Ezekiel 20:8

8 "But they ¹rebelled against Me and were not willing to listen to Me; they did not cast away the detestable things of their eyes, nor did they forsake the ²idols of Egypt. Then I resolved to ³pour out My wrath on them, to accomplish My anger against them in the midst of the land of Egypt.

Ezekiel 20:8 Meaning and Commentary

Ezekiel 20:8

But they rebelled against me
All sin is rebellion against God, an act of hostility, especially idolatry; it is refusing homage and casting off allegiance to him: and would not hearken unto me;
to his word by his prophets; so the Targum,

``they rebelled against my word, and would not receive my prophets:''

they did not every man cast away the abominations of his eyes, neither
did they forsake the idols of the Gentiles;
whence it appears that there were some among them that did give in to the idolatry of the Egyptians; and could not be prevailed upon to relinquish it, notwithstanding the favours shown them, and the promises made unto them. The Jewish writers, Jarchi and Kimchi, say that there were many of these wicked men among the Israelites when Moses was sent to them; and that they died in the time of the three days' darkness, so that the Egyptians did not see their fall, and rejoice at it; then I said, I will pour out my fury upon them;
he threatened them, by his prophets, that he would bring down deserved wrath upon them, like a mighty shower of rain: to accomplish mine anger against them;
to bring it upon them to the utmost, and consume them with it: in the midst of the land of Egypt;
and so not bring them forth from thence, is he had promised; but cut them off in it, for their sins and rebellions.

Ezekiel 20:8 In-Context

6 on that day I swore to them, to bring them out from the land of Egypt into a land that I had selected for them, flowing with milk and honey, which is the glory of all lands.

7 "I said to them, 'Cast away, each of you, the detestable things of his eyes, and do not defile yourselves with the idols of Egypt; I am the LORD your God.'

8 "But they rebelled against Me and were not willing to listen to Me; they did not cast away the detestable things of their eyes, nor did they forsake the idols of Egypt. Then I resolved to pour out My wrath on them, to accomplish My anger against them in the midst of the land of Egypt.

9 "But I acted for the sake of My name, that it should not be profaned in the sight of the nations among whom they lived, in whose sight I made Myself known to them by bringing them out of the land of Egypt.

10 "So I took them out of the land of Egypt and brought them into the wilderness.

Cross References

• 1. Deuteronomy 9:7; Isaiah 63:10
• 2. Exodus 32:1-9
• 3. Ezekiel 5:13; Ezekiel 7:8; Ezekiel 20:13, 21

Footnotes

• [a] Lit "each one"
• [b] Lit "said"