God’s Word Translation
Ezekiel 20:17
17But I had compassion on them. I didn’t destroy them or completely wipe them out in the desert.
Ezekiel 20:17 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)Nevertheless mine eye spared them from destroying them, neither did I make an end of them in the wilderness.
- New International Version (NIV)Yet I looked on them with pity and did not destroy them or put an end to them in the wilderness.
- English Standard Version (ESV)Nevertheless, my eye spared them, and I did not destroy them or make a full end of them in the wilderness.
- New King James Version (NKJV)Nevertheless My eye spared them from destruction. I did not make an end of them in the wilderness.
Context of Ezekiel 20:17
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. 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. But I had compassion on them. I didn’t destroy them or completely wipe them out in the desert. 18I said to their children in the desert, “Don’t live by the laws of your ancestors. Don’t obey their rules or dishonor yourselves with their disgusting idols. 19I am the Lord your God. Live by my laws. Obey my rules and follow them.
Read all of Ezekiel 20Ezekiel 20:17 word by word
וַתָּ֧חָס עֵינִ֛י עֲלֵיהֶ֖ם מִֽשַּׁחֲתָ֑ם וְלֹֽא־עָשִׂ֧יתִי אוֹתָ֛ם כָּלָ֖ה בַּמִּדְבָּֽר׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
Cross-references for Ezekiel 20:17
- Ezekiel 8:18So I will take action because I’m angry, and I won’t have compassion for them or feel sorry for them. Even if they shout in my ears, I won’t listen to them.”
- Ezekiel 9:10But I will not have compassion or feel sorry. I will do to them what they have done to others.”
- 1 Samuel 24:10Today you saw how the Lord handed you over to me in the cave. Although I was told to kill you, I spared you, saying, ‘I will not raise my hand against Your Majesty because you are the Lord’s anointed.’
- Nehemiah 9:19But because of your endless compassion, you didn’t abandon them in the desert. The column of smoke didn’t leave them during the day, but it led them on their way. The column of fire didn’t leave them during the night, but it gave them light to see the way they should go.
- Psalms 78:37Their hearts were not loyal to him. They were not faithful to his promise.
- Ezekiel 7:2“Son of man, this is what the Almighty Lord says to ⌞the people in⌟ the land of Israel: The end is coming! The end is coming to the four corners of the earth.
- Ezekiel 11:13While I was prophesying, Benaiah’s son Pelatiah died. I immediately bowed down and cried out, “Almighty Lord, will you completely destroy all the remaining people in Israel?”
- Jeremiah 4:27This is what the Lord says: The whole earth will be ruined, although I will not destroy it completely.
- Jeremiah 5:18Yet, even in those days, declares the Lord, I won’t destroy all of you.
- Nahum 1:8He will put an end to Nineveh with a devastating flood. He will pursue his enemies with darkness.
Commentaries on Ezekiel 20:17
- 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. 1717. Nevertheless--How marvellous that God should spare such sinners! His everlasting covenant explains it, His long-suffering standing out in striking contrast to their rebellions (Psa 78:38; Jr 30:11).Read the comment
Topics related to Ezekiel 20:17
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
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