Ezekiel 20:48

And all flesh shall see that I the LORD have kindled it: it shall not be quenched.

And all flesh {H1320} shall see {H7200} that I the LORD {H3068} have kindled {H1197} it: it shall not be quenched {H3518}.

All humanity will see that I, ADONAI, lit it; it will not be put out."'"

Then all people will see that I, the LORD, have kindled it; it will not be quenched.”

And all flesh shall see that I, Jehovah, have kindled it; it shall not be quenched.

Ezekiel 20:48 concludes a powerful prophetic passage, emphasizing the undeniable and unstoppable nature of God's judgment. This verse serves as a stark declaration of divine action, visible to all, and irreversible once set in motion.

Context

This verse is the culmination of a prophetic oracle (Ezekiel 20:45-48) where the prophet Ezekiel describes a devastating 'fire' in the 'forest of the South,' symbolizing the coming judgment upon Judah and Jerusalem. Throughout chapter 20, God recounts Israel's long history of rebellion and idolatry, even after He delivered them from Egypt. Despite His faithfulness, they continually provoked Him. The 'fire' represents the impending destruction by the Babylonian army, which God Himself declares He has 'kindled' as a just consequence for their persistent disobedience and rejection of His statutes. The surrounding nations would witness this judgment.

Key Themes

  • God's Sovereignty in Judgment: The declaration 'I the LORD have kindled it' underscores that this catastrophic event is not random but a deliberate act of divine will. God is in control of historical events, even those that bring great destruction, fulfilling His righteous purposes.
  • Universal Witness: 'And all flesh shall see' highlights that God's judgments are not hidden but are manifest for all humanity to observe, revealing His power, justice, and faithfulness to His word. This public display serves as a testimony to His character.
  • Irreversibility of God's Decree: The phrase 'it shall not be quenched' emphasizes the unstoppable and complete nature of the judgment once set in motion. There is no human power or intervention that can halt or diminish God's determined action or prevent its full completion.

Linguistic Insights

The Hebrew word for 'LORD' here is Yahweh (יהוה), God's covenant name, signifying His personal and relational involvement even in judgment. The verb 'kindled' (Hebrew: ba'ar) implies a strong, active initiation of the fire, emphasizing God's direct agency. Similarly, 'shall not be quenched' (Hebrew: lo' yikbâ) conveys an absolute certainty that this divine judgment cannot be extinguished or stopped by any force, reinforcing its finality and the certainty of its outcome.

Practical Application

For believers today, Ezekiel 20:48 serves as a sober reminder of God's unwavering justice and sovereignty. It teaches us that:

  • God is Just: He does not overlook sin indefinitely. His warnings are serious, and His judgments, though sometimes severe, are always righteous and a response to persistent disobedience.
  • God is Sovereign: Even in the midst of chaos or destruction, God remains in control, orchestrating events according to His divine plan. This offers comfort in knowing that ultimate authority rests with Him, even when human circumstances seem overwhelming.
  • The Seriousness of Disobedience: The 'unquenchable fire' illustrates the severe consequences of persistent rebellion against God's commands. It encourages a life of obedience, reverence, and heeding divine warnings. This concept of unquenchable judgment is echoed in the New Testament concerning ultimate judgment, as seen in Matthew 3:12 and Mark 9:43.
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.

  • Jeremiah 7:20

    Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, mine anger and my fury shall be poured out upon this place, upon man, and upon beast, and upon the trees of the field, and upon the fruit of the ground; and it shall burn, and shall not be quenched.

  • 2 Chronicles 7:20

    Then will I pluck them up by the roots out of my land which I have given them; and this house, which I have sanctified for my name, will I cast out of my sight, and will make it [to be] a proverb and a byword among all nations.

  • 2 Chronicles 7:22

    And it shall be answered, Because they forsook the LORD God of their fathers, which brought them forth out of the land of Egypt, and laid hold on other gods, and worshipped them, and served them: therefore hath he brought all this evil upon them.

  • Deuteronomy 29:24

    Even all nations shall say, Wherefore hath the LORD done thus unto this land? what [meaneth] the heat of this great anger?

  • Deuteronomy 29:28

    And the LORD rooted them out of their land in anger, and in wrath, and in great indignation, and cast them into another land, as [it is] this day.

  • Lamentations 2:16

    All thine enemies have opened their mouth against thee: they hiss and gnash the teeth: they say, We have swallowed [her] up: certainly this [is] the day that we looked for; we have found, we have seen [it].

  • Lamentations 2:17

    The LORD hath done [that] which he had devised; he hath fulfilled his word that he had commanded in the days of old: he hath thrown down, and hath not pitied: and he hath caused [thine] enemy to rejoice over thee, he hath set up the horn of thine adversaries.

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