


Ezekiel 8:8
Bible Versions
Then said he unto me, Son of man, dig now in the wall: and when I had digged in the wall, behold a door.
He said to me, "Human being, dig into the wall." After digging in the wall, I saw a door.
“Son of man,” He told me, “dig through the wall.” So I dug through the wall and discovered a doorway.
Then said he unto me, Son of man, dig now in the wall: and when I had digged in the wall, behold, a door.
Study Tools
-
Isaiah 29:15
Woe unto them that seek deep to hide their counsel from the LORD, and their works are in the dark, and they say, Who seeth us? and who knoweth us? -
Job 34:22
[There is] no darkness, nor shadow of death, where the workers of iniquity may hide themselves. -
Amos 9:2
Though they dig into hell, thence shall mine hand take them; though they climb up to heaven, thence will I bring them down: -
Amos 9:3
And though they hide themselves in the top of Carmel, I will search and take them out thence; and though they be hid from my sight in the bottom of the sea, thence will I command the serpent, and he shall bite them: -
Jeremiah 2:34
Also in thy skirts is found the blood of the souls of the poor innocents: I have not found it by secret search, but upon all these. -
Jeremiah 23:24
Can any hide himself in secret places that I shall not see him? saith the LORD. Do not I fill heaven and earth? saith the LORD.
Ezekiel 8:8 is a pivotal moment in a profound vision given to the prophet Ezekiel, where God reveals the hidden idolatry and abominations taking place within the Jerusalem temple. This verse marks the beginning of an uncovering, a divine exposé of Israel's spiritual corruption.
Context
This verse is part of a series of visions in Ezekiel chapters 8-11, where the prophet is supernaturally transported from Babylon to Jerusalem to witness the appalling idolatry practiced by the elders of Israel right within the temple precincts. The divine instruction to "dig now in the wall" signifies a command to break through a physical barrier, revealing what was deliberately concealed from public view. This act of digging serves as a powerful metaphor for God's intention to expose the secret sins of His people, which were provoking His wrath and leading to the eventual destruction of Jerusalem and the temple. The preceding verses set the scene, with Ezekiel being shown the "image of jealousy" (Ezekiel 8:5) and other provocations.
Key Themes
Linguistic Insights
Practical Application
Ezekiel 8:8 serves as a powerful reminder that nothing is hidden from God. Just as God commanded Ezekiel to dig through a physical wall to expose hidden idolatry, so too does God see the secret places of our hearts and lives. This verse encourages introspection and transparency before God. It challenges us to examine our own "walls" and to consider if there are any hidden areas of sin, compromise, or idolatry that we have concealed. God's desire is not to condemn but to bring us to repentance and restoration, as seen in His ultimate plan for a new covenant (Ezekiel 36:26). It underscores the biblical truth that "the eyes of the LORD are in every place, keeping watch on the evil and the good" (Proverbs 15:3).