Ezekiel 8:5

Then said he unto me, Son of man, lift up thine eyes now the way toward the north. So I lifted up mine eyes the way toward the north, and behold northward at the gate of the altar this image of jealousy in the entry.

Then said {H559} he unto me, Son {H1121} of man {H120}, lift up {H5375} thine eyes {H5869} now the way {H1870} toward the north {H6828}. So I lifted up {H5375} mine eyes {H5869} the way {H1870} toward the north {H6828}, and behold northward {H6828} at the gate {H8179} of the altar {H4196} this image {H5566} of jealousy {H7068} in the entry {H872}.

Then he said to me, "Human being, raise your eyes toward the north." I raised my eyes toward the north and saw, north of the Altar Gate, this image that [arouses God's] jealousy in the entryway.

โ€œSon of man,โ€ He said to me, โ€œnow lift up your eyes to the north.โ€ So I lifted up my eyes to the north, and in the entrance north of the Altar Gate I saw this idol of jealousy.

Then said he unto me, Son of man, lift up thine eyes now the way toward the north. So I lifted up mine eyes the way toward the north, and behold, northward of the gate of the altar this image of jealousy in the entry.

Commentary

Context of Ezekiel 8:5

This verse is part of a powerful vision given to the prophet Ezekiel while he was among the exiles in Babylon. In Ezekiel chapter 8, the Lord transports Ezekiel in the Spirit to Jerusalem, giving him an extraordinary tour of the Temple precincts. The purpose of this vision is to reveal the egregious idolatry and abominations being committed within the very heart of Jewish worship, providing divine justification for the impending destruction of the Temple and the city by the Babylonians. Ezekiel 8:5 marks the beginning of a series of shocking revelations of idolatry, starting with a prominent image at the north gate of the altar.

Key Themes and Messages

  • Idolatry and Abomination: The central theme is the presence of an "image of jealousy" within the sacred temple grounds. This signifies a profound spiritual betrayal, where the people of Israel had brought pagan worship into the dwelling place of the one true God, provoking His righteous anger.
  • God's Holy Jealousy: The phrase "image of jealousy" directly refers to God's attribute of holy jealousy or zeal. As a covenant God, He demands exclusive worship and will not share His glory with idols. This concept is foundational to the covenant relationship, as seen in the Ten Commandments.
  • Temple Defilement: The placement of this idol "at the gate of the altar" indicates a severe defilement of the Temple. The altar was the central point of sacrifice and atonement, symbolizing access to God. Placing an idol there desecrated the very core of Israel's worship and covenant relationship.
  • Divine Revelation of Sin: God reveals these hidden sins to Ezekiel, highlighting His omniscience and His intention to hold His people accountable for their spiritual adultery. This revelation serves as a prelude to divine judgment.

Linguistic Insights

The key phrase in this verse is "image of jealousy." In Hebrew, this is semel haqqin'ah (ืกึตืžึถืœ ื”ึทืงึผึดื ึฐืึธื”). The word semel refers to a statue, image, or idol, often one set up as a monument or symbol. The word qina (ืงึดื ึฐืึธื”) means 'jealousy' or 'zeal'. When applied to God, this jealousy is not a human emotion of envy, but rather His righteous zeal for His own honor, His commitment to His covenant, and His intolerance of any rival gods. It signifies His absolute claim over His people's worship and devotion, making the presence of this idol a direct affront to His nature.

Practical Application

Ezekiel's vision serves as a powerful reminder of the dangers of spiritual idolatry, even in subtle forms. For believers today, the "image of jealousy" can represent anything that takes the primary place in our hearts and lives that rightfully belongs to God. This could be wealth, career, relationships, hobbies, or even self-worship. The passage urges us to:

  • Examine Our Hearts: Are there "images of jealousy" in our own lives, subtle idols that compete for our ultimate devotion?
  • Prioritize True Worship: God still demands exclusive worship. Our spiritual lives should be marked by devotion to Him alone, avoiding anything that would defile our hearts or His "temple" (our bodies as believers, 1 Corinthians 6:19).
  • Understand God's Holiness: This passage underscores God's absolute holiness and His righteous intolerance of spiritual compromise. He is a God who is zealous for His glory and the purity of His people.
Note: If the commentary doesnโ€™t appear instantly, please allow 2โ€“5 seconds for it to load. It is generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash using a prompt focused on Biblical fidelity over bias. While the insights have been consistently reliable, we encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit.

Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated โ€” the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • Ezekiel 8:3

    And he put forth the form of an hand, and took me by a lock of mine head; and the spirit lifted me up between the earth and the heaven, and brought me in the visions of God to Jerusalem, to the door of the inner gate that looketh toward the north; where [was] the seat of the image of jealousy, which provoketh to jealousy.

  • Jeremiah 3:2

    Lift up thine eyes unto the high places, and see where thou hast not been lien with. In the ways hast thou sat for them, as the Arabian in the wilderness; and thou hast polluted the land with thy whoredoms and with thy wickedness.

  • Psalms 48:2

    Beautiful for situation, the joy of the whole earth, [is] mount Zion, [on] the sides of the north, the city of the great King.

  • Jeremiah 32:34

    But they set their abominations in the house, which is called by my name, to defile it.

  • Zechariah 5:5

    ยถ Then the angel that talked with me went forth, and said unto me, Lift up now thine eyes, and see what [is] this that goeth forth.

  • Zechariah 5:11

    And he said unto me, To build it an house in the land of Shinar: and it shall be established, and set there upon her own base.

  • Psalms 78:58

    For they provoked him to anger with their high places, and moved him to jealousy with their graven images.
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