Ezekiel 20:13
But the house of Israel rebelled against me in the wilderness: they walked not in my statutes, and they despised my judgments, which if a man do, he shall even live in them; and my sabbaths they greatly polluted: then I said, I would pour out my fury upon them in the wilderness, to consume them.
Study Note
Study Note
The retrospective of divine patience in Ezekiel's historical review — 'but the house of Israel rebelled against me in the wilderness: they walked not in my statutes, and they despised my judgments, which if a man do, he shall even live in them' — applies the Pentateuchal wilderness apostasy tradition to Ezekiel's generation as evidence of a consistent pattern of failure. The pivotal phrase 'which if a man do, he shall even live in them' cites Leviticus 18:5's covenant principle of life-through-obedience, which Paul cites in Galatians 3:12 and Romans 10:5 as the principle the Law announces but cannot supply without the Spirit. The narrative structure of Ezekiel 20's recapitulation serves to intensify the judgment of Ezekiel's contemporaries by establishing the depth and consistency of Israel's unfaithfulness across its entire history.
Other Translations
But the house of Israel rebelled against me in the wilderness: they walked not in my statutes, and they rejected mine ordinances, which if a man keep, he shall live in them; and my sabbaths they greatly profaned. Then I said I would pour out my wrath upon them in the wilderness, to consume them.
And--rebel against me do the house of Israel in the wilderness, In My statutes they have not walked, And My judgments they have despised, Which the man who doth--liveth by them. And My sabbaths they have greatly polluted, And I say to pour out My fury on them in the wilderness, to consume them.
But the children of Israel would not be controlled by me in the waste land: they were not guided by my rules, and they were turned away from my orders, which, if a man does them, will be life to him; and they had no respect for my Sabbaths: then I said that I would let loose my passion on them in the waste land, and put an end to them.
Cross References
But they rebelled, and vexed his holy Spirit: therefore he was turned to be their enemy, and he fought against …
Also the sons of the stranger, that join themselves to the Lord, to serve him, and to love the name …
He therefore that despiseth, despiseth not man, but God, who hath also given unto us his holy Spirit.
Thus saith the Lord; For three transgressions of Judah, and for four, I will not turn away the punishment thereof; …
Of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of …
He that despised Moses’ law died without mercy under two or three witnesses:
Because they had not executed my judgments, but had despised my statutes, and had polluted my sabbaths, and their eyes …
Notwithstanding the children rebelled against me: they walked not in my statutes, neither kept my judgments to do them, which …
Because they despised my judgments, and walked not in my statutes, but polluted my sabbaths: for their heart went after …
But they rebelled against me, and would not hearken unto me: they did not every man cast away the abominations …