Ezekiel 5:7

Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD; Because ye multiplied more than the nations that [are] round about you, [and] have not walked in my statutes, neither have kept my judgments, neither have done according to the judgments of the nations that [are] round about you;

Therefore thus saith {H559} the Lord {H136} GOD {H3069}; Because ye multiplied {H1995} more than the nations {H1471} that are round about {H5439} you, and have not walked {H1980} in my statutes {H2708}, neither have kept {H6213} my judgments {H4941}, neither have done {H6213} according to the judgments {H4941} of the nations {H1471} that are round about {H5439} you;

"Therefore here is what Adonai ELOHIM, says: 'Because you have outdone the nations around you by not living according to my laws or following my rulings or even following the rules of the nations around you,'

Therefore this is what the Lord GOD says: ‘You have been more insubordinate than the nations around you; you have not walked in My statutes or kept My ordinances, nor have you even conformed to the ordinances of the nations around you.’

Therefore thus saith the Lord Jehovah: Because ye are turbulent more than the nations that are round about you, and have not walked in my statutes, neither have kept mine ordinances, neither have done after the ordinances of the nations that are round about you;

Ezekiel 5:7 delivers a stark pronouncement of divine judgment against Jerusalem and the nation of Israel, detailing the profound reasons for their impending destruction. This verse is part of a graphic prophetic action performed by Ezekiel, symbolizing the severe consequences of Israel's persistent disobedience.

Context

This verse comes from Ezekiel's early prophecies during the Babylonian siege of Jerusalem. In Ezekiel chapter 5, the prophet is commanded to shave his head and beard, dividing the hair into three parts, symbolizing the various fates awaiting the inhabitants of Jerusalem: death by pestilence and famine, death by sword, and scattering among the nations. Verse 7 serves as the divine explanation for this severe judgment, directly addressing Israel's moral and spiritual failure.

Key Themes

  • Profound Disobedience: The core accusation is Israel's utter failure to adhere to God's divine law. They "have not walked in my statutes, neither have kept my judgments," directly violating the covenant made at Sinai. This highlights a persistent pattern of rebellion against the Lord's clear commands.
  • Moral Degeneration Beyond Pagan Nations: Shockingly, Israel is indicted for being worse than the surrounding pagan nations. They not only rejected God's laws but also failed to uphold even the basic moral standards or "judgments of the nations that are round about you." This indicates a complete spiritual and ethical collapse, making their sin even more grievous given their unique covenant relationship with God.
  • Covenant Violation: The verse implicitly underscores Israel's breach of the covenant, which promised blessings for obedience and curses for disobedience (see Deuteronomy 28). Their actions had severed their special relationship with the Lord, leading to the withdrawal of divine protection and the imposition of judgment.
  • Divine Authority and Judgment: The phrase "Thus saith the Lord GOD" emphasizes the absolute authority and righteousness of God in executing judgment. This is not arbitrary punishment but a just consequence for persistent rebellion.

Linguistic Insights

The KJV phrase "Because ye multiplied more than the nations that are round about you" can be nuanced. The Hebrew word for "multiplied" is rabah (רָבָה), which means "to be great," "to be numerous," or "to increase." While it can refer to population, in this context, especially when followed by accusations of wickedness, it is often interpreted as "increased in wickedness," "multiplied in rebellion," or "more rebellious" than the surrounding nations. It indicates a proliferation of sin and idolatry that exceeded even the pagan cultures.

The terms "statutes" (Hebrew: choq) and "judgments" (Hebrew: mishpat) refer to God's specific decrees, ordinances, and moral laws given to Israel, emphasizing the comprehensive nature of their rejection of His divine will.

Practical Application

Ezekiel 5:7 serves as a powerful warning and a timeless principle for believers today:

  • The Importance of Obedience: God's commands are not optional. True faith is demonstrated through a life that seeks to walk in His statutes and keep His judgments (John 14:15).
  • Spiritual Distinctiveness: As God's people, we are called to be set apart, not to conform to the world's standards, much less fall below them. Our conduct should reflect God's holiness, not mimic the moral decay of society (1 Peter 1:16).
  • Consequences of Persistent Sin: God is merciful, but He is also just. Persistent, unrepentant sin, especially when it involves a rejection of His revealed will and a descent into greater depravity than the surrounding culture, will inevitably lead to consequences.
  • Self-Examination: This verse prompts us to examine our own lives: Are we truly walking in God's ways, or have we become indistinguishable from, or even worse than, the secular world in our attitudes and actions?
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 2:10

    For pass over the isles of Chittim, and see; and send unto Kedar, and consider diligently, and see if there be such a thing.

  • Jeremiah 2:11

    Hath a nation changed [their] gods, which [are] yet no gods? but my people have changed their glory for [that which] doth not profit.

  • 2 Chronicles 33:9

    So Manasseh made Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem to err, [and] to do worse than the heathen, whom the LORD had destroyed before the children of Israel.

  • 2 Kings 21:9

    But they hearkened not: and Manasseh seduced them to do more evil than did the nations whom the LORD destroyed before the children of Israel.

  • 2 Kings 21:11

    Because Manasseh king of Judah hath done these abominations, [and] hath done wickedly above all that the Amorites did, which [were] before him, and hath made Judah also to sin with his idols:

  • Ezekiel 16:47

    Yet hast thou not walked after their ways, nor done after their abominations: but, as [if that were] a very little [thing], thou wast corrupted more than they in all thy ways.

  • Ezekiel 16:48

    [As] I live, saith the Lord GOD, Sodom thy sister hath not done, she nor her daughters, as thou hast done, thou and thy daughters.

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