Ezekiel 20:7

Then said I unto them, Cast ye away every man the abominations of his eyes, and defile not yourselves with the idols of Egypt: I [am] the LORD your God.

Then said {H559} I unto them, Cast ye away {H7993} every man {H376} the abominations {H8251} of his eyes {H5869}, and defile {H2930} not yourselves with the idols {H1544} of Egypt {H4714}: I am the LORD {H3068} your God {H430}.

I told them, "Each of you is to throw away the detestable things that draw your eyes. Do not defile yourselves with the idols of Egypt. I am ADONAI your God."

And I said to them: ‘Each of you must throw away the abominations before his eyes, and you must not defile yourselves with the idols of Egypt. I am the LORD your God.’

And I said unto them, Cast ye away every man the abominations of his eyes, and defile not yourselves with the idols of Egypt; I am Jehovah your God.

Ezekiel 20:7 (KJV) Commentary

Context of Ezekiel 20:7

Ezekiel 20 presents a profound historical survey of Israel's persistent rebellion against God, from their time in Egypt through their wilderness wanderings and into the Promised Land. The chapter opens with elders of Israel coming to inquire of the LORD, but God refuses to be consulted by those who practice idolatry. Instead, He recounts His gracious acts and Israel's continuous unfaithfulness. Verse 7 specifically refers to God's initial command to His people while they were still in bondage in Egypt, highlighting their early inclination towards the idolatry of their pagan surroundings, even before the giving of the Law at Sinai.

Key Themes and Messages

  • Rejection of Idolatry: The core command is to "Cast ye away every man the abominations of his eyes, and defile not yourselves with the idols of Egypt." This underscores God's absolute demand for exclusive worship and His abhorrence of anything that competes for His people's devotion. It directly prefigures the First Commandment given at Sinai.
  • Holiness and Purity: The phrase "defile not yourselves" emphasizes the spiritual contamination and impurity that results from engaging with idols. God desires a people who are set apart for Him, distinct from the surrounding pagan cultures. This call to purity extends beyond ritual cleanliness to the very heart and intentions.
  • God's Sovereign Authority: The declaration "I [am] the LORD your God" serves as the foundational reason for the command. It asserts God's unique identity, His covenant relationship with Israel, and His ultimate authority over their lives. It's a reminder of His power and right to demand their allegiance, as He is the One who delivered them and provides for them.

Linguistic Insights

  • "Abominations of his eyes": This vivid phrase points to the powerful influence of visual temptation and desire. It suggests that the Israelites were drawn to the idols they saw, allowing what they observed to corrupt their hearts and actions. It's not just about physical idols but the internal desire and lust that leads to their worship. This resonates with the concept of "the lust of the eyes" mentioned in the New Testament.
  • "Defile not yourselves": The Hebrew word for "defile" (tame') often refers to ritual impurity, making one unfit for worship or participation in the community. Here, its application to idolatry highlights that worshipping other gods leads to a deep spiritual defilement, corrupting one's relationship with the holy God of Israel.

Related Scriptures

Practical Application

Ezekiel 20:7 serves as a timeless warning against any form of idolatry, whether overt or subtle. For believers today, "the idols of Egypt" can represent anything that takes the place of God in our hearts: wealth, status, possessions, relationships, entertainment, or even self-reliance. We are called to examine what captures the "abominations of our eyes"—what we gaze upon and desire that leads us away from God.

This verse encourages a commitment to spiritual purity and exclusive devotion to the one true God. It reminds us that our identity as God's people requires a continuous turning away from worldly influences and a constant reaffirmation that He alone is the LORD our God, worthy of all our worship and obedience. It's a call to actively cast off anything that defiles our relationship with Him and to pursue holiness in every aspect of our lives.

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.

  • Leviticus 18:3

    After the doings of the land of Egypt, wherein ye dwelt, shall ye not do: and after the doings of the land of Canaan, whither I bring you, shall ye not do: neither shall ye walk in their ordinances.

  • Deuteronomy 29:16

    (For ye know how we have dwelt in the land of Egypt; and how we came through the nations which ye passed by;

  • Deuteronomy 29:18

    Lest there should be among you man, or woman, or family, or tribe, whose heart turneth away this day from the LORD our God, to go [and] serve the gods of these nations; lest there should be among you a root that beareth gall and wormwood;

  • Leviticus 11:44

    For I [am] the LORD your God: ye shall therefore sanctify yourselves, and ye shall be holy; for I [am] holy: neither shall ye defile yourselves with any manner of creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.

  • Ezekiel 18:31

    Cast away from you all your transgressions, whereby ye have transgressed; and make you a new heart and a new spirit: for why will ye die, O house of Israel?

  • Ezekiel 20:8

    But they rebelled against me, and would not hearken unto me: they did not every man cast away the abominations of their eyes, neither did they forsake the idols of Egypt: then I said, I will pour out my fury upon them, to accomplish my anger against them in the midst of the land of Egypt.

  • Isaiah 2:20

    In that day a man shall cast his idols of silver, and his idols of gold, which they made [each one] for himself to worship, to the moles and to the bats;

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