Ezekiel 20:15
New International Version
Also with uplifted hand I swore to them in the wilderness that I would not bring them into the land I had given them—a land flowing with milk and honey, the most beautiful of all lands—

New Living Translation
But I took a solemn oath against them in the wilderness. I swore I would not bring them into the land I had given them, a land flowing with milk and honey, the most beautiful place on earth.

English Standard Version
Moreover, I swore to them in the wilderness that I would not bring them into the land that I had given them, a land flowing with milk and honey, the most glorious of all lands,

Berean Standard Bible
Moreover, with an uplifted hand I swore to them in the wilderness that I would not bring them into the land that I had given them—a land flowing with milk and honey, the glory of all lands—

King James Bible
Yet also I lifted up my hand unto them in the wilderness, that I would not bring them into the land which I had given them, flowing with milk and honey, which is the glory of all lands;

New King James Version
So I also raised My hand in an oath to them in the wilderness, that I would not bring them into the land which I had given them, ‘flowing with milk and honey,’ the glory of all lands,

New American Standard Bible
Also I swore to them in the wilderness that I would not bring them into the land which I had given them, flowing with milk and honey, which is the glory of all the lands,

NASB 1995
“Also I swore to them in the wilderness that I would not bring them into the land which I had given them, flowing with milk and honey, which is the glory of all lands,

NASB 1977
“And also I swore to them in the wilderness that I would not bring them into the land which I had given them, flowing with milk and honey, which is the glory of all lands,

Legacy Standard Bible
Also I swore to them in the wilderness that I would not bring them into the land which I had given them, flowing with milk and honey, which is the glory of all lands,

Amplified Bible
I also swore to them in the wilderness that I would not bring them into the land which I had given them, [a land of plenty] flowing with milk and honey, which is the ornament and glory of all lands,

Christian Standard Bible
However, I swore to them in the wilderness that I would not bring them into the land I had given them—the most beautiful of all lands, flowing with milk and honey—

Holman Christian Standard Bible
However, I swore to them in the wilderness that I would not bring them into the land I had given them—the most beautiful of all lands, flowing with milk and honey—

American Standard Version
Moreover also I sware unto them in the wilderness, that I would not bring them into the land which I had given them, flowing with milk and honey, which is the glory of all lands;

Contemporary English Version
Instead, I told them in the desert that I would not lead them into the beautiful, fertile land I had promised.

English Revised Version
Moreover also I lifted up my hand unto them in the wilderness, that I would not bring them into the land which I had given them, flowing with milk and honey, which is the glory of all lands;

GOD'S WORD® Translation
I also swore an oath to them in the desert. I swore that I would not bring them into the land that I had promised to give them. This land is the most beautiful land, a land flowing with milk and honey.

Good News Translation
So I made a vow in the desert that I would not take them to the land I had given them, a rich and fertile land, the finest land of all.

International Standard Version
"Moreover, I solemnly swore to them in the wilderness that I wouldn't bring them to the land that I had given them—a land flowing with milk and honey, the most beautiful of all lands—

Majority Standard Bible
Moreover, with an uplifted hand I swore to them in the wilderness that I would not bring them into the land that I had given them—a land flowing with milk and honey, the glory of all lands—

NET Bible
I also swore to them in the wilderness that I would not bring them to the land I had given them--a land flowing with milk and honey, the most beautiful of all lands.

New Heart English Bible
"'"Moreover also I swore to them in the wilderness, that I would not bring them into the land which I had given to them, flowing with milk and honey, which is the most beautiful of all lands;

Webster's Bible Translation
Yet also I lifted up my hand to them in the wilderness, that I would not bring them into the land which I had given them, flowing with milk and honey, which is the glory of all lands;

World English Bible
Moreover also I swore to them in the wilderness that I would not bring them into the land which I had given them, flowing with milk and honey, which is the glory of all lands,
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
And also, I have lifted up My hand to them in the wilderness, "" Not to bring them into the land that I had given, "" Flowing with milk and honey, "" It [is] a beauty to all the lands,

Young's Literal Translation
And also, I, I have lifted up My hand to them in the wilderness, Not to bring them in to the land that I had given, Flowing with milk and honey, A beauty it is to all the lands,

Smith's Literal Translation
And also I lifted up my hand to them in the desert, not to bring them in to the land which I gave flowing milk and honey; this the glory to all lands.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
So I lifted up my hand over them in the desert, not to bring them into the land which I had given them flowing with milk and honey, the best of all lands.

Catholic Public Domain Version
And so I lifted up my hand over them in the desert, so as not to lead them into the land that I had given to them, flowing with milk and honey, the foremost of all lands.

New American Bible
Nevertheless in the wilderness I swore to them that I would not bring them into the land I had given them—a land flowing with milk and honey, a jewel among all the lands.

New Revised Standard Version
Moreover I swore to them in the wilderness that I would not bring them into the land that I had given them, a land flowing with milk and honey, the most glorious of all lands,
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
So I swore to them in the wilderness that I would not bring them into the land which I had given them, flowing with milk and honey, which is the glory of all lands;

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
Also I lifted to them my hands in the wilderness that I would not bring them to the land that I have given to them, that flows milk and honey; it is the glory of all the cities
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
Yet also I lifted up My hand unto them in the wilderness, that I would not bring them into the land which I had given them, flowing with milk and honey, which is the beauty of all lands;

Brenton Septuagint Translation
But I lifted up my hand against them in the wilderness once for all, that I would not bring them into the land which I gave them, a land flowing with milk and honey, it is sweeter than all lands:

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Israel's Rebellion in Egypt
14But I acted for the sake of My name, so that it would not be profaned in the eyes of the nations in whose sight I had brought them out. 15Moreover, with an uplifted hand I swore to them in the wilderness that I would not bring them into the land that I had given them— a land flowing with milk and honey, the glory of all lands— 16because they kept rejecting My ordinances, refusing to walk in My statutes, and profaning My Sabbaths; for their hearts continually went after their idols.…

Cross References
Numbers 14:28-30
So tell them: As surely as I live, declares the LORD, I will do to you exactly as I heard you say. / Your bodies will fall in this wilderness—all who were numbered in the census, everyone twenty years of age or older—because you have grumbled against Me. / Surely none of you will enter the land in which I swore to settle you, except Caleb son of Jephunneh and Joshua son of Nun.

Deuteronomy 1:34-35
When the LORD heard your words, He grew angry and swore an oath, saying, / “Not one of the men of this evil generation shall see the good land I swore to give your fathers,

Psalm 95:11
So I swore on oath in My anger, “They shall never enter My rest.”

Hebrews 3:11
So I swore on oath in My anger, ‘They shall never enter My rest.’”

Hebrews 4:3
Now we who have believed enter that rest. As for the others, it is just as God has said: “So I swore on oath in My anger, ‘They shall never enter My rest.’” And yet His works have been finished since the foundation of the world.

Numbers 32:10-13
So the anger of the LORD was kindled that day, and He swore an oath, saying, / ‘Because they did not follow Me wholeheartedly, not one of the men twenty years of age or older who came out of Egypt will see the land that I swore to give Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob— / not one except Caleb son of Jephunneh the Kenizzite and Joshua son of Nun—because they did follow the LORD wholeheartedly.’ ...

Deuteronomy 9:23
And when the LORD sent you out from Kadesh-barnea, He said, “Go up and possess the land that I have given you.” But you rebelled against the command of the LORD your God. You neither believed Him nor obeyed Him.

Psalm 106:26
So He raised His hand and swore to cast them down in the wilderness,

Hebrews 3:18-19
And to whom did He swear that they would never enter His rest? Was it not to those who disobeyed? / So we see that it was because of their unbelief that they were unable to enter.

Deuteronomy 1:36-38
except Caleb son of Jephunneh. He will see it, and I will give him and his descendants the land on which he has set foot, because he followed the LORD wholeheartedly.” / The LORD was also angry with me on your account, and He said, “Not even you shall enter the land. / Joshua son of Nun, who stands before you, will enter it. Encourage him, for he will enable Israel to inherit the land.

Numbers 14:22-23
not one of the men who have seen My glory and the signs I performed in Egypt and in the wilderness—yet have tested Me and disobeyed Me these ten times— / not one will ever see the land that I swore to give their fathers. None of those who have treated Me with contempt will see it.

Joshua 5:6
For the Israelites had wandered in the wilderness forty years, until all the nation’s men of war who had come out of Egypt had died, since they did not obey the LORD. So the LORD vowed never to let them see the land He had sworn to their fathers to give us, a land flowing with milk and honey.

Hebrews 4:6
Since, then, it remains for some to enter His rest, and since those who formerly heard the good news did not enter because of their disobedience,

Numbers 14:11-12
And the LORD said to Moses, “How long will this people treat Me with contempt? How long will they refuse to believe in Me, despite all the signs I have performed among them? / I will strike them with a plague and destroy them—and I will make you into a nation greater and mightier than they are.”

Deuteronomy 2:14-15
The time we spent traveling from Kadesh-barnea until we crossed over the Brook of Zered was thirty-eight years, until that entire generation of fighting men had perished from the camp, as the LORD had sworn to them. / Indeed, the LORD’s hand was against them, to eliminate them from the camp, until they had all perished.


Treasury of Scripture

Yet also I lifted up my hand to them in the wilderness, that I would not bring them into the land which I had given them, flowing with milk and honey, which is the glory of all lands;

I lifted

Ezekiel 20:23
I lifted up mine hand unto them also in the wilderness, that I would scatter them among the heathen, and disperse them through the countries;

Numbers 14:23-30
Surely they shall not see the land which I sware unto their fathers, neither shall any of them that provoked me see it: …

Numbers 26:64,65
But among these there was not a man of them whom Moses and Aaron the priest numbered, when they numbered the children of Israel in the wilderness of Sinai…

flowing

Ezekiel 20:6
In the day that I lifted up mine hand unto them, to bring them forth of the land of Egypt into a land that I had espied for them, flowing with milk and honey, which is the glory of all lands:

Jump to Previous
Beauty Desert Flowing Further Glorious Glory Hand Honey Lands Milk Moreover Oath Ornament Sware Swore Uplifted Waste Wilderness
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Beauty Desert Flowing Further Glorious Glory Hand Honey Lands Milk Moreover Oath Ornament Sware Swore Uplifted Waste Wilderness
Ezekiel 20
1. God refuses to be consulted by the elders of Israel
4. He shows the story of their rebellions in Egypt
19. in the desert
27. and in the land
33. He promises to gather them by the Gospel
45. Under the name of a forest he shows the destruction of Jerusalem














So I swore to them
The phrase "I swore" indicates a solemn oath made by God. In Hebrew, the word used is "נָשָׂאתִי" (nasati), which conveys a deep commitment and an unbreakable promise. This reflects God's righteous character and His commitment to justice. The context here is God's response to the Israelites' rebellion, emphasizing that His promises are contingent upon obedience. This serves as a reminder of the seriousness with which God views His covenants and the consequences of breaking them.

in the wilderness
The "wilderness" refers to the desert region where the Israelites wandered for 40 years after their exodus from Egypt. This period was a time of testing and revelation of the Israelites' faithfulness. The wilderness symbolizes a place of trial and purification, where God provided for His people despite their disobedience. It serves as a metaphor for the spiritual journey of believers, who may also experience times of testing and growth in their faith.

that I would not bring them into the land
This phrase highlights the consequence of the Israelites' disobedience. The "land" refers to the Promised Land, Canaan, which God had pledged to Abraham and his descendants. The Hebrew word for "land" is "אֶרֶץ" (eretz), signifying not just a physical territory but also a place of divine blessing and fulfillment of God's promises. The denial of entry into the land underscores the importance of faithfulness and obedience to God's commands.

I had given them
The phrase "I had given them" emphasizes God's gracious provision and the unmerited favor He extended to the Israelites. The land was a gift, a fulfillment of the covenant with Abraham. This highlights the concept of grace in the biblical narrative, where God's blessings are given not because of human merit but because of His love and faithfulness.

a land flowing with milk and honey
This description paints a picture of abundance and prosperity. "Flowing with milk and honey" is a Hebrew idiom that signifies fertility and richness. It reflects the bountiful nature of the Promised Land, a place of sustenance and delight. This imagery serves as a metaphor for the spiritual blessings that God offers to His people, inviting them into a life of abundance in His presence.

the glory of all lands
The phrase "the glory of all lands" elevates the Promised Land above all others, signifying its unique status as the chosen place for God's people. The Hebrew word for "glory" is "כָּבוֹד" (kavod), which can also mean honor or splendor. This underscores the land's significance not only in its physical beauty and resources but also in its spiritual importance as the center of God's covenantal relationship with Israel. It serves as a reminder of the ultimate glory that awaits believers in the eternal Promised Land, Heaven.

(15) I would not bring them into the land.--Numbers 14:28-29. In consequence of their rebellion and want of faith, all the men above twenty years old when they came out of Egypt were doomed by the Divine oath to perish in the wilderness. Yet He did not utterly take His mercy from them, but promised that their children should be brought into the land, as is set forth in Ezekiel 20:17.



Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
Moreover,
וְגַם־ (wə·ḡam-)
Conjunctive waw | Conjunction
Strong's 1571: Assemblage, also, even, yea, though, both, and

with an uplifted hand
יָדִ֛י (yā·ḏî)
Noun - feminine singular construct | first person common singular
Strong's 3027: A hand

I
אֲנִ֗י (’ă·nî)
Pronoun - first person common singular
Strong's 589: I

swore
נָשָׂ֧אתִי (nā·śā·ṯî)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - first person common singular
Strong's 5375: To lift, carry, take

to them
לָהֶ֖ם (lā·hem)
Preposition | third person masculine plural
Strong's Hebrew

in the wilderness
בַּמִּדְבָּ֑ר (bam·miḏ·bār)
Preposition-b, Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 4057: A pasture, a desert, speech

that I would not
לְבִלְתִּי֩ (lə·ḇil·tî)
Preposition-l
Strong's 1115: A failure of, not, except, without, unless, besides, because not, until

bring
הָבִ֨יא (hā·ḇî)
Verb - Hifil - Infinitive construct
Strong's 935: To come in, come, go in, go

them into
אֶל־ (’el-)
Preposition
Strong's 413: Near, with, among, to

the land
הָאָ֣רֶץ (hā·’ā·reṣ)
Article | Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 776: Earth, land

I had given [them]—
נָתַ֗תִּי (nā·ṯat·tî)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - first person common singular
Strong's 5414: To give, put, set

[a land] flowing
זָבַ֤ת (zā·ḇaṯ)
Verb - Qal - Participle - feminine singular construct
Strong's 2100: To flow freely, to have a, flux, to waste away, to overflow

with milk
חָלָב֙ (ḥā·lāḇ)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 2461: Milk

and honey,
וּדְבַ֔שׁ (ū·ḏə·ḇaš)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 1706: Honey, syrup

the glory
צְבִ֥י (ṣə·ḇî)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 6643: Splendor, a gazelle

of all
לְכָל־ (lə·ḵāl)
Preposition-l | Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 3605: The whole, all, any, every

lands—
הָאֲרָצֽוֹת׃ (hā·’ă·rā·ṣō·wṯ)
Article | Noun - feminine plural
Strong's 776: Earth, land


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OT Prophets: Ezekiel 20:15 Moreover also I swore to them (Ezek. Eze Ezk)
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