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Commentary on Ezekiel 20 verses 1–4
Here is, 1. The occasion of the message which we have in this chapter. That sermon which we had ch. 18 was occasioned by their presumptuous reflections upon God; this was occasioned by their hypocritical enquiries after him. Each shall have his own. This prophecy is exactly dated, in the seventh year of the captivity, about two years after Ezekiel began to prophesy. God would have them to keep account how long their captivity lasted, that they might see how the years went on towards their deliverance, though very slowly. Certain of the elders of Israel came to enquire of the Lord, not statedly (as those Eze 8:1), but, as it should seem, occasionally, and upon a particular emergency. Whether they were of those that were now in captivity, or elders lately come from Jerusalem upon business to Babylon, is not certain; but, by what the prophet says to them (Eze 20:32), it should seem, their enquiry was whether now that they were captives in Babylon, at a distance from their own country, where they had not only no temple, but no synagogue, for the worship of God, it was not lawful for them, that they might ingratiate themselves with their lords and masters, to join with them in their worship and do as the families of these countries do, that serve wood and stone. This matter was palliated as well as it would bear, like Naaman's pleading with Elisha for leave to bow in the house of Rimmon, in compliment to the king; but we have reason to suspect that their enquiry drove at this. Note, Those hearts are wretchedly hardened which ask God leave to go on in sin, and that when they are suffering for it. They came and sat very demurely and with a show of devotion before the prophet, Eze 33:31. 2. The purport of this message. (1.) They must be made to know that God is angry with them; he takes it as an affront that they come to enquire of him when they are resolved to go on still in their trespasses: As I live, saith the Lord God, I will not be enquired of by you, Eze 20:3. Their shows of devotion shall be neither acceptable to God nor advantageous to themselves. God will not take notice of their enquiries, nor give them any satisfactory answers. Note, A hypocritical attendance on God and his ordinances is so far from being pleasing to him that it is provoking. (2.) They must be made to know that God is justly angry with them (Eze 20:4): "Wilt thou judge them, son of man, wilt thou judge them? Thou art a prophet, surely thou wilt not plead for them, as an intercessor with God; but surely thou wilt pass sentence on them as a judge for God. See, I have set thee over the nation; wilt thou not declare to them the judgments of the Lord? Cause them therefore to know the abominations of their fathers." So the orders run now, as before (Eze 16:2) he must cause them to know their own abominations. Though their own abominations were sufficient to justify God in the severest of his proceedings against them, yet it would be of use for them to know the abominations of their fathers, that they might see what a righteous thing it was with God now at last to cut them off from being a people, who from the first were such a provoking people.
(Verse 4) If you judge them: if you judge, O son of man. LXX: if I avenge them with vengeance, O son of man: They have indeed come to interrogate me, desiring to know about those things about which they are in doubt, and the future; but you, O son of man, judge them, so that the prophet's response may not be, but rather the sentence of the judge for the injustices they have committed, and for following the crimes of their fathers. Or certainly, if I avenge them with vengeance, it can be understood in this sense: They are so covered in wickedness that they are not even worthy of correction and reproof, according to what is said by the prophet: I will no longer visit your daughters, and your daughters-in-law, when they commit adultery (Hosea 4). Wherefore sinners, who have descended into the depths of sin, are forgiven to fulfill the desires of their hearts (Prov. XVIII).
Show them the abominations of their fathers, and you shall say to them: 'LXX: Rebuke them for the iniquities of their fathers, and you shall say to them: If the sins of the fathers do not flow over to their children, why are the abominations and iniquities of the fathers now placed upon the elders? Clearly it is for this reason, that similar actions may be shown to be done by their parents, and that they may drag the longest rope of inherited evils, so that they may fear the punishments of those whose vices they imitate.'
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SUMMARY
Ezekiel 20:4 delivers a powerful divine mandate to the prophet Ezekiel, challenging him to confront the elders of Israel. This verse initiates a profound historical indictment, instructing Ezekiel to expose the deep-seated idolatry and pervasive rebellion that characterized not only their present generation but also their ancestral history. It underscores God's righteous judgment against persistent unfaithfulness and highlights Ezekiel's crucial role as a divine messenger tasked with revealing uncomfortable truths to a rebellious people, aiming for their conviction and, ideally, their repentance.
CONTEXT
EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
Key Word Analysis
Verse Breakdown
Literary Devices
Ezekiel 20:4 masterfully employs several potent literary devices to convey its message with maximum impact. The most prominent is the Rhetorical Question, "Wilt thou judge them, son of man, wilt thou judge [them]?" This is not a genuine inquiry but a forceful, declarative statement, designed to emphasize the undeniable guilt of Israel and the divine imperative for judgment. The deliberate repetition of the phrase "wilt thou judge them," a device known as Epizeuxis, intensifies the urgency and certainty of the divine command, underscoring the immense weight of Ezekiel's task and the severity of Israel's ingrained sin. Following this, the verse transitions into a direct Imperative, "cause them to know the abominations of their fathers." This command highlights Ezekiel's active and authoritative role as a divine messenger, not merely a passive observer, and emphasizes the pedagogical aspect of prophecy—to instruct, expose, and bring to light hidden truths. The phrase "abominations of their fathers" also functions as Metonymy, where "fathers" stands for the entire lineage, the collective historical legacy, and the deeply rooted pattern of Israel's unfaithfulness, emphasizing the deep-seated, generational nature of their corporate sin.
THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Ezekiel 20:4 serves as a profound theological statement on God's unwavering holiness and His righteous indignation against sin, particularly idolatry and covenant unfaithfulness. It reveals that God's judgment is not arbitrary or capricious but is a just and necessary response to persistent rebellion, rooted in a historical pattern of disobedience that spans generations. The command to expose the "abominations of their fathers" underscores the principle that while God holds individuals accountable for their personal choices, there can also be a corporate and generational dimension to sin, where patterns of ungodliness are passed down and perpetuated within a community or family line. This confrontation, though severe, is ultimately an act of divine mercy, aiming to bring about a deep awareness of sin, which is a prerequisite for genuine repentance and restoration, even if Israel's hardened hearts often resisted this truth.
REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Ezekiel 20:4 calls us to a profound and honest self-examination, both individually and corporately within our communities of faith. It challenges us to consider not only our present actions and spiritual state but also the historical and generational patterns that may subtly or overtly influence our spiritual lives. Just as God commanded Ezekiel to expose the "abominations of their fathers," we are invited to honestly confront any inherited or ingrained "abominations"—whether they be spiritual compromises, ungodly attitudes, deeply rooted prejudices, or idolatrous tendencies—that may hinder our full and exclusive devotion to God. This verse reminds us that true spiritual health and genuine transformation begin with a clear-eyed acknowledgment of sin, allowing God's piercing truth to penetrate the layers of self-deception, denial, or cultural blindness. It encourages us to actively break cycles of ungodliness, seeking God's transformative power to live lives of genuine obedience, holiness, and worship that honor Him alone, rather than passively perpetuating the errors or spiritual compromises of the past.
Questions for Reflection
FAQ
Why does God ask Ezekiel if he will "judge them" if the answer is obvious?
Answer: The rhetorical question, "Wilt thou judge them, son of man, wilt thou judge [them]?", serves multiple profound purposes. Firstly, it functions as a forceful divine declaration, not a genuine inquiry, emphasizing the undeniable guilt of Israel and the absolute certainty of God's impending judgment. It powerfully highlights God's righteous indignation and the inherent justice of His condemnation. Secondly, it serves to solemnly commission and empower Ezekiel in his difficult prophetic role, underscoring the immense weight and seriousness of the message he is about to deliver. It is a divine mandate for Ezekiel to act as God's prosecutor, exposing the depth of Israel's sin and justifying the divine verdict, a theme that permeates the entirety of Ezekiel 20.
What are the "abominations of their fathers" mentioned in this verse?
Answer: The "abominations of their fathers" refers to the long and tragic history of idolatry, spiritual rebellion, and moral corruption that characterized the nation of Israel from its earliest days, even before entering the promised land. These practices included the worship of foreign gods (such as Baal, Asherah, and other Canaanite deities), offering sacrifices on illicit high places, engaging in cultic prostitution, and even the horrific practice of child sacrifice—all of which were explicitly and repeatedly forbidden by God's covenant Law (e.g., Deuteronomy 18:9-12). Ezekiel 20 itself goes on to detail many of these specific acts of unfaithfulness, illustrating a consistent and persistent pattern of rebellion against Yahweh, the one true God, and His holy commands.
CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Ezekiel 20:4, with its stark command to expose the "abominations of their fathers," finds its ultimate Christ-centered fulfillment in the person and redemptive work of Jesus. While Ezekiel, as the human son of man, was commanded to expose generational patterns of idolatry and rebellion, Jesus, the true and divine Son of Man, came not merely to judge but to save. He perfectly fulfilled the prophetic role, confronting sin with unparalleled clarity and authority, yet always pointing to the Father's redemptive plan. The "abominations" of humanity, rooted in our fallen nature and passed down through generations since Adam, are ultimately addressed by Christ's atoning sacrifice. He became the perfect Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world, bearing the full weight of human rebellion and offering a path to true cleansing and new life. Through faith in Him, believers are freed from the dominion and power of inherited sin patterns and empowered by the Holy Spirit to live lives of genuine obedience and worship, fulfilling the very devotion that Israel so consistently failed to render (Romans 6:6-7). Thus, the judgment Ezekiel was to pronounce on Israel's past finds its ultimate resolution and hope in the boundless grace offered through Christ, who alone can truly cause us to "know" our sin in a way that leads to genuine repentance and transformative new life, rather than condemnation (John 3:17).