H376
אִ֣ישׁ
unto me they did not every man
Strong's:
H376
Word #:
7 of 27
a man as an individual or a male person; often used as an adjunct to a more definite term (and in such cases frequently not expressed in translation)
אֶת
H853
אֶת
Strong's:
H853
Word #:
8 of 27
properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)
שִׁקּוּצֵ֤י
the abominations
H8251
שִׁקּוּצֵ֤י
the abominations
Strong's:
H8251
Word #:
9 of 27
disgusting, i.e., filthy; especially idolatrous or (concretely) an idol
עֵֽינֵיהֶם֙
of their eyes
H5869
עֵֽינֵיהֶם֙
of their eyes
Strong's:
H5869
Word #:
10 of 27
an eye (literally or figuratively); by analogy, a fountain (as the eye of the landscape)
לֹ֣א
H3808
לֹ֣א
Strong's:
H3808
Word #:
11 of 27
not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no; often used with other particles
הִשְׁלִ֔יכוּ
cast away
H7993
הִשְׁלִ֔יכוּ
cast away
Strong's:
H7993
Word #:
12 of 27
to throw out, down or away (literally or figuratively)
וְאֶת
H853
וְאֶת
Strong's:
H853
Word #:
13 of 27
properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)
גִּלּוּלֵ֥י
the idols
H1544
גִּלּוּלֵ֥י
the idols
Strong's:
H1544
Word #:
14 of 27
properly, a log (as round); by implication, an idol
לֹ֣א
H3808
לֹ֣א
Strong's:
H3808
Word #:
16 of 27
not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no; often used with other particles
עָזָ֑בוּ
neither did they forsake
H5800
עָזָ֑בוּ
neither did they forsake
Strong's:
H5800
Word #:
17 of 27
to loosen, i.e., relinquish, permit, etc
לִשְׁפֹּ֧ךְ
I will pour out
H8210
לִשְׁפֹּ֧ךְ
I will pour out
Strong's:
H8210
Word #:
19 of 27
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 #:
20 of 27
heat; figuratively, anger, poison (from its fever)
עֲלֵיהֶ֗ם
H5921
עֲלֵיהֶ֗ם
Strong's:
H5921
Word #:
21 of 27
above, over, upon, or against (yet always in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great variety of applications
לְכַלּ֤וֹת
upon them to accomplish
H3615
לְכַלּ֤וֹת
upon them to accomplish
Strong's:
H3615
Word #:
22 of 27
to end, whether intransitive (to cease, be finished, perish) or transitive (to complete, prepare, consume)
אַפִּי֙
my anger
H639
אַפִּי֙
my anger
Strong's:
H639
Word #:
23 of 27
properly, the nose or nostril; hence, the face, and occasionally a person; also (from the rapid breathing in passion) ire
בְּת֖וֹךְ
against them in the midst
H8432
בְּת֖וֹךְ
against them in the midst
Strong's:
H8432
Word #:
25 of 27
a bisection, i.e., (by implication) the center
Cross References
Isaiah 63:10But they rebelled, and vexed his holy Spirit: therefore he was turned to be their enemy, and he fought against them.Ezekiel 5:13Thus shall mine anger be accomplished, and I will cause my fury to rest upon them, and I will be comforted: and they shall know that I the LORD have spoken it in my zeal, when I have accomplished my fury in them.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.Ezekiel 7:8Now will I shortly pour out my fury upon thee, and accomplish mine anger upon thee: and I will judge thee according to thy ways, and will recompense thee for all thine abominations.Ezekiel 20:21Notwithstanding 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.Deuteronomy 9:7Remember, and forget not, how thou provokedst the LORD thy God to wrath in the wilderness: from the day that thou didst depart out of the land of Egypt, until ye came unto this place, ye have been rebellious against the LORD.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.
Historical Context
Israel's wilderness rebellion (Exodus 32, Numbers 14) demonstrated persistent unfaithfulness despite extraordinary deliverance. Ezekiel's recounting (590 BC) showed the exiles that current judgment followed generational patterns. Archaeological evidence confirms widespread Egyptian religious influence in early Israel. The golden calf incident revealed Egyptian religious contamination persisting despite Red Sea crossing and Sinai theophany. The pattern warns that external deliverance without heart transformation produces temporary reformation at best. True conversion requires internal spiritual renewal.
Questions for Reflection
- What "abominations of the eyes" compete with wholehearted devotion to God?
- How does Israel's clinging to Egyptian idolatry despite miraculous deliverance illustrate human depravity?
Related Resources
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Analysis & Commentary
"But 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." Even after the Exodus, Israel clung to Egyptian idolatry. This reveals the depth of human corruption: miraculous deliverance doesn't automatically produce grateful obedience. The "abominations of their eyes" suggests idolatrous affections competing with worship of Yahweh. Freedom from physical bondage doesn't guarantee freedom from spiritual bondage. Only regeneration through the Spirit creates willing obedience from transformed hearts.