Ezekiel 39:24

According to their uncleanness and according to their transgressions have I done unto them, and hid my face from them.

According to their uncleanness {H2932} and according to their transgressions {H6588} have I done {H6213} unto them, and hid {H5641} my face {H6440} from them.

Yes, I treated them as their uncleanness and crimes deserved; and I hid my face from them.'

I dealt with them according to their uncleanness and transgressions, and I hid My face from them.

According to their uncleanness and according to their transgressions did I unto them; and I hid my face from them.

Commentary

Ezekiel 39:24 serves as a somber reflection on the reasons behind God's severe judgment upon the house of Israel, specifically their exile and suffering. It underscores the principle of divine justice, where consequences are directly tied to human actions.

Context

This verse appears within a larger prophetic section of Ezekiel (chapters 38-39) dealing with the future invasion of Gog of Magog and God's ultimate triumph. However, prior to this grand eschatological battle, Ezekiel extensively details God's dealings with Israel, including their past disobedience and subsequent punishment. Chapter 39:24 looks back, providing a theological explanation for the past scattering and suffering of the Israelites. It clarifies that their plight was not arbitrary, but a direct result of their deep-seated spiritual uncleanness and persistent transgressions against the covenant God had made with them. This verse sets the stage for the glorious promises of restoration that follow, where God will reveal His holiness and bring Israel back to their land, having fully dealt with their sin.

Key Themes

  • Divine Justice and Consequence: The verse explicitly states that God's actions were "according to" Israel's behavior, highlighting a direct correlation between sin and its repercussions. It emphasizes that God is just in His judgments.
  • God Hiding His Face: The phrase "hid my face from them" is a powerful biblical idiom signifying God's withdrawal of favor, protection, and intimate presence. It represents a period of divine discipline and perceived abandonment, which for Israel meant the loss of their land, temple, and national sovereignty. This is a common theme throughout scripture, often tied to disobedience, as seen in Deuteronomy 31:17.
  • Israel's Sinfulness: The terms "uncleanness" and "transgressions" encompass a wide range of sins, from idolatry and ritual impurity to social injustice and covenant breaking. It speaks to a pervasive spiritual corruption that led to God's disciplinary actions.

Linguistic Insights

The Hebrew word for "uncleanness" is ṭum'â (טֻמְאָה), which refers to ritual impurity but also carries strong moral and spiritual connotations, implying defilement. "Transgressions" comes from pesha' (פֶּשַׁע), meaning rebellion or revolt, indicating a deliberate breaking of a covenant or law. The phrase "hid my face" (הִסְתַּרְתִּי פָנַי – hissartî pānay) is a vivid anthropomorphism, expressing God's active withdrawal of His presence and favor due to Israel's unfaithfulness. It's a stark contrast to God's desire to make His face shine upon His people.

Practical Application

Ezekiel 39:24 reminds us of the serious consequences of sin and the unchanging nature of God's justice. While we live under the new covenant of grace through Jesus Christ, the principle that sin separates us from God remains. This verse encourages introspection, prompting us to examine our own lives for areas of "uncleanness" or "transgressions" that might hinder our relationship with God. It emphasizes the importance of repentance and seeking God's mercy, knowing that He is faithful to forgive when we turn from our ways. It also highlights God's ultimate purpose in discipline: not merely punishment, but leading His people to a deeper knowledge of Him and His holiness.

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Cross-References

  • Ezekiel 36:19

    And I scattered them among the heathen, and they were dispersed through the countries: according to their way and according to their doings I judged them.

  • Jeremiah 4:18

    Thy way and thy doings have procured these [things] unto thee; this [is] thy wickedness, because it is bitter, because it reacheth unto thine heart.

  • Jeremiah 2:17

    Hast thou not procured this unto thyself, in that thou hast forsaken the LORD thy God, when he led thee by the way?

  • Jeremiah 2:19

    Thine own wickedness shall correct thee, and thy backslidings shall reprove thee: know therefore and see that [it is] an evil [thing] and bitter, that thou hast forsaken the LORD thy God, and that my fear [is] not in thee, saith the Lord GOD of hosts.

  • 2 Kings 17:7

    ¶ For [so] it was, that the children of Israel had sinned against the LORD their God, which had brought them up out of the land of Egypt, from under the hand of Pharaoh king of Egypt, and had feared other gods,

  • 2 Kings 17:23

    Until the LORD removed Israel out of his sight, as he had said by all his servants the prophets. So was Israel carried away out of their own land to Assyria unto this day.

  • Isaiah 59:17

    For he put on righteousness as a breastplate, and an helmet of salvation upon his head; and he put on the garments of vengeance [for] clothing, and was clad with zeal as a cloke.
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