Ezekiel 8:17

Translations

Modern

“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!

Traditional

Then he said unto me, Hast thou seen this, O son of man? Is it a light thing to the house of Judah that they commit the abominations which they commit here? for they have filled the land with violence, and have returned to provoke me to anger: and, lo, they put the branch to their nose.

Literal

And He said to me: “Have you seen, son of man? Is it a light thing for the house of Judah to do the abominations that they do here, that they should fill the land with violence and turn back to provoke Me to anger? For behold, they are sending the branch to their nose!

Latin

Et dixit ad me: Certe vidisti, fili hominis: numquid leve est hoc domui Juda, ut facerent abominationes istas quas fecerunt hic, quia replentes terram iniquitate, conversi sunt ad irritandum me? et ecce applicant ramum ad nares suas.

Original

Hebrew

English

“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!

Notes

Ezekiel 8:17–18

The abominations that the Israelites were committing in the temple complex were like openly insulting the Lord.

The Hebrew expression literally says they were “putting the twig [or branch] to their nose.” This was likely a rude gesture. It showed defiance and disrespect.

In other words, their actions were not only sinful. They were boldly rebellious against the Lord.

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

Events

Prophecies of Ezekielc. 593 BC

Related verses

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 7:23
Forge the chain, for the land is full of crimes of bloodshed, and the city is full of violence.
Jeremiah 6:7
As a well gushes its water, so she pours out her evil. Violence and destruction resound in her; sickness and wounds are ever before Me.
Zephaniah 1:9
On that day I will punish all who leap over the threshold, who fill the house of their master with violence and deceit.
Micah 2:2
They covet fields and seize them; they take away houses. They deprive a man of his home, a fellow man of his inheritance.
Ezekiel 11:6
You have multiplied those you killed in this city and filled its streets with the dead.
2 Kings 21:16
Moreover, Manasseh shed so much innocent blood that he filled Jerusalem from end to end, in addition to the sin that he had caused Judah to commit, doing evil in the sight of the LORD.
2 Kings 24:4
…and also for the innocent blood he had shed. For he had filled Jerusalem with innocent blood, and the LORD was unwilling to forgive.
Jeremiah 19:4
…because they have abandoned Me and made this a foreign place. They have burned incense in this place to other gods that neither they nor their fathers nor the kings of Judah have ever known. They have filled this place with the blood of the innocent.
Amos 3:10
“For they know not how to do right,” declares the LORD. “They store up violence and destruction in their citadels.”
Jeremiah 20:8
For whenever I speak, I cry out; I proclaim violence and destruction. For the word of the LORD has become to me a reproach and derision all day long.
Ezekiel 7:11
Their violence has grown into a rod to punish their wickedness. None of them will remain: none of their multitude, none of their wealth, and nothing of value.

People

Judah: Israelite tribe, kingdom, and province

Glossary

Ezekiel, Book of

Topics

Answers To Prayer: Denied to Those Who are Idolaters Idolatry: Warnings Against, and Punishments of

Ezekiel 8:17

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