Ezekiel 20:5

¶ And say unto them, Thus saith the Lord GOD; In the day when I chose Israel, and lifted up mine hand unto the seed of the house of Jacob, and made myself known unto them in the land of Egypt, when I lifted up mine hand unto them, saying, I [am] the LORD your God;

And say {H559} unto them, Thus saith {H559} the Lord {H136} GOD {H3069}; In the day {H3117} when I chose {H977} Israel {H3478}, and lifted up {H5375} mine hand {H3027} unto the seed {H2233} of the house {H1004} of Jacob {H3290}, and made myself known {H3045} unto them in the land {H776} of Egypt {H4714}, when I lifted {H5375} up mine hand {H3027} unto them, saying {H559}, I am the LORD {H3068} your God {H430};

Tell them that Adonai ELOHIM says this: 'Back on the day when I chose Isra'el, I raised my hand to the descendants of the house of Ya'akov. I revealed myself to them in the land of Egypt when I raised my hand to them and said, "I am ADONAI your God."

and tell them that this is what the Lord GOD says: On the day I chose Israel, I swore an oath to the descendants of the house of Jacob and made Myself known to them in the land of Egypt. With an uplifted hand I said to them, ‘I am the LORD your God.’

and say unto them, Thus saith the Lord Jehovah: In the day when I chose Israel, and sware unto the seed of the house of Jacob, and made myself known unto them in the land of Egypt, when I sware unto them, saying, I am Jehovah your God;

Ezekiel 20:5 is a foundational verse within a larger prophetic message where the Lord God reviews Israel's rebellious history. Here, God reminds the elders of Israel, and through them, the entire nation, of His unwavering faithfulness from the very beginning of their relationship.

Context

Chapter 20 of Ezekiel presents a stark historical survey of Israel's persistent rebellion against God, even as He continually demonstrated His grace and power. Before recounting their disobedience, God first establishes His own steadfast commitment to them. Verse 5 sets the stage by recalling the pivotal moment of God's initial covenant with Israel during their bondage in Egypt, emphasizing His sovereign choice and solemn promises before any act of disobedience on their part.

Key Themes

  • Divine Election and Covenant: The verse highlights God's sovereign and unconditional choice of Israel, "when I chose Israel." This act of election initiated a unique covenant relationship, establishing them as His special people, not based on their merit but on His divine will.
  • God's Self-Revelation: God "made myself known unto them in the land of Egypt," specifically through the miraculous events leading to the Exodus. This was a profound revelation of His power, holiness, and redemptive character, demonstrating that He is indeed "the LORD your God."
  • The Solemnity of God's Oath: The phrase "lifted up mine hand" signifies a solemn oath or vow. This ancient gesture underscored the binding nature of God's promise to deliver and sustain the descendants of Jacob. It speaks to the absolute reliability of God's word and His commitment to His covenant people. For a similar expression of a divine oath, consider Numbers 14:30.

Linguistic Insights

The title "the Lord GOD" translates the Hebrew Adonai Yahweh. Adonai signifies 'Sovereign Master,' emphasizing God's absolute authority, while Yahweh (often rendered 'LORD' in KJV, using small caps) is God's personal covenant name, revealing His self-existent and relational nature. The act of "lifting up mine hand" (Hebrew: nasa yadi) is a common biblical idiom for swearing an oath, making a binding promise, or affirming a solemn declaration. It signifies God's unchangeable commitment to His word.

Practical Application

Ezekiel 20:5 serves as a powerful reminder of God's faithfulness and initiative in establishing a relationship with His people. For believers today, this verse underscores that our relationship with God is founded on His grace and His promises, not on our performance. It encourages us to:

  • Remember God's Past Faithfulness: Just as God reminded Israel of His steadfast love and power in Egypt, we are called to recall His past acts of deliverance and provision in our lives. This remembrance builds faith for present and future challenges.
  • Trust His Promises: The "lifting up of His hand" signifies an unbreakable oath. We can trust that God will fulfill every promise He has made, including the promises of the New Covenant through Jesus Christ.
  • Acknowledge His Sovereignty: Recognizing God as "the Lord GOD" means submitting to His authority and acknowledging His rightful place as our Creator and Redeemer.
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.

  • Ezekiel 47:14

    And ye shall inherit it, one as well as another: [concerning] the which I lifted up mine hand to give it unto your fathers: and this land shall fall unto you for inheritance.

  • Exodus 4:31

    And the people believed: and when they heard that the LORD had visited the children of Israel, and that he had looked upon their affliction, then they bowed their heads and worshipped.

  • Ezekiel 20:15

    Yet also I lifted up my hand unto them in the wilderness, that I would not bring them into the land which I had given [them], flowing with milk and honey, which [is] the glory of all lands;

  • Genesis 14:22

    And Abram said to the king of Sodom, I have lift up mine hand unto the LORD, the most high God, the possessor of heaven and earth,

  • Exodus 6:6

    Wherefore say unto the children of Israel, I [am] the LORD, and I will bring you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians, and I will rid you out of their bondage, and I will redeem you with a stretched out arm, and with great judgments:

  • Exodus 6:7

    And I will take you to me for a people, and I will be to you a God: and ye shall know that I [am] the LORD your God, which bringeth you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians.

  • Deuteronomy 7:6

    For thou [art] an holy people unto the LORD thy God: the LORD thy God hath chosen thee to be a special people unto himself, above all people that [are] upon the face of the earth.

Add TrulyRandomVerse to your Home Screen for quick access!

← Back