Translations
Modern
But I acted for the sake of My name, so that it would not be profaned in the eyes of the nations in whose sight I had brought them out.
Traditional
But I wrought for my name’s sake, that it should not be polluted before the heathen, in whose sight I brought them out.
Literal
And I acted for the sake of My name, for it not to be profaned before the eyes of the nations, who before their eyes I had brought them out.
Latin
…et feci propter nomen meum, ne violaretur coram gentibus de quibus ejeci eos in conspectu earum.
Original
Hebrew
English
But I acted for the sake of My name, so that it would not be profaned in the eyes of the nations in whose sight I had brought them out.
Notes
Each generation of Israelites rebelled against the Lord. They refused to obey the commandments he gave them.
Each time, the Lord warned that he would pour out his fury (his strong anger) on them (Ezekiel 20:8, 13, 21). But he held back his judgment. He did this for the honor of his name.
If he had destroyed them, the surrounding nations might have thought he was too weak to bring his people into the promised land.
The Lord refused to answer their question. But this did not mean he had nothing to say.
Instead, God gave them a different message through Ezekiel. Ezekiel would describe the sinful and detestable actions of their ancestors. He would place these past sins clearly before the people.
Events
- Prophecies of Ezekielc. 593 BC