But I wrought for my name's sake, that it should not be polluted before the heathen, among whom they were, in whose sight I made myself known unto them, in bringing them forth out of the land of Egypt.

EZEKIEL 20:9KJV
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Ezekiel 20:9 (KJV)

What does Ezekiel 20:9 mean?

Ezekiel 20:9 presents God’s rescue of Israel from Egypt as an act tied to his own reputation. God says he acted so that the nations among whom the Israelites lived would not see his name dishonored.

God is speaking through Ezekiel about Israel’s past. After describing the Israelites’ rebellion in verse 8, God explains why he acted as he did. The verse places the rescue in public view: the surrounding nations had witnessed God make himself known to Israel.

The Hebrew behind Ezekiel 20:9

  • “name’s” — שֵׁם (shem): A name can stand for a person’s reputation. Here, God’s “name” points to how he would be regarded by the nations watching Israel.
  • “polluted” — חָלַל (ḥalal): This word can carry the sense of being dishonored or treated as common. The KJV’s “polluted” pictures damage to God’s reputation, not physical dirt.
  • “known” — יָדַע (yadaʿ): This word concerns knowing or recognizing. God says he made himself known to the Israelites in a way that the nations could see.

Why Ezekiel 20:9 matters

  • The verse gives a reason for God’s action after Israel’s rebellion. The phrase “for my name’s sake” explains why that action matters in the account.
  • The nations are part of the scene as witnesses. The repeated references to their presence and sight show that Israel’s departure from Egypt had an audience beyond Israel itself.
  • Ezekiel’s audience is hearing an account of their people’s earlier history. The next verse continues the account with God bringing Israel out of Egypt and into the wilderness.

Where else these words appear

“polluted” Hebrew H2490 · used in 131 verses

  • Genesis 4:26 And to Seth, to him also there was born a son; and he called his name Enos: then began men to call upon the name of the LORD.
  • Judges 20:31 And the children of Benjamin went out against the people, and were drawn away from the city; and they began to smite of the people, and kill, as at other times, in the highways, of which one goeth up to the house of God, and the other to Gibeah in the field, about thirty men of Israel.
  • Isaiah 56:6 Also the sons of the stranger, that join themselves to the LORD, to serve him, and to love the name of the LORD, to be his servants, every one that keepeth the sabbath from polluting it, and taketh hold of my covenant;