Then said I unto them, Cast ye away every man the abominations of his eyes, and defile not yourselves with the idols of Egypt: I am the LORD your God.

EZEKIEL 20:7KJV
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Ezekiel 20:7 (KJV)

What does Ezekiel 20:7 mean?

Ezekiel 20:7 records God telling the Israelites to get rid of the detestable things they were drawn to and not to make themselves unclean with the idols of Egypt, reminding them that He is their God. The verse is a call for the people to turn away from idol worship and remain loyal to the LORD.

In this verse, God is speaking through the prophet Ezekiel to the Israelites, reminding them of what He told their ancestors when He brought them out of Egypt. The setting is a historical review, where God recounts how He commanded the people to abandon the "abominations"—the disgusting idols—they had seen and desired in Egypt. The verse highlights the tension between God's claim on His people and their attraction to foreign gods.

The Hebrew behind Ezekiel 20:7

  • "abominations" (תּוֹעֵבָה, toʿevah): This word refers to things that are especially repulsive or detestable, often used for idols or practices that are morally offensive in the Hebrew Bible. Here, it underscores how strongly God rejects these idols.
  • "idols" (גִּלּוּל, gillul): This term is often used in Ezekiel for idols and carries a sense of something worthless or even contemptible. It emphasizes how empty and degrading these objects of worship are compared to the LORD.
  • "defile" (טָמֵא, tame): This verb means to make oneself unclean, especially in a religious or moral sense. The use here stresses that idol worship is not just wrong but makes a person spiritually impure.

Why Ezekiel 20:7 matters

  • Ezekiel 20:7 clarifies that the problem of idolatry among the Israelites began even before they left Egypt, not just later in their history, showing how deep-rooted the issue was.
  • The verse highlights God's expectation for exclusive loyalty, making clear that being His people means rejecting all other gods and practices, no matter how attractive they might seem.
  • This verse connects to the larger theme of Ezekiel 20, where God reviews Israel's repeated failures and His ongoing call for faithfulness, setting the stage for understanding why judgment and restoration are both necessary.