Ezekiel 8:16
And he brought me into the inner court of the LORD'S house, and, behold, at the door of the temple of the LORD, between the porch and the altar, were about five and twenty men, with their backs toward the temple of the LORD, and their faces toward the east; and they worshipped the sun toward the east.
Original Language Analysis
וַיָּבֵ֣א
And he brought
H935
וַיָּבֵ֣א
And he brought
Strong's:
H935
Word #:
1 of 28
to go or come (in a wide variety of applications)
אֹתִ֗י
H853
אֹתִ֗י
Strong's:
H853
Word #:
2 of 28
properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)
חֲצַ֣ר
court
H2691
חֲצַ֣ר
court
Strong's:
H2691
Word #:
4 of 28
a yard (as inclosed by a fence); also a hamlet (as similarly surrounded with walls)
בֵּית
house
H1004
בֵּית
house
Strong's:
H1004
Word #:
5 of 28
a house (in the greatest variation of applications, especially family, etc.)
יְהוָה֙
of the LORD
H3068
יְהוָה֙
of the LORD
Strong's:
H3068
Word #:
6 of 28
(the) self-existent or eternal; jeho-vah, jewish national name of god
פֶ֜תַח
and behold at the door
H6607
פֶ֜תַח
and behold at the door
Strong's:
H6607
Word #:
9 of 28
an opening (literally), i.e., door (gate) or entrance way
הֵיכַ֤ל
of the temple
H1964
הֵיכַ֤ל
of the temple
Strong's:
H1964
Word #:
10 of 28
a large public building, such as a palace or temple
יְהוָה֙
of the LORD
H3068
יְהוָה֙
of the LORD
Strong's:
H3068
Word #:
11 of 28
(the) self-existent or eternal; jeho-vah, jewish national name of god
בֵּ֤ין
H996
בֵּ֤ין
Strong's:
H996
Word #:
12 of 28
between (repeated before each noun, often with other particles); also as a conjunction, either...or
וּבֵ֣ין
H996
וּבֵ֣ין
Strong's:
H996
Word #:
14 of 28
between (repeated before each noun, often with other particles); also as a conjunction, either...or
אִ֑ישׁ
men
H376
אִ֑ישׁ
men
Strong's:
H376
Word #:
18 of 28
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)
אֲחֹ֨רֵיהֶ֜ם
with their backs
H268
אֲחֹ֨רֵיהֶ֜ם
with their backs
Strong's:
H268
Word #:
19 of 28
the hinder part; hence (adverb) behind, backward; also (as facing north) the west
הֵיכַ֤ל
of the temple
H1964
הֵיכַ֤ל
of the temple
Strong's:
H1964
Word #:
21 of 28
a large public building, such as a palace or temple
יְהוָה֙
of the LORD
H3068
יְהוָה֙
of the LORD
Strong's:
H3068
Word #:
22 of 28
(the) self-existent or eternal; jeho-vah, jewish national name of god
וּפְנֵיהֶ֣ם
and their faces
H6440
וּפְנֵיהֶ֣ם
and their faces
Strong's:
H6440
Word #:
23 of 28
the face (as the part that turns); used in a great variety of applications (literally and figuratively); also (with prepositional prefix) as a preposi
קֵ֖דְמָה
toward the east
H6924
קֵ֖דְמָה
toward the east
Strong's:
H6924
Word #:
24 of 28
the front, of place (absolutely, the fore part, relatively the east) or time (antiquity); often used adverbially (before, anciently, eastward)
מִשְׁתַּחֲוִיתֶ֥ם
and they worshipped
H7812
מִשְׁתַּחֲוִיתֶ֥ם
and they worshipped
Strong's:
H7812
Word #:
26 of 28
to depress, i.e., prostrate (especially reflexive, in homage to royalty or god)
Cross References
Deuteronomy 4:19And lest thou lift up thine eyes unto heaven, and when thou seest the sun, and the moon, and the stars, even all the host of heaven, shouldest be driven to worship them, and serve them, which the LORD thy God hath divided unto all nations under the whole heaven.Jeremiah 32:33And they have turned unto me the back, and not the face: though I taught them, rising up early and teaching them, yet they have not hearkened to receive instruction.Deuteronomy 17:3And hath gone and served other gods, and worshipped them, either the sun, or moon, or any of the host of heaven, which I have not commanded;Jeremiah 2:27Saying to a stock, Thou art my father; and to a stone, Thou hast brought me forth: for they have turned their back unto me, and not their face: but in the time of their trouble they will say, Arise, and save us.Ezekiel 11:1Moreover the spirit lifted me up, and brought me unto the east gate of the LORD'S house, which looketh eastward: and behold at the door of the gate five and twenty men; among whom I saw Jaazaniah the son of Azur, and Pelatiah the son of Benaiah, princes of the people.Joel 2:17Let the priests, the ministers of the LORD, weep between the porch and the altar, and let them say, Spare thy people, O LORD, and give not thine heritage to reproach, that the heathen should rule over them: wherefore should they say among the people, Where is their God?Ezekiel 43:5So the spirit took me up, and brought me into the inner court; and, behold, the glory of the LORD filled the house.Jeremiah 44:17But we will certainly do whatsoever thing goeth forth out of our own mouth, to burn incense unto the queen of heaven, and to pour out drink offerings unto her, as we have done, we, and our fathers, our kings, and our princes, in the cities of Judah, and in the streets of Jerusalem: for then had we plenty of victuals, and were well, and saw no evil.Ezekiel 10:3Now the cherubims stood on the right side of the house, when the man went in; and the cloud filled the inner court.Ezekiel 45:19And the priest shall take of the blood of the sin offering, and put it upon the posts of the house, and upon the four corners of the settle of the altar, and upon the posts of the gate of the inner court.
Historical Context
Sun worship was prominent throughout the ancient Near East, particularly in Egypt (Ra) and Babylon (Shamash). King Manasseh had introduced sun worship elements into Jerusalem (2 Kings 23:11), and despite Josiah's reforms, these practices resurged. The eastward orientation was significant—pagan temples faced east to greet the rising sun, while Solomon's temple faced east so the Holy of Holies faced west (1 Kings 6:1-8:11). By facing east to worship the sun, these priests symbolically rejected the God whose glory filled the westward Holy of Holies. Ezekiel sees this vision in 592 BC, four years before Jerusalem's destruction—God reveals that the city's doom is sealed because even the priesthood has abandoned Him.
Questions for Reflection
- In what ways do we turn our backs on God to pursue created things rather than the Creator?
- How does religious leadership's apostasy accelerate a culture's spiritual decline?
Related Resources
Explore related topics, people, and study resources to deepen your understanding of this passage.
Analysis & Commentary
The climax of temple abominations: twenty-five men (likely priests) stand between the temple porch and altar—the most sacred space where only priests could enter—with 'their backs toward the temple of the LORD, and their faces toward the east; and they worshipped the sun toward the east.' This sun worship represents total apostasy. These men literally turn their backs on God's dwelling to worship creation rather than Creator (Romans 1:25). The eastward orientation aligns with Babylonian and Egyptian solar cults. The number twenty-five may represent two shifts of twelve priests plus the high priest, indicating systematic priestly participation in idolatry. That priests—consecrated to serve Yahweh exclusively—lead in worshiping other gods makes this the most heinous abomination. The location compounds the offense: they defile the exact spot where they should be offering sacrifices to Yahweh.