Ezekiel 8:3
And he put forth the form of an hand, and took me by a lock of mine head; and the spirit lifted me up between the earth and the heaven, and brought me in the visions of God to Jerusalem, to the door of the inner gate that looketh toward the north; where was the seat of the image of jealousy, which provoketh to jealousy.
Original Language Analysis
וַיִּשְׁלַח֙
And he put forth
H7971
וַיִּשְׁלַח֙
And he put forth
Strong's:
H7971
Word #:
1 of 30
to send away, for, or out (in a great variety of applications)
יָ֔ד
of an hand
H3027
יָ֔ד
of an hand
Strong's:
H3027
Word #:
3 of 30
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
וַיִּקָּחֵ֖נִי
and took
H3947
וַיִּקָּחֵ֖נִי
and took
Strong's:
H3947
Word #:
4 of 30
to take (in the widest variety of applications)
בְּצִיצִ֣ת
me by a lock
H6734
בְּצִיצִ֣ת
me by a lock
Strong's:
H6734
Word #:
5 of 30
a floral or wing-like projection, i.e., a forelock of hair, a tassel
רֹאשִׁ֑י
of mine head
H7218
רֹאשִׁ֑י
of mine head
Strong's:
H7218
Word #:
6 of 30
the head (as most easily shaken), whether literal or figurative (in many applications, of place, time, rank, itc.)
וַתִּשָּׂ֣א
lifted me up
H5375
וַתִּשָּׂ֣א
lifted me up
Strong's:
H5375
Word #:
7 of 30
to lift, in a great variety of applications, literal and figurative, absolute and relative
אֹתִ֣י
H853
אֹתִ֣י
Strong's:
H853
Word #:
8 of 30
properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)
ר֣וּחַ׀
and the spirit
H7307
ר֣וּחַ׀
and the spirit
Strong's:
H7307
Word #:
9 of 30
wind; by resemblance breath, i.e., a sensible (or even violent) exhalation; figuratively, life, anger, unsubstantiality; by extension, a region of the
בֵּֽין
H996
בֵּֽין
Strong's:
H996
Word #:
10 of 30
between (repeated before each noun, often with other particles); also as a conjunction, either...or
הָאָ֣רֶץ
between the earth
H776
הָאָ֣רֶץ
between the earth
Strong's:
H776
Word #:
11 of 30
the earth (at large, or partitively a land)
וּבֵ֣ין
H996
וּבֵ֣ין
Strong's:
H996
Word #:
12 of 30
between (repeated before each noun, often with other particles); also as a conjunction, either...or
הַשָּׁמַ֡יִם
and the heaven
H8064
הַשָּׁמַ֡יִם
and the heaven
Strong's:
H8064
Word #:
13 of 30
the sky (as aloft; the dual perhaps alluding to the visible arch in which the clouds move, as well as to the higher ether where the celestial bodies r
וַתָּבֵא֩
and brought
H935
וַתָּבֵא֩
and brought
Strong's:
H935
Word #:
14 of 30
to go or come (in a wide variety of applications)
אֹתִ֨י
H853
אֹתִ֨י
Strong's:
H853
Word #:
15 of 30
properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)
יְרוּשָׁלְַ֜מָה
to Jerusalem
H3389
יְרוּשָׁלְַ֜מָה
to Jerusalem
Strong's:
H3389
Word #:
16 of 30
jerushalaim or jerushalem, the capital city of palestine
אֱלֹהִ֗ים
of God
H430
אֱלֹהִ֗ים
of God
Strong's:
H430
Word #:
18 of 30
gods in the ordinary sense; but specifically used (in the plural thus, especially with the article) of the supreme god; occasionally applied by way of
פֶּ֜תַח
to the door
H6607
פֶּ֜תַח
to the door
Strong's:
H6607
Word #:
20 of 30
an opening (literally), i.e., door (gate) or entrance way
הַפּוֹנֶ֣ה
that looketh
H6437
הַפּוֹנֶ֣ה
that looketh
Strong's:
H6437
Word #:
23 of 30
to turn; by implication, to face, i.e., appear, look, etc
צָפ֔וֹנָה
toward the north
H6828
צָפ֔וֹנָה
toward the north
Strong's:
H6828
Word #:
24 of 30
properly, hidden, i.e., dark; used only of the north as a quarter (gloomy and unknown)
אֲשֶׁר
H834
אֲשֶׁר
Strong's:
H834
Word #:
25 of 30
who, which, what, that; also (as an adverb and a conjunction) when, where, how, because, in order that, etc
שָׁ֣ם
H8033
מוֹשַׁ֔ב
where was the seat
H4186
מוֹשַׁ֔ב
where was the seat
Strong's:
H4186
Word #:
27 of 30
a seat; figuratively, a site; abstractly, a session; by extension an abode (the place or the time); by implication, population
Cross References
Deuteronomy 32:16They provoked him to jealousy with strange gods, with abominations provoked they him to anger.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.Ezekiel 5:11Wherefore, as I live, saith the Lord GOD; Surely, because thou hast defiled my sanctuary with all thy detestable things, and with all thine abominations, therefore will I also diminish thee; neither shall mine eye spare, neither will I have any pity.Exodus 20:5Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the LORD thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me;Deuteronomy 32:21They have moved me to jealousy with that which is not God; they have provoked me to anger with their vanities: and I will move them to jealousy with those which are not a people; I will provoke them to anger with a foolish nation.Deuteronomy 6:15(For the LORD thy God is a jealous God among you) lest the anger of the LORD thy God be kindled against thee, and destroy thee from off the face of the earth.Deuteronomy 5:9Thou shalt not bow down thyself unto them, nor serve them: for I the LORD thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me,Deuteronomy 4:24For the LORD thy God is a consuming fire, even a jealous God.Ezekiel 2:9And when I looked, behold, an hand was sent unto me; and, lo, a roll of a book was therein;Ezekiel 11:24Afterwards the spirit took me up, and brought me in a vision by the Spirit of God into Chaldea, to them of the captivity. So the vision that I had seen went up from me.
Historical Context
King Manasseh had earlier placed an Asherah idol in the temple (2 Kings 21:7), which Josiah removed during his reforms (2 Kings 23:6). However, after Josiah's death, idolatry resurged under Jehoiakim and Zedekiah. Archaeological evidence confirms widespread Asherah worship in Israel and Judah, with inscriptions mentioning 'Yahweh and his Asherah.' This syncretism attempted to merge Canaanite fertility religion with Yahwism—a grotesque corruption of monotheistic covenant faith. For exiles in Babylon (where Ezekiel received this vision in 592 BC), this revelation explained Jerusalem's impending destruction. The temple's sanctity had been violated beyond remedy, necessitating divine judgment.
Questions for Reflection
- What 'idols of jealousy' compete for God's exclusive place in your heart and worship?
- How does understanding God's covenant jealousy deepen your appreciation for His passionate love?
Related Resources
Explore related topics, people, and study resources to deepen your understanding of this passage.
Analysis & Commentary
The Spirit transports Ezekiel in vision to Jerusalem's temple, where he sees 'the image of jealousy, which provoketh to jealousy' (semel haqinah hamaqneh, סֵמֶל הַקִּנְאָה הַמַּקְנֶה). This idol, likely representing Asherah (the Canaanite fertility goddess), was placed at the northern entrance to the inner court—directly facing the temple's holy place. The term 'jealousy' (qinah, קִנְאָה) reflects God's covenant exclusivity (Exodus 20:5, 34:14, Deuteronomy 4:24). Just as marital unfaithfulness provokes jealousy in a faithful spouse, idolatry provokes God's righteous jealousy. The idol's location—in the temple itself—makes the offense particularly egregious. This wasn't private household idolatry but public, official desecration of God's dwelling place. The vision reveals why God's glory must depart and judgment must come—His holy presence cannot coexist with idolatrous abomination.