Ezekiel 20:44

44 You will know that I am the LORD, when I deal with you for my name’s sake and not according to your evil ways and your corrupt practices, you people of Israel, declares the Sovereign LORD.’ ”

Ezekiel 20:44 in Other Translations

KJV
44 And ye shall know that I am the LORD, when I have wrought with you for my name's sake, not according to your wicked ways, nor according to your corrupt doings, O ye house of Israel, saith the Lord GOD.
ESV
44 And you shall know that I am the LORD, when I deal with you for my name's sake, not according to your evil ways, nor according to your corrupt deeds, O house of Israel, declares the Lord GOD."
NLT
44 You will know that I am the LORD, O people of Israel, when I have honored my name by treating you mercifully in spite of your wickedness. I, the Sovereign LORD, have spoken!”
MSG
44 "'But, dear Israel, you'll also realize that I am God when I respond to you out of who I am, not by what I feel about the evil lives you've lived, the corrupt history you've compiled. Decree of God, the Master.'" Nobody Will Put Out the Fire
CSB
44 You will know that I am the Lord, house of Israel, when I have dealt with you because of My name rather than according to your evil ways and corrupt acts." [This is] the declaration of the Lord God .

Ezekiel 20:44 Meaning and Commentary

Ezekiel 20:44

And ye shall know that I am the Lord
Jehovah their righteousness, their Redeemer and Saviour, Lord and King; they shall know Christ, and him crucified, and God in Christ as their covenant God; (See Gill on Ezekiel 20:42); when I have wrought with you for my name's sake; in the thorough conversion of them; not that there is any cooperation with God in that work; ministers indeed are coworkers, not as efficients, but instruments; persons converted are wholly passive in the first work of conversion or regeneration; and in all later actings move as they are acted, turn being turned, walk and run being drawn, not being able to do anything as of themselves: but the phrase signifies a working in favour of them; doing great things for them, and good things in them, well pleasing in his sight, and good unto them; plucking them as brands out of the burning; taking them out of the hands of Satan; calling them out of darkness into light, and bringing them out of bondage into liberty; and all this for his own name's sake,
of his own will and pleasure, according to his abundant mercy, and for the glory of his rich grace: not according to your wicked ways, not according to your corrupt
doings, O ye house of Israel, saith the Lord God;
had he, they must have perished in their sins, and been miserable for ever; but he neither proceeds according to the bad works nor the good works of men, in calling and converting them, but according to his own purpose and grace, ( 2 Timothy 1:9 ) , their evil works do not hinder his grace when he is resolved to work, and their good works do not merit it; he acts freely, and in a sovereign way.

Ezekiel 20:44 In-Context

42 Then you will know that I am the LORD, when I bring you into the land of Israel, the land I had sworn with uplifted hand to give to your ancestors.
43 There you will remember your conduct and all the actions by which you have defiled yourselves, and you will loathe yourselves for all the evil you have done.
44 You will know that I am the LORD, when I deal with you for my name’s sake and not according to your evil ways and your corrupt practices, you people of Israel, declares the Sovereign LORD.’ ”
45 The word of the LORD came to me:
46 “Son of man, set your face toward the south; preach against the south and prophesy against the forest of the southland.

Cross References 2

  • 1. Psalms 109:21; Isaiah 43:25; Ezekiel 36:22
  • 2. S Ezekiel 16:62; Ezekiel 36:32; Ezekiel 24:24
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