Ezekiel 20:9
But I wrought for my name’s sake, that it should not be polluted before the heathen, among whom they were, in whose sight I made myself known unto them, in bringing them forth out of the land of Egypt.
Study Note
Study Note
'But I wrought for my name's sake, that it should not be polluted before the heathen, among whom they were, in whose sight I made myself known unto them, in bringing them forth out of the land of Egypt' — Ezekiel's theology of divine motivation in the exodus is strikingly theocentric: God acted not primarily because Israel deserved rescue (verse 8 notes their rebellion) but to protect the integrity of his own name before the watching nations. The 'name' theology here anticipates Ezekiel 36:22 ('I do not this for your sake, O house of Israel, but for mine holy name's sake') and grounds the entire redemptive history in divine self-glorification rather than human merit — a foundation for Reformation sola gratia theology.
Other Translations
But I wrought for my name’s sake, that it should not be profaned in the sight of the nations, among which they were, in whose sight I made myself known unto them, in bringing them forth out of the land of Egypt.
And I do <FI>it<Fi> for My name's sake, Not to pollute <FI>it<Fi> before the eyes of the nations, In whose midst they <FI>are<Fi> , Before whose eyes I became known to them, To bring them out from the land of Egypt.
And I was acting for the honour of my name, so that it might not be made unclean before the eyes of the nations among whom they were, and before whose eyes I gave them knowledge of myself, by taking them out of the land of Egypt.
Cross References
Wherefore should the Egyptians speak, and say, For mischief did he bring them out, to slay them in the mountains, …
And Moses said unto the Lord, Then the Egyptians shall hear it, (for thou broughtest up this people in thy …
(Now the Amalekites and the Canaanites dwelt in the valley.) To morrow turn you, and get you into the wilderness …
Lest the land whence thou broughtest us out say, Because the Lord was not able to bring them into the …
I said, I would scatter them into corners, I would make the remembrance of them to cease from among men:
Were it not that I feared the wrath of the enemy, lest their adversaries should behave themselves strangely, and lest …
For we have heard how the Lord dried up the water of the Red sea for you, when ye came …
For the Canaanites and all the inhabitants of the land shall hear of it, and shall environ us round, and …
And they said unto him, From a very far country thy servants are come because of the name of the …
And all that he did to the two kings of the Amorites, that were beyond Jordan, to Sihon king of …