Ezekiel 20:25

Ezekiel 20:25 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)Wherefore I gave them also statutes that were not good, and judgments whereby they should not live;
• New International Version (NIV)So I gave them other statutes that were not good and laws through which they could not live;
• English Standard Version (ESV)Moreover, I gave them statutes that were not good and rules by which they could not have life,
• New King James Version (NKJV)“Therefore I also gave them up to statutes that were not good, and judgments by which they could not live;

Context of Ezekiel 20:25

23I also swore to them in the wilderness that I would scatter them among the nations and disperse them throughout the lands. 24I did this because they did not observe my regulations, they rejected my statutes, they desecrated my Sabbaths, and their eyes were fixed on their fathers’ idols. I also gave them decrees which were not good and regulations by which they could not live. 26I declared them to be defiled because of their sacrifices – they caused all their first born to pass through the fire – so that I would devastate them, so that they will know that I am the Lord.’ 27“Therefore, speak to the house of Israel, son of man, and tell them, ‘This is what the sovereign Lord says: In this way too your fathers blasphemed me when they were unfaithful to me.

Ezekiel 20:25 word by word

וְגַם־אֲנִי֙ נָתַ֣תִּי לָהֶ֔ם חֻקִּ֖ים לֹ֣א טוֹבִ֑ים וּמִ֨שְׁפָּטִ֔ים לֹ֥א יִֽחְי֖וּ בָּהֶֽם׃Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• Wherefore I gaveנָתַןnâthan · to give: giveH5414
• them also statutesחֹקchôq · statute: decreeH2706
• not goodטוֹבţôb · pleasantH2896
• and judgmentsמִשְׁפָּטmishpâţ · justice: judgementH4941
• whereby they should not liveחָיָהchâyâh · to liveH2421

Cross-references for Ezekiel 20:25

• Romans 1:28And just as they did not see fit to acknowledge God, God gave them over to a depraved mind, to do what should not be done.
• Ezekiel 20:26I declared them to be defiled because of their sacrifices – they caused all their first born to pass through the fire – so that I would devastate them, so that they will know that I am the Lord.’
• Ezekiel 14:9“‘As for the prophet, if he is made a fool by being deceived into speaking a prophetic word – I, the Lord, have made a fool of that prophet, and I will stretch out my hand against him and destroy him from among my people Israel.
• Deuteronomy 4:27Then the Lord will scatter you among the peoples and there will be very few of you among the nations where the Lord will drive you.
• Deuteronomy 28:36The Lord will force you and your king whom you will appoint over you to go away to a people whom you and your ancestors have not known, and you will serve other gods of wood and stone there.
• Psalms 81:12I gave them over to their stubborn desires; they did what seemed right to them.
• Isaiah 66:4So I will choose severe punishment for them; I will bring on them what they dread, because I called, and no one responded, I spoke and they did not listen. They did evil before me; they chose to do what displeases me.”
• Romans 1:21For although they knew God, they did not glorify him as God or give him thanks, but they became futile in their thoughts and their senseless hearts were darkened.
• 2 Thessalonians 2:9The arrival of the lawless one will be by Satan’s working with all kinds of miracles and signs and false wonders,

Commentaries on Ezekiel 20:25

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 25I gave them also statutes that were not good - What a foolish noise has been made about this verse by critics, believers and infidels! How is it that God can be said "to give a people statutes that were not good, and judgments whereby they could not live?" I answer, in their sense of the words, God never gave any such, at any time, to any people. Let any man produce an example of this kind if he can; or show even the fragment of such a law, sanctioned by…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. 25-26I also gave them over to statutes that were not good and ordinances … I pronounced them unclean: This means that the Lord allowed the people of Israel to follow their own sinful desires. He did not stop them from choosing false worship and harmful practices. They took part in the complex and corrupt rituals of paganism (the worship of false gods). As a result, they suffered the painful consequences of their sins (see Romans 1:18–25).Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 2525. I gave them ... statutes ... not good--Since they would not follow My statutes that were good, "I gave them" their own (Eze 20:18) and their fathers' "which were not good"; statutes spiritually corrupting, and, finally, as the consequence, destroying them. Righteous retribution (Psa 81:12; Ho 8:11; Ro 1:24; 2Th 2:11). Eze 20:39 proves this view to be correct (compare Is 63:17). Thus on the plains of Moab (Nu 25:1-18), in chastisement for the secret…Read the comment

In the dictionaries

• Defile
• Purge
• God
• Grace
• Leviticus
• Molech; Moloch
• Salvation

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