New Living Translation
Ezekiel 36:20
20But when they were scattered among the nations, they brought shame on my holy name. For the nations said, ‘These are the people of the Lord, but he couldn’t keep them safe in his own land!’
Ezekiel 36:20 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)And when they entered unto the heathen, whither they went, they profaned my holy name, when they said to them, These are the people of the Lord, and are gone forth out of his land.
- New International Version (NIV)And wherever they went among the nations they profaned my holy name, for it was said of them, ‘These are the Lord’s people, and yet they had to leave his land.’
- English Standard Version (ESV)But when they came to the nations, wherever they came, they profaned my holy name, in that people said of them, 'These are the people of the Lord, and yet they had to go out of his land.'
- New King James Version (NKJV)When they came to the nations, wherever they went, they profaned My holy name—when they said of them, ‘These are the people of the Lord, and yet they have gone out of His land.’
Context of Ezekiel 36:20
18They polluted the land with murder and the worship of idols, so I poured out my fury on them. 19I scattered them to many lands to punish them for the evil way they had lived. But when they were scattered among the nations, they brought shame on my holy name. For the nations said, ‘These are the people of the Lord, but he couldn’t keep them safe in his own land!’ 21Then I was concerned for my holy name, on which my people brought shame among the nations. 22“Therefore, give the people of Israel this message from the Sovereign Lord: I am bringing you back, but not because you deserve it. I am doing it to protect my holy name, on which you brought shame while you were scattered among the nations.
Read all of Ezekiel 36Ezekiel 36:20 word by word
וַיָּב֗וֹא אֶל־הַגּוֹיִם֙ אֲשֶׁר־בָּ֣אוּ שָׁ֔ם וַֽיְחַלְּל֖וּ אֶת־שֵׁ֣ם קָדְשִׁ֑י בֶּאֱמֹ֤ר לָהֶם֙ עַם־יְהוָ֣ה אֵ֔לֶּה וּמֵאַרְצ֖וֹ יָצָֽאוּ׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- And when they enteredבּוֹאbô' · to come (in): comeH935
- unto the heathenגּוֹיgôy gôy · nationH1471
- they profanedחָלַלchâlal · to profane/begin: profaneH2490
- my holyקֹ֫דֶשׁqôdesh · holinessH6944
- nameשֵׁםshêm · nameH8034
- when they saidאָמַר'âmar · to sayH559
- the peopleעַם‛am · peopleH5971
- of the Lordיְהֹוָהyehôvâh · LORDH3068
- and are gone forthיָצָאyâtsâ' · to come out: comeH3318
- out of his landאֶ֫רֶץ'erets · land: country/planetH776
Cross-references for Ezekiel 36:20
- Isaiah 52:5What is this?” asks the Lord. “Why are my people enslaved again? Those who rule them shout in exultation. My name is blasphemed all day long.
- Romans 2:24No wonder the Scriptures say, “The Gentiles blaspheme the name of God because of you.”
- Exodus 32:11But Moses tried to pacify the Lord his God. “O Lord!” he said. “Why are you so angry with your own people whom you brought from the land of Egypt with such great power and such a strong hand?
- Numbers 14:15Now if you slaughter all these people with a single blow, the nations that have heard of your fame will say,
- Joshua 7:9For when the Canaanites and all the other people living in the land hear about it, they will surround us and wipe our name off the face of the earth. And then what will happen to the honor of your great name?”
- 2 Kings 18:30Don’t let him fool you into trusting in the Lord by saying, ‘The Lord will surely rescue us. This city will never fall into the hands of the Assyrian king!’
- 2 Kings 19:10“This message is for King Hezekiah of Judah. Don’t let your God, in whom you trust, deceive you with promises that Jerusalem will not be captured by the king of Assyria.
- Jeremiah 33:24“Have you noticed what people are saying?—‘The Lord chose Judah and Israel and then abandoned them!’ They are sneering and saying that Israel is not worthy to be counted as a nation.
- Daniel 3:15I will give you one more chance to bow down and worship the statue I have made when you hear the sound of the musical instruments. But if you refuse, you will be thrown immediately into the blazing furnace. And then what god will be able to rescue you from my power?”
Commentaries on Ezekiel 36:20
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 20And when they entered unto the heathen - So bad were they, and so deeply fallen, that they profaned the Lord's name among the heathen; and, on their account, the true God was blasphemed. These, say they, are the people of Jehovah! O what an abominable people are these! and what a being must that God be who can have and own such for his people!Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 16-20Verses 16-20 The defilement of the people described in order to its removal. Ezekiel 36:20 They profaned my holy name - Caused it to be dishonored by the pagan who said in scorn, “This is the people of God.” The pagan, seeing the miserable state of the exiles, fancied that Yahweh was no more than a national god, powerless to protect his subjects.Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 16-24Verses 16-24 The restoration of that people, being typical of our redemption by Christ, shows that the end aimed at in our salvation is the glory of God. The sin of a people defiles their land; renders it abominable to God, and uncomfortable to themselves. God's holy name is his great name; his holiness is his greatness, nor does any thing else make a man truly great.Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 20This scattering also brought shame to the Lord's holy name. It was not the exiles' behavior that took away the Lord's glory. Instead, their exile made other nations think Israel's God could not protect them in their own land.Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 2020. profaned my holy name, when they--the heathen said to them--the Israelites. These, &c.--The Israelites gave a handle of reproach to the heathen against God, who would naturally say, These who take usury, oppress, commit adultery, &c., and who, in such an abject plight, are "gone forth" as exiles "out of His land," are specimens of what Jehovah can or will effect, for His people, and show what kind of a God this so-called holy, omnipotent…Read the comment
Topics related to Ezekiel 36:20
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Ezekiel 36
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
- Tyndale Open Study Notes
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
- Rashi on Tanakh
- 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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