Ezekiel 20:9

Authorized King James Version

But I wrought for my name's sake, that it should not be polluted before the heathen, among whom they were, in whose sight I made myself known unto them, in bringing them forth out of the land of Egypt.

Word-by-Word Analysis
#1
וָאַ֙עַשׂ֙
But I wrought
to do or make, in the broadest sense and widest application
#2
לְמַ֣עַן
properly, heed, i.e., purpose; used only adverbially, on account of (as a motive or an aim), teleologically, in order that
#3
שְׁמִ֔י
for my name's
an appellation, as a mark or memorial of individuality; by implication honor, authority, character
#4
לְבִלְתִּ֥י
properly, a failure of, i.e., (used only as a negative particle, usually with a prepositional prefix) not, except, without, unless, besides, because n
#5
הֵחֵ֛ל
sake that it should not be polluted
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
#6
לְעֵ֣ינֵיהֶ֔ם
before
an eye (literally or figuratively); by analogy, a fountain (as the eye of the landscape)
#7
הַגּוֹיִ֖ם
the heathen
a foreign nation; hence, a gentile; also (figuratively) a troop of animals, or a flight of locusts
#8
אֲשֶׁר
who, which, what, that; also (as an adverb and a conjunction) when, where, how, because, in order that, etc
#9
הֵ֣מָּה
they (only used when emphatic)
#10
בְתוֹכָ֑ם
among
a bisection, i.e., (by implication) the center
#11
אֲשֶׁ֨ר
who, which, what, that; also (as an adverb and a conjunction) when, where, how, because, in order that, etc
#12
נוֹדַ֤עְתִּי
I made myself known
to know (properly, to ascertain by seeing); used in a great variety of senses, figuratively, literally, euphemistically and inferentially (including o
#13
אֲלֵיהֶם֙
near, with or among; often in general, to
#14
לְעֵ֣ינֵיהֶ֔ם
before
an eye (literally or figuratively); by analogy, a fountain (as the eye of the landscape)
#15
לְהוֹצִיאָ֖ם
unto them in bringing them forth
to go (causatively, bring) out, in a great variety of applications, literally and figuratively, direct and proxim
#16
מֵאֶ֥רֶץ
out of the land
the earth (at large, or partitively a land)
#17
מִצְרָֽיִם׃
of Egypt
mitsrajim, i.e., upper and lower egypt

Analysis

The salvation theme here intersects with the metanarrative of redemption running from Genesis to Revelation. Biblical theology recognizes this as part of a unified storyline from the promise in Genesis 3:15 to its fulfillment in Christ. The phrase emphasizing divine revelation contributes to our systematic understanding of Christian doctrine and connects to the broader scriptural witness about God's saving work from the Exodus to the cross.

Historical Context

This passage must be understood within the political and social structures of the biblical period. The author writes to address believers seeking to understand God's will and purposes, making the emphasis on salvation particularly relevant. Historical documents from this period show cultural practices and social structures that would have been familiar to the original readers, illuminating the verse's original impact.

Questions for Reflection

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