Ezekiel 20:47

Commentary on Ezekiel 20:47 KJV

Ezekiel 20:47 is a powerful prophetic declaration of impending divine judgment, delivered by the prophet Ezekiel to the exiled Israelites. This verse comes at the culmination of a chapter where God recounts Israel's long history of rebellion and idolatry, despite His persistent grace and covenant faithfulness. Here, the Lord declares a comprehensive and inescapable judgment upon the land of Judah.

Context

Chapter 20 of Ezekiel is a significant discourse where God reviews Israel's past, detailing their persistent rebellion from their time in Egypt, through the wilderness, and into the land of Canaan. Despite God's repeated attempts to draw them back to obedience, they chose idolatry and defiled His Sabbaths. This historical review sets the stage for the severe judgment announced in verses 45-48 (which the KJV numbers as 46-49). The "forest of the south" is a symbolic reference, widely understood to represent the land of Judah, specifically the region south of Babylon where Jerusalem was located. The prophecy here foretells the devastating Babylonian invasion and destruction of Jerusalem and the surrounding land.

Key Themes

• Divine Judgment and Wrath: The central theme is God's fierce and unyielding judgment against persistent sin and rebellion. The "fire" is a metaphor for destruction, specifically the ravages of war and the desolation it brings.
• Comprehensive Destruction: The phrase "every green tree in thee, and every dry tree" signifies that the judgment will be total and indiscriminate. It implies that no one will escape, whether perceived as righteous (green) or wicked (dry), or simply that the entire population and land will be consumed. This imagery also appears in Luke 23:31, where Jesus speaks of judgment affecting all.
• Unquenchable Fire: The declaration that "the flaming flame shall not be quenched" emphasizes the certainty and inevitability of this judgment. Once ignited, it will run its course completely, leaving nothing untouched. This echoes other biblical warnings of God's irreversible judgment, such as in Isaiah 1:31.
• God's Sovereignty: The repeated "Thus saith the Lord GOD" underscores that this judgment is not random but a deliberate act of God's holy will, a consequence of His people's actions.

Linguistic Insights

The phrase "forest of the south" in Hebrew is ya‘ar han-negev (יַעַר הַנֶּגֶב). The Negev typically refers to the southern desert region of Judah, but here it likely symbolizes the entire kingdom. The use of "forest" (ya‘ar) for a populated area is a metaphor for its density and perhaps for the spiritual wildness or corruption within it. The repetition "flaming flame" (shalhebet yahhebet) is a Hebrew literary device emphasizing the intensity and consuming nature of the fire, signifying its devastating power and unyielding nature.

Practical Application

Ezekiel 20:47 serves as a solemn reminder of the seriousness of sin and the inevitability of divine judgment for those who persistently rebel against God's commands. While this prophecy specifically targeted ancient Judah, its principles remain timeless:

• God is holy and just, and He will not overlook sin indefinitely.
• Consequences for disobedience are real and can be severe, affecting entire communities.
• The call to repentance and obedience is always urgent, as seen throughout the prophetic books. This verse implicitly urges listeners to consider their ways and turn back to the Lord before such judgment falls.
• It highlights God's sovereignty over history and nations, demonstrating that His purposes will be fulfilled, whether through blessing or through judgment. For those in Christ, we are reminded of the ultimate judgment of sin that fell upon Jesus, providing a way of escape from the "flaming flame" of God's wrath through faith in Him (Romans 5:5-9).