Ezekiel 20:35

And I will bring you into the wilderness of the people, and there will I plead with you face to face.

And I will bring {H935} you into the wilderness {H4057} of the people {H5971}, and there will I plead {H8199} with you face {H6440} to face {H6440}.

then I will bring you into the desert of the peoples and judge you face to face.

And I will bring you into the wilderness of the nations, where I will enter into judgment with you face to face.

and I will bring you into the wilderness of the peoples, and there will I enter into judgment with you face to face.

Ezekiel 20:35 is a powerful declaration from God, delivered through the prophet Ezekiel to the exiled Israelites in Babylon. It speaks of a future divine intervention, characterized by both judgment and a unique, direct confrontation.

Context of Ezekiel 20:35

Chapter 20 of Ezekiel is a profound historical survey of Israel's persistent rebellion and idolatry, spanning from their time in Egypt through their wilderness wanderings and into the land of Canaan. God recounts His gracious acts and their repeated rejection of His statutes. The surrounding verses in Ezekiel 20 detail God's intent to gather the scattered exiles from the Gentile lands, but not without first bringing them into a place of intense scrutiny and judgment. This verse, therefore, serves as a pivotal point, outlining the nature of this impending divine reckoning before a promised restoration for the people of Israel.

Key Themes and Messages

  • Divine Judgment and Purification: The phrase "wilderness of the people" signifies a place of separation and testing, not necessarily a physical desert like Sinai, but a symbolic spiritual wilderness among the nations where God will purify His people. This is a period of intense divine discipline, designed to purge the rebellious elements from within Israel.
  • Direct Divine Confrontation: "Plead with you face to face" emphasizes the personal and direct nature of God's interaction. It's a judicial encounter, where God Himself will lay out His case against their disobedience and idolatry. This is not a distant judgment but an intimate, albeit stern, reckoning.
  • Sovereignty in Discipline: God declares, "I will bring you," underscoring His absolute control over Israel's circumstances, even their exile and the subsequent period of intense judgment. This reaffirms God's ultimate authority over the destiny of His people.

Linguistic Insights

The Hebrew word translated "plead" is shaphat (שָׁפַט), which carries the meaning of "to judge," "to contend," or "to govern." It implies a legal process, a divine lawsuit where God acts as the judge and prosecutor, bringing His people to account. This is a deeper, more formal confrontation than a simple argument. The phrase "wilderness of the people" (midbar ha'amim) is unique to Ezekiel, distinguishing it from the traditional wilderness of Sinai. It suggests a desolate place *among* the nations, where Israel's true spiritual state will be revealed.

Cross-References and Connections

The concept of God bringing His people into a "wilderness" for testing and renewal echoes Israel's original journey out of Egypt, as seen in passages like Deuteronomy 8:2. The idea of God "pleading" or contending with His people is also found elsewhere, for instance, in Isaiah 1:18, where God invites Israel to reason with Him. While "face to face" might remind some of God speaking with Moses (Exodus 33:11), here it is in a context of judgment rather than intimate revelation. This period of judgment ultimately paves the way for the new covenant and restoration promised in Jeremiah 31:31 and Ezekiel 36:26-27, where God promises a new heart and spirit.

Practical Application

For believers today, Ezekiel 20:35 reminds us that God is actively involved in our lives, even in difficult circumstances. Periods of spiritual "wilderness" or intense testing can be opportunities for God to confront areas of disobedience, purify our motives, and draw us into a deeper, more authentic relationship with Him. It underscores the importance of accountability before God and the understanding that divine discipline, though painful, is ultimately for our good and leads to spiritual growth and restoration. God's judgment is often mingled with His redemptive purpose, bringing about spiritual purification.

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.

  • Hosea 2:14

    ¶ Therefore, behold, I will allure her, and bring her into the wilderness, and speak comfortably unto her.

  • Jeremiah 2:35

    Yet thou sayest, Because I am innocent, surely his anger shall turn from me. Behold, I will plead with thee, because thou sayest, I have not sinned.

  • Ezekiel 20:36

    Like as I pleaded with your fathers in the wilderness of the land of Egypt, so will I plead with you, saith the Lord GOD.

  • Ezekiel 17:20

    And I will spread my net upon him, and he shall be taken in my snare, and I will bring him to Babylon, and will plead with him there for his trespass that he hath trespassed against me.

  • Ezekiel 19:13

    And now she [is] planted in the wilderness, in a dry and thirsty ground.

  • Revelation 12:14

    And to the woman were given two wings of a great eagle, that she might fly into the wilderness, into her place, where she is nourished for a time, and times, and half a time, from the face of the serpent.

  • Micah 4:10

    Be in pain, and labour to bring forth, O daughter of Zion, like a woman in travail: for now shalt thou go forth out of the city, and thou shalt dwell in the field, and thou shalt go [even] to Babylon; there shalt thou be delivered; there the LORD shall redeem thee from the hand of thine enemies.

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