Ezekiel 8:16

And he brought me into the inner court of the LORD'S house, and, behold, at the door of the temple of the LORD, between the porch and the altar, [were] about five and twenty men, with their backs toward the temple of the LORD, and their faces toward the east; and they worshipped the sun toward the east.

And he brought {H935} me into the inner {H6442} court {H2691} of the LORD'S {H3068} house {H1004}, and, behold, at the door {H6607} of the temple {H1964} of the LORD {H3068}, between the porch {H197} and the altar {H4196}, were about five {H2568} and twenty {H6242} men {H376}, with their backs {H268} toward the temple {H1964} of the LORD {H3068}, and their faces {H6440} toward the east {H6924}; and they worshipped {H7812} the sun {H8121} toward the east {H6924}.

He brought me into the inner courtyard of ADONAI's house; and there, at the entrance to the temple of ADONAI, between the porch and the altar, were about twenty-five men with their backs toward the temple of ADONAI and their faces toward the east; and they were worshipping the sun toward the east.

So He brought me to the inner court of the house of the LORD, and there at the entrance to the temple of the LORD, between the portico and the altar, were about twenty-five men with their backs to the temple of the LORD and their faces toward the east; and they were bowing to the east in worship of the sun.

And he brought me into the inner court of Jehovah’s house; and behold, at the door of the temple of Jehovah, between the porch and the altar, were about five and twenty men, with their backs toward the temple of Jehovah, and their faces toward the east; and they were worshipping the sun toward the east.

Ezekiel 8:16 presents a chilling snapshot of the spiritual depravity that had infiltrated the very heart of worship in ancient Jerusalem. This verse is part of a series of visions given to the prophet Ezekiel, exposing the abominations being committed in the Temple of the Lord just before its destruction and the final exile to Babylon.

Context

Ezekiel's vision in Ezekiel chapter 8 transports him from his exile in Babylon to Jerusalem, where God reveals the extent of Israel's idolatry. This specific scene unfolds in the inner court of the LORD'S house, the most sacred area of the Temple, accessible only to priests and Levites. The location, "between the porch and the altar," was a highly symbolic space, typically reserved for solemn prayer and priestly duties. The presence of "about five and twenty men" in this sacred area, engaged in pagan worship, suggests that these were likely spiritual leaders or priests, indicating the widespread corruption from the top down.

Key Themes

  • Blatant Idolatry and Apostasy: The most striking act is the worship of the sun, a practice strictly forbidden in the Mosaic Law (Deuteronomy 4:19). Turning their backs on the Temple of the LORD—the physical dwelling place of God's presence—and facing east to worship the sun was a profound act of rebellion and disrespect. It symbolized a complete rejection of Yahweh, the true God of Israel.
  • Corruption of Sacred Space: The inner court, meant for pure worship and communion with God, was defiled by pagan rituals. This desecration underscored the severity of Israel's spiritual sickness and the justification for God's impending judgment on Jerusalem and the Temple itself.
  • Failure of Leadership: If these 25 men were indeed priests or elders, their actions highlight a catastrophic failure of spiritual leadership. Those entrusted with guiding the people in righteousness were leading them astray into abominable practices, further deepening the nation's guilt.

Linguistic Insights

The phrase "worshipped the sun" translates the Hebrew yištaḥawu la-šemeš, which literally means "bowed down to the sun." Sun worship, or heliolatry, was a common pagan practice in ancient Near Eastern cultures, often associated with deities like Ra in Egypt or Shamash in Mesopotamia. For Israel, this was a direct violation of the First and Second Commandments, which prohibit worshipping other gods or creating idols.

Practical Application

Ezekiel 8:16 serves as a powerful warning against spiritual complacency and syncretism—the mixing of true worship with worldly or pagan practices. For believers today, it prompts self-examination:

  • Are we truly facing God in our hearts, or are there "idols" (anything that takes God's rightful place) that cause us to turn our backs on Him?
  • Do we maintain the purity of our worship, ensuring that our devotion is solely to the Lord, or do we allow worldly influences to subtly corrupt our faith?
  • For those in spiritual leadership, it emphasizes the immense responsibility to uphold God's truth and lead by example, guarding against any form of spiritual compromise.

This verse reminds us that true worship requires undivided loyalty and a heart wholly devoted to God, free from the allure of competing gods or worldly values.

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.

  • Deuteronomy 4:19

    And lest thou lift up thine eyes unto heaven, and when thou seest the sun, and the moon, and the stars, [even] all the host of heaven, shouldest be driven to worship them, and serve them, which the LORD thy God hath divided unto all nations under the whole heaven.

  • Deuteronomy 17:3

    And hath gone and served other gods, and worshipped them, either the sun, or moon, or any of the host of heaven, which I have not commanded;

  • Jeremiah 32:33

    And they have turned unto me the back, and not the face: though I taught them, rising up early and teaching [them], yet they have not hearkened to receive instruction.

  • Jeremiah 2:27

    Saying to a stock, Thou [art] my father; and to a stone, Thou hast brought me forth: for they have turned [their] back unto me, and not [their] face: but in the time of their trouble they will say, Arise, and save us.

  • Ezekiel 11:1

    ¶ Moreover the spirit lifted me up, and brought me unto the east gate of the LORD'S house, which looketh eastward: and behold at the door of the gate five and twenty men; among whom I saw Jaazaniah the son of Azur, and Pelatiah the son of Benaiah, princes of the people.

  • Joel 2:17

    Let the priests, the ministers of the LORD, weep between the porch and the altar, and let them say, Spare thy people, O LORD, and give not thine heritage to reproach, that the heathen should rule over them: wherefore should they say among the people, Where [is] their God?

  • Job 31:26

    If I beheld the sun when it shined, or the moon walking [in] brightness;

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