Ezekiel 20:38
New International Version
I will purge you of those who revolt and rebel against me. Although I will bring them out of the land where they are living, yet they will not enter the land of Israel. Then you will know that I am the LORD.

New Living Translation
I will purge you of all those who rebel and revolt against me. I will bring them out of the countries where they are in exile, but they will never enter the land of Israel. Then you will know that I am the LORD.

English Standard Version
I will purge out the rebels from among you, and those who transgress against me. I will bring them out of the land where they sojourn, but they shall not enter the land of Israel. Then you will know that I am the LORD.

Berean Standard Bible
And I will purge you of those who rebel and transgress against Me. I will bring them out of the land in which they dwell, but they will not enter the land of Israel. Then you will know that I am the LORD.

King James Bible
And I will purge out from among you the rebels, and them that transgress against me: I will bring them forth out of the country where they sojourn, and they shall not enter into the land of Israel: and ye shall know that I am the LORD.

New King James Version
I will purge the rebels from among you, and those who transgress against Me; I will bring them out of the country where they dwell, but they shall not enter the land of Israel. Then you will know that I am the LORD.

New American Standard Bible
and I will purge from you the rebels and those who revolt against Me; I will bring them out of the land where they reside, but they will not enter the land of Israel. So you will know that I am the LORD.

NASB 1995
and I will purge from you the rebels and those who transgress against Me; I will bring them out of the land where they sojourn, but they will not enter the land of Israel. Thus you will know that I am the LORD.

NASB 1977
and I shall purge from you the rebels and those who transgress against Me; I shall bring them out of the land where they sojourn, but they will not enter the land of Israel. Thus you will know that I am the LORD.

Legacy Standard Bible
and I will purge from you the rebels and those who transgress against Me; I will bring them out of the land where they sojourn, but they will not enter the land of Israel. Thus you will know that I am Yahweh.

Amplified Bible
And I will separate from you the rebels and those who transgress against Me; I will bring them out of the land where they temporarily live, but they will not enter the land of Israel. Thus you will know [without any doubt] that I am the LORD.

Christian Standard Bible
I will purge you of those who rebel and transgress against me. I will bring them out of the land where they live as foreign residents, but they will not enter the land of Israel. Then you will know that I am the LORD.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
And I will also purge you of those who rebel and transgress against Me. I will bring them out of the land where they live as foreign residents, but they will not enter the land of Israel. Then you will know that I am Yahweh.”

American Standard Version
and I will purge out from among you the rebels, and them that transgress against me; I will bring them forth out of the land where they sojourn, but they shall not enter into the land of Israel: and ye shall know that I am Jehovah.

Contemporary English Version
I will separate the sinful rebels from the rest of you, and even though I will bring them from the nations where they live in exile, they won't be allowed to return to Israel. Then you will know that I am the LORD.

English Revised Version
and I will purge out from among you the rebels, and them that transgress against me; I will bring them forth out of the land where they sojourn, but they shall not enter into the land of Israel: and ye shall know that I am the LORD.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
I will get rid of rebels and those who do wrong against me. I will bring you out of the land where you are living. You will never enter Israel. Then you will know that I am the LORD.

Good News Translation
I will take away from among you those who are rebellious and sinful. I will take them out of the lands where they are living now, but I will not let them return to the land of Israel. Then you will know that I am the LORD."

International Standard Version
I'll eliminate the rebels among you, along with those who are transgressing against me. I'll bring them out of the land where you've lived, but they won't be able to enter the land of Israel. Then you'll know that I am the LORD."

Majority Standard Bible
And I will purge you of those who rebel and transgress against Me. I will bring them out of the land in which they dwell, but they will not enter the land of Israel. Then you will know that I am the LORD.

NET Bible
I will eliminate from among you the rebels and those who revolt against me. I will bring them out from the land where they have been residing, but they will not come to the land of Israel. Then you will know that I am the LORD.

New Heart English Bible
and I will purge out from among you the rebels, and those who disobey against me; I will bring them forth out of the land where they live, but they shall not enter into the land of Israel: and you shall know that I am the LORD."

Webster's Bible Translation
And I will purge out from among you the rebels, and them that transgress against me: I will bring them forth out of the country where they sojourn, and they shall not enter into the land of Israel: and ye shall know that I am the LORD.

World English Bible
I will purge out from among you the rebels and those who disobey me. I will bring them out of the land where they live, but they shall not enter into the land of Israel. Then you will know that I am Yahweh.”
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
And cleared out the rebels from you, "" And those transgressing against Me, "" I bring them out from the land of their sojournings, "" And they do not come to the land of Israel, "" And you have known that I [am] YHWH.

Young's Literal Translation
And cleared out from you the rebels, And them transgressing against Me, From the land of their sojournings I bring them out, And unto the land of Israel they come not, And ye have known that I am Jehovah.

Smith's Literal Translation
And I separated from you the rebellious and those transgressing against me: I will bring them forth from the land of their sojournings, and to the land of Israel they shall not come in: and ye knew that I am Jehovah.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
And I will pick out from among you the transgressors, and the wicked, and will bring them out of the land where they sojourn, and they shall not enter into the land of Israel: and you shall know that I am the Lord.

Catholic Public Domain Version
And I will select, from among you, the transgressors and the impious. And I will lead them away from the land of their sojourn, but they shall not enter into the land of Israel. And you shall know that I am the Lord.

New American Bible
I will sort out from you those who defied me and rebelled against me; from the land where they resided as aliens I will bring them out, but they shall not return to the land of Israel. Thus you shall know that I am the LORD.

New Revised Standard Version
I will purge out the rebels among you, and those who transgress against me; I will bring them out of the land where they reside as aliens, but they shall not enter the land of Israel. Then you shall know that I am the LORD.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
And I will purge out from among you the rebels and those who transgress against me; I will bring them forth out of the land where they sojourn, and they shall not enter into the land of Israel; and you shall know that I am the LORD.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And I shall select from you those who rebel and do evil against me. From the land of the place of their dwelling I shall bring them out, and to the land of Israel they shall not enter, and you shall know that I AM LORD JEHOVAH
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
and I will purge out from among you the rebels, and them that transgress against Me; I will bring them forth out of the land where they sojourn, but they shall not enter into the land of Israel; and ye shall know that I am the LORD.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And I will separate from among you the ungodly and the revolters; for I will lead them forth out of their place of sojourning, and they shall not enter into the land of Israel: and ye shall know that I am the Lord, even the Lord.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Judgment and Restoration
37I will make you pass under the rod and will bring you into the bond of the covenant. 38And I will purge you of those who rebel and transgress against Me. I will bring them out of the land in which they dwell, but they will not enter the land of Israel. Then you will know that I am the LORD. 39And as for you, O house of Israel, this is what the Lord GOD says: Go and serve your idols, every one of you. But afterward, you will surely listen to Me, and you will no longer defile My holy name with your gifts and idols.…

Cross References
Jeremiah 31:31-34
Behold, the days are coming, declares the LORD, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah. / It will not be like the covenant I made with their fathers when I took them by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt—a covenant they broke, though I was a husband to them,” declares the LORD. / “But this is the covenant I will make with the house of Israel after those days, declares the LORD. I will put My law in their minds and inscribe it on their hearts. And I will be their God, and they will be My people. ...

Hebrews 8:8-12
But God found fault with the people and said: “Behold, the days are coming, declares the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah. / It will not be like the covenant I made with their fathers when I took them by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt, because they did not abide by My covenant, and I disregarded them, declares the Lord. / For this is the covenant I will make with the house of Israel after those days, declares the Lord. I will put My laws in their minds and inscribe them on their hearts. And I will be their God, and they will be My people. ...

Jeremiah 32:38-40
They will be My people, and I will be their God. / I will give them one heart and one way, so that they will always fear Me for their own good and for the good of their children after them. / I will make an everlasting covenant with them: I will never turn away from doing good to them, and I will put My fear in their hearts, so that they will never turn away from Me.

Revelation 21:3-4
And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying: “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man, and He will dwell with them. They will be His people, and God Himself will be with them as their God. / ‘He will wipe away every tear from their eyes,’ and there will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the former things have passed away.”

Isaiah 1:25-27
I will turn My hand against you; I will thoroughly purge your dross; I will remove all your impurities. / I will restore your judges as at first, and your counselors as at the beginning. After that you will be called the City of Righteousness, the Faithful City.” / Zion will be redeemed with justice, her repentant ones with righteousness.

Malachi 3:2-3
But who can endure the day of His coming? And who can stand when He appears? For He will be like a refiner’s fire, like a launderer’s soap. / And He will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver; He will purify the sons of Levi and refine them like gold and silver. Then they will present offerings to the LORD in righteousness.

Matthew 13:41-43
The Son of Man will send out His angels, and they will weed out of His kingdom every cause of sin and all who practice lawlessness. / And they will throw them into the fiery furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. / Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father. He who has ears, let him hear.

Zechariah 13:8-9
And in all the land, declares the LORD, two-thirds will be cut off and perish, but a third will be left in it. / This third I will bring through the fire; I will refine them like silver and test them like gold. They will call on My name, and I will answer them. I will say, ‘They are My people,’ and they will say, ‘The LORD is our God.’”

Romans 11:26-27
And so all Israel will be saved, as it is written: “The Deliverer will come from Zion; He will remove godlessness from Jacob. / And this is My covenant with them when I take away their sins.”

Isaiah 48:10
See, I have refined you, but not as silver; I have tested you in the furnace of affliction.

1 Peter 1:6-7
In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in various trials / so that the proven character of your faith—more precious than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may result in praise, glory, and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ.

Matthew 25:31-33
When the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the angels with Him, He will sit on His glorious throne. / All the nations will be gathered before Him, and He will separate the people one from another, as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. / He will place the sheep on His right and the goats on His left.

John 15:2
He cuts off every branch in Me that bears no fruit, and every branch that does bear fruit, He prunes to make it even more fruitful.

Revelation 2:16
Therefore repent! Otherwise I will come to you shortly and wage war against them with the sword of My mouth.

Isaiah 4:3-4
Whoever remains in Zion and whoever is left in Jerusalem will be called holy—all in Jerusalem who are recorded among the living— / when the Lord has washed away the filth of the daughters of Zion and cleansed the bloodstains from the heart of Jerusalem by a spirit of judgment and a spirit of fire.


Treasury of Scripture

And I will purge out from among you the rebels, and them that transgress against me: I will bring them forth out of the country where they sojourn, and they shall not enter into the land of Israel: and you shall know that I am the LORD.

I will purge

Ezekiel 11:21
But as for them whose heart walketh after the heart of their detestable things and their abominations, I will recompense their way upon their own heads, saith the Lord GOD.

Ezekiel 34:17,20-22
And as for you, O my flock, thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I judge between cattle and cattle, between the rams and the he goats…

Numbers 14:28-30
Say unto them, As truly as I live, saith the LORD, as ye have spoken in mine ears, so will I do to you: …

they shall

Ezekiel 13:9
And mine hand shall be upon the prophets that see vanity, and that divine lies: they shall not be in the assembly of my people, neither shall they be written in the writing of the house of Israel, neither shall they enter into the land of Israel; and ye shall know that I am the Lord GOD.

Numbers 14:30
Doubtless ye shall not come into the land, concerning which I sware to make you dwell therein, save Caleb the son of Jephunneh, and Joshua the son of Nun.

Psalm 95:11
Unto whom I sware in my wrath that they should not enter into my rest.

and ye

Ezekiel 6:7
And the slain shall fall in the midst of you, and ye shall know that I am the LORD.

Ezekiel 15:7
And I will set my face against them; they shall go out from one fire, and another fire shall devour them; and ye shall know that I am the LORD, when I set my face against them.

Ezekiel 23:49
And they shall recompense your lewdness upon you, and ye shall bear the sins of your idols: and ye shall know that I am the Lord GOD.

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Although Cleared Clearing Country Disobey Enter Forth Israel Purge Rebel Rebels Revolt Sinning Sojourn Sojournings Transgress Transgressing Uncontrolled
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Although Cleared Clearing Country Disobey Enter Forth Israel Purge Rebel Rebels Revolt Sinning Sojourn Sojournings Transgress Transgressing Uncontrolled
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














I will purge you
The Hebrew root for "purge" is "בָּרַר" (barar), which means to purify or select. This word conveys a divine act of cleansing, akin to refining metal to remove impurities. In a spiritual sense, God is committed to sanctifying His people, removing those who are rebellious to preserve the holiness of the community. This reflects God's desire for a pure and devoted people, echoing His covenantal promises.

those who rebel and transgress against Me
The terms "rebel" and "transgress" are significant in the Hebrew context. "Rebel" comes from "מָרַד" (marad), indicating a willful defiance against authority, while "transgress" is from "פָּשַׁע" (pasha), meaning to break away or trespass. Historically, Israel's rebellion is a recurring theme, highlighting the tension between divine law and human disobedience. This phrase underscores the seriousness of sin and the necessity of divine intervention to maintain covenant fidelity.

Although I will bring them out of the land where they live as foreigners
This phrase speaks to God's sovereignty and His ability to gather His people from exile. The term "foreigners" suggests a state of alienation, both physically and spiritually. Historically, the Israelites experienced exile in Babylon, a period of profound identity crisis. God's promise to bring them out signifies hope and restoration, a theme prevalent throughout the prophetic literature.

they will not enter the land of Israel
The land of Israel is not just a geographical location but a symbol of God's promise and blessing. The denial of entry to the rebellious signifies a loss of inheritance and divine favor. This echoes the wilderness generation's fate, who, due to unbelief, were barred from entering the Promised Land. It serves as a sobering reminder of the consequences of disobedience.

Then you will know that I am the LORD
This phrase is a recurring motif in Ezekiel, emphasizing the recognition of God's sovereignty and holiness. The Hebrew word for "know" is "יָדַע" (yada), which implies an intimate, experiential knowledge. Through acts of judgment and mercy, God reveals His character, inviting His people to a deeper relationship with Him. This acknowledgment of God as LORD is central to the covenant relationship, calling for reverence and obedience.

(38) I will purge out.--The discipline of affliction should have the effect of separating the rebellious in heart from the purified remnant, so that they should not return with them to the land of their fathers. A striking instance of the way in which the Divine purposes are fulfilled through the operations of ordinary laws, occurred on the return of the Jews from their exile. After a residence of more than two generations in Babylonia, they had made themselves homes there, and had become prosperous and contented. Jerusalem and Judaea were utterly desolated and environed with their persistent enemies. The journey thither was long, attended with hardships and danger, and at its close lay the toilsome and self-sacrificing work of pioneers. When therefore, the permission was given for the return, only those who were most earnest in their zeal for the home and religion of their fathers were ready to avail themselves of the opportunity. A great sifting of the people thus took place from the very circumstances of the case, and only a comparatively small portion constituting the better part, returned to rebuild Jerusalem and the Temple.

Verse 38. - The thought of the shepherd suggests, as in Matthew 25:33, the separation of the sheep from the goats. The land of the restored Israel was to be a land of righteousness, and the rebels were not to enter into it. Was Ezekiel thinking of those who were thus to die in the "wilderness of the peoples" as a counterpart of those who perished in the forty years of the wandering, and did not enter Canaan? Ver. 36 seems to imply that he was looking for a repetition of that history. The solemn fast kept by Ezra by the river of Ahava (Ezra 8:21-22) may be noted as corresponding, on a small scale, to Ezekiel's expectations.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
And I will purge you
וּבָרוֹתִ֣י (ū·ḇā·rō·w·ṯî)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - first person common singular
Strong's 1305: To clarify, examine, select

of those who rebel
הַמֹּרְדִ֤ים (ham·mō·rə·ḏîm)
Article | Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine plural
Strong's 4775: To rebel

and transgress
וְהַפּֽוֹשְׁעִים֙ (wə·hap·pō·wō·šə·‘îm)
Conjunctive waw, Article | Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine plural
Strong's 6586: To break away, trespass, apostatize, quarrel

against Me.
בִּ֔י (bî)
Preposition | first person common singular
Strong's Hebrew

I will bring them out
אוֹצִ֣יא (’ō·w·ṣî)
Verb - Hifil - Imperfect - first person common singular
Strong's 3318: To go, bring, out, direct and proxim

of
מִכֶּ֗ם (mik·kem)
Preposition | second person masculine plural
Strong's 4480: A part of, from, out of

the land
מֵאֶ֤רֶץ (mê·’e·reṣ)
Preposition-m | Noun - feminine singular construct
Strong's 776: Earth, land

in which they dwell,
מְגֽוּרֵיהֶם֙ (mə·ḡū·rê·hem)
Noun - masculine plural construct | third person masculine plural
Strong's 4033: A sojourning place, dwelling place, a sojourning

but they will not
לֹ֣א (lō)
Adverb - Negative particle
Strong's 3808: Not, no

enter
וְאֶל־ (wə·’el-)
Conjunctive waw | Preposition
Strong's 413: Near, with, among, to

the land
אַדְמַ֥ת (’aḏ·maṯ)
Noun - feminine singular construct
Strong's 127: Ground, land

of Israel.
יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל (yiś·rā·’êl)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3478: Israel -- 'God strives', another name of Jacob and his desc

Then you will know
וִֽידַעְתֶּ֖ם (wî·ḏa‘·tem)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - second person masculine plural
Strong's 3045: To know

that
כִּי־ (kî-)
Conjunction
Strong's 3588: A relative conjunction

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

am the LORD.’
יְהוָֽה׃ (Yah·weh)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3068: LORD -- the proper name of the God of Israel


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OT Prophets: Ezekiel 20:38 And I will purge out from among (Ezek. Eze Ezk)
Ezekiel 20:37
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