Ezekiel 8:12

Translations

Modern

“Son of man,” He said to me, “do you see what the elders of the house of Israel are doing in the darkness, each at the shrine of his own idol? For they are saying, ‘The LORD does not see us; the LORD has forsaken the land.’”

Traditional

Then said he unto me, Son of man, hast thou seen what the ancients of the house of Israel do in the dark, every man in the chambers of his imagery? for they say, The Lord seeth us not; the Lord hath forsaken the earth.

Literal

And He said to me: “Have you seen, Son of man, that which the elders of the house of Israel are doing in the dark, each man in the inner chambers of his imagery? For they say, ‘YHWH is not seeing us, for YHWH has forsaken the land.’”

Latin

Et dixit ad me: Certe vides, fili hominis, quæ seniores domus Israël faciunt in tenebris, unusquisque in abscondito cubiculi sui: dicunt enim: Non videt Dominus nos; dereliquit Dominus terram.

Original

Hebrew

English

“Son of man,” He said to me, “do you see what the elders of the house of Israel are doing in the darkness, each at the shrine of his own idol? For they are saying, ‘The LORD does not see us; the LORD has forsaken the land.’”

Notes

Ezekiel 8:12–13

The Lord saw the actions of Israel's leaders and shared this with his prophet (compare Luke 12:3).

Ezekiel 8:3–16

God showed Ezekiel four scenes of increasing abomination (a deeply offensive act). In each scene, the people of Israel were worshiping false gods inside the Lord’s temple.

Jerusalem’s defilement (moral and spiritual uncleanness) was complete. Idolatry (the worship of false gods) took place in many parts of the temple. Different groups of people were involved. They worshiped different gods. These gods came from many foreign cultures.

This was not one small sin. It was a mixture of many false religions brought together in one place. One abomination was added to another.

Ezekiel 8:1–18

In a vision, the prophet Ezekiel saw four ways the people defiled their land. This vision explains why the Lord's presence left his sanctuary.

Ezekiel 8:1–11:25

This section describes how the people defiled (made unclean by sin) the temple in Jerusalem (Ezekiel 8). Because of this sin, the Lord left the temple. After he left, the city and the temple were destroyed (9:1–11:13).

At first, this sounds like only bad news. But for those already living in exile, it was also good news. The Lord was not limited to the temple in Jerusalem. He would come to be with his people in exile.

By coming to dwell with them, the Lord showed that the exiles were not forgotten. They were the ones who carried hope for the future of God’s people.

Theme notes and profiles

Apostasy God’s Glory with His People Jerusalem Temple Legislation as Theology Temple Worship

Events

Prophecies of Ezekielc. 593 BC

Related verses

Isaiah 29:15
Woe to those who dig deep to hide their plans from the LORD. In darkness they do their works and say, “Who sees us, and who will know?”
Ezekiel 9:9
He replied, “The iniquity of the house of Israel and Judah is exceedingly great. The land is full of bloodshed, and the city is full of perversity. For they say, ‘The LORD has forsaken the land; the LORD does not see.’
Ezekiel 8:15
“Son of man,” He said to me, “do you see this? Yet you will see even greater abominations than these.”
Psalm 10:11
He says to himself, “God has forgotten; He hides His face and never sees.”
John 3:19–20
And this is the verdict: The Light has come into the world, but men loved the darkness rather than the Light because their deeds were evil.
Ephesians 5:12
For it is shameful even to mention what the disobedient do in secret.
Psalm 94:7–10
They say, “The LORD does not see; the God of Jacob pays no heed.”
Job 24:13–17
Then there are those who rebel against the light, not knowing its ways or staying on its paths.
Ezekiel 8:6–8
“Son of man,” He said to me, “do you see what they are doing—the great abominations that the house of Israel is committing—to drive Me far from My sanctuary? Yet you will see even greater abominations.”
Job 22:12–13
Is not God as high as the heavens? Look at the highest stars, how lofty they are!
Ezekiel 8:17
“Son of man,” He said to me, “do you see this? Is it not enough for the house of Judah to commit the abominations they are practicing here, that they must also fill the land with violence and continually provoke Me to anger? Look, they are even putting the branch to their nose!
Psalm 73:11
The wicked say, “How can God know? Does the Most High have knowledge?”

People

Israel: Patriarch, son of Isaac, father of twelve tribes

Glossary

Ezekiel, Book of

Topics

Blasphemy: General Scriptures Concerning Confidence: False Government: Mosaic: Corrupt House: Architecture of Painted Idolatry: Warnings Against, and Punishments of Infidelity: General Scriptures Concerning Scoffing: General Scriptures Concerning Sin: Secret Sins Visions: To Ezekiel (See Chapters 10, 40-48 of Ezekiel)

Ezekiel 8:12

Translations?

Original?

Notes?

Events?

Related verses?