Ezekiel 20:39

KJV

As for you, O house of Israel, thus saith the Lord GOD; Go ye, serve ye every one his idols, and hereafter [also], if ye will not hearken unto me: but pollute ye my holy name no more with your gifts, and with your idols.

KJV (with Strong's)

As for you, O house {H1004} of Israel {H3478}, thus saith {H559} the Lord {H136} GOD {H3069}; Go {H3212} ye, serve {H5647} ye every one {H376} his idols {H1544}, and hereafter {H310} also, if ye will not hearken {H8085} unto me: but pollute {H2490} ye my holy {H6944} name {H8034} no more with your gifts {H4979}, and with your idols {H1544}.

Complete Jewish Bible

"As for you, house of Isra'el, here is what Adonai ELOHIM says: 'Go on serving your idols, every one of you! But afterwards, [I swear that] you will listen to me, and you will no longer profane my holy name with your gifts and with your idols.

Berean Standard Bible

And as for you, O house of Israel, this is what the Lord GOD says: Go and serve your idols, every one of you. But afterward, you will surely listen to Me, and you will no longer defile My holy name with your gifts and idols.

American Standard Version

As for you, O house of Israel, thus saith the Lord Jehovah: Go ye, serve every one his idols, and hereafter also, if ye will not hearken unto me; but my holy name shall ye no more profane with your gifts, and with your idols.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Ezekiel 20:39 presents a searing divine rebuke to the house of Israel, conveying the Lord GOD's profound frustration with their persistent spiritual hypocrisy and syncretistic worship. It functions as a sharp, rhetorical challenge: if they are so intent on serving their pagan idols, they should do so completely, but they are absolutely forbidden from continuing to defile God's sacred name by attempting to blend their idolatrous practices and offerings with the worship due exclusively to Him. The verse powerfully underscores God's demand for unadulterated devotion and His utter intolerance for any form of spiritual compromise.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Ezekiel 20:39 is strategically placed within a lengthy and intense prophetic discourse in [Ezekiel chapter 20](/ezekiel/20 "Ezekiel 20 - Israel's Rebellious History and God's Future Restoration"), where God, speaking through the prophet, meticulously recounts Israel's unbroken history of rebellion and idolatry, spanning from their time in Egypt, through the wilderness wanderings, and into their settlement in the Promised Land. This exhaustive historical review serves as a severe indictment, highlighting God's enduring faithfulness despite His people's repeated and profound unfaithfulness. Verse 39 acts as a climactic, exasperated declaration, immediately preceding God's solemn promise to gather Israel from the nations and bring them into a future "wilderness of the peoples" for a purifying judgment, ultimately leading to their restoration and a renewed covenant relationship, as detailed in [Ezekiel 20:40-44](/ezekiel/20-40-44 "EEzekiel 20:40-44 - Future Restoration, Judgment, and Acceptance of Offerings"). It underscores the absolute nature of God's demand for exclusive worship, setting the stage for the drastic divine action necessary to uphold His holiness.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The prophetic ministry of Ezekiel unfolds during the Babylonian exile, a period of immense national crisis and theological reckoning for the people of Judah. Despite the catastrophe of exile, many Israelites, including those already deported, continued to cling to idolatry and a false sense of security, believing that Jerusalem and God's Temple would remain inviolable. Culturally, the ancient Near East was characterized by pervasive polytheism, where it was common practice for nations and individuals to worship a multitude of deities or to assimilate foreign gods into their existing pantheon. Israel, however, was uniquely called to be a distinct, holy nation devoted solely to Yahweh, yet they consistently succumbed to the syncretistic practices of their neighbors, attempting to worship both the Lord and the idols of the surrounding nations. This verse specifically addresses the profound hypocrisy of offering "gifts" (sacrifices and offerings) to the Lord while simultaneously engaging in the worship of idols, a practice explicitly and repeatedly forbidden by the Mosaic Law, as seen in foundational commands like [Deuteronomy 6:14](/deuteronomy/6-14 "Deuteronomy 6:14 - Do Not Go After Other Gods").
* **Key Themes:** This verse powerfully contributes to several overarching themes prominent in Ezekiel and the broader Old Testament narrative. Foremost is the theme of **God's Demand for Exclusive Worship**, emphasizing His absolute sovereignty and His non-negotiable requirement for undivided devotion, a principle articulated in the very first commandment: "You shall have no other gods before me" ([Exodus 20:3](/exodus/20-3 "Exodus 20:3 - The First Commandment")). The Lord consistently reveals Himself as a jealous God who will not share His glory with idols, as declared in [Isaiah 42:8](/isaiah/42-8 "Isaiah 42:8 - God Will Not Share His Glory"). Another critical theme is the **Profanation of God's Holy Name**. By attempting to mix their worship of Yahweh with idolatrous practices, Israel treated God's sacredness as common or defiled it, implying He was merely one deity among many. This act was a profound affront to His unique holiness and covenantal identity, a form of defilement repeatedly condemned throughout prophetic literature, such as in [Amos 2:7](/amos/2-7 "Amos 2:7 - Profaning God's Holy Name"). Finally, the verse highlights God's **Rejection of Hypocrisy and Spiritual Compromise**. God expresses a preference for open rebellion over duplicitous worship, where outward acts of devotion to Him are undermined by inward allegiance to other gods or worldly pursuits, demonstrating His demand for integrity of heart.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS

#### Key Word Analysis
* **house (Hebrew, _bayith'_):** This term (H1004), while literally referring to a physical dwelling, is used here in a broader, figurative sense as "house of Israel." It signifies the entire nation, the collective people, the family, or the lineage of Jacob. In this context, it emphasizes that God's rebuke is directed at the entire covenant community, highlighting their corporate responsibility and shared spiritual failure, rather than just isolated individuals.
* **idols (Hebrew, _gillûwl'_):** Derived from a root meaning "to roll," this word (H1544) literally refers to a "log" or something "rolled." It is used contemptuously throughout the Old Testament, particularly by Ezekiel, to denote "dung-gods" or "filthy things." This derogatory term underscores God's utter disdain and contempt for the pagan deities Israel worshipped, stripping them of any perceived power, dignity, or sacredness and exposing them as worthless, defiling objects.
* **pollute (Hebrew, _châlal'_):** This primitive root (H2490) carries the primary meaning "to bore" or "to wound," but figuratively it means "to profane," "to defile," or "to make common." When applied to God's holy name, it signifies the act of desecrating or stripping away its sacredness. Israel's syncretistic worship, bringing "gifts" to God while simultaneously serving idols, effectively dragged God's holy reputation down to the level of common, defiled pagan deities, thereby violating His unique and set-apart nature.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"As for you, O house of Israel, thus saith the Lord GOD; Go ye, serve ye every one his idols, and hereafter [also], if ye will not hearken unto me:"** This opening clause is a powerful expression of divine exasperation and biting sarcasm. It is not a genuine command to serve idols, but a rhetorical challenge born of profound frustration. God is essentially saying, "If you are so determined to worship your idols, then go ahead and do it fully and openly! Stop pretending to serve Me while your hearts are divided." The phrase "and hereafter [also]" emphasizes the persistent nature of their disobedience and suggests that if they continue in their unfaithfulness, they might as well fully commit to their idolatry rather than maintaining a hypocritical facade. The conditional "if ye will not hearken unto me" highlights their willful disobedience and rejection of God's covenant commands, revealing the source of divine frustration.
* **"but pollute ye my holy name no more with your gifts, and with your idols."** This is the core prohibition and the true, non-sarcastic intent of the Lord's message. The preceding "command" to serve idols is immediately counteracted by the absolute demand to cease defiling God's name. "My holy name" refers to God's character, reputation, and very being, which is inherently set apart and sacred. Israel's "gifts" (sacrifices and offerings) became instruments of pollution when they were offered to God while the people simultaneously engaged in idol worship. This syncretism implied that God was no different from the "idols," which were explicitly called "filthy things" (H1544). The combination of "gifts" and "idols" reveals the depth of their hypocrisy: they tried to maintain a semblance of devotion to Yahweh while their hearts and practices were fundamentally divided, thereby desecrating His unique holiness and bringing His name into disrepute.

#### Literary Devices
Ezekiel 20:39 employs several potent literary devices to convey its message with striking force and clarity. **Sarcasm** is perhaps the most prominent, as God's initial command, "Go ye, serve ye every one his idols," is clearly not an endorsement but a bitter, exasperated challenge to Israel's spiritual duplicity. This is immediately followed by a sharp **antithesis** ("but pollute ye my holy name no more"), contrasting the false freedom to serve idols with the absolute prohibition against defiling God's holiness. The use of "my holy name" is a powerful instance of **metonymy**, where "name" stands for God's entire character, reputation, and divine essence, emphasizing the gravity of their offense against His very being. The repeated mention of "idols" (Hebrew _gillûwl_) is a form of **dysphemism**, using a demeaning and contemptuous term (often translated as "dung-gods" or "filthy things") to express God's utter disdain for these false deities, stripping them of any power or reverence and highlighting their true worthlessness.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Ezekiel 20:39 profoundly articulates God's unwavering demand for exclusive worship and His abhorrence of spiritual syncretism. It reveals that God values genuine, undivided devotion over hypocritical ritualism or outward acts of piety performed with a divided heart. The Lord would rather His people openly reject Him than pretend to serve Him while simultaneously honoring other gods, as such mixed worship fundamentally defiles His holy character and reputation. This principle extends beyond overt idolatry to any divided allegiance in the believer's life, challenging the notion that one can serve both God and worldly masters without compromising divine holiness and the integrity of one's faith.

* [Exodus 20:3](/exodus/20-3 "Exodus 20:3 - The First Commandment: No Other Gods Before Me")
* [Joshua 24:15](/joshua/24-15 "Joshua 24:15 - Choose Whom You Will Serve Today")
* [Matthew 6:24](/matthew/6-24 "Matthew 6:24 - You Cannot Serve Two Masters")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Ezekiel 20:39 serves as a timeless and piercing mirror for self-examination, calling believers in every generation to scrutinize the sincerity and exclusivity of their devotion to God. While overt idol worship of physical statues may be rare in many contemporary contexts, the principle of divided allegiance remains profoundly relevant. Modern "idols" can manifest as anything that competes for our ultimate loyalty, time, affection, or trust—be it career success, material possessions, social media validation, personal comfort, self-worship, or even the pursuit of moral righteousness apart from Christ. This verse challenges us to consider if our "gifts" (our worship, service, resources, and very lives) are truly offered to God alone, or if we are inadvertently attempting to "pollute His holy name" by giving Him a portion while our hearts are truly invested elsewhere. Genuine faith demands wholehearted commitment, reminding us that our actions and priorities must align with our profession of faith, honoring God's unique and holy name in every facet of our lives.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **What are the "idols" in my life that subtly or overtly compete for God's rightful place of ultimate devotion?**
* **In what ways might I be inadvertently "polluting God's holy name" by attempting to serve both Him and another master or worldly pursuit?**
* **How can I cultivate a more undivided and wholehearted devotion to the Lord in my daily life, ensuring my "gifts" are truly for Him alone?**
* **What practical steps can I take to align my priorities and actions more fully with my profession of faith, honoring God's unique holiness?**

### FAQ

**What does it mean for Israel to "pollute" God's holy name?**

Answer: To "pollute" God's holy name means to desecrate, defile, or make common that which is sacred and set apart. In Ezekiel 20:39, Israel polluted God's name by engaging in syncretistic worship—attempting to worship the Lord while simultaneously serving pagan idols. By bringing "gifts" (sacrifices) to God alongside their idol worship, they treated the unique, holy God of Israel as if He were just another deity among the false gods, thereby diminishing His sacredness and bringing His reputation into disrepute. This was a grave offense against His covenantal identity and His demand for exclusive devotion, as highlighted in passages like [Leviticus 18:21](/leviticus/18-21 "Leviticus 18:21 - Do Not Profane God's Name Through Child Sacrifice").

**Is God actually telling them to "go serve their idols"?**

Answer: No, God is not genuinely commanding or endorsing idol worship. This is a powerful example of divine sarcasm and rhetorical challenge, born out of profound exasperation with Israel's persistent spiritual hypocrisy. God is essentially saying, "If you are so determined to be unfaithful and serve other gods, then go ahead and do it fully and openly. But stop pretending to serve Me while your hearts and practices are divided." The immediate follow-up, "but pollute ye my holy name no more," clarifies that the true intent is a severe prohibition against their syncretistic practices, which defiled His unique holiness. This is similar to the rhetorical question posed by Elijah in [1 Kings 18:21](/1_kings/18-21 "1 Kings 18:21 - How Long Will You Halt Between Two Opinions?"), challenging Israel to make a clear choice between Yahweh and Baal.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Ezekiel 20:39, with its stark condemnation of divided loyalty and its demand for exclusive worship, finds its ultimate fulfillment and resolution in Jesus Christ. The Old Testament's repeated indictment of Israel's inability to maintain wholehearted devotion underscores humanity's profound spiritual brokenness and our innate tendency towards idolatry, even when attempting to serve God. We are incapable, in our own strength, of rendering the pure, undivided worship that God demands. However, Jesus Christ perfectly fulfilled the law's demand for exclusive devotion, living a life of absolute obedience to the Father, always doing what pleased Him ([John 8:29](/john/8-29 "John 8:29 - Jesus Always Does What Pleases the Father")). He is the true and only object of worship, the one through whom all genuine access to God is granted, for He is "the way, the truth, and the life" ([John 14:6](/john/14-6 "John 14:6 - Jesus is the Way, the Truth, and the Life")). In Christ, believers are empowered by the Holy Spirit to turn from all forms of idolatry—whether overt or subtle—and to offer sincere, unpolluted worship to God. His perfect sacrifice cleanses us from the defilement of our divided hearts, enabling us to truly serve the one Lord with undivided allegiance, making us a people zealous for good works and truly honoring His holy name ([Titus 2:14](/titus/2-14 "Titus 2:14 - Christ Redeemed Us to be a People for Himself")). Through Him, the impossible demand of Ezekiel 20:39 becomes a Spirit-empowered reality for the new covenant community, the church, called to be a holy people set apart for God's glory, a "chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession" ([1 Peter 2:9](/1_peter/2-9 "1 Peter 2:9 - A Chosen Race, a Royal Priesthood")).

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

Ezekiel 43:7

¶ And he said unto me, Son of man, the place of my throne, and the place of the soles of my feet, where I will dwell in the midst of the children of Israel for ever, and my holy name, shall the house of Israel no more defile, [neither] they, nor their kings, by their whoredom, nor by the carcases of their kings in their high places.

Isaiah 1:13

Bring no more vain oblations; incense is an abomination unto me; the new moons and sabbaths, the calling of assemblies, I cannot away with; [it is] iniquity, even the solemn meeting.

Isaiah 1:15

And when ye spread forth your hands, I will hide mine eyes from you: yea, when ye make many prayers, I will not hear: your hands are full of blood.

Hosea 4:17

Ephraim [is] joined to idols: let him alone.

Ezekiel 20:25

Wherefore I gave them also statutes [that were] not good, and judgments whereby they should not live;

Ezekiel 20:26

And I polluted them in their own gifts, in that they caused to pass through [the fire] all that openeth the womb, that I might make them desolate, to the end that they might know that I [am] the LORD.

Judges 10:14

Go and cry unto the gods which ye have chosen; let them deliver you in the time of your tribulation.