Ezekiel 18:6

[And] hath not eaten upon the mountains, neither hath lifted up his eyes to the idols of the house of Israel, neither hath defiled his neighbour's wife, neither hath come near to a menstruous woman,

And hath not eaten {H398} upon the mountains {H2022}, neither hath lifted up {H5375} his eyes {H5869} to the idols {H1544} of the house {H1004} of Israel {H3478}, neither hath defiled {H2930} his neighbour's {H7453} wife {H802}, neither hath come near {H7126} to a menstruous {H5079} woman {H802},

He doesn't eat on the mountains or raise his eyes toward the idols of the house of Isra'el; he doesn't defile his neighbor's wife or touch a woman during her time of menstrual impurity;

He does not eat at the mountain or look to the idols of the house of Israel. He does not defile his neighbor’s wife or approach a woman during her period.

and hath not eaten upon the mountains, neither hath lifted up his eyes to the idols of the house of Israel, neither hath defiled his neighbor’s wife, neither hath come near to a woman in her impurity,

Ezekiel 18:6 is part of a crucial chapter in the Book of Ezekiel, where God directly addresses the prevailing misconception among the exiled Israelites that children were being punished for the sins of their parents. Instead, this verse, along with others in the chapter, outlines the characteristics of a righteous person who would live by God's standards.

Context

The prophet Ezekiel ministered during the Babylonian exile, a period of immense national suffering and questioning. The exiles often blamed their ancestors for their predicament, encapsulated in the proverb, "The fathers have eaten sour grapes, and the children's teeth are set on edge" (Ezekiel 18:2). God, through Ezekiel, emphatically declares His individual justice and accountability, stating that each soul who sins will die, and a righteous person will surely live. Verse 6 describes specific behaviors that demonstrate adherence to God's covenant and moral law.

Key Themes and Messages

  • Rejection of Idolatry: "Hath not eaten upon the mountains, neither hath lifted up his eyes to the idols of the house of Israel." This refers to the pagan practices of worshipping false gods at "high places" or mountain shrines, often involving ritual feasts and sacrifices. A righteous person completely abstains from such abominations, upholding the first commandment to have no other gods before the Lord.
  • Moral Purity and Fidelity: "Neither hath defiled his neighbour's wife." This is a direct prohibition against adultery, a fundamental violation of the Seventh Commandment. It emphasizes the importance of sexual purity, faithfulness in marriage, and respect for others' relationships.
  • Adherence to Ritual Purity Laws: "Neither hath come near to a menstruous woman." This refers to the laws concerning ritual uncleanness found in the Mosaic Law, specifically in Leviticus 15:19-24. While not a moral sin, coming into contact with a menstruous woman rendered one ritually unclean for a period, requiring purification. This command highlights the righteous individual's commitment to observing all aspects of God's detailed covenant, including those pertaining to holiness and separation.

Linguistic Insights

The phrase "eaten upon the mountains" (Hebrew: 'akal al-heharim) vividly depicts participation in pagan cultic feasts held at elevated shrines. The term "idols" (Hebrew: gillulim) is a derogatory term used by Ezekiel, meaning "dung-gods" or "pellets of dung," underscoring the prophet's contempt for false deities.

Practical Application

Ezekiel 18:6 offers timeless principles for righteous living. While some of the specific ritual laws have been fulfilled or reinterpreted in the New Covenant, the underlying principles remain vital:

  • Exclusive Devotion to God: We are called to reject all forms of modern "idolatry" – anything that takes the place of God in our lives, whether it be wealth, power, pleasure, or self.
  • Sexual Purity and Marital Fidelity: The call to moral purity and faithfulness in relationships is a cornerstone of biblical ethics, promoting healthy families and communities.
  • Obedience to God's Word: The adherence to ritual laws, however specific, illustrates a heart committed to obeying God's revealed will in all its forms, demonstrating a desire for holiness and separation unto Him.

This verse reminds us that true righteousness involves both abstaining from evil and actively pursuing obedience to God's commands, reflecting a personal commitment to the Lord.

Note: Commentary was generated by an advanced AI, utilizing a prompt that emphasized Biblical fidelity over bias. We've found these insights to be consistently reliable, yet we always encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

  • Ezekiel 18:15

    [That] hath not eaten upon the mountains, neither hath lifted up his eyes to the idols of the house of Israel, hath not defiled his neighbour's wife,

  • Deuteronomy 4:19

    And lest thou lift up thine eyes unto heaven, and when thou seest the sun, and the moon, and the stars, [even] all the host of heaven, shouldest be driven to worship them, and serve them, which the LORD thy God hath divided unto all nations under the whole heaven.

  • Ezekiel 22:9

    In thee are men that carry tales to shed blood: and in thee they eat upon the mountains: in the midst of thee they commit lewdness.

  • Ezekiel 22:11

    And one hath committed abomination with his neighbour's wife; and another hath lewdly defiled his daughter in law; and another in thee hath humbled his sister, his father's daughter.

  • Ezekiel 6:13

    Then shall ye know that I [am] the LORD, when their slain [men] shall be among their idols round about their altars, upon every high hill, in all the tops of the mountains, and under every green tree, and under every thick oak, the place where they did offer sweet savour to all their idols.

  • Ezekiel 20:24

    Because they had not executed my judgments, but had despised my statutes, and had polluted my sabbaths, and their eyes were after their fathers' idols.

  • Ezekiel 18:11

    And that doeth not any of those [duties], but even hath eaten upon the mountains, and defiled his neighbour's wife,

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