Ezekiel 20:22

22 But I restrained myself and acted for the sake of my name so that it wouldn't be diminished in the sight of the nations who saw me lead them out of Egypt.

Ezekiel 20:22 Meaning and Commentary

Ezekiel 20:22

Nevertheless I withdrew mine hand
When it was stretched out against them, as in the above instance, and did not utterly consume them. The Targum is,

``and I turned away the stroke of my might:''

and wrought for my name's sake, that it should not be polluted in the
sight of the heathen, in whose sight I brought them forth.
(See Gill on Ezekiel 20:9) and (See Gill on Ezekiel 20:14).

Ezekiel 20:22 In-Context

20 Make my sabbaths holy, and let them be a sign between us that I am the LORD your God.

21 But the children rebelled against me. They didn't follow my regulations or observe my case laws, which bring life to all who observe them. They also degraded my sabbaths. So I declared that I would pour out my wrath on them and satisfy my anger against them in the desert.

22 But I restrained myself and acted for the sake of my name so that it wouldn't be diminished in the sight of the nations who saw me lead them out of Egypt.

23 And I swore yet another solemn pledge in the desert, that I would disperse them among the nations and scatter them throughout the earth,

24 because they didn't observe my case laws, they rejected my regulations, and they degraded my sabbaths while they kept looking to their parents' idols.