Ezekiel 7:20

20 Proud and pretentious with their jewels, they deck out their vile and vulgar no-gods in finery. I'll make those god-obscenities a stench in their nostrils.

Ezekiel 7:20 Meaning and Commentary

Ezekiel 7:20

As for the beauty of his ornament, he set it in majesty
Or, "for pride" F9. The gold, silver, jewels, riches, and treasure, which the Lord gave to this people, they made a bad use of; and instead of contributing to the support of his worship and interest, and of giving liberally to the poor, they converted it to their own pride and luxury: or rather the temple, as Jarchi and Kimchi interpret it, is meant; which was a beautiful structure, and adorned with gifts, and set for glory, majesty, and excellency by the Lord; yea, where his excellent Majesty dwelt himself: but they made the images of their abominations [and] of their
detestable things therein;
or, "of it" F11; that is, of their gold and silver, which is another bad use they put their riches to: or rather "in it" F12; that is, the temple; where, having made their idols, they placed them; see ( Jeremiah 7:30 ) ; therefore have I set it far from them;
that being destroyed, and they being carried away captive into a strange land, far from that.


FOOTNOTES:

F9 (Nwagl) "in superbiam", V. L. Calvin, Starckius.
F11 (wb) "ex eo", Tigurine version.
F12 "In eo". Pagninus, Montanus, Polanus, Junius & Tremellius, Piscator, Starckius.

Ezekiel 7:20 In-Context

18 They dress in rough burlap - sorry scarecrows, Shifty and shamefaced, with their heads shaved bald.
19 "'They throw their money into the gutters. Their hard-earned cash stinks like garbage. They find that it won't buy a thing they either want or need on Judgment Day. They tripped on money and fell into sin.
20 Proud and pretentious with their jewels, they deck out their vile and vulgar no-gods in finery. I'll make those god-obscenities a stench in their nostrils.
21 I'll give away their religious junk - strangers will pick it up for free, the godless spit on it and make jokes.
22 I'll turn my face so I won't have to look as my treasured place and people are violated, As violent strangers walk in and desecrate place and people -
Published by permission. Originally published by NavPress in English as THE MESSAGE: The Bible in Contemporary Language copyright 2002 by Eugene Peterson. All rights reserved.