Ezequiel 20

ARC · Chapter 20/48

1E aconteceu, no setimo anno, no mez quinto, aos dez do mez, que vieram alguns dos anciãos de Israel, para consultarem o Senhor; e assentaram-se diante de mim.

2Então veiu a mim a palavra do Senhor, dizendo:

3Filho do homem, falla aos anciãos de Israel, e dize-lhes: Assim diz o Senhor Jehovah: Vindes vós consultar-me? vivo eu, que vós não me consultareis, diz o Senhor Jehovah.

4Porventura tu os julgarias, julgarias tu, ó filho do homem? notifica-lhes as abominações de seus paes;

5E dize-lhes: Assim diz o Senhor Jehovah: No dia em que escolhi a Israel, levantei a minha mão para a semente da casa de Jacob, e me dei a conhecer a elles na terra do Egypto, e levantei a minha mão para elles, dizendo: Eu sou o Senhor vosso Deus;

6N'aquelle dia levantei a minha mão para elles, que os tiraria da terra do Egypto, para uma terra que já tinha previsto para elles, que mana leite e mel, que é a gloria de todas as terras.

7Então lhes disse: Cada um lance de si as abominações dos seus olhos, e não vos contamineis com os idolos do Egypto: eu sou o Senhor vosso Deus.

8Porém rebellaram-se contra mim, e não me quizeram ouvir; ninguem lançava de si as abominações dos seus olhos, nem deixava os idolos do Egypto: então eu disse que derramaria sobre elles o meu furor, para cumprir a minha ira contra elles no meio da terra do Egypto.

9Porém obrei por amor do meu nome, para que não fosse profanado diante dos olhos das nações, no meio das quaes estavam, a cujos olhos eu me dei a conhecer a elles, para os tirar para fóra da terra do Egypto.

10E os tirei para fóra da terra do Egypto, e os levei ao deserto.

11E dei-lhes os meus estatutos, e lhes mostrei os meus juizos, os quaes, se os fizer o homem, viverá por elles.

12E tambem lhes dei os meus sabbados, para que servissem de signal entre mim e entre elles: para que soubessem que eu sou o Senhor que os sanctifica.

13Mas a casa de Israel se rebellou contra mim no deserto, não andando nos meus estatutos, e rejeitando os meus juizos, os quaes, fazendo-os, o homem viverá por elles; e profanaram grandemente os meus sabbados; e eu disse que derramaria sobre elles o meu furor no deserto, para os consumir.

14Porém obrei por amor do meu nome, para que não fosse profanado diante dos olhos das nações perante cujos olhos os fiz sair.

15E, comtudo, eu levantei a minha mão para elles no deserto, que não os faria entrar na terra que lhes tinha dado, que mana leite e mel, que é a gloria de todas as terras,

16Porque rejeitaram os meus juizos, e não andaram nos meus estatutos, e profanaram os meus sabbados; porque o seu coração andava após os seus idolos.

17Porém o meu olho lhes perdoou, para não os destruir nem os consumir no deserto.

18Mas disse eu a seus filhos no deserto: Não andeis nos estatutos de vossos paes, nem guardeis os seus juizos, nem vos contamineis com os seus idolos.

19Eu sou o Senhor vosso Deus; andae nos meus estatutos, e guardae os meus juizos, e fazei-os.

20E sanctificae os meus sabbados, e servirão de signal entre mim e entre vós, para que saibaes que eu sou o Senhor vosso Deus.

21Mas tambem os filhos se rebellaram contra mim, e não andaram nos meus estatutos, nem guardaram os meus juizos para os fazer, os quaes, fazendo-os, o homem viverá por elles; tambem profanaram os meus sabbados; e eu disse que derramaria sobre elles o meu furor, para cumprir contra elles a minha ira no deserto.

22Porém retirei a minha mão, e obrei por amor do meu nome, para que não fosse profanado perante os olhos das nações, perante cujos olhos os fiz sair

23Tambem eu levantei a minha mão para elles no deserto, que os espalharia entre as nações, e os derramaria pelas terras;

24Porque não fizeram os meus juizos, e rejeitaram os meus estatutos, e profanaram os meus sabbados, e os seus olhos se iam após os idolos de seus paes.

25Pelo que tambem eu lhes dei estatutos que não eram bons, como tambem juizos pelos quaes não haviam de viver;

26E os contaminei em os seus dons, porquanto faziam passar pelo fogo tudo o que abre a madre: para os assolar, para que soubessem que eu sou o Senhor.

27Portanto falla á casa de Israel, ó filho do homem, e dize-lhe: Assim diz o Senhor Jehovah: Ainda até n'isto me blasphemaram vossos paes, que, com uma transgressão, transgrediram contra mim

28Porque, havendo-os eu introduzido na terra sobre a qual eu levantara a minha mão que lh'a havia de dar, então olharam para todo o outeiro alto, e para toda a arvore espessa, e sacrificaram ali os seus sacrificios, e apresentaram ali a provocação das suas offertas, pozeram ali os seus cheiros suaves, e ali derramaram as suas libações.

29E eu lhes disse: Que alto é este, aonde vós ides? e seu nome foi chamado Bamah até ao dia de hoje.

30Portanto dize á casa de Israel: Assim diz o Senhor Jehovah: Estaes vós contaminados no caminho de vossos paes? e fornicaes após as suas abominações?

31E, quando offereceis os vossos dons, e fazeis passar os vossos filhos pelo fogo, então vós estaes contaminados com todos os vossos idolos, até este dia? e vós me consultarieis, ó casa de Israel? vivo eu, diz o Senhor Jehovah, que vós me não consultareis.

32E o que subiu ao vosso espirito de maneira alguma succederá, quando dizeis: Seremos como as nações, como as demais gerações da terra, servindo ao madeiro e á pedra

33Vivo eu, diz o Senhor Jehovah, que com mão forte, e com braço estendido, e com indignação derramada, hei de reinar sobre vós

34E vos tirarei d'entre os povos, e vos congregarei das terras nas quaes andaes espalhados, com mão forte, e com braço estendido, e com indignação derramada.

35E vos levarei ao deserto dos povos; e ali entrarei em juizo comvosco cara a cara.

36Como já entrei em juizo com vossos paes, no deserto da terra do Egypto, assim entrarei em juizo comvosco, diz o Senhor Jehovah.

37E vos farei passar debaixo da vara, e vos farei entrar no vinculo do concerto.

38E separarei d'entre vós os rebeldes, e os que prevaricaram contra mim; da terra das suas peregrinações os tirarei, mas á terra de Israel não voltarão: e sabereis que eu sou o Senhor.

39E, quanto a vós, ó casa de Israel, assim diz o Senhor Jehovah: Ide, servi cada um os seus idolos, pois que a mim me não quereis ouvir; não profaneis mais o meu sancto nome com as vossas dadivas e com os vossos idolos.

40Porque no meu sancto monte, no monte alto de Israel, diz o Senhor Jehovah, ali me servirá toda a casa de Israel, toda ella n'aquella terra: ali me deleitarei n'elles, e ali demandarei as vossas offertas alçadas, e as primicias das vossas dadivas, com todas as vossas coisas sanctas.

41Com cheiro suave me deleitarei em vós, quando eu vos tirar d'entre os povos e vos congregar das terras em que andaes espalhados; e serei sanctificado em vós perante os olhos das nações.

42E sabereis que eu sou o Senhor, quando eu vos tiver tornado a trazer á terra de Israel, á terra pela qual levantei a minha mão para dal-a a vossos paes.

43E ali vos lembrareis de vossos caminhos, e de todos os vossos tratos com que vos contaminastes, e tereis nojo de vós mesmos, por todas as vossas maldades que tendes commettido.

44E sabereis que eu sou o Senhor, quando eu obrar comvosco por amor do meu nome; não conforme os vossos maus caminhos, nem conforme os vossos tratos corruptos, ó casa de Israel, disse o Senhor Jehovah.

45E veiu a mim a palavra do Senhor, dizendo:

46Filho do homem, dirige o teu rosto para o caminho do sul, e derrama as tuas palavras contra o sul, e prophetiza contra o bosque do campo do sul.

47E dize ao bosque do sul: Ouve a palavra do Senhor: Assim diz o Senhor Jehovah: Eis que accenderei em ti um fogo que em ti consumirá toda a arvore verde e toda a arvore secca: não se apagará a chamma flammejante, antes com ella se queimarão todos os rostos, desde o sul até ao norte.

48E verá toda a carne que eu, o Senhor, o accendi: não se apagará.

49Então disse eu: Ah! Senhor Jehovah! elles dizem de mim: Porventura não falla este por parabolas?

📖 Chapter study

Summary

God recounts the entire history of Israel's rebellion from Egypt up to that moment, but ends by promising to gather the scattered people and purify them so they may serve God in their own land.

Explanation

When the elders come to consult Ezekiel, God responds with a painful historical review: even in Egypt, even in the wilderness, even with the law given at Sinai, the people continually chose idols. The repeated phrase 'for my name's sake' (v.9,14,22) explains why God did not completely destroy Israel earlier: His reputation among the nations was at stake, showing that divine patience is not weakness but faithfulness to His own character. The chapter ends with real hope of restoration, showing that the pattern of human failure does not have the final word over God's plan.

Fun facts

  • The expression 'Bamah' (v.29), which literally means 'high place,' is used as a wordplay in Hebrew: God essentially asks, 'what height is this you go to?' — mocking the idolatrous practice.
  • The mention of the sabbaths as a special sign between God and Israel (v.12,20) is repeated three times in this chapter, showing their importance as a marker of the people's identity during the exile, when they could no longer offer sacrifices at the destroyed temple.

Verse-by-verse explanation

  1. Ezequiel 20:1A new visit from elders of Israel opens the chapter, seeking a word from the Lord through Ezekiel — a scene similar to the one in chapter 14.
  2. Ezequiel 20:2Transition formula: before answering the elders, God prepares Ezekiel with a long review of the people’s history.
  3. Ezequiel 20:3God flatly refuses the elders’ request — before any consultation, they need to hear a long account of their ancestors’ own history of rebellion.
  4. Ezequiel 20:4The order, repeated twice, shows the seriousness of the task: Ezekiel must confront the elders with the complete record of their ancestors’ unfaithfulness.
  5. Ezequiel 20:5The chapter recalls that, as far back as Egypt, the people had already been ordered to abandon the local idols and had already disobeyed — the point is to show that Jerusalem’s rebellion is not a new problem, but the same pattern repeating since the very beginning of the people’s history.
  6. Ezequiel 20:6God recalls the promise made back in Egypt, even before the exodus: a good land, described with the classic phrase “flowing with milk and honey.”
  7. Ezequiel 20:7Even before leaving Egypt, the people were already instructed to abandon the Egyptian idols — the problem of idolatry goes back well before entering the promised land.
  8. Ezequiel 20:8Already at this first stage of the story, the people disobey — God even considers destroying them right there in Egypt, before the journey through the wilderness had even begun.
  9. Ezequiel 20:9God explains why He did not destroy the people on the spot: doing so would have kept His reputation intact before the other nations that already knew Him through the exodus from Egypt.
  10. Ezequiel 20:10Despite the rebellion, God follows through with the original plan and leads the people out of Egypt, toward the wilderness.
  11. Ezequiel 20:11In the wilderness, God gives the laws with a clear promise: keeping these statutes would bring full life to whoever practiced them.
  12. Ezequiel 20:12The Sabbath appears here as a “sign” between God and the people, something to be kept apart — profaning this specific day is treated, in the account, as central to the disobedience in the wilderness, alongside idolatry.
  13. Ezequiel 20:13Even in the wilderness, right after receiving the law, the people rebel again — the pattern of disobedience repeats generation after generation.
  14. Ezequiel 20:14Again, it is concern for His own name before the nations that keeps the people from total destruction at that moment.
  15. Ezequiel 20:15As a consequence of the rebellion in the wilderness, God decides that specific generation would not enter the promised land — a real judgment the Bible records elsewhere.
  16. Ezequiel 20:16The reason is clearly summed up: rejecting the laws, profaning the Sabbath, and a heart divided with idols — the same three problems that appear over and over in the book.
  17. Ezequiel 20:17Despite everything, God does not wipe out the people completely in the wilderness — compassion limits the reach of the judgment, even when it would be justified.
  18. Ezequiel 20:18The next generation receives a direct warning: do not repeat the parents’ mistakes — a call to individual responsibility that echoes the theme of chapter 18.
  19. Ezequiel 20:19It repeats the basic invitation of the covenant: keeping God’s laws was the way to maintain the relationship established from the start.
  20. Ezequiel 20:20The Sabbath is mentioned again as the specific sign of the covenant — a visible marker meant to set the people apart from the surrounding nations.
  21. Ezequiel 20:21The next generation repeats exactly the same mistake as their parents — the pattern of rebellion runs through the generations, despite the specific warnings given to each one.
  22. Ezequiel 20:22Once again, preserving God’s own name before the nations keeps total destruction at bay — a pattern that repeats three times in a row in this historical review.
  23. Ezequiel 20:23Even spared from immediate destruction, the people receive the announcement that they would later be scattered among the nations — a sentence that is fulfilled historically with the exile.
  24. Ezequiel 20:24The list of accusations repeats, almost word for word, the earlier ones — the text builds a deliberately repetitive pattern, showing how the disobedience kept repeating without any real change.
  25. Ezequiel 20:25“I gave them also statutes that were not good” is one of the most debated verses in the book — the most common reading among scholars is that it is ironic or judicial language: because of the people’s stubbornness, God let them go down a path of harsh consequences. There is no settled consensus on the exact meaning of the phrase.
  26. Ezequiel 20:26A difficult verse: God allows the people to sink even deeper into their own bad practices, including child sacrifice, as part of the judgment process that would lead to recognizing who He is.
  27. Ezequiel 20:27After the historical review of the wilderness, the speech moves on to the period already inside the promised land — a new phase of accusations.
  28. Ezequiel 20:28As soon as they enter the good land they were promised, the people rush to the idolatrous altars scattered on the hills — the blessing they received immediately becomes an occasion for unfaithfulness.
  29. Ezequiel 20:29“Bamah,” the name given to the place of the high places, is a Hebrew wordplay on the very word for “high place” — God asks, with irony, “What is the high place whereunto ye go?” mocking the custom.
  30. Ezequiel 20:30God directly links the current generation, the elders sitting before Ezekiel, to the same historical pattern of unfaithfulness that has just been described.
  31. Ezequiel 20:31God repeats the refusal from the start of the chapter, now with the full accusation laid out: as long as the idolatry continues to this day, there is no room for consultation as if nothing had happened.
  32. Ezequiel 20:32God anticipates and rejects an idea that had crossed the people’s minds: giving up on being different and simply adopting the gods of the neighboring nations.
  33. Ezequiel 20:33Instead of allowing that surrender, God reaffirms He will remain in control, with the same power He used to bring the people out of Egypt.
  34. Ezequiel 20:34The same language used to describe the exodus from Egypt is reapplied here to a future regathering of the people scattered among the nations.
  35. Ezequiel 20:35God announces something like a repeat of the wilderness experience, now with the scattered nations serving as the setting for a new, direct confrontation with the people.
  36. Ezequiel 20:36The historical parallel is stated openly: the coming judgment will follow the same pattern as the judgment in the wilderness after leaving Egypt.
  37. Ezequiel 20:37The image of passing under the rod comes from the shepherd’s practice of counting and sorting the flock — God will select and reaffirm the covenant individually with each one.
  38. Ezequiel 20:38Part of this process is a screening: whoever insists on rebellion will not make it back into the land, even while leaving exile together with the others.
  39. Ezequiel 20:39In an almost ironic tone of giving up, God tells the people to go serve their own idols, since they will not listen — but asks at least that they stop mixing that with the worship that should belong to Him alone.
  40. Ezequiel 20:40After the harsh tone, comes the promise of a fully restored future worship, centered on the holy mountain, without the division that marked the whole history told before.
  41. Ezequiel 20:41The restoration is described as something that will also affect God’s reputation before the other nations — the same reason used earlier to spare the people now appears tied to His future glory.
  42. Ezequiel 20:42The final recognition of who God is comes through the concrete fulfillment of the ancient promise made to the ancestors — the land promised centuries before.
  43. Ezequiel 20:43The restoration does not come with forgetting: the people will remember their own past and feel genuine shame over their own choices.
  44. Ezequiel 20:44The chapter closes reinforcing that the restoration is not a reward for good behavior — it is motivated by God’s own name, despite the people’s poor track record.
  45. Ezequiel 20:45Transition formula: introduces a short, different oracle, directed against a forest in the south.
  46. Ezequiel 20:46The target shifts: Ezekiel is ordered to announce judgment against a southern region, symbolically described as a forest.
  47. Ezequiel 20:47The fire that consumes green and dry trees alike is an image of total destruction, with no distinction between what still had life and what was already dead.
  48. Ezequiel 20:48God openly claims authorship of this symbolic fire — it is not a natural disaster, it is a deliberate act of judgment.
  49. Ezequiel 20:49Ezekiel reacts with a complaint: the people around him complain that he only speaks in riddles — a complaint that sets up the more direct explanation that comes right in the next chapter.

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