Ezekiel 8:10

10 So I went in and looked. The walls were covered with drawings of snakes and other unclean animals, and of the other things which the Israelites were worshiping.

Ezekiel 8:10 Meaning and Commentary

Ezekiel 8:10

So I went in and saw; and behold every form of creeping
things
As beetles and others, worshipped for gods: and abominable beasts;
unclean ones; not only oxen, but dogs and cats, and other impure creatures; for such were the gods of the Egyptians, from whom the Jews took their deities: and all the idols of the house of Israel;
which were many, even as numerous as their cities: portrayed upon the wall round about;
the pictures of them were drawn and placed around the wall of the room or chamber; and where they were worshipped by the priests and Levites, and members of the sanhedrim; and this was not in one chamber only, but in many, as appears from ( Ezekiel 8:12 ) .

Ezekiel 8:10 In-Context

8 He said, "Mortal man, break through the wall here." I broke through it and found a door.
9 He told me, "Go in and look at the evil, disgusting things they are doing there."
10 So I went in and looked. The walls were covered with drawings of snakes and other unclean animals, and of the other things which the Israelites were worshiping.
11 Seventy Israelite leaders were there, including Jaazaniah son of Shaphan. Each one was holding an incense burner, and smoke was rising from the incense.
12 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.' "

Footnotes 1

  • [a]. unclean animals: [The Law of Moses prohibited the eating of certain animals as being ritually unclean (see 4.13; Lv 11).]
Scripture taken from the Good News Translation - Second Edition, Copyright 1992 by American Bible Society. Used by Permission.