Ezekiel 20: God Acted for His Name's Sake

In the seventh year, some elders of Israel came to inquire of Yahweh. God told Ezekiel to remind them of their fathers' history. In Egypt God chose Israel and swore to bring them to a land flowing with milk and honey, telling them to throw away their idols, but they rebelled. Yet God worked for his name's sake and brought them out into the wilderness. There he gave them his statutes, which if a man does, he will live in them, and his Sabbaths as a sign between him and them. Again they rebelled, and again God spared them for his name's sake. Their children also rebelled, and in the land they kept going to high places and idols. Now God promised that he would bring his people out of the countries, judge them face to face in the wilderness, cause them to pass under the rod, and bring them into the bond of the covenant. On his holy mountain they would serve him, and he would accept them like pleasant incense. They would remember their ways and know that he had dealt with them for his name's sake, not according to their wicked ways. The chapter closes with a word against the forest of the south.

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Read Ezekiel 20

World English Bible · 49 verses

¹ In the seventh year, in the fifth month, the tenth day of the month, some of the elders of Israel came to inquire of Yahweh, and sat before me.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
² Yahweh’s word came to me, saying,This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
³ “Son of man, speak to the elders of Israel, and tell them, ‘The Lord Yahweh says: “Is it to inquire of me that you have come? As I live,” says the Lord Yahweh, “I will not be inquired of by you.”’This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
⁴ “Will you judge them, son of man? Will you judge them? Cause them to know the abominations of their fathers.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
⁵ Tell them, ‘The Lord Yahweh says: “In the day when I chose Israel, and swore to the offspring of the house of Jacob, and made myself known to them in the land of Egypt, when I swore to them, saying, ‘I am Yahweh your God;’This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
⁶ in that day I swore to them to bring them out of the land of Egypt into a land that I had searched out for them, flowing with milk and honey, which is the glory of all lands.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
⁷ I said to them, ‘Each of you throw away the abominations of his eyes. Don’t defile yourselves with the idols of Egypt. I am Yahweh your God.’This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
⁸ “‘“But they rebelled against me and wouldn’t listen to me. They didn’t all throw away the abominations of their eyes. They also didn’t forsake the idols of Egypt. Then I said I would pour out my wrath on them, to accomplish my anger against them in the middle of the land of Egypt.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
⁹ But I worked 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 to them in bringing them out of the land of Egypt.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
¹⁰ So I caused them to go out of the land of Egypt and brought them into the wilderness.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
¹¹ I gave them my statutes and showed them my ordinances, which if a man does, he will live in them.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
¹² Moreover also I gave them my Sabbaths, to be a sign between me and them, that they might know that I am Yahweh who sanctifies them.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
¹³ “‘“But the house of Israel rebelled against me in the wilderness. They didn’t walk in my statutes and they rejected my ordinances, which if a man keeps, he shall live in them. They greatly profaned my Sabbaths. Then I said I would pour out my wrath on them in the wilderness, to consume them.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
¹⁴ But I worked for my name’s sake, that it should not be profaned in the sight of the nations, in whose sight I brought them out.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
¹⁵ Moreover also I swore to them in the wilderness that I would not bring them into the land which I had given them, flowing with milk and honey, which is the glory of all lands,This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
¹⁶ because they rejected my ordinances, and didn’t walk in my statutes, and profaned my Sabbaths; for their heart went after their idols.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
¹⁷ Nevertheless my eye spared them, and I didn’t destroy them. I didn’t make a full end of them in the wilderness.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
¹⁸ I said to their children in the wilderness, ‘Don’t walk in the statutes of your fathers. Don’t observe their ordinances or defile yourselves with their idols.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
¹⁹ I am Yahweh your God. Walk in my statutes, keep my ordinances, and do them.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
²⁰ Make my Sabbaths holy. They shall be a sign between me and you, that you may know that I am Yahweh your God.’This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
²¹ “‘“But the children rebelled against me. They didn’t walk in my statutes, and didn’t keep my ordinances to do them, which if a man does, he shall live in them. They profaned my Sabbaths. Then I said I would pour out my wrath on them, to accomplish my anger against them in the wilderness.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
²² Nevertheless I withdrew my hand and worked for my name’s sake, that it should not be profaned in the sight of the nations, in whose sight I brought them out.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
²³ Moreover I swore to them in the wilderness, that I would scatter them among the nations and disperse them through the countries,This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
²⁴ because they had not executed my ordinances, but had rejected my statutes, and had profaned my Sabbaths, and their eyes were after their fathers’ idols.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
²⁵ Moreover also I gave them statutes that were not good, and ordinances in which they couldn’t live.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
²⁶ I polluted them in their own gifts, in that they caused all that opens the womb to pass through the fire, that I might make them desolate, to the end that they might know that I am Yahweh.”’This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
²⁷ “Therefore, son of man, speak to the house of Israel, and tell them, ‘The Lord Yahweh says: “Moreover, in this your fathers have blasphemed me, in that they have committed a trespass against me.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
²⁸ For when I had brought them into the land which I swore to give to them, then they saw every high hill and every thick tree, and they offered there their sacrifices, and there they presented the provocation of their offering. There they also made their pleasant aroma, and there they poured out their drink offerings.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
²⁹ Then I said to them, ‘What does the high place where you go mean?’ So its name is called Bamah to this day.”’This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
³⁰ “Therefore tell the house of Israel, ‘The Lord Yahweh says: “Do you pollute yourselves in the way of your fathers? Do you play the prostitute after their abominations?This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
³¹ When you offer your gifts, when you make your sons pass through the fire, do you pollute yourselves with all your idols to this day? Should I be inquired of by you, house of Israel? As I live, says the Lord Yahweh, I will not be inquired of by you!This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
³² “‘“That which comes into your mind will not be at all, in that you say, ‘We will be as the nations, as the families of the countries, to serve wood and stone.’This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
³³ As I live,” says the Lord Yahweh, “surely with a mighty hand, with an outstretched arm, and with wrath poured out, I will be king over you.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
³⁴ I will bring you out from the peoples, and will gather you out of the countries in which you are scattered with a mighty hand, with an outstretched arm, and with wrath poured out.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
³⁵ I will bring you into the wilderness of the peoples, and there I will enter into judgment with you face to face.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
³⁶ Just as I entered into judgment with your fathers in the wilderness of the land of Egypt, so I will enter into judgment with you,” says the Lord Yahweh.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
³⁷ “I will cause you to pass under the rod, and I will bring you into the bond of the covenant.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
³⁸ I will purge out from among you the rebels and those who disobey me. I will bring them out of the land where they live, but they shall not enter into the land of Israel. Then you will know that I am Yahweh.”This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
³⁹ “‘As for you, house of Israel, the Lord Yahweh says: “Go, everyone serve his idols, and hereafter also, if you will not listen to me; but you shall no more profane my holy name with your gifts and with your idols.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
⁴⁰ For in my holy mountain, in the mountain of the height of Israel,” says the Lord Yahweh, “there all the house of Israel, all of them, shall serve me in the land. There I will accept them, and there I will require your offerings and the first fruits of your offerings, with all your holy things.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
⁴¹ I will accept you as a pleasant aroma when I bring you out from the peoples and gather you out of the countries in which you have been scattered. I will be sanctified in you in the sight of the nations.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
⁴² You will know that I am Yahweh when I bring you into the land of Israel, into the country which I swore to give to your fathers.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
⁴³ There you will remember your ways, and all your deeds in which you have polluted yourselves. Then you will loathe yourselves in your own sight for all your evils that you have committed.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
⁴⁴ You will know that I am Yahweh, when I have dealt with you for my name’s sake, not according to your evil ways, nor according to your corrupt doings, you house of Israel,” says the Lord Yahweh.’”This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
⁴⁵ Yahweh’s word came to me, saying,This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
⁴⁶ “Son of man, set your face toward the south, and preach toward the south, and prophesy against the forest of the field in the south.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
⁴⁷ Tell the forest of the south, ‘Hear Yahweh’s word: The Lord Yahweh says, “Behold, I will kindle a fire in you, and it will devour every green tree in you, and every dry tree. The burning flame will not be quenched, and all faces from the south to the north will be burned by it.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
⁴⁸ All flesh will see that I, Yahweh, have kindled it. It will not be quenched.”’”This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
⁴⁹ Then I said, “Ah Lord Yahweh! They say of me, ‘Isn’t he a speaker of parables?’”This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.

Scripture: World English Bible, public domain, eBible.org

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Ezekiel 20 · Preschool

God's Special Day

Name Date

Color the people resting on God's day. God gave us a day to rest!

Can you find these in the picture? Circle each one!

Bible Verse

“Moreover also I gave them my Sabbaths, to be a sign between me and them, that they might know that I am Yahweh who sanctifies them.”

Ezekiel 20:12 (WEB)

Prayer

Thank You, God, for making me!

Take It Home

Read the verse aloud. Say: God gave His people a special day called the Sabbath. It was a day to rest and remember God. It showed they belonged to Him. Let's thank God for rest and for being our God.

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Ezekiel 20 · Grade 4

Again and Again

Name Date

Read and Think

In the seventh year, some elders of Israel came to inquire of Yahweh. Instead of answering their question, God told Ezekiel to declare the history of their fathers. It was a history of God's faithfulness and Israel's rebellion.

In Egypt God chose Israel and promised them a good land, but they would not throw away their idols. In the wilderness God gave them his statutes, which if a man does, he will live in them, and his Sabbaths as a sign between him and them. They rebelled there too. In the land, their children kept turning to high places and idols. Each time, God held back and acted for his name's sake, so his name would not be profaned among the nations.

Then God gave a promise. He would bring his people out of the countries and judge them face to face. He would cause them to pass under the rod, like a shepherd counting sheep, and bring them into the bond of the covenant. On his holy mountain they would serve him, and they would remember their ways and know he had not dealt with them according to their wicked ways.

Show What You Know

What pattern does the history in this chapter show?
What was the Sabbath meant to be?
Why did God keep holding back judgment?
What does passing under the rod picture?

Word Bank Fill-In

Use the word bank to fill in each blank.

Godliverebelledcountriesland

Instead of answering their question, told Ezekiel to declare the history of their fathers.
In Egypt God chose Israel and promised them a good , but they would not throw away their idols.
In the wilderness God gave them his statutes, which if a man does, he will in them, and his Sabbaths as a sign between him and them.
They there too.
He would bring his people out of the and judge them face to face.

Think About It

God kept being patient with Israel because of His own name, not because they deserved it. How does this help you understand grace?
The Sabbath was a sign of belonging to God. What regular habits help you remember that you belong to Him?

Memory Verse

“Moreover also I gave them my Sabbaths, to be a sign between me and them, that they might know that I am Yahweh who sanctifies them.”

Ezekiel 20:12 (WEB)

Copy It

Prayer

Dear God, thank You for the gift of rest. Help me . Amen.

Take It Home

For families: talk about these together.

God promised to gather His people and accept them like a sweet smell. How could you share that promise with a friend who feels they have failed God?
How does it change your week to know you belong to God?

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Ezekiel 20 · Grade 5

Not According to Your Wicked Ways

Name Date

Read and Think

Ezekiel 20 is dated to the seventh year of exile, when elders again came to inquire of Yahweh. God refused to be consulted by men holding on to idols and instead had Ezekiel judge them by reviewing their history. The account moves in four stages: Egypt, the first generation in the wilderness, the second generation, and life in the land. In each stage the pattern repeats: God gives grace, Israel rebels, God considers judgment, and God holds back for his name's sake.

Several gifts stand out. God gave his statutes and showed them his ordinances, which if a man does, he will live in them. He gave his Sabbaths as a sign, so they might know that he is Yahweh who sanctifies them. Yet the people rejected his ordinances, profaned his Sabbaths, and their heart went after their idols. God's restraint did not come from Israel's merit but from his concern that his name not be profaned in the sight of the nations.

The promise that follows is a new exodus. God would bring his people out of the countries with a mighty hand, enter into judgment with them face to face in the wilderness of the peoples, cause them to pass under the rod, and bring them into the bond of the covenant. Rebels would be purged, and on his holy mountain all Israel would serve him and be accepted like a pleasant aroma. They would loathe their former ways and know that God had dealt with them for his name's sake, not according to their wicked ways. In the New Testament, Titus 3:5 says: not by works of righteousness which we did ourselves, but according to his mercy, he saved us.

Show What You Know

What four-part pattern repeats through Israel's history in this chapter?
Why did God hold back judgment again and again?
How is God's promise like a new exodus?
What New Testament verse says God saves according to his mercy?

Crossword

Across

Make my Sabbaths ____
Don’t walk in the ____ of your fathers
Yahweh’s ____ came to me

Down

And ordinances in which they couldn’t ____
Shall serve me in the ____

Think About It

God dealt with Israel for His name's sake, not according to their ways. How does this change the way you think about being forgiven?
The pattern of grace and rebellion repeated for generations. How can you break patterns of turning away from God in your own life?

Memory Verse

“Moreover also I gave them my Sabbaths, to be a sign between me and them, that they might know that I am Yahweh who sanctifies them.”

Ezekiel 20:12 (WEB)

Copy It

Prayer

Dear God, thank You for the gift of rest. Help me . Amen.

Take It Home

For families: talk about these together.

How can remembering God's past rescues give us hope today?
How does Titus 3:5 connect to Ezekiel 20?
What is one way you could live out this chapter this week?

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Ezekiel 20: God Acted for His Name's Sake

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God's Special Day

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God's Rest Day

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God Is Patient

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God Acted for His Name's Sake

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God Is Patient

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For His Name's Sake

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God Acted for His Name's Sake

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Again and Again

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Not According to Your Wicked Ways

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