CINXE.COM
Ezekiel 20 NKJV
<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><head><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8" /><meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1" /><title>Ezekiel 20 NKJV</title><link rel="stylesheet" href="/chapnew2.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="../spec.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="/print.css" type="text/css" media="Print" /></head><body><div id="fx"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx2"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="30" scrolling="no" src="../cmenus/ezekiel/20.htm" align="left" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div><div id="blnk"></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable"><tr><td><div id="fx5"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx6"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="245" scrolling="no" src="../topmenuchap/ezekiel/20-1.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></td></tr></table></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable3"><tr><td><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center" id="announce"><tr><td><div id="l1"><div id="breadcrumbs"><a href="http://biblehub.com">Bible</a> > <a href="../">NKJV</a> > Ezekiel 20</div><div id="anc"><iframe src="/anc.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></div><div id="anc2"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><iframe src="/anc2.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></div></td></tr></table><div id="movebox2"><table border="0" align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tr><td><div id="topheading"><a href="../ezekiel/19.htm" title="Ezekiel 19">◄</a> Ezekiel 20 <a href="../ezekiel/21.htm" title="Ezekiel 21">►</a></div></td></tr></table></div><div align="center" class="maintable2"><table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><div id="leftbox"><div class="padleft"><div class="vheading"><table width="100%"><tr><td width="99%" valign="top">New King James Version</td><td width="1%" valign="top"><a href="/p/nkjv/kjv/ezekiel/20.shtml" style=color:#001320 title=Parallel Chapters> Par ▾ </a></td></tr></table></div><div class="chap"> <h3>The Rebellions of Israel</span></h3><p class="chapter-2"><span class="text Ezek-20-1"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/ezekiel/20-1.htm"><b>1</b></a></span>It came to pass in the seventh year, in the fifth <i>month,</i> on the tenth <i>day</i> of the month, <i>that</i> certain of the elders of Israel came to inquire of the <span style="font-variant: small-caps" class="small-caps divine-name">Lord</span>, and sat before me. </span> <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/ezekiel/20-2.htm"><b>2</b></a></span>Then the word of the <span style="font-variant: small-caps" class="small-caps divine-name">Lord</span> came to me, saying, </span> <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/ezekiel/20-3.htm"><b>3</b></a></span>“Son of man, speak to the elders of Israel, and say to them, ‘Thus says the Lord <span style="font-variant: small-caps" class="small-caps divine-name">God</span>: “Have you come to inquire of Me? <i>As</i> I live,” says the Lord <span style="font-variant: small-caps" class="small-caps divine-name">God</span>, “I will not be inquired of by you.” ’ </span> <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/ezekiel/20-4.htm"><b>4</b></a></span>Will you judge them, son of man, will you judge <i>them?</i> Then make known to them the abominations of their fathers.</span></p> <p> <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/ezekiel/20-5.htm"><b>5</b></a></span>“Say to them, ‘Thus says the Lord <span style="font-variant: small-caps" class="small-caps divine-name">God</span>: “On the day when I chose Israel and raised My hand in an oath to the descendants of the house of Jacob, and made Myself known to them in the land of Egypt, I raised My hand in an oath to them, saying, ‘I <i>am</i> the <span style="font-variant: small-caps" class="small-caps divine-name">Lord</span> your God.’ </span> <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/ezekiel/20-6.htm"><b>6</b></a></span>On that day I raised My hand in an oath to them, to bring them out of the land of Egypt into a land that I had searched out for them, ‘flowing with milk and honey,’ the glory of all lands. </span> <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/ezekiel/20-7.htm"><b>7</b></a></span>Then I said to them, ‘Each of you, throw away the abominations which are before his eyes, and do not defile yourselves with the idols of Egypt. I <i>am</i> the <span style="font-variant: small-caps" class="small-caps divine-name">Lord</span> your God.’ </span> <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/ezekiel/20-8.htm"><b>8</b></a></span>But they rebelled against Me and would not <span class="fn"><a href="#footnotes">[a]</a></span>obey Me. They did not all cast away the abominations which were before their eyes, nor did they forsake the idols of Egypt. Then I said, ‘I will pour out My fury on them and fulfill My anger against them in the midst of the land of Egypt.’ </span> <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/ezekiel/20-9.htm"><b>9</b></a></span>But I acted for My name’s sake, that it should not be profaned before the Gentiles among whom they <i>were,</i> in whose sight I had made Myself known to them, to bring them out of the land of Egypt.</span></p> <p> <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/ezekiel/20-10.htm"><b>10</b></a></span>“Therefore I made them go out of the land of Egypt and brought them into the wilderness. </span> <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/ezekiel/20-11.htm"><b>11</b></a></span>And I gave them My statutes and <span class="fn"><a href="#footnotes">[b]</a></span>showed them My judgments, ‘which, <i>if</i> a man does, he shall live by them.’ </span> <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/ezekiel/20-12.htm"><b>12</b></a></span>Moreover I also gave them My Sabbaths, to be a sign between them and Me, that they might know that I <i>am</i> the <span style="font-variant: small-caps" class="small-caps divine-name">Lord</span> who sanctifies them. </span> <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/ezekiel/20-13.htm"><b>13</b></a></span>Yet the house of Israel rebelled against Me in the wilderness; they did not walk in My statutes; they despised My judgments, ‘which, <i>if</i> a man does, he shall live by them’; and they greatly defiled My Sabbaths. Then I said I would pour out My fury on them in the wilderness, to consume them. </span> <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/ezekiel/20-14.htm"><b>14</b></a></span>But I acted for My name’s sake, that it should not be profaned before the Gentiles, in whose sight I had brought them out. </span> <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/ezekiel/20-15.htm"><b>15</b></a></span>So I also raised My hand in an oath to them in the wilderness, that I would not bring them into the land which I had given <i>them,</i> ‘flowing with milk and honey,’ the glory of all lands, </span> <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/ezekiel/20-16.htm"><b>16</b></a></span>because they despised My judgments and did not walk in My statutes, but profaned My Sabbaths; for their heart went after their idols. </span> <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/ezekiel/20-17.htm"><b>17</b></a></span>Nevertheless My eye spared them from destruction. I did not make an end of them in the wilderness.</span></p> <p> <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/ezekiel/20-18.htm"><b>18</b></a></span>“But I said to their children in the wilderness, ‘Do not walk in the statutes of your fathers, nor observe their judgments, nor defile yourselves with their idols. </span> <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/ezekiel/20-19.htm"><b>19</b></a></span>I <i>am</i> the <span style="font-variant: small-caps" class="small-caps divine-name">Lord</span> your God: Walk in My statutes, keep My judgments, and do them; </span> <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/ezekiel/20-20.htm"><b>20</b></a></span>hallow My Sabbaths, and they will be a sign between Me and you, that you may know that I <i>am</i> the <span style="font-variant: small-caps" class="small-caps divine-name">Lord</span> your God.’</span></p> <p> <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/ezekiel/20-21.htm"><b>21</b></a></span>“Notwithstanding, the children rebelled against Me; they did not walk in My statutes, and were not careful to observe My judgments, ‘which, <i>if</i> a man does, he shall live by them’; but they profaned My Sabbaths. Then I said I would pour out My fury on them and fulfill My anger against them in the wilderness. </span> <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/ezekiel/20-22.htm"><b>22</b></a></span>Nevertheless I <span class="fn"><a href="#footnotes">[c]</a></span>withdrew My hand and acted for My name’s sake, that it should not be profaned in the sight of the Gentiles, in whose sight I had brought them out. </span> <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/ezekiel/20-23.htm"><b>23</b></a></span>Also I raised My hand in an oath to those in the wilderness, that I would scatter them among the Gentiles and disperse them throughout the countries, </span> <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/ezekiel/20-24.htm"><b>24</b></a></span>because they had not executed My judgments, but had despised My statutes, profaned My Sabbaths, and their eyes were fixed on their fathers’ idols.</span></p> <p> <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/ezekiel/20-25.htm"><b>25</b></a></span>“Therefore I also gave them up to statutes <i>that were</i> not good, and judgments by which they could not live; </span> <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/ezekiel/20-26.htm"><b>26</b></a></span>and I pronounced them unclean because of their ritual gifts, in that they caused all <span class="fn"><a href="#footnotes">[d]</a></span>their firstborn to pass through <i>the fire,</i> that I might make them desolate and that they might know that I am the <span style="font-variant: small-caps" class="small-caps divine-name">Lord</span>.” ’</span></p> <p> <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/ezekiel/20-27.htm"><b>27</b></a></span>“Therefore, son of man, speak to the house of Israel, and say to them, ‘Thus says the Lord <span style="font-variant: small-caps" class="small-caps divine-name">God</span>: “In this too your fathers have blasphemed Me, by being unfaithful to Me. </span> <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/ezekiel/20-28.htm"><b>28</b></a></span>When I brought them into the land <i>concerning</i> which I had raised My hand in an oath to give them, and they saw all the high hills and all the thick trees, there they offered their sacrifices and provoked Me with their offerings. There they also sent up their sweet aroma and poured out their drink offerings. </span> <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/ezekiel/20-29.htm"><b>29</b></a></span>Then I said to them, ‘What <i>is</i> this <span class="fn"><a href="#footnotes">[e]</a></span>high place to which you go?’ So its name is called <span class="fn"><a href="#footnotes">[f]</a></span>Bamah to this day.” ’ </span> <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/ezekiel/20-30.htm"><b>30</b></a></span>Therefore say to the house of Israel, ‘Thus says the Lord <span style="font-variant: small-caps" class="small-caps divine-name">God</span>: “Are you defiling yourselves in the manner of your fathers, and committing harlotry according to their abominations? </span> <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/ezekiel/20-31.htm"><b>31</b></a></span>For when you offer your gifts and make your sons pass through the fire, you defile yourselves with all your idols, even to this day. So shall I be inquired of by you, O house of Israel? <i>As</i> I live,” says the Lord <span style="font-variant: small-caps" class="small-caps divine-name">God</span>, “I will not be inquired of by you. </span> <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/ezekiel/20-32.htm"><b>32</b></a></span>What you have in your mind shall never be, when you say, ‘We will be like the Gentiles, like the families in other countries, serving wood and stone.’</span></p> <h3> God Will Restore Israel</span></h3><p><span class="text Ezek-20-33"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/ezekiel/20-33.htm"><b>33</b></a></span>“<i>As</i> I live,” says the Lord <span style="font-variant: small-caps" class="small-caps divine-name">God</span>, “surely with a mighty hand, with an outstretched arm, and with fury poured out, I will rule over you. </span> <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/ezekiel/20-34.htm"><b>34</b></a></span>I will bring you out from the peoples and gather you out of the countries where you are scattered, with a mighty hand, with an outstretched arm, and with fury poured out. </span> <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/ezekiel/20-35.htm"><b>35</b></a></span>And I will bring you into the wilderness of the peoples, and there I will plead My case with you face to face. </span> <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/ezekiel/20-36.htm"><b>36</b></a></span>Just as I pleaded My case with your fathers in the wilderness of the land of Egypt, so I will plead My case with you,” says the Lord <span style="font-variant: small-caps" class="small-caps divine-name">God</span>.</span></p> <p> <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/ezekiel/20-37.htm"><b>37</b></a></span>“I will make you pass under the rod, and I will bring you into the bond of the covenant; </span> <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/ezekiel/20-38.htm"><b>38</b></a></span>I will purge the rebels from among you, and those who transgress against Me; I will bring them out of the country where they dwell, but they shall not enter the land of Israel. Then you will know that I <i>am</i> the <span style="font-variant: small-caps" class="small-caps divine-name">Lord</span>.</span></p> <p> <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/ezekiel/20-39.htm"><b>39</b></a></span>“As for you, O house of Israel,” thus says the Lord <span style="font-variant: small-caps" class="small-caps divine-name">God</span>: “Go, serve every one of you his idols—and hereafter—if you will not obey Me; but profane My holy name no more with your gifts and your idols. </span> <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/ezekiel/20-40.htm"><b>40</b></a></span>For on My holy mountain, on the mountain height of Israel,” says the Lord <span style="font-variant: small-caps" class="small-caps divine-name">God</span>, “there all the house of Israel, all of them in the land, shall serve Me; there I will accept them, and there I will require your offerings and the firstfruits of your <span class="fn"><a href="#footnotes">[g]</a></span>sacrifices, together with all your holy things. </span> <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/ezekiel/20-41.htm"><b>41</b></a></span>I will accept you as a sweet aroma when I bring you out from the peoples and gather you out of the countries where you have been scattered; and I will be hallowed in you before the Gentiles. </span> <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/ezekiel/20-42.htm"><b>42</b></a></span>Then you shall know that I <i>am</i> the <span style="font-variant: small-caps" class="small-caps divine-name">Lord</span>, when I bring you into the land of Israel, into the country <i>for</i> which I raised My hand in an oath to give to your fathers. </span> <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/ezekiel/20-43.htm"><b>43</b></a></span>And there you shall remember your ways and all your doings with which you were defiled; and you shall <span class="fn"><a href="#footnotes">[h]</a></span>loathe yourselves in your own sight because of all the evils that you have committed. </span> <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/ezekiel/20-44.htm"><b>44</b></a></span>Then you shall know that I <i>am</i> the <span style="font-variant: small-caps" class="small-caps divine-name">Lord</span>, when I have dealt with you for My name’s sake, not according to your wicked ways nor according to your corrupt doings, O house of Israel,” says the Lord <span style="font-variant: small-caps" class="small-caps divine-name">God</span>.’ ”</span></p> <h3> Fire in the Forest</span></h3><p><span class="text Ezek-20-45"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/ezekiel/20-45.htm"><b>45</b></a></span>Furthermore the word of the <span style="font-variant: small-caps" class="small-caps divine-name">Lord</span> came to me, saying, </span> <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/ezekiel/20-46.htm"><b>46</b></a></span>“Son of man, set your face toward the south; <span class="fn"><a href="#footnotes">[i]</a></span>preach against the south and prophesy against the forest land, the <span class="fn"><a href="#footnotes">[j]</a></span>South, </span> <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/ezekiel/20-47.htm"><b>47</b></a></span>and say to the forest of the South, ‘Hear the word of the <span style="font-variant: small-caps" class="small-caps divine-name">Lord</span>! Thus says the Lord <span style="font-variant: small-caps" class="small-caps divine-name">God</span>: “Behold, I will kindle a fire in you, and it shall devour every green tree and every dry tree in you; the blazing flame shall not be quenched, and all faces from the south to the north shall be scorched by it. </span> <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/ezekiel/20-48.htm"><b>48</b></a></span>All flesh shall see that I, the <span style="font-variant: small-caps" class="small-caps divine-name">Lord</span>, have kindled it; it shall not be quenched.” ’ ”</span></p> <p> <span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/ezekiel/20-49.htm"><b>49</b></a></span>Then I said, “Ah, Lord <span style="font-variant: small-caps" class="small-caps divine-name">God</span>! They say of me, ‘Does he not speak parables?’ ”</span></p> <A name="footnotes"></a><div class="footnotes"><h4>Footnotes:</h4><ol><li id="fen-NKJV-20904a"><span class="fnref" title="Go to Ezekiel 20:8">Ezekiel 20:8</span> <span class='footnote-text'>Lit. <i>listen to</i></span></li><li id="fen-NKJV-20907b"><span class="fnref" title="Go to Ezekiel 20:11">Ezekiel 20:11</span> <span class='footnote-text'>Lit. <i>made known to</i></span></li><li id="fen-NKJV-20918c"><span class="fnref" title="Go to Ezekiel 20:22">Ezekiel 20:22</span> <span class='footnote-text'>Refrained from judgment</span></li><li id="fen-NKJV-20922d"><span class="fnref" title="Go to Ezekiel 20:26">Ezekiel 20:26</span> <span class='footnote-text'>Lit. <i>that open the womb</i></span></li><li id="fen-NKJV-20925e"><span class="fnref" title="Go to Ezekiel 20:29">Ezekiel 20:29</span> <span class='footnote-text'>Place for pagan worship</span></li><li id="fen-NKJV-20925f"><span class="fnref" title="Go to Ezekiel 20:29">Ezekiel 20:29</span> <span class='footnote-text'>Lit. <i>High Place</i></span></li><li id="fen-NKJV-20936g"><span class="fnref" title="Go to Ezekiel 20:40">Ezekiel 20:40</span> <span class='footnote-text'><i>offerings</i></span></li><li id="fen-NKJV-20939h"><span class="fnref" title="Go to Ezekiel 20:43">Ezekiel 20:43</span> <span class='footnote-text'>Or <i>despise</i></span></li><li id="fen-NKJV-20942i"><span class="fnref" title="Go to Ezekiel 20:46">Ezekiel 20:46</span> <span class='footnote-text'><i>proclaim,</i> lit. <i>drop</i></span></li><li id="fen-NKJV-20942j"><span class="fnref" title="Go to Ezekiel 20:46">Ezekiel 20:46</span> <span class='footnote-text'>Heb. <i>Negev</i></span></li></ol></div> <!--end of footnotes--></span></div></div><div id="botbox"><div class="padbot"><div align="center">The Holy Bible, New King James Version, Copyright © 1982 Thomas Nelson. All rights reserved.<br> <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/">Bible Hub</a></div></div></div></div></td></tr></table></div><div id="left"><a href="../ezekiel/19.htm" onmouseover='lft.src="/leftgif.png"' onmouseout='lft.src="/left.png"' title="Ezekiel 19"><img src="/left.png" name="lft" border="0" alt="Ezekiel 19" /></a></div><div id="right"><a href="../ezekiel/21.htm" onmouseover='rght.src="/rightgif.png"' onmouseout='rght.src="/right.png"' title="Ezekiel 21"><img src="/right.png" name="rght" border="0" alt="Ezekiel 21" /></a></div><div id="botleft"><a href="#" onmouseover='botleft.src="/botleftgif.png"' onmouseout='botleft.src="/botleft.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botleft.png" name="botleft" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="botright"><a href="#" onmouseover='botright.src="/botrightgif.png"' onmouseout='botright.src="/botright.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botright.png" name="botright" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="rightbox"><div class="padright"><div id="pic"><iframe width="100%" height="860" scrolling="no" src="//biblescan.com/mpc/ezekiel/20-1.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></div></div></div><div id="rightbox4"><div class="padright2"><div id="spons1"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0"><tr><td class="sp1"><iframe width="122" height="860" scrolling="no" src="../sidemenu.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></div></div><div id="bot"><iframe width="100%" height="1500" scrolling="no" src="/botmenubhchap.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></div></td></tr></table></div></body></html>