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For they are saying, 'The LORD does not see us; the LORD has forsaken the land.'"</title><link rel="canonical" href="https://biblehub.com/ezekiel/8-12.htm" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="/new9.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><meta property="og:image" content="https://biblehub.com/visuals/8/26_Ezk_08_12.jpg" /><meta property="og:title" content="Ezekiel 8:12 - The Vision of Idolatry in the Temple" /><meta property="og:site_name" content="Bible Hub" /><meta property="og:description" content="Son of man, He said to me, do you see what the elders of the house of Israel are doing in the darkness, each at the shrine of his own idol? 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They say, &#8216The LORD does not see us; the LORD has forsaken the land.&#8217&#8221 <a href="/nlt/ezekiel/8.htm">New Living Translation</a> Then the LORD said to me, “Son of man, have you seen what the leaders of Israel are doing with their idols in dark rooms? They are saying, ‘The LORD doesn’t see us; he has deserted our land!’” <a href="/esv/ezekiel/8.htm">English Standard Version</a> Then he said to me, “Son of man, have you seen what the elders of the house of Israel are doing in the dark, each in his room of pictures? For they say, ‘The LORD does not see us, the LORD has forsaken the land.’” <a href="/bsb/ezekiel/8.htm">Berean Standard Bible</a> “Son of man,” He said to me, “do you see what the elders of the house of Israel are doing in the darkness, each at the shrine of his own idol? For they are saying, ‘The LORD does not see us; the LORD has forsaken the land.’” <a href="/kjv/ezekiel/8.htm">King James Bible</a> Then said he unto me, Son of man, hast thou seen what the ancients of the house of Israel do in the dark, every man in the chambers of his imagery? for they say, The LORD seeth us not; the LORD hath forsaken the earth. <a href="/nkjv/ezekiel/8.htm">New King James Version</a> Then He said to me, “Son of man, have you seen what the elders of the house of Israel do in the dark, every man in the room of his idols? For they say, ‘The LORD does not see us, the LORD has forsaken the land.’ ” <a href="/nasb_/ezekiel/8.htm">New American Standard Bible</a> Then He said to me, “Do you see, son of man, what the elders of the house of Israel are doing in the dark, each man in the rooms of his carved images? For they say, ‘The LORD does not see us; the LORD has abandoned the land.’” <a href="/nasb/ezekiel/8.htm">NASB 1995</a> Then He said to me, &#8220Son of man, do you see what the elders of the house of Israel are committing in the dark, each man in the room of his carved images? For they say, &#8216The LORD does not see us; the LORD has forsaken the land.&#8217&#8221 <a href="/nasb77/ezekiel/8.htm">NASB 1977 </a> Then He said to me, “Son of man, do you see what the elders of the house of Israel are committing in the dark, each man in the room of his carved images? For they say, ‘The LORD does not see us; the LORD has forsaken the land.’” <a href="/lsb/ezekiel/8.htm">Legacy Standard Bible </a> Then He said to me, “Son of man, do you see what the elders of the house of Israel are doing in the dark, each man in the room of his carved images? For they say, ‘Yahweh does not see us; Yahweh has forsaken the land.’” <a href="/amp/ezekiel/8.htm">Amplified Bible</a> Then He said to me, “Son of man, do you see what the elders of the house of Israel do in the dark, each man in his [secret] room of carved images? For they say, ‘The LORD does not see us; the LORD has abandoned the land.’” <a href="/csb/ezekiel/8.htm">Christian Standard Bible</a> He said to me, “Son of man, do you see what the elders of the house of Israel are doing in the darkness, each at the shrine of his idol? For they are saying, ‘The LORD does not see us. The LORD has abandoned the land.’ ” <a href="/hcsb/ezekiel/8.htm">Holman Christian Standard Bible</a> Then He said to me, &#8220Son of man, do you see what the elders of the house of Israel are doing in the darkness, each at the shrine of his idol? For they are saying, &#8216The LORD does not see us. The LORD has abandoned the land.&#8217&#8221 <a href="/asv/ezekiel/8.htm">American Standard Version</a> Then said he unto me, Son of man, hast thou seen what the elders of the house of Israel do in the dark, every man in his chambers of imagery? for they say, Jehovah seeth us not; Jehovah hath forsaken the land. <a href="/cev/ezekiel/8.htm">Contemporary English Version</a> God said, "Ezekiel, do you see what horrible things Israel's leaders are doing in secret? They have filled their rooms with idols. And they say I can't see them, because they think I have already deserted Israel. <a href="/erv/ezekiel/8.htm">English Revised Version</a> Then said he unto me, Son of man, hast thou seen what the elders of the house of Israel do in the dark, every man in his chambers of imagery? for they say, the LORD seeth us not; the LORD hath forsaken the earth. <a href="/gwt/ezekiel/8.htm">GOD'S WORD® Translation</a> God asked me, "Son of man, do you see what the leaders of the nation of Israel are doing in secret? Each of them is in the room where his god is, and each one of them is thinking, 'The LORD doesn't see me. The LORD has abandoned this land.'" <a href="/gnt/ezekiel/8.htm">Good News Translation</a> God asked me, "Mortal man, do you see what the Israelite leaders are doing in secret? They are all worshiping in a room full of images. Their excuse is: 'The LORD doesn't see us! He has abandoned the country.'" <a href="/isv/ezekiel/8.htm">International Standard Version</a> the Spirit asked me, "Do you see, Son of Man, what the elders of Israel's house are doing in secret, each in the chamber of his own carved idol? They keep saying, 'God doesn't see us. The LORD has abandoned the land.'" <a href="/msb/ezekiel/8.htm">Majority Standard Bible</a> ?Son of man,? He said to me, ?do you see what the elders of the house of Israel are doing in the darkness, each at the shrine of his own idol? For they are saying, ?The LORD does not see us; the LORD has forsaken the land.?? <a href="/net/ezekiel/8.htm">NET Bible</a> He said to me, "Do you see, son of man, what the elders of the house of Israel are doing in the dark, each in the chamber of his idolatrous images? For they think, 'The LORD does not see us! The LORD has abandoned the land!'" <a href="/nheb/ezekiel/8.htm">New Heart English Bible</a> Then he said to me, "Son of man, have you seen what the elders of the house of Israel do in the dark, every man in his rooms of imagery? For they say, 'The LORD doesn't see us. The LORD has forsaken the land.'" <a href="/wbt/ezekiel/8.htm">Webster's Bible Translation</a> Then said he to me, Son of man, hast thou seen what the elders of the house of Israel do in the dark, every man in the chambers of his imagery? for they say, The LORD seeth us not; the LORD hath forsaken the earth. <a href="/web/ezekiel/8.htm">World English Bible</a> Then he said to me, “Son of man, have you seen what the elders of the house of Israel do in the dark, every man in his rooms of imagery? For they say, ‘Yahweh doesn’t see us. Yahweh has forsaken the land.’” <div class="vheading2">Literal Translations</div><a href="/lsv/ezekiel/8.htm">Literal Standard Version</a> And He says to me, “Have you seen, son of man, that which elderly of the house of Israel are doing in the darkness, each in [the] inner chambers of his imagery, for they are saying, YHWH is not seeing us, YHWH has forsaken the land?” <a href="/ylt/ezekiel/8.htm">Young's Literal Translation</a> And He saith unto me, 'Hast thou seen, son of man, that which elders of the house of Israel are doing in darkness, each in the inner chambers of his imagery, for they are saying, Jehovah is not seeing us, Jehovah hath forsaken the land?' <a href="/slt/ezekiel/8.htm">Smith's Literal Translation</a> And he said to me, Sawest, thou son of man, what the old men of the house of Israel are doing in darkness, a man in the chambers of his images? for they are saying, Jehovah sees us not; Jehovah forsook the earth.<div class="vheading2">Catholic Translations</div><a href="/drb/ezekiel/8.htm">Douay-Rheims Bible</a> And he add to me: Surely thou seest. O son of man, what the ancients of the house of Israel do in the dark, every one in private in his chamber: for they say: The Lord seeth us not, the Lord hath forsaken the earth. <a href="/cpdv/ezekiel/8.htm">Catholic Public Domain Version</a> And he said to me: “Certainly, son of man, you see what the elders of the house of Israel are doing in the darkness, each one while hidden in his chamber. For they say: ‘The Lord does not see us. The Lord has forsaken the earth.’ ” <a href="/nabre/ezekiel/8.htm">New American Bible</a> Then he said to me: Do you see, son of man, what the elders of the house of Israel are doing in the dark, each in his idol chamber? They think: “The LORD cannot see us; the LORD has forsaken the land.” <a href="/nrsvce/ezekiel/8.htm">New Revised Standard Version</a> Then he said to me, “Mortal, have you seen what the elders of the house of Israel are doing in the dark, each in his room of images? For they say, ‘The LORD does not see us, the LORD has forsaken the land.’”<div class="vheading2">Translations from Aramaic</div><a href="/lamsa/ezekiel/8.htm">Lamsa Bible</a> Then he said to me, Son of man, do you see the thing which the elders of the house of Israel are doing in the dark, every man in his secret chamber? For they say, The LORD does not see us; because the LORD has forsaken the earth. <a href="/hpbt/ezekiel/8.htm">Peshitta Holy Bible Translated</a> And he said to me: “See, son of man, the thing that the Elders of the house of Israel are doing in darkness, a man in his secret closet, and they were saying, ‘LORD JEHOVAH does not see us, because LORD JEHOVAH has left the land’”<div class="vheading2">OT Translations</div><a href="/jps/ezekiel/8.htm">JPS Tanakh 1917</a> Then said He unto me: 'Son of man, hast thou seen what the elders of the house of Israel do in the dark, every man in his chambers of imagery? for they say: The LORD seeth us not, the LORD hath forsaken the land.' <a href="/sep/ezekiel/8.htm">Brenton Septuagint Translation</a> And he said to me, Thou hast seen, son of man, what the elders of the house of Israel do, each one of them in their secret chamber: because they have said, The Lord see not; The Lord has forsaken the earth. <a href="/parallel/ezekiel/8-12.htm">Additional Translations ...</a></div></div></div><div id="centbox"><div class="padcent"><a name="audio" id="audio"></a><div class="vheadingv">Audio Bible</div><iframe width="100%" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/vET3Gmwku4s?start=1761" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe> <div class="vheadingv">Context</div><a href="/bsb/ezekiel/8.htm">The Vision of Idolatry in the Temple</a> …11Before them stood seventy elders of the house of Israel, with Jaazaniah son of Shaphan standing among them. Each had a censer in his hand, and a fragrant cloud of incense was rising. 12<a href="/hebrew/1121.htm" title="1121: ḇen- (N-msc) -- Son. From banah; a son, in the widest sense (like 'ab, 'ach, etc.).">“Son</a> <a href="/hebrew/120.htm" title="120: ’ā·ḏām (N-ms) -- Man, mankind. From 'adam; ruddy i.e. A human being.">of man,”</a> <a href="/hebrew/559.htm" title="559: way·yō·mer (Conj-w:: V-Qal-ConsecImperf-3ms) -- To utter, say. A primitive root; to say.">He said</a> <a href="/hebrew/413.htm" title="413: ’ê·lay (Prep:: 1cs) -- To, into, towards. ">to me,</a> <a href="/hebrew/7200.htm" title="7200: hă·rā·’î·ṯā (V-Qal-Perf-2ms) -- To see. A primitive root; to see, literally or figuratively.">“do you see</a> <a href="/hebrew/834.htm" title="834: ’ă·šer (Pro-r) -- Who, which, that. A primitive relative pronoun; who, which, what, that; also when, where, how, because, in order that, etc.">what</a> <a href="/hebrew/2205.htm" title="2205: ziq·nê (Adj-mpc) -- Old. From zaqen; old.">the elders</a> <a href="/hebrew/1004.htm" title="1004: ḇêṯ- (N-msc) -- A house. Probably from banah abbreviated; a house.">of the house</a> <a href="/hebrew/3478.htm" title="3478: yiś·rā·’êl (N-proper-ms) -- From sarah and 'el; he will rule as God; Jisrael, a symbolical name of Jacob; also of his posterity.">of Israel</a> <a href="/hebrew/6213.htm" title="6213: ‘ō·śîm (V-Qal-Prtcpl-mp) -- To do, make. A primitive root; to do or make, in the broadest sense and widest application.">are doing</a> <a href="/hebrew/2822.htm" title="2822: ba·ḥō·šeḵ (Prep-b, Art:: N-ms) -- From chashak; the dark; hence darkness; figuratively, misery, destruction, death, ignorance, sorrow, wickedness.">in the darkness,</a> <a href="/hebrew/376.htm" title="376: ’îš (N-ms) -- Man. Contracted for 'enowsh; a man as an individual or a male person; often used as an adjunct to a more definite term.">each</a> <a href="/hebrew/2315.htm" title="2315: bə·ḥaḏ·rê (Prep-b:: N-mpc) -- A chamber, room. From chadar; an apartment.">at the shrine</a> <a href="/hebrew/4906.htm" title="4906: maś·kî·ṯōw (N-fsc:: 3ms) -- A showpiece, figure, imagination. From the same as Sekuw; a figure; figuratively, imagination.">of his own idol?</a> <a href="/hebrew/3588.htm" title="3588: kî (Conj) -- That, for, when. ">For</a> <a href="/hebrew/559.htm" title="559: ’ō·mə·rîm (V-Qal-Prtcpl-mp) -- To utter, say. A primitive root; to say.">they are saying,</a> <a href="/hebrew/3068.htm" title="3068: Yah·weh (N-proper-ms) -- The proper name of the God of Israel. From hayah; self-Existent or Eternal; Jehovah, Jewish national name of God.">‘The LORD</a> <a href="/hebrew/369.htm" title="369: ’ên (Adv) -- As if from a primitive root meaning to be nothing or not exist; a non-entity; generally used as a negative particle.">does not</a> <a href="/hebrew/7200.htm" title="7200: rō·’eh (V-Qal-Prtcpl-ms) -- To see. A primitive root; to see, literally or figuratively.">see</a> <a href="/hebrew/853.htm" title="853: ’ō·ṯā·nū (DirObjM:: 1cp) -- Apparent contracted from 'owth in the demonstrative sense of entity; properly, self.">us;</a> <a href="/hebrew/3068.htm" title="3068: Yah·weh (N-proper-ms) -- The proper name of the God of Israel. From hayah; self-Existent or Eternal; Jehovah, Jewish national name of God.">the LORD</a> <a href="/hebrew/5800.htm" title="5800: ‘ā·zaḇ (V-Qal-Perf-3ms) -- To loosen, relinquish, permit. A primitive root; to loosen, i.e. Relinquish, permit, etc.">has forsaken</a> <a href="/hebrew/853.htm" title="853: ’eṯ- (DirObjM) -- Apparent contracted from 'owth in the demonstrative sense of entity; properly, self."></a> <a href="/hebrew/776.htm" title="776: hā·’ā·reṣ (Art:: N-fs) -- Earth, land. From an unused root probably meaning to be firm; the earth.">the land.’”</a> 13Again, He told me, “You will see them committing even greater abominations.”…<div class="cred"><a href="//berean.bible">Berean Standard Bible</a> · <a href="//berean.bible/downloads.htm">Download</a></div> <a name="crossref" id="crossref"></a><div class="vheading">Cross References</div><div id="crf"><a href="/isaiah/29-15.htm">Isaiah 29:15</a> Woe to those who dig deep to hide their plans from the LORD. In darkness they do their works and say, “Who sees us, and who will know?” <a href="/jeremiah/23-24.htm">Jeremiah 23:24</a> “Can a man hide in secret places where I cannot see him?” declares the LORD. “Do I not fill the heavens and the earth?” declares the LORD. <a href="/psalms/94-7.htm">Psalm 94:7</a> They say, “The LORD does not see; the God of Jacob pays no heed.” <a href="/job/22-13.htm">Job 22:13-14</a> Yet you say: ‘What does God know? Does He judge through thick darkness? / Thick clouds veil Him so He does not see us as He traverses the vault of heaven.’ <a href="/isaiah/47-10.htm">Isaiah 47:10</a> You were secure in your wickedness; you said, ‘No one sees me.’ Your wisdom and knowledge led you astray; you told yourself, ‘I am, and there is none besides me.’ <a href="/jeremiah/16-17.htm">Jeremiah 16:17</a> For My eyes are on all their ways. They are not hidden from My face, and their guilt is not concealed from My eyes. <a href="/amos/9-2.htm">Amos 9:2-4</a> Though they dig down to Sheol, from there My hand will take them; and though they climb up to heaven, from there I will pull them down. / Though they hide themselves atop Carmel, there I will track them and seize them; and though they hide from Me at the bottom of the sea, there I will command the serpent to bite them. / Though they are driven by their enemies into captivity, there I will command the sword to slay them. I will fix My eyes upon them for harm and not for good.” <a href="/psalms/10-11.htm">Psalm 10:11</a> He says to himself, “God has forgotten; He hides His face and never sees.” <a href="/psalms/139-11.htm">Psalm 139:11-12</a> If I say, “Surely the darkness will hide me, and the light become night around me”— / even the darkness is not dark to You, but the night shines like the day, for darkness is as light to You. <a href="/isaiah/57-11.htm">Isaiah 57:11</a> Whom have you dreaded and feared, so that you lied and failed to remember Me or take this to heart? Is it not because I have long been silent that you do not fear Me? <a href="/luke/12-2.htm">Luke 12:2-3</a> There is nothing concealed that will not be disclosed, and nothing hidden that will not be made known. / What you have spoken in the dark will be heard in the daylight, and what you have whispered in the inner rooms will be proclaimed from the housetops. <a href="/hebrews/4-13.htm">Hebrews 4:13</a> Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight; everything is uncovered and exposed before the eyes of Him to whom we must give account. <a href="/1_corinthians/4-5.htm">1 Corinthians 4:5</a> Therefore judge nothing before the appointed time; wait until the Lord comes. He will bring to light what is hidden in darkness and will expose the motives of men’s hearts. At that time each will receive his praise from God. <a href="/romans/2-16.htm">Romans 2:16</a> on the day when God will judge men’s secrets through Christ Jesus, as proclaimed by my gospel. <a href="/matthew/6-4.htm">Matthew 6:4</a> so that your giving may be in secret. And your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.</div> <a name="tsk" id="tsk"><div class="vheading">Treasury of Scripture</div>Then said he to me, Son of man, have you seen what the ancients of the house of Israel do in the dark, every man in the chambers of his imagery? for they say, the LORD sees us not; the LORD has forsaken the earth.hast<a href="/ezekiel/8-6.htm">Ezekiel 8:6,15,17</a> He said furthermore unto me, Son of man, seest thou what they do? even the great abominations that the house of Israel committeth here, that I should go far off from my sanctuary? but turn thee yet again, and thou shalt see greater abominations… ancients<a href="/ezekiel/8-11.htm">Ezekiel 8:11</a> And there stood before them seventy men of the ancients of the house of Israel, and in the midst of them stood Jaazaniah the son of Shaphan, with every man his censer in his hand; and a thick cloud of incense went up.<a href="/ezekiel/14-1.htm">Ezekiel 14:1</a> Then came certain of the elders of Israel unto me, and sat before me.<a href="/ezekiel/20-1.htm">Ezekiel 20:1</a> 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 inquire of the LORD, and sat before me.in the<a href="/ezekiel/8-7.htm">Ezekiel 8:7,8</a> And he brought me to the door of the court; and when I looked, behold a hole in the wall… <a href="/job/24-13.htm">Job 24:13-17</a> They are of those that rebel against the light; they know not the ways thereof, nor abide in the paths thereof… <a href="/john/3-19.htm">John 3:19,20</a> And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil… The Lord seeth<a href="/ezekiel/9-9.htm">Ezekiel 9:9</a> Then said he unto me, The iniquity of the house of Israel and Judah is exceeding great, and the land is full of blood, and the city full of perverseness: for they say, The LORD hath forsaken the earth, and the LORD seeth not.<a href="/job/22-12.htm">Job 22:12,13</a> Is not God in the height of heaven? and behold the height of the stars, how high they are! … <a href="/psalms/73-11.htm">Psalm 73:11</a> And they say, How doth God know? and is there knowledge in the most High?<div class="vheading">Jump to Previous</div><a href="/ezekiel/8-11.htm">Ancients</a> <a href="/ezekiel/8-10.htm">Carved</a> <a href="/jeremiah/35-2.htm">Chambers</a> <a href="/ezekiel/8-9.htm">Committing</a> <a href="/lamentations/5-17.htm">Dark</a> <a href="/ezekiel/8-10.htm">Earth</a> <a href="/ezekiel/8-11.htm">Elders</a> <a href="/jeremiah/51-5.htm">Forsaken</a> <a href="/ezekiel/8-11.htm">House</a> <a href="/isaiah/2-16.htm">Imagery</a> <a href="/ezekiel/8-10.htm">Images</a> <a href="/ezekiel/8-11.htm">Israel</a> <a href="/jeremiah/36-21.htm">Room</a><div class="vheading2">Jump to Next</div><a href="/ezekiel/27-9.htm">Ancients</a> <a href="/ezekiel/41-17.htm">Carved</a> <a href="/ezekiel/21-14.htm">Chambers</a> <a href="/ezekiel/8-13.htm">Committing</a> <a href="/ezekiel/12-6.htm">Dark</a> <a href="/ezekiel/9-9.htm">Earth</a> <a href="/ezekiel/14-1.htm">Elders</a> <a href="/ezekiel/9-9.htm">Forsaken</a> <a href="/ezekiel/8-14.htm">House</a> <a href="/proverbs/25-11.htm">Imagery</a> <a href="/ezekiel/11-18.htm">Images</a> <a href="/ezekiel/9-3.htm">Israel</a> <a href="/ezekiel/16-24.htm">Room</a><div class="vheading2">Ezekiel 8</div>1. <a href="/ezekiel/8-1.htm">Ezekiel, in a vision of God at Jerusalem</a> 5. <a href="/ezekiel/8-5.htm">is shown the image of jealousy</a> 7. <a href="/ezekiel/8-7.htm">the chambers of imagery</a> 13. <a href="/ezekiel/8-13.htm">the mourners for Tammuz</a> 16. <a href="/ezekiel/8-16.htm">the worshippers toward the sun</a> 17. <a href="/ezekiel/8-17.htm">God's wrath for their idolatry</a> </div></div><div id="mdd"><div align="center"><div class="bot2"><table align="center" width="100%"><tr><td><div align="center"> <script id="3d27ed63fc4348d5b062c4527ae09445"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=51ce25d5-1a8c-424a-8695-4bd48c750f35&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script> <script id="b817b7107f1d4a7997da1b3c33457e03"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=cb0edd8b-b416-47eb-8c6d-3cc96561f7e8&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script>  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-2'> </div>  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-0' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div>  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-3'> </div>  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-1' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div>  <div align="center" id='div-gpt-ad-1531425649696-0'> </div> <ins class="adsbygoogle" style="display:inline-block;width:200px;height:200px" data-ad-client="ca-pub-3753401421161123" data-ad-slot="3592799687"></ins> <script> (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); </script> </div> </td></tr></table></div></div></div><div id="combox"><div class="padcom"><a name="study" id="study"></a><div class="vheading"><table width="100%"><tr><td width="99%" valign="top"><a href="/study/ezekiel/8.htm">Study Bible</a></td><td width="1%" valign="top"><a href="/study/ezekiel/" title="Book Summary and Study">Book ◦</a> <a href="/study/chapters/ezekiel/8.htm" title="Chapter summary and Study">Chapter </a></tr></table></div>“Son of man,” He said to me, The term "Son of man" is a title used frequently in the book of Ezekiel, emphasizing the prophet's humanity and his role as a representative of the people. It underscores the contrast between the divine and human, highlighting Ezekiel's position as a mediator between God and Israel. This title is also significant in the New Testament, where it is used by Jesus to refer to Himself, emphasizing His role as the Messiah and His identification with humanity.“do you see what the elders of the house of Israel are doing in the darkness, The elders of Israel were leaders and representatives of the people, expected to guide them in righteousness. Their actions in the darkness symbolize secrecy and sin, as darkness often represents evil and concealment in biblical literature. This imagery is reminiscent of <a href="/john/3-19.htm">John 3:19-20</a>, where people love darkness rather than light because their deeds are evil. The elders' behavior reflects a deep spiritual corruption and a turning away from God.each at the shrine of his own idol? Idolatry was a persistent issue for Israel, directly violating the first two commandments (<a href="/exodus/20-3.htm">Exodus 20:3-4</a>). The mention of "his own idol" suggests a personal and pervasive idolatry, indicating that each elder had turned to false gods, abandoning the worship of Yahweh. This individual idolatry highlights the extent of Israel's apostasy and mirrors the broader cultural and religious syncretism of the ancient Near East, where multiple deities were often worshiped.For they are saying, ‘The LORD does not see us; This statement reveals a profound theological misunderstanding and a lack of faith in God's omniscience. It echoes the sentiment found in <a href="/psalms/94-7.htm">Psalm 94:7</a>, where the wicked believe that God does not see or care about their actions. This belief reflects a spiritual blindness and a denial of God's presence and power, which is a recurring theme in the prophetic literature.the LORD has forsaken the land.’” The perception that the LORD has forsaken the land indicates a crisis of faith and a misunderstanding of the covenant relationship between God and Israel. While the people may feel abandoned, the prophetic message often clarifies that it is their sin that has led to separation from God. This sentiment is addressed in passages like <a href="/isaiah/59.htm">Isaiah 59:1-2</a>, where it is explained that iniquities create a barrier between God and His people. The belief that God has forsaken them also foreshadows the coming judgment and exile, yet it is a call to repentance and a reminder of God's enduring faithfulness despite Israel's unfaithfulness.<div class="vheading2">Persons / Places / Events</div>1. <a href="/topical/e/ezekiel.htm">Ezekiel</a> A prophet and priest during the Babylonian exile, Ezekiel is the recipient of God's visions and messages, tasked with delivering them to the Israelites. 2. <a href="/topical/e/elders_of_the_house_of_israel.htm">Elders of the House of Israel</a> These are the leaders and representatives of the Israelite community, who are depicted as engaging in idolatry and secret sins. 3. <a href="/topical/t/the_shrine_of_idols.htm">The Shrine of Idols</a> This refers to the hidden places where the elders worship idols, symbolizing their spiritual infidelity and rebellion against God. 4. <a href="/topical/t/the_lord.htm">The LORD</a> The covenant God of Israel, who sees and knows all, despite the elders' belief that He does not see their actions. 5. <a href="/topical/t/the_darkness.htm">The Darkness</a> Symbolic of secrecy and sin, representing the hidden and corrupt practices of the elders.<div class="vheading2">Teaching Points</div><a href="/topical/g/god_sees_all.htm">God Sees All</a> Despite human attempts to hide sin, God is omniscient and aware of all actions and thoughts. This should encourage believers to live transparently before Him. <a href="/topical/t/the_danger_of_idolatry.htm">The Danger of Idolatry</a> Idolatry is not just the worship of physical idols but can be anything that takes the place of God in our hearts. Believers must examine their lives for modern-day idols. <a href="/topical/t/the_deception_of_sin.htm">The Deception of Sin</a> Sin often leads individuals to believe they can hide from God or that He is indifferent. This is a dangerous deception that leads to spiritual decay. <a href="/topical/a/accountability_in_leadership.htm">Accountability in Leadership</a> The elders' actions remind us that leaders are held to a high standard and must lead with integrity and faithfulness to God. <a href="/topical/r/repentance_and_restoration.htm">Repentance and Restoration</a> Even when we fall into sin, God offers a path to repentance and restoration. Believers should seek His forgiveness and turn back to Him.<div class="vheading2">Lists and Questions</div><a href="/top10/lessons_from_ezekiel_8.htm">Top 10 Lessons from Ezekiel 8</a> <a href="/q/how_does_ezekiel_8's_view_on_idols_compare.htm">How does the severe condemnation of these idolatries in Ezekiel 8 align or conflict with other biblical accounts of tolerating foreign gods?</a> <a href="/q/why_are_'creeping_things'_in_the_temple.htm">In Ezekiel 8:10, why would the temple contain images of 'creeping things' if this contradicts the temple's strict laws against idolatry?</a> <a href="/q/was_ezekiel_physically_taken_to_jerusalem.htm">In Ezekiel 8:3-4, what evidence supports or contradicts the claim Ezekiel was physically transported to Jerusalem by a divine hand?</a> <a href="/q/why_is_judah's_judgment_unique.htm">(Amos 2:4-5) Why does God's judgment on Judah differ from judgments described in other prophetic books?</a><a name="commentary" id="commentary"></a><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/ellicott/ezekiel/8.htm">Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers</a></div>(12) Do in the dark, i.e., in secret. Hence the difficulty of access to the place of their worship. The ordinary idolatries of Israel, as of most heathen, consisted in the worship of the true, or of a supposed spiritual Deity, by means of sensible images (comp. <a href="/exodus/32-8.htm" title="They have turned aside quickly out of the way which I commanded them: they have made them a molten calf, and have worshipped it, and have sacrificed thereunto, and said, These be your gods, O Israel, which have brought you up out of the land of Egypt.">Exodus 32:8</a>). This was open and public enough at Jerusalem at this time; but the peculiar sin here portrayed was the actual worship of the creature by means of images and paintings. This, although joined in by the chief people of the nation, was practised secretly, perhaps, not only for the purpose of concealing its Egyptian tendencies from the Chaldaeans, but also to throw over it the charm of mystery, as was so common among the heathen.Every man in the chambers of his imagery.--By "chambers of imagery" (the same word as in <a href="/leviticus/26-1.htm" title="You shall make you no idols nor graven image, neither raise you up a standing image, neither shall you set up any image of stone in your land, to bow down to it: for I am the LORD your God.">Leviticus 26:1</a>) is intended chambers painted with images like the one now shown to the prophet. This was not a solitary case; on the contrary, it was but an example of what was done everywhere. The people stifled the voice of conscience then, as in every age, by saying "The LORD seeth us not," comp. <a href="/psalms/10-11.htm" title="He has said in his heart, God has forgotten: he hides his face; he will never see it.">Psalm 10:11</a>; <a href="/psalms/94-7.htm" title="Yet they say, The LORD shall not see, neither shall the God of Jacob regard it.">Psalm 94:7</a>, &c. Yet, besides this, they argued, doubtless from the calamities that had already fallen upon their country, "the LORD hath forsaken the earth," or. rather, the land; and therefore they must have recourse to other help. But the prophet was to see yet worse things.<div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/pulpit/ezekiel/8.htm">Pulpit Commentary</a></div>Verse 12 - Every man, etc. And this, after all, was but a sample of the prevalence of the Egyptian influence. Other elders had, in the dark, a like adytum, a like chamber of imagery, like the Latin lararium, filled. with a like cloud of incense. And though the name of the leader of the band might have warned them that the Lord was listening, they boasted, in their blindness, that Jehovah did not see them; he had forsaken the temple, and had fiche elsewhere. They thought of Jehovah as of a local deity who had abdicated. They were free to do as they liked without fear. The words are worth noting further as the first of a series of popular half proverbs, in which the thoughts of the people clothed themselves (see <a href="/ezekiel/11-3.htm">Ezekiel 11:3</a>; <a href="/ezekiel/12-22.htm">Ezekiel 12:22</a>; <a href="/ezekiel/18-2.htm">Ezekiel 18:2, 19</a>; <a href="/ezekiel/33-10.htm">Ezekiel 33:10</a>; <a href="/ezekiel/37-11.htm">Ezekiel 37:11</a>). All these imply some personal knowledge of what was passing in Jerusalem. <a href="/commentaries/ezekiel/8-12.htm">Parallel Commentaries ...</a> <a name="lexicon" id="lexicon"></a><div class="vheading">Hebrew</div>“Son בֶן־ (ḇen-) Noun - masculine singular construct <a href="/hebrew/strongs_1121.htm">Strong's 1121: </a> A son of man,” אָדָם֒ (’ā·ḏām) Noun - masculine singular <a href="/hebrew/strongs_120.htm">Strong's 120: </a> Ruddy, a human being He said וַיֹּ֣אמֶר (way·yō·mer) Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular <a href="/hebrew/strongs_559.htm">Strong's 559: </a> To utter, say to me, אֵלַי֮ (’ê·lay) Preposition | first person common singular <a href="/hebrew/strongs_413.htm">Strong's 413: </a> Near, with, among, to “do you see הֲרָאִ֣יתָ (hă·rā·’î·ṯā) Verb - Qal - Perfect - second person masculine singular <a href="/hebrew/strongs_7200.htm">Strong's 7200: </a> To see what אֲשֶׁ֨ר (’ă·šer) Pronoun - relative <a href="/hebrew/strongs_834.htm">Strong's 834: </a> Who, which, what, that, when, where, how, because, in order that the elders זִקְנֵ֤י (ziq·nê) Adjective - masculine plural construct <a href="/hebrew/strongs_2205.htm">Strong's 2205: </a> Old of the house בֵֽית־ (ḇêṯ-) Noun - masculine singular construct <a href="/hebrew/strongs_1004.htm">Strong's 1004: </a> A house of Israel יִשְׂרָאֵל֙ (yiś·rā·’êl) Noun - proper - masculine singular <a href="/hebrew/strongs_3478.htm">Strong's 3478: </a> Israel -- 'God strives', another name of Jacob and his desc are doing עֹשִׂ֣ים (‘ō·śîm) Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine plural <a href="/hebrew/strongs_6213.htm">Strong's 6213: </a> To do, make in the darkness, בַּחֹ֔שֶׁךְ (ba·ḥō·šeḵ) Preposition-b, Article | Noun - masculine singular <a href="/hebrew/strongs_2822.htm">Strong's 2822: </a> The dark, darkness, misery, destruction, death, ignorance, sorrow, wickedness each אִ֖ישׁ (’îš) Noun - masculine singular <a href="/hebrew/strongs_376.htm">Strong's 376: </a> A man as an individual, a male person at the shrine בְּחַדְרֵ֣י (bə·ḥaḏ·rê) Preposition-b | Noun - masculine plural construct <a href="/hebrew/strongs_2315.htm">Strong's 2315: </a> A chamber, room of his own idol? מַשְׂכִּית֑וֹ (maś·kî·ṯōw) Noun - feminine singular construct | third person masculine singular <a href="/hebrew/strongs_4906.htm">Strong's 4906: </a> A showpiece, figure, imagination For כִּ֣י (kî) Conjunction <a href="/hebrew/strongs_3588.htm">Strong's 3588: </a> A relative conjunction they are saying, אֹמְרִ֗ים (’ō·mə·rîm) Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine plural <a href="/hebrew/strongs_559.htm">Strong's 559: </a> To utter, say ‘The LORD יְהוָה֙ (Yah·weh) Noun - proper - masculine singular <a href="/hebrew/strongs_3069.htm">Strong's 3069: </a> YHWH does not אֵ֤ין (’ên) Adverb <a href="/hebrew/strongs_369.htm">Strong's 369: </a> A non-entity, a negative particle see רֹאֶ֣ה (rō·’eh) Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular <a href="/hebrew/strongs_7200.htm">Strong's 7200: </a> To see us; אֹתָ֔נוּ (’ō·ṯā·nū) Direct object marker | first person common plural <a href="/hebrew/strongs_853.htm">Strong's 853: </a> Untranslatable mark of the accusative case the LORD יְהוָ֖ה (Yah·weh) Noun - proper - masculine singular <a href="/hebrew/strongs_3069.htm">Strong's 3069: </a> YHWH has forsaken עָזַ֥ב (‘ā·zaḇ) Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular <a href="/hebrew/strongs_5800.htm">Strong's 5800: </a> To loosen, relinquish, permit the land.?” הָאָֽרֶץ׃ (hā·’ā·reṣ) Article | Noun - feminine singular <a href="/hebrew/strongs_776.htm">Strong's 776: </a> Earth, land <div class="vheading">Links</div><a href="/niv/ezekiel/8-12.htm">Ezekiel 8:12 NIV</a> <a href="/nlt/ezekiel/8-12.htm">Ezekiel 8:12 NLT</a> <a href="/esv/ezekiel/8-12.htm">Ezekiel 8:12 ESV</a> <a href="/nasb/ezekiel/8-12.htm">Ezekiel 8:12 NASB</a> <a href="/kjv/ezekiel/8-12.htm">Ezekiel 8:12 KJV</a> <a href="//bibleapps.com/ezekiel/8-12.htm">Ezekiel 8:12 BibleApps.com</a> <a href="//bibliaparalela.com/ezekiel/8-12.htm">Ezekiel 8:12 Biblia Paralela</a> <a href="//holybible.com.cn/ezekiel/8-12.htm">Ezekiel 8:12 Chinese Bible</a> <a href="//saintebible.com/ezekiel/8-12.htm">Ezekiel 8:12 French Bible</a> <a href="/catholic/ezekiel/8-12.htm">Ezekiel 8:12 Catholic Bible</a> <a href="/ezekiel/8-12.htm">OT Prophets: Ezekiel 8:12 Then said he to me Son (Ezek. Eze Ezk) </a></div></div></td></tr></table></div><div id="left"><a href="/ezekiel/8-11.htm" onmouseover='lft.src="/leftgif.png"' onmouseout='lft.src="/left.png"' title="Ezekiel 8:11"><img src="/left.png" name="lft" border="0" alt="Ezekiel 8:11" /></a></div><div id="right"><a href="/ezekiel/8-13.htm" onmouseover='rght.src="/rightgif.png"' onmouseout='rght.src="/right.png"' title="Ezekiel 8:13"><img src="/right.png" name="rght" border="0" alt="Ezekiel 8:13" /></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="bot"><iframe width="100%" height="1500" scrolling="no" src="/botmenubhnew2.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></div></td></tr></table></div></body></html>