Ezekiel 20:16 — Meaning and Application

King James Version

“Because they despised my judgments, and walked not in my statutes, but polluted my sabbaths: for their heart went after their idols.”

Ezekiel 20:16

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Understanding the surrounding verses prevents misinterpretation:

But I wrought for my name's sake, that it should not be polluted before the heathen, in whose sight I brought them out.

Yet 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;

Because they despised my judgments, and walked not in my statutes, but polluted my sabbaths: for their heart went after their idols.

Nevertheless mine eye spared them from destroying them, neither did I make an end of them in the wilderness.

But I said unto their children in the wilderness, Walk ye not in the statutes of your fathers, neither observe their judgments, nor defile yourselves with their idols:

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Ezekiel 20:1

"And it came to pass in the seventh year, in the fifth {month}, the tenth {day} of the month, {that} certain of the elders of Israel came to enquire of the LORD, and sat before me."

Ezekiel 20:2

"Then came the word of the LORD unto me, saying,"

Ezekiel 20:3

"Son of man, speak unto the elders of Israel, and say unto them, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Are ye come to enquire of me? {As} I live, saith the Lord GOD, I will not be enquired of by you."

Ezekiel 20:4

"Wilt thou judge them, son of man, wilt thou judge {them}? cause them to know the abominations of their fathers: {Wilt...: or, Wilt thou plead for them}"

Ezekiel 20:5

"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; {lifted...: or, sware}"

Ezekiel 20:6

"In the day {that} I lifted up mine hand unto them, to bring them forth of the land of Egypt into a land that I had espied for them, flowing with milk and honey, which {is} the glory of all lands:"

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