Ezekiel 21:24

Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD; Because ye have made your iniquity to be remembered, in that your transgressions are discovered, so that in all your doings your sins do appear; because, [I say], that ye are come to remembrance, ye shall be taken with the hand.

Therefore thus saith {H559} the Lord {H136} GOD {H3069}; Because ye have made your iniquity {H5771} to be remembered {H2142}, in that your transgressions {H6588} are discovered {H1540}, so that in all your doings {H5949} your sins {H2403} do appear {H7200}; because, I say, that ye are come to remembrance {H2142}, ye shall be taken {H8610} with the hand {H3709}.

"Therefore this is what Adonai ELOHIM says: 'Because you have caused your guilt to be remembered, with your misdeeds revealed and the sins in all your actions evident - since you have been remembered, you will be captured.'

Therefore this is what the Lord GOD says: ‘Because you have drawn attention to your guilt, exposing your transgressions, so that your sins are revealed in all your deeds—because you have come to remembrance—you shall be taken in hand.

Therefore thus saith the Lord Jehovah: Because ye have made your iniquity to be remembered, in that your transgressions are uncovered, so that in all your doings your sins do appear; because that ye are come to remembrance, ye shall be taken with the hand.

Commentary

Ezekiel 21:24 delivers a stern message from the Lord GOD, explaining the definitive reason for the impending judgment upon Judah and Jerusalem. It underscores that their persistent and overt sinfulness has reached a point where divine action is inevitable.

Context of Judgment

This verse is part of a larger prophetic discourse in Ezekiel 21, often referred to as the "Sword of the Lord" prophecy. God reveals His intention to use the Babylonian king, Nebuchadnezzar, as His instrument of judgment against Jerusalem. The immediate preceding verses (Ezekiel 21:20-23) describe Nebuchadnezzar's divination at the crossroads, where he ultimately decides to march against Jerusalem. The city's fall and the destruction of the temple were direct consequences of Judah's unfaithfulness, idolatry, and moral corruption.

Key Themes and Messages

  • Divine Remembrance of Sin: The phrase "ye have made your iniquity to be remembered" signifies that Judah's accumulated sins have come to God's active attention, not merely forgotten. This remembrance leads to decisive action. God's patience has run out.
  • Pervasiveness of Sin: The repetition, "your transgressions are discovered, so that in all your doings your sins do appear," emphasizes that their sin was not hidden or occasional but deeply ingrained and evident in every aspect of their national life. It was a pervasive moral decay.
  • Inevitable Judgment: The climax, "ye shall be taken with the hand," points to their unavoidable capture and delivery into the hands of their enemies. This is the culmination of God's justice in response to their persistent rebellion. It highlights the unavoidable consequences of unrepentant sin.

Linguistic Insights

The Hebrew terms for sin used here — ‘avon (iniquity), pesha’ (transgression), and chatta’ah (sin) — together paint a comprehensive picture of moral failure. ‘Avon often speaks of crookedness or perversity and the guilt associated with it; pesha’ denotes rebellion or revolt against a higher authority; and chatta’ah refers to missing the mark or failing to meet God's standard. The verb for "remembered" (zakhar) implies not just passive recollection but an active calling to mind that prompts divine intervention or action, often for judgment or covenant fulfillment.

Practical Application

Ezekiel 21:24 serves as a timeless warning about the cumulative effect and open display of sin. It reminds us that:

  • Sin Has Consequences: While God is patient and merciful, there comes a point where unrepentant sin leads to inevitable judgment. This principle is consistent throughout Scripture, as seen in Galatians 6:7, "Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap."
  • God Sees All: No sin is truly hidden from God. What may seem private eventually becomes evident, and God’s justice will prevail.
  • A Call to Repentance: The severity of Judah's judgment underscores the urgency of genuine repentance and turning from wickedness before divine remembrance leads to punitive action.
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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

  • Hosea 4:2

    By swearing, and lying, and killing, and stealing, and committing adultery, they break out, and blood toucheth blood.

  • Jeremiah 5:27

    As a cage is full of birds, so [are] their houses full of deceit: therefore they are become great, and waxen rich.

  • Jeremiah 5:28

    They are waxen fat, they shine: yea, they overpass the deeds of the wicked: they judge not the cause, the cause of the fatherless, yet they prosper; and the right of the needy do they not judge.

  • Ezekiel 23:5

    And Aholah played the harlot when she was mine; and she doted on her lovers, on the Assyrians [her] neighbours,

  • Ezekiel 23:21

    Thus thou calledst to remembrance the lewdness of thy youth, in bruising thy teats by the Egyptians for the paps of thy youth.

  • Micah 3:10

    They build up Zion with blood, and Jerusalem with iniquity.

  • Micah 3:12

    Therefore shall Zion for your sake be plowed [as] a field, and Jerusalem shall become heaps, and the mountain of the house as the high places of the forest.