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.

EZEKIEL 36:20KJV
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Ezekiel 36:20 (KJV)

What does Ezekiel 36:20 mean?

Ezekiel 36:20 describes how, when the Israelites were scattered among other nations, their actions caused God’s holy name to be disrespected. The people around them recognized that these exiles were supposed to belong to the LORD, yet they had been driven out of their own land.

In this verse, God is speaking through the prophet Ezekiel to the Israelites who are in exile. The situation is that Israel has been conquered and its people forced to live among foreign nations. The verse highlights that the surrounding nations saw the Israelites’ defeat and exile as a reflection on the reputation of their God, bringing dishonor to His name.

The Hebrew behind Ezekiel 36:20

  • "profaned" (חִלְּלוּ, ḥillēlū): This word means to treat as common or to defile. Here, it shows that the Israelites’ exile made God’s name seem less holy or special to other nations.
  • "holy" (קָדוֹשׁ, qādôsh): This word means set apart or sacred. The verse stresses that God’s name is meant to be distinct and honored, but was instead treated as ordinary.
  • "name" (שֵׁם, shēm): In Hebrew thought, a name often represents a person’s reputation or character. The verse points out that God’s reputation was damaged in the eyes of other nations because of Israel’s situation.

Why Ezekiel 36:20 matters

  • This verse clarifies that Israel’s exile was not just a national tragedy, but also had spiritual consequences, affecting how other nations viewed God Himself.
  • It reveals that God is concerned with His reputation among all peoples, not just Israel, and that His people’s actions reflect on Him.
  • The verse sets up the following passage, where God promises to act for the sake of His holy name, showing that His restoration of Israel is about more than just their return—it’s about restoring His honor.

Where else these words appear

“profaned” 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;