God’s Word Translation
Ezekiel 20:15
15I also swore an oath to them in the desert. I swore that I would not bring them into the land that I had promised to give them. This land is the most beautiful land, a land flowing with milk and honey.
Ezekiel 20:15 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)Yet also I lifted up my hand unto 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;
- New International Version (NIV)Also with uplifted hand I swore to them in the wilderness that I would not bring them into the land I had given them—a land flowing with milk and honey, the most beautiful of all lands—
- English Standard Version (ESV)Moreover, I swore to them in the wilderness that I would not bring them into the land that I had given them, a land flowing with milk and honey, the most glorious of all lands,
- New King James Version (NKJV)So I also raised My hand in an oath to them in the wilderness, that I would not bring them into the land which I had given them, ‘flowing with milk and honey,’ the glory of all lands,
Context of Ezekiel 20:15
13“ ‘But the people of Israel rebelled against me in the desert. They didn’t live by my laws, and they rejected my rules. If people obey them, they will live. They dishonored the days of rest—holy days on which to worship me. So I was going to pour out my fury on them in the desert and completely wipe them out. 14But I acted so that my name would not be dishonored among the nations who had watched me bring the Israelites out ⌞of Egypt⌟. I also swore an oath to them in the desert. I swore that I would not bring them into the land that I had promised to give them. This land is the most beautiful land, a land flowing with milk and honey. 16They rejected my rules, and they didn’t live by my laws. They dishonored the days to worship me, because their hearts chased disgusting idols. 17But I had compassion on them. I didn’t destroy them or completely wipe them out in the desert.
Read all of Ezekiel 20Ezekiel 20:15 word by word
וְגַם־אֲנִ֗י נָשָׂ֧אתִי יָדִ֛י לָהֶ֖ם בַּמִּדְבָּ֑ר לְבִלְתִּי֩ הָבִ֨יא אוֹתָ֜ם אֶל־הָאָ֣רֶץ אֲשֶׁר־נָתַ֗תִּי זָבַ֤ת חָלָב֙ וּדְבַ֔שׁ צְבִ֥י הִ֖יא לְכָל־הָאֲרָצֽוֹת׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- Yet also I lifted upנָשָׂאnâώâ' nâsâh · to lift: vowH5375
- my handיָדyâd · hand: vowH3027
- unto them in the wildernessמִדְבָּרmidbâr · wildernessH4057
- that I would not bringבּוֹאbô' · to come (in): bringH935
- them into the landאֶ֫רֶץ'erets · land: country/planetH776
- which I had givenנָתַןnâthan · to give: giveH5414
- flowingזוּבzûb · to flow: flowingH2100
- with milkחָלָבchâlâb · milkH2461
- and honeyדְּבַשׁdebash · honeyH1706
- the gloryצְבִיtsebîy · beautyH6643
Cross-references for Ezekiel 20:15
- Ezekiel 20:23I raised my hand and swore an oath to them in the desert. I promised to scatter them among the nations and force them into other countries.
- Numbers 14:23None of those who treat me with contempt will see it!
- Numbers 26:64Among them there wasn’t a single one of the Israelites Moses and the priest Aaron had counted in the Desert of Sinai.
- Deuteronomy 1:34When the Lord heard what you said, he was angry and took this oath:
- Psalms 95:11That is why I angrily took this solemn oath: ‘They will never enter my place of rest!’ ”
- Psalms 106:26Raising his hand, he swore that he would kill them in the wilderness,
- Hebrews 3:11So I angrily took a solemn oath that they would never enter my place of rest.”
- Hebrews 3:18Who did God swear would never enter his place of rest? He was talking about those who didn’t obey him.
- Hebrews 4:3We who believe are entering that place of rest. As God said, “So I angrily took a solemn oath that they would never enter my place of rest.” God said this even though he had finished his work when he created the world.
- Ezekiel 20:6At that time I promised to bring them out of Egypt to a land that I had chosen for them. This land is the most beautiful land, a land flowing with milk and honey.
Commentaries on Ezekiel 20:15
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 15I lifted up my hand - Their provocations in the wilderness were so great, that I vowed never to bring them into the promised land. I did not consume them, but I disinherited them. See the note on Ezekiel 20:5; (note).Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 10-26Verses 10-26 The probation in the wilderness. The promise was forfeited by those to whom it was first conditionally made, but was renewed to their children. Ezekiel 20:11 The “statutes” were given on Mount Sinai, and repeated by Moses before his death (Exodus 20:1 ff; Deuteronomy 4:8). In them - Or, through them: and in Ezekiel 20:13. Ezekiel 20:12 See Exodus 31:13. The Sabbath was a sign of a special people, commemorative of the work of creation, and…Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 10-26Verses 10-26 . The history of Israel in the wilderness is referred to in the new Testament as well as in the Old, for warning. God did great things for them. He gave them the law, and revived the ancient keeping of the sabbath day. Sabbaths are privileges; they are signs of our being his people. If we do the duty of the day, we shall find, to our comfort, it is the Lord that makes us holy, that is, truly happy, here; and prepares us to be happy, that is…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 8-21Each 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.Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1515. I swore against them (Psa 95:11; 106:26) that I would not permit the generation that came out of Egypt to enter Canaan.Read the comment
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Ezekiel 20
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
- Tyndale Open Study Notes
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
- Rashi on Tanakh
- Calvin’s Commentaries
- Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
- John Wesley’s Notes
- Darby Translation Notes
- Geneva Bible Translation Notes
- Kingcomments
- Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
- Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
- Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
- Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
- EGW Writings
God’s Word Translation — © 1995 God’s Word to the Nations Bible Society
Commentaries