Ezekiel 20:22

Nevertheless I withdrew mine hand, 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.

Nevertheless I withdrew {H7725} mine hand {H3027}, and wrought {H6213} for my name's {H8034} sake, that it should not be polluted {H2490} in the sight {H5869} of the heathen {H1471}, in whose sight {H5869} I brought them forth {H3318}.

Nevertheless, I withdrew my hand and allowed concern for my own reputation to keep me from letting it be profaned in the sight of the nations who had seen when I brought them out.

But I withheld My hand and acted for the sake of My name, so that it would not be profaned in the eyes of the nations in whose sight I had brought them out.

Nevertheless I withdrew my hand, and wrought for my name’s sake, that it should not be profaned in the sight of the nations, in whose sight I brought them forth.

Commentary

Ezekiel 20:22 is part of a powerful historical sermon delivered by the prophet Ezekiel to the elders of Israel. In this chapter, God recounts the persistent rebellion of His people from the time of their deliverance from Egypt, through their wilderness wanderings, and into the land of Canaan. Despite their idolatry and disobedience, God consistently acted with forbearance, not because of Israel's merit, but for the sake of His own holy name.

Context

This verse specifically refers to a moment in the wilderness, after God had already brought Israel out of Egypt and given them His statutes. Even the second generation, witnessing the consequences of their fathers' rebellion, continued to provoke God with their idolatry and refusal to keep His laws. God states, "Nevertheless I withdrew mine hand," indicating He restrained His full wrath and did not consume them as their rebellion deserved. This divine restraint is a recurring theme in the history narrated in Ezekiel 20, demonstrating God's long-suffering patience with His people.

Key Themes

  • God's Sovereignty and Reputation: The central motivation for God's actions is His own glory. He "wrought for my name's sake," emphasizing that His primary concern was the preservation of His holy reputation among the nations. This is a foundational biblical truth: God acts ultimately for His own glory, not solely for humanity's benefit, though humanity often benefits greatly. As Isaiah 48:11 declares, God will not give His glory to another.
  • Preventing Profanation of His Name: God's concern was "that it should not be polluted in the sight of the heathen." The Hebrew word for "polluted" (chalal) means to profane or desecrate. If God had utterly destroyed Israel in the wilderness, the surrounding pagan nations, who had witnessed the miraculous Exodus from Egypt, might have concluded that the God of Israel was weak, unable to save His people, or capricious. God's restraint ensured His power and faithfulness were not misinterpreted or blasphemed by those who did not know Him. This concern for His name among the nations is also seen in Moses' intercession in Numbers 14.
  • Divine Forbearance: Despite Israel's persistent provocation, God's mercy prevailed. He chose not to execute the full measure of judgment, demonstrating His infinite patience and His commitment to His covenant purposes, even when His people proved unfaithful.

Linguistic Insights

The phrase "for my name's sake" (Hebrew: lema'an shmi) is crucial. It signifies that God's actions are driven by His character, His reputation, and His inherent holiness. His "name" represents His entire being and all that He is. To act for His name's sake means to act in a way that upholds His divine attributes and ensures His glory is recognized.

Practical Application

This verse reminds us that God's ultimate motivation is His own glory. While He loves humanity and desires our well-being, His actions are always consistent with His holy character and His purpose to display His greatness to all creation. For believers, this means our lives should also be lived "for His name's sake," seeking to honor Him and reflect His character to a watching world. It also offers comfort in understanding that God's faithfulness is not dependent on our perfection, but on His unchanging nature and His commitment to His own glorious name.

Note: If the commentary doesn’t appear instantly, please allow 2–5 seconds for it to load. It is generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash using a prompt focused on Biblical fidelity over bias. While the insights have been consistently reliable, we encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit.

Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated — the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • Ezekiel 20:14

    But I wrought for my name's sake, that it should not be polluted before the heathen, in whose sight I brought them out.

  • Ezekiel 20:9

    But I wrought for my name's sake, that it should not be polluted before the heathen, among whom they [were], in whose sight I made myself known unto them, in bringing them forth out of the land of Egypt.

  • Psalms 78:38

    But he, [being] full of compassion, forgave [their] iniquity, and destroyed [them] not: yea, many a time turned he his anger away, and did not stir up all his wrath.

  • Isaiah 48:9

    ¶ For my name's sake will I defer mine anger, and for my praise will I refrain for thee, that I cut thee not off.

  • Isaiah 48:11

    For mine own sake, [even] for mine own sake, will I do [it]: for how should [my name] be polluted? and I will not give my glory unto another.

  • Jeremiah 14:21

    Do not abhor [us], for thy name's sake, do not disgrace the throne of thy glory: remember, break not thy covenant with us.

  • Ezekiel 20:17

    Nevertheless mine eye spared them from destroying them, neither did I make an end of them in the wilderness.
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