Ezekiel 20:21
New International Version
“’But the children rebelled against me: They did not follow my decrees, they were not careful to keep my laws, of which I said, “The person who obeys them will live by them,” and they desecrated my Sabbaths. So I said I would pour out my wrath on them and spend my anger against them in the wilderness.

New Living Translation
“But their children, too, rebelled against me. They refused to keep my decrees and follow my regulations, even though obedience would have given them life. And they also violated my Sabbath days. So again I threatened to pour out my fury on them in the wilderness.

English Standard Version
But the children rebelled against me. They did not walk in my statutes and were not careful to obey my rules, by which, if a person does them, he shall live; they profaned my Sabbaths. “Then I said I would pour out my wrath upon them and spend my anger against them in the wilderness.

Berean Standard Bible
But the children rebelled against Me. They did not walk in My statutes or carefully observe My ordinances—though the man who does these things will live by them—and they profaned My Sabbaths. So I resolved to pour out My wrath upon them and vent My anger against them in the wilderness.

King James Bible
Notwithstanding the children rebelled against me: they walked not in my statutes, neither kept my judgments to do them, which if a man do, he shall even live in them; they polluted my sabbaths: then I said, I would pour out my fury upon them, to accomplish my anger against them in the wilderness.

New King James Version
“Notwithstanding, the children rebelled against Me; they did not walk in My statutes, and were not careful to observe My judgments, ‘which, if a man does, he shall live by them’; but they profaned My Sabbaths. Then I said I would pour out My fury on them and fulfill My anger against them in the wilderness.

New American Standard Bible
But the children rebelled against Me; they did not walk in My statutes, nor were they careful to follow My ordinances which, if a person follows them, then he will live by them; they profaned My Sabbaths. So I resolved to pour out My wrath on them, to use up My anger against them in the wilderness.

NASB 1995
“But the children rebelled against Me; they did not walk in My statutes, nor were they careful to observe My ordinances, by which, if a man observes them, he will live; they profaned My sabbaths. So I resolved to pour out My wrath on them, to accomplish My anger against them in the wilderness.

NASB 1977
“But the children rebelled against Me; they did not walk in My statutes, nor were they careful to observe My ordinances, by which, if a man observes them, he will live; they profaned My sabbaths. So I resolved to pour out My wrath on them, to accomplish My anger against them in the wilderness.

Legacy Standard Bible
But the children rebelled against Me; they did not walk in My statutes, nor were they careful to do My judgments, which, if a man does them, he will live by them; they profaned My sabbaths. So I said I would pour out My wrath on them, to spend My anger against them in the wilderness.

Amplified Bible
Yet the children rebelled against Me; they did not walk in My statutes, nor were they careful to observe My ordinances, which, if a man keeps, he will live; they profaned My Sabbaths. Then I decided to pour out My wrath on them and finish My anger against them in the wilderness.

Christian Standard Bible
“ ‘But the children rebelled against me. They did not follow my statutes or carefully keep my ordinances—the person who does them will live by them. They also profaned my Sabbaths. So I considered pouring out my wrath on them and exhausting my anger against them in the wilderness.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
But the children rebelled against Me. They did not follow My statutes or carefully keep My ordinances—the person who does them will live by them. They also profaned My Sabbaths. So I considered pouring out My wrath on them and exhausting My anger against them in the wilderness.

American Standard Version
But the children rebelled against me; they walked not in my statutes, neither kept mine ordinances to do them, which if a man do, he shall live in them; they profaned my sabbaths. Then I said I would pour out my wrath upon them, to accomplish my anger against them in the wilderness.

Contemporary English Version
But the children also rebelled against me. They refused to obey my laws and teachings, and they treated the Sabbath as any other day. I became angry and decided to punish them in the desert.

English Revised Version
But the children rebelled against me; they walked not in my statutes, neither kept my judgments to do them, which if a man do, he shall live in them; they profaned my sabbaths: then I said I would pour out my fury upon them, to accomplish my anger against them in the wilderness.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
" 'But they rebelled against me. They didn't live by my laws, and they didn't obey my rules and follow them. If people obey them, they will live. They dishonored the days to worship me. So I was going to pour out my fury on them and unleash my anger on them in the desert.

Good News Translation
"But that generation also defied me. They broke my laws and did not keep my commands, which bring life to anyone who obeys them. They profaned the Sabbath. I was ready to let them feel the force of my anger there in the desert and to kill them all.

International Standard Version
"But they rebelled against me. They didn't live according to my statutes, observe my ordinances, or practice them, by which a person will live. They also kept profaning my Sabbaths. So I said that I was going to pour out my anger on them and in my anger I'm going to bring about a complete end to them in the wilderness.

Majority Standard Bible
But the children rebelled against Me. They did not walk in My statutes or carefully observe My ordinances?though the man who does these things will live by them?and they profaned My Sabbaths. So I resolved to pour out My wrath upon them and vent My anger against them in the wilderness.

NET Bible
"'But the children rebelled against me, did not follow my statutes, did not observe my regulations by carrying them out (the one who obeys them will live by them), and desecrated my Sabbaths. I decided to pour out my rage on them and fully vent my anger against them in the wilderness.

New Heart English Bible
But the children rebelled against me; they didn't walk in my statutes, neither kept my ordinances to do them, which if a man do, he shall live in them; and they profaned my Sabbaths. Then I said I would pour out my wrath on them, to accomplish my anger against them in the wilderness.

Webster's Bible Translation
Notwithstanding the children rebelled against me: they walked not in my statutes, neither kept my judgments to do them, which if a man doeth, he shall even live in them: they profaned my sabbaths: then I said, I would pour out my fury upon them, to accomplish my anger against them in the wilderness.

World English Bible
“‘“But the children rebelled against me. They didn’t walk in my statutes, and didn’t keep my ordinances to do them, which if a man does, he shall live in them. They profaned my Sabbaths. Then I said I would pour out my wrath on them, to accomplish my anger against them in the wilderness.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
And the sons rebel against Me, "" They have not walked in My statutes, "" And they have not observed My judgments—to do them, "" Which the man who does—lives by them. They have defiled My Sabbaths, "" And I speak—to pour out My fury on them, "" To complete My anger against them in the wilderness.

Young's Literal Translation
And -- the sons rebel against Me, In My statutes they have not walked, And My judgments they have not observed -- to do them, Which the man who doth -- liveth by them. My sabbaths they have polluted, And I say to pour out My fury upon them, To complete Mine anger against them in the wilderness.

Smith's Literal Translation
And their sons will rebel against me: they went not in my laws, and my judgments they watched not to do them, which a man shall do them and live in them: my Sabbaths they profaned: and saying, To pour out my wrath upon them to complete mine anger against them in the desert.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
But their children provoked me, they walked not in my commandments, nor observed my judgments to do them: which if a man do, he shell live in them: and they violated my sabbaths: and I threatened to pour out my indignation upon them, and to accomplish my wrath in them in the desert.

Catholic Public Domain Version
But their sons provoked me. They did not walk in my precepts. And they did not observe my judgments, so as to do them; for if a man does them, he shall live by them. And they violated my Sabbaths. And so, I threatened that I would pour out my fury upon them, and that I would fulfill my wrath among them in the desert.

New American Bible
But their children rebelled against me: they did not follow my statutes or keep my ordinances that bring life to those who observe them; my sabbaths they desecrated. Then I considered pouring out my fury on them, spending my anger against them in the wilderness;

New Revised Standard Version
But the children rebelled against me; they did not follow my statutes, and were not careful to observe my ordinances, by whose observance everyone shall live; they profaned my sabbaths. Then I thought I would pour out my wrath upon them and spend my anger against them in the wilderness.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
Notwithstanding the children of Israel rebelled against me; they did not walk in my commandments, neither did they keep my judgments to do them, which if a man shall do, he shall live by them; they polluted my sabbaths: then I said, I will pour out my fury upon them and accomplish my anger against them in the wilderness.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And the children angered me and they did not walk in my commands, and they did not keep my judgments and they did not do them, for if a son of man does them, he lives in them, and they defiled my Sabbaths, and I said: "I shall pour out my wrath and I shall fulfill my anger upon them in the wilderness"
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
But the children rebelled against Me; they walked not in My statutes, neither kept Mine ordinances to do them, which if a man do, he shall live by them; they profaned My sabbaths; then I said I would pour out My fury upon them, to spend My anger upon them in the wilderness.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
But they provoked me, and their children walked not in my commandments, and they took no heed to mine ordinances to do them, which if a man shall do, he shall even live in them, and they profaned my sabbaths: then I said that I would pour out my wrath upon them in the wilderness, to accomplish mine anger upon them.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Israel's Rebellion in the Wilderness
20Keep My Sabbaths holy, that they may be a sign between us, so that you may know that I am the LORD your God.’ 21But the children rebelled against Me. They did not walk in My statutes or carefully observe My ordinances though the man who does these things will live by them— and they profaned My Sabbaths. So I resolved to pour out My wrath upon them and vent My anger against them in the wilderness. 22But I withheld My hand and 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.…

Cross References
Jeremiah 7:23-24
but this is what I commanded them: Obey Me, and I will be your God, and you will be My people. You must walk in all the ways I have commanded you, so that it may go well with you. / Yet they did not listen or incline their ear, but they followed the stubborn inclinations of their own evil hearts. They went backward and not forward.

Psalm 78:10-11
They failed to keep God’s covenant and refused to live by His law. / They forgot what He had done, the wonders He had shown them.

Nehemiah 9:26-27
But they were disobedient and rebelled against You; they flung Your law behind their backs. They killed Your prophets, who had admonished them to return to You. They committed terrible blasphemies. / So You delivered them into the hands of enemies who oppressed them, and in their time of distress they cried out to You. From heaven You heard them, and in Your great compassion You gave them deliverers who saved them from the hands of their enemies.

Isaiah 63:10
But they rebelled and grieved His Holy Spirit. So He turned and became their enemy, and He Himself fought against them.

2 Kings 17:13-14
Yet through all His prophets and seers, the LORD warned Israel and Judah, saying, “Turn from your wicked ways and keep My commandments and statutes, according to the entire Law that I commanded your fathers and delivered to you through My servants the prophets.” / But they would not listen, and they stiffened their necks like their fathers, who did not believe the LORD their God.

2 Chronicles 36:15-16
Again and again the LORD, the God of their fathers, sent word to His people through His messengers because He had compassion on them and on His dwelling place. / But they mocked the messengers of God, despising His words and scoffing at His prophets, until the wrath of the LORD against His people was stirred up beyond remedy.

Deuteronomy 9:23-24
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. / You have been rebelling against the LORD since the day I came to know you.

Hosea 6:7
But they, like Adam, have transgressed the covenant; there they were unfaithful to Me.

Amos 2:4
This is what the LORD says: “For three transgressions of Judah, even four, I will not revoke My judgment, because they reject the Law of the LORD and fail to keep His statutes; they are led astray by the lies in which their fathers walked.

Zechariah 7:11-12
But they refused to pay attention and turned a stubborn shoulder; they stopped up their ears from hearing. / They made their hearts like flint and would not listen to the law or to the words that the LORD of Hosts had sent by His Spirit through the earlier prophets. Therefore great anger came from the LORD of Hosts.

Acts 7:51-53
You stiff-necked people with uncircumcised hearts and ears! You always resist the Holy Spirit, just as your fathers did. / Which of the prophets did your fathers fail to persecute? They even killed those who foretold the coming of the Righteous One. And now you are His betrayers and murderers— / you who received the law ordained by angels, yet have not kept it.”

Romans 10:21
But as for Israel he says: “All day long I have held out My hands to a disobedient and obstinate people.”

Hebrews 3:16-19
For who were the ones who heard and rebelled? Were they not all those Moses led out of Egypt? / And with whom was God angry for forty years? Was it not with those who sinned, whose bodies fell in the wilderness? / And to whom did He swear that they would never enter His rest? Was it not to those who disobeyed? ...

Matthew 23:37
O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, who kills the prophets and stones those sent to her, how often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were unwilling!

John 5:39-40
You pore over the Scriptures because you presume that by them you possess eternal life. These are the very words that testify about Me, / yet you refuse to come to Me to have life.


Treasury of Scripture

Notwithstanding the children rebelled against me: they walked not in my statutes, neither kept my judgments to do them, which if a man do, he shall even live in them; they polluted my sabbaths: then I said, I would pour out my fury on them, to accomplish my anger against them in the wilderness.

the children

Numbers 21:5
And the people spake against God, and against Moses, Wherefore have ye brought us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness? for there is no bread, neither is there any water; and our soul loatheth this light bread.

Numbers 25:1-8
And Israel abode in Shittim, and the people began to commit whoredom with the daughters of Moab…

Deuteronomy 9:23,24
Likewise when the LORD sent you from Kadeshbarnea, saying, Go up and possess the land which I have given you; then ye rebelled against the commandment of the LORD your God, and ye believed him not, nor hearkened to his voice…

if a man

Ezekiel 20:11,13
And I gave them my statutes, and shewed them my judgments, which if a man do, he shall even live in them…

I would

Ezekiel 20:8,13
But they rebelled against me, and would not hearken unto me: they did not every man cast away the abominations of their eyes, neither did they forsake the idols of Egypt: then I said, I will pour out my fury upon them, to accomplish my anger against them in the midst of the land of Egypt…

Ezekiel 21:31
And I will pour out mine indignation upon thee, I will blow against thee in the fire of my wrath, and deliver thee into the hand of brutish men, and skilful to destroy.

2 Chronicles 34:21,25
Go, inquire of the LORD for me, and for them that are left in Israel and in Judah, concerning the words of the book that is found: for great is the wrath of the LORD that is poured out upon us, because our fathers have not kept the word of the LORD, to do after all that is written in this book…

accomplish

Ezekiel 7:8
Now will I shortly pour out my fury upon thee, and accomplish mine anger upon thee: and I will judge thee according to thy ways, and will recompense thee for all thine abominations.

Ezekiel 13:15
Thus will I accomplish my wrath upon the wall, and upon them that have daubed it with untempered morter, and will say unto you, The wall is no more, neither they that daubed it;

Lamentations 4:11
The LORD hath accomplished his fury; he hath poured out his fierce anger, and hath kindled a fire in Zion, and it hath devoured the foundations thereof.

Jump to Previous
Accomplish Anger Careful Children Fury Judgments Kept Live Notwithstanding Observe Ordinances Polluted Pour Profaned Rebelled Sabbaths Statutes Walk Walked Wilderness Wrath
Jump to Next
Accomplish Anger Careful Children Fury Judgments Kept Live Notwithstanding Observe Ordinances Polluted Pour Profaned Rebelled Sabbaths Statutes Walk Walked Wilderness Wrath
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














But the children rebelled against Me
This phrase highlights the persistent cycle of rebellion among the Israelites. The Hebrew root for "rebelled" is "מָרָה" (marah), which conveys a sense of bitterness and defiance. Historically, this rebellion is not just a single act but a continuous pattern of disobedience against God's commandments. The children, representing the next generation, failed to learn from their ancestors' mistakes, illustrating the deep-seated nature of sin and the human tendency to stray from divine guidance.

They did not walk in My statutes
The term "statutes" comes from the Hebrew "חֻקּוֹתַי" (chuqqotai), referring to decrees or laws that God established for His people. Walking in these statutes implies living a life in accordance with God's will. The Israelites' failure to adhere to these laws signifies a rejection of God's authority and a preference for their own ways. This disobedience is a recurring theme in the Old Testament, emphasizing the need for a heart transformation to truly follow God's path.

and they rejected My ordinances
"Ordinances" in Hebrew is "מִשְׁפָּטַי" (mishpatai), which are judgments or decisions made by God. These are not arbitrary rules but are designed for the well-being and justice of the community. The rejection of these ordinances indicates a deeper spiritual rebellion, where the people not only disobey but also dismiss the wisdom and righteousness of God's commands. This rejection is a form of spiritual blindness, where the people fail to see the goodness and necessity of God's laws.

by which, if a man does them, he will live
This phrase underscores the life-giving nature of God's laws. The Hebrew word for "live" is "חָיָה" (chayah), which means to live or to have life. It implies not just physical survival but a flourishing, abundant life. God's commandments are designed to lead His people into a life of blessing and fulfillment. The conditional "if" highlights human responsibility and the choice each person has to follow God's ways. This promise of life is a recurring biblical theme, pointing ultimately to the eternal life offered through faith in Jesus Christ.

They profaned My Sabbaths
The word "profaned" comes from the Hebrew "חִלֵּלוּ" (chillelu), meaning to defile or desecrate. The Sabbath was a sign of the covenant between God and Israel, a day set apart for rest and worship. By profaning the Sabbath, the Israelites showed a blatant disregard for God's holiness and the special relationship He established with them. This act of desecration reflects a deeper spiritual malaise, where the sacred is treated as common, and the divine order is disrupted.

So I resolved to pour out My wrath upon them
The phrase "pour out My wrath" uses the Hebrew "שְׁפֹךְ חֲמָתִי" (shefokh chamati), indicating a decisive and intense expression of God's righteous anger. God's wrath is not capricious but is a just response to persistent sin and rebellion. It serves as a warning and a call to repentance. The resolution to pour out wrath underscores God's holiness and justice, reminding us that while God is patient and merciful, He is also righteous and will not tolerate sin indefinitely.

and to exhaust My anger against them in the wilderness
The wilderness represents both a physical and spiritual place of testing and judgment. The Hebrew word for "wilderness" is "מִדְבָּר" (midbar), a place of desolation but also of divine encounter. God's anger being exhausted in the wilderness signifies a period of correction and purification for the Israelites. It is a reminder of the consequences of disobedience but also of God's desire to restore and renew His people. The wilderness experience is a call to return to God, to seek His forgiveness, and to embrace His covenant anew.

(21) The children rebelled.--The history of the wanderings in the wilderness, given in Exodus and Numbers, offers abundant illustrations of the truth of this and the following verse.



Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
But the children
הַבָּנִ֗ים (hab·bā·nîm)
Article | Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 1121: A son

rebelled
וַיַּמְרוּ־ (way·yam·rū-)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural
Strong's 4784: To be contentious or rebellious

against Me.
בִ֣י (ḇî)
Preposition | first person common singular
Strong's Hebrew

They did not
לֹֽא־ (lō-)
Adverb - Negative particle
Strong's 3808: Not, no

walk
הָ֠לָכוּ (hā·lā·ḵū)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person common plural
Strong's 1980: To go, come, walk

in My statutes
בְּחֻקּוֹתַ֣י (bə·ḥuq·qō·w·ṯay)
Preposition-b | Noun - feminine plural construct | first person common singular
Strong's 2708: Something prescribed, an enactment, statute

or carefully
שָׁמְר֜וּ (šā·mə·rū)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person common plural
Strong's 8104: To hedge about, guard, to protect, attend to

observe
לַעֲשׂ֣וֹת (la·‘ă·śō·wṯ)
Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct
Strong's 6213: To do, make

My ordinances—
מִשְׁפָּטַ֨י (miš·pā·ṭay)
Noun - masculine plural construct | first person common singular
Strong's 4941: A verdict, a sentence, formal decree, divine law, penalty, justice, privilege, style

though the man
הָֽאָדָם֙ (hā·’ā·ḏām)
Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 120: Ruddy, a human being

who
אֲשֶׁר֩ (’ă·šer)
Pronoun - relative
Strong's 834: Who, which, what, that, when, where, how, because, in order that

does [these things]
יַעֲשֶׂ֨ה (ya·‘ă·śeh)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 6213: To do, make

will live
וָחַ֣י (wā·ḥay)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 2425: To live, to revive

by them—
בָּהֶ֔ם (bā·hem)
Preposition | third person masculine plural
Strong's Hebrew

and they profaned
חִלֵּ֑לוּ (ḥil·lê·lū)
Verb - Piel - Perfect - third person common plural
Strong's 2490: To bore, to wound, to dissolve, to profane, to break, to begin, to play

My Sabbaths.
שַׁבְּתוֹתַ֖י (šab·bə·ṯō·w·ṯay)
Noun - common plural construct | first person common singular
Strong's 7676: Intermission, the Sabbath

So I resolved
וָאֹמַ֞ר (wā·’ō·mar)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - first person common singular
Strong's 559: To utter, say

to pour
לִשְׁפֹּ֧ךְ (liš·pōḵ)
Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct
Strong's 8210: To spill forth, to expend, to sprawl out

out My wrath
חֲמָתִ֣י (ḥă·mā·ṯî)
Noun - feminine singular construct | first person common singular
Strong's 2534: Heat, anger, poison

upon them
עֲלֵיהֶ֗ם (‘ă·lê·hem)
Preposition | third person masculine plural
Strong's 5921: Above, over, upon, against

and vent
לְכַלּ֥וֹת (lə·ḵal·lō·wṯ)
Preposition-l | Verb - Piel - Infinitive construct
Strong's 3615: To be complete, at an end, finished, accomplished, or spent

My anger
אַפִּ֛י (’ap·pî)
Noun - masculine singular construct | first person common singular
Strong's 639: The nose, nostril, the face, a person, ire

against them
בָּ֖ם (bām)
Preposition | third person masculine plural
Strong's Hebrew

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


Links
Ezekiel 20:21 NIV
Ezekiel 20:21 NLT
Ezekiel 20:21 ESV
Ezekiel 20:21 NASB
Ezekiel 20:21 KJV

Ezekiel 20:21 BibleApps.com
Ezekiel 20:21 Biblia Paralela
Ezekiel 20:21 Chinese Bible
Ezekiel 20:21 French Bible
Ezekiel 20:21 Catholic Bible

OT Prophets: Ezekiel 20:21 But the children rebelled against me (Ezek. Eze Ezk)
Ezekiel 20:20
Top of Page
Top of Page