Ezekiel 20:40

For in mine holy mountain, in the mountain of the height of Israel, saith the Lord GOD, there shall all the house of Israel, all of them in the land, serve me: there will I accept them, and there will I require your offerings, and the firstfruits of your oblations, with all your holy things.

For in mine holy {H6944} mountain {H2022}, in the mountain {H2022} of the height {H4791} of Israel {H3478}, saith {H5002} the Lord {H136} GOD {H3069}, there shall all the house {H1004} of Israel {H3478}, all of them in the land {H776}, serve {H5647} me: there will I accept {H7521} them, and there will I require {H1875} your offerings {H8641}, and the firstfruits {H7225} of your oblations {H4864}, with all your holy things {H6944}.

For on my holy mountain, the high mountain of Isra'el,' says Adonai ELOHIM, 'the whole house of Isra'el, all of them, will serve me in the land. I will accept them there, and there I will require your contributions, your best gifts and all your consecrated things.

For on My holy mountain, the high mountain of Israel, declares the Lord GOD, there the whole house of Israel, all of them, will serve Me in the land. There I will accept them and will require your offerings and choice gifts, along with all your holy sacrifices.

For in my holy mountain, in the mountain of the height of Israel, saith the Lord Jehovah, there shall all the house of Israel, all of them, serve me in the land: there will I accept them, and there will I require your offerings, and the first-fruits of your oblations, with all your holy things.

Commentary

Commentary on Ezekiel 20:40 (KJV)

Ezekiel 20:40 presents a profound promise of future restoration and renewed worship for the nation of Israel, standing in stark contrast to the preceding verses which detail their historical rebellion and God's judgment. This verse shifts the tone from condemnation to a hopeful declaration of divine grace and a coming era of sincere devotion.

Context

Chapter 20 of Ezekiel largely recounts Israel's long history of idolatry and disobedience, from their time in Egypt through the wilderness and into the promised land. God repeatedly shows His faithfulness despite their persistent rebellion, but also brings judgment. However, starting around verse 33, the prophecy shifts to a future time when God Himself will gather His people from among the nations, bringing them into the "wilderness of the people" for judgment, but ultimately leading to a renewed covenant. Verse 40 is part of this climactic promise of God's eventual regathering and spiritual cleansing of Israel, where their service will finally be acceptable.

Key Themes

  • Divine Restoration and Gathering: The phrase "all the house of Israel, all of them in the land, serve me" speaks to a complete and comprehensive restoration of the nation, returning to their homeland to serve God. This is a promise of national spiritual revival.
  • The Holy Mountain: "In mine holy mountain, in the mountain of the height of Israel" refers to Mount Zion or Jerusalem, the symbolic center of God's presence and future kingdom. This signifies a focal point for true worship and God's dwelling place among His people, as prophesied in Isaiah 2:2-3.
  • Acceptable Worship: "There will I accept them, and there will I require your offerings, and the firstfruits of your oblations, with all your holy things." This highlights a future where Israel's worship, including their sacrifices and gifts, will be pure and pleasing to God, unlike their past corrupted practices. This speaks to a time of genuine repentance and devotion, where offerings are not merely ritualistic but come from a sanctified heart.
  • God's Sovereignty and Initiative: The repeated "saith the Lord GOD" emphasizes that this restoration is not due to Israel's merit but is a sovereign act of God's grace and faithfulness to His covenant promises.

Linguistic Insights

The term "holy mountain" (Hebrew: har kodshi) is consistently used in prophetic literature to denote God's chosen dwelling place, often associated with Jerusalem and the Temple, and points to a future time of spiritual prominence for that location. "Oblations" (Hebrew: terumah) refers to heave offerings, which were contributions lifted up to God, typically a portion of produce or livestock, signifying a gift freely given in worship.

Practical Application

For believers today, Ezekiel 20:40 offers several profound insights:

  • God's Faithfulness: It demonstrates God's unwavering commitment to His covenant promises, even when His people are unfaithful. His plan for redemption and restoration will ultimately prevail.
  • The Call to True Worship: The verse reminds us that God desires genuine, heartfelt worship and service. Our "offerings"—whether our time, talents, resources, or bodies—should be presented as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God.
  • Hope for the Future: It points to a glorious future where God's presence will be fully established, and His people will serve Him in purity and truth. This provides hope for the ultimate triumph of God's kingdom and the eradication of sin and rebellion.

This verse encapsulates a pivotal moment in Ezekiel's prophecy, moving from a recounting of past failures to a vibrant vision of future divine acceptance and perfect worship.

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

  • Isaiah 56:7

    Even them will I bring to my holy mountain, and make them joyful in my house of prayer: their burnt offerings and their sacrifices [shall be] accepted upon mine altar; for mine house shall be called an house of prayer for all people.

  • Isaiah 60:7

    All the flocks of Kedar shall be gathered together unto thee, the rams of Nebaioth shall minister unto thee: they shall come up with acceptance on mine altar, and I will glorify the house of my glory.

  • Malachi 3:4

    Then shall the offering of Judah and Jerusalem be pleasant unto the LORD, as in the days of old, and as in former years.

  • 1 Peter 2:5

    Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.

  • Ezekiel 17:23

    In the mountain of the height of Israel will I plant it: and it shall bring forth boughs, and bear fruit, and be a goodly cedar: and under it shall dwell all fowl of every wing; in the shadow of the branches thereof shall they dwell.

  • Hebrews 13:15

    By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of [our] lips giving thanks to his name.

  • Isaiah 66:23

    And it shall come to pass, [that] from one new moon to another, and from one sabbath to another, shall all flesh come to worship before me, saith the LORD.