Ezekiel 44:10 Surely the Levites who wandered away from Me when Israel went astray, and who wandered away from Me after their idols, will bear the consequences of their iniquity.

◄ Ezekiel 44:10 ►

New International Version
“’The Levites who went far from me when Israel went astray and who wandered from me after their idols must bear the consequences of their sin.

New Living Translation
And the men of the tribe of Levi who abandoned me when Israel strayed away from me to worship idols must bear the consequences of their unfaithfulness.

English Standard Version
But the Levites who went far from me, going astray from me after their idols when Israel went astray, shall bear their punishment.

Berean Standard Bible
Surely the Levites who wandered away from Me when Israel went astray, and who wandered away from Me after their idols, will bear the consequences of their iniquity.

King James Bible
And the Levites that are gone away far from me, when Israel went astray, which went astray away from me after their idols; they shall even bear their iniquity.

New King James Version
“And the Levites who went far from Me, when Israel went astray, who strayed away from Me after their idols, they shall bear their iniquity.

New American Standard Bible
But the Levites who went far from Me when Israel went astray, who went astray from Me following their idols, shall suffer the punishment for their wrongdoing.

NASB 1995
“But the Levites who went far from Me when Israel went astray, who went astray from Me after their idols, shall bear the punishment for their iniquity.

NASB 1977
“But the Levites who went far from Me, when Israel went astray, who went astray from Me after their idols, shall bear the punishment for their iniquity.

Legacy Standard Bible
But the Levites who went far from Me when Israel went astray, who went astray from Me after their idols, shall bear the punishment for their iniquity.

Amplified Bible
But the Levites who went far away from Me when Israel went astray, who went astray from Me after their idols, they shall bear the punishment for their sin and guilt.

Christian Standard Bible
Surely the Levites who wandered away from me when Israel went astray, and who strayed from me after their idols, will bear the consequences of their iniquity.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Surely the Levites who wandered away from Me when Israel went astray, and who strayed from Me after their idols, will bear the consequences of their sin.

American Standard Version
But the Levites that went far from me, when Israel went astray, that went astray from me after their idols, they shall bear their iniquity.

Contemporary English Version
Some of the Levites turned their backs on me and joined the other people of Israel in worshiping idols. So these Levites must be punished!

English Revised Version
But the Levites that went far from me, when Israel went astray, which went astray from me after their idols; they shall bear their iniquity.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
" 'Some Levites went far away from me when Israel wandered off to follow their idols. They must be punished for their sins.

Good News Translation
The LORD said to me, "I am punishing those Levites who, together with the rest of the people of Israel, deserted me and worshiped idols.

International Standard Version
But the descendants of Levi, who went far away from me when Israel abandoned me, who left me to follow their idols, are to bear the punishment of their iniquity.

Majority Standard Bible
Surely the Levites who wandered away from Me when Israel went astray, and who wandered away from Me after their idols, will bear the consequences of their iniquity.

NET Bible
"'But the Levites who went far from me, straying off from me after their idols when Israel went astray, will be responsible for their sin.

New Heart English Bible
But the Levites who went far from me, when Israel went astray, who went astray from me after their idols, they shall bear their iniquity.

Webster's Bible Translation
And the Levites that have gone away far from me, when Israel went astray, who went astray from me after their idols; they shall even bear their iniquity.

World English Bible
“‘“But the Levites who went far from me when Israel went astray, who went astray from me after their idols, they will bear their iniquity.

Literal Translations

Literal Standard Version
And the Levites who have gone far off from Me, in the wandering of Israel when they went astray from Me after their idols, and they have borne their iniquity.

Young's Literal Translation
but -- the Levites who have gone far off from me, in the wandering of Israel when they went astray from Me after their idols, and they have borne their iniquity.

Smith's Literal Translation
But the Levites who went far off from me, in the going astray of Israel who went astray from me after the blocks; and they bare their iniquity.

Catholic Translations

Douay-Rheims Bible
Moreover the Levites that went away far from me, when the children of Israel went astray, and have wandered from me after their idols, and have borne their iniquity:

Catholic Public Domain Version
And as for the Levites, they have withdrawn far away from me, in the errors of the sons of Israel, and they have gone astray from me after their idols, and they have borne their iniquity.

New American Bible
As for the Levites who went far away from me when Israel strayed from me after their idols, they will bear the consequences of their sin.

New Revised Standard Version
But the Levites who went far from me, going astray from me after their idols when Israel went astray, shall bear their punishment.

Translations from Aramaic

Lamsa Bible
Neither shall the Levites who went away far from me when Israel went astray from me after their idols, and who have borne their iniquity.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
Neither the Levites who separated from me when the sons of Israel went astray from me after their idols, and they bore their evil

OT Translations

JPS Tanakh 1917
But the Levites, that went far from Me, when Israel went astray, that went astray from Me after their idols, they shall bear their iniquity;

Brenton Septuagint Translation
But as for the Levites who departed far from me when Israel went astray from me after their imaginations, they shall even bear their iniquity.

Additional Translations ...

Audio Bible

Context

The Duties of the Levites
…9This is what the Lord GOD says: No foreigner uncircumcised in heart and flesh may enter My sanctuary—not even a foreigner who lives among the Israelites. 10Surely the Levites who wandered away from Me when Israel went astray, and who wandered away from Me after their idols, will bear the consequences of their iniquity. 11Yet they shall be ministers in My sanctuary, having charge of the gates of the temple and ministering there. They shall slaughter the burnt offerings and other sacrifices for the people and stand before them to minister to them.…

Berean Standard Bible · Download

Cross References

Leviticus 10:1-2
Now Aaron’s sons Nadab and Abihu took their censers, put fire in them and added incense, and offered unauthorized fire before the LORD, contrary to His command. / So fire came out from the presence of the LORD and consumed them, and they died in the presence of the LORD.

Numbers 16:1-35
Now Korah son of Izhar, the son of Kohath son of Levi, along with some Reubenites—Dathan and Abiram, sons of Eliab, and On son of Peleth—conducted / a rebellion against Moses, along with 250 men of Israel renowned as leaders of the congregation and representatives in the assembly. / They came together against Moses and Aaron and told them, “You have taken too much upon yourselves! For everyone in the entire congregation is holy, and the LORD is in their midst. Why then do you exalt yourselves above the assembly of the LORD?” ...

1 Samuel 2:12-17
Now the sons of Eli were wicked men; they had no regard for the LORD / or for the custom of the priests with the people. When any man offered a sacrifice, the servant of the priest would come with a three-pronged meat fork while the meat was boiling / and plunge it into the pan or kettle or cauldron or cooking pot. And the priest would claim for himself whatever the meat fork brought up. This is how they treated all the Israelites who came to Shiloh. ...

1 Kings 12:31-33
Jeroboam also built shrines on the high places and appointed from every class of people priests who were not Levites. / And Jeroboam ordained a feast on the fifteenth day of the eighth month, like the feast that was in Judah, and he offered sacrifices on the altar; he made this offering in Bethel to sacrifice to the calves he had set up, and he installed priests in Bethel for the high places he had set up. / On the fifteenth day of the eighth month, a month of his own choosing, Jeroboam offered sacrifices on the altar he had set up in Bethel. So he ordained a feast for the Israelites, offered sacrifices on the altar, and burned incense.

2 Kings 17:32-33
So the new residents worshiped the LORD, but they also appointed for themselves priests of all sorts to serve in the shrines of the high places. / They worshiped the LORD, but they also served their own gods according to the customs of the nations from which they had been carried away.

2 Chronicles 29:6-7
For our fathers were unfaithful and did evil in the sight of the LORD our God. They abandoned Him, turned their faces away from the dwelling place of the LORD, and turned their backs on Him. / They also shut the doors of the portico and extinguished the lamps. They did not burn incense or present burnt offerings in the Holy Place of the God of Israel.

Isaiah 1:4
Alas, O sinful nation, a people laden with iniquity, a brood of evildoers, children who act corruptly! They have forsaken the LORD; they have despised the Holy One of Israel and turned their backs on Him.

Jeremiah 2:8
The priests did not ask, ‘Where is the LORD?’ The experts in the law no longer knew Me, and the leaders rebelled against Me. The prophets prophesied by Baal and followed useless idols.

Jeremiah 23:11
“For both prophet and priest are ungodly; even in My house I have found their wickedness,” declares the LORD.

Hosea 4:6-9
My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge. Because you have rejected knowledge, I will also reject you as My priests. Since you have forgotten the law of your God, I will also forget your children. / The more they multiplied, the more they sinned against Me; they exchanged their Glory for a thing of disgrace. / They feed on the sins of My people and set their hearts on iniquity. ...

Malachi 2:8-9
But you have departed from the way, and your instruction has caused many to stumble. You have violated the covenant of Levi,” says the LORD of Hosts. / “So I in turn have made you despised and humiliated before all the people, because you have not kept My ways, but have shown partiality in matters of the law.”

Matthew 15:14
Disregard them! They are blind guides. If a blind man leads a blind man, both will fall into a pit.”

Matthew 23:1-3
Then Jesus spoke to the crowds and to His disciples: / “The scribes and Pharisees sit in Moses’ seat. / So practice and observe everything they tell you. But do not do what they do, for they do not practice what they preach.

John 10:12-13
The hired hand is not the shepherd, and the sheep are not his own. When he sees the wolf coming, he abandons the sheep and runs away. Then the wolf pounces on them and scatters the flock. / The man runs away because he is a hired servant and is unconcerned for the sheep.

Acts 20:28-30
Keep watch over yourselves and the entire flock of which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers. Be shepherds of the church of God, which He purchased with His own blood. / I know that after my departure, savage wolves will come in among you and will not spare the flock. / Even from your own number, men will rise up and distort the truth to draw away disciples after them.

Treasury of Scripture

And the Levites that are gone away far from me, when Israel went astray, which went astray away from me after their idols; they shall even bear their iniquity.

the Levites

Ezekiel 44:15
But the priests the Levites, the sons of Zadok, that kept the charge of my sanctuary when the children of Israel went astray from me, they shall come near to me to minister unto me, and they shall stand before me to offer unto me the fat and the blood, saith the Lord GOD:

Ezekiel 22:26
Her priests have violated my law, and have profaned mine holy things: they have put no difference between the holy and profane, neither have they shewed difference between the unclean and the clean, and have hid their eyes from my sabbaths, and I am profaned among them.

Ezekiel 48:11
It shall be for the priests that are sanctified of the sons of Zadok; which have kept my charge, which went not astray when the children of Israel went astray, as the Levites went astray.

bear

Genesis 4:13
And Cain said unto the LORD, My punishment is greater than I can bear.

Leviticus 19:8
Therefore every one that eateth it shall bear his iniquity, because he hath profaned the hallowed thing of the LORD: and that soul shall be cut off from among his people.

Numbers 5:31
Then shall the man be guiltless from iniquity, and this woman shall bear her iniquity.

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Ezekiel 44

1. The east gate assigned only to the prince
4. The priests reproved for polluting the sanctuary
9. Idolaters incapable of the priests office
15. The sons of Zadok are accepted thereto
17. Ordinances for the priests

Berean Study Bible

Surely the Levites
The Levites were a tribe set apart for religious duties and service to God, distinct from the other tribes of Israel. Their role was to assist the priests and care for the tabernacle and later the temple. The Hebrew root for "Levites" is "לֵוִי" (Levi), which means "joined" or "attached," signifying their special attachment to God’s service. Historically, the Levites were expected to maintain a standard of holiness and dedication, serving as intermediaries between God and the people. This phrase underscores the gravity of their deviation, as those entrusted with spiritual leadership.

who went far from Me
This phrase indicates a deliberate departure from God’s presence and commandments. The Hebrew word for "went far" is "רָחַק" (rachak), which conveys a sense of distancing or estrangement. In the context of the covenant relationship, this departure is not merely physical but spiritual, reflecting a profound breach of faith and trust. The Levites, who were meant to be close to God, chose to distance themselves, highlighting the severity of their rebellion.

when Israel went astray
The phrase "went astray" is derived from the Hebrew "תָּעָה" (ta'ah), meaning to wander or err. It reflects a pattern of disobedience and idolatry that plagued Israel throughout its history. This wandering is not just a physical movement but a spiritual deviation from God’s laws and commands. The Levites, who were supposed to guide Israel, instead followed the nation into apostasy, failing in their duty to lead by example.

and who wandered from Me
"Wandered" here is a reiteration of the Levites' spiritual infidelity. The Hebrew "נָדַד" (nadad) suggests a restless, aimless movement away from God. This wandering signifies a lack of spiritual direction and purpose, a betrayal of their calling. The Levites' failure to remain steadfast in their devotion is a cautionary tale of the dangers of spiritual complacency and the allure of idolatry.

after their idols
Idolatry was a persistent issue for Israel, representing a direct violation of the first commandment. The Hebrew word for "idols" is "גִּלּוּלִים" (gillulim), often used derogatorily to describe false gods. This pursuit of idols symbolizes a heart turned away from the true God, seeking fulfillment in what is ultimately empty and powerless. The Levites' involvement in idolatry is particularly egregious given their sacred duty to uphold the worship of Yahweh alone.

will bear the consequences of their iniquity
This phrase underscores the principle of divine justice. The Hebrew "עָוֹן" (avon) for "iniquity" implies guilt and the resulting punishment. The Levites' actions have consequences, both for themselves and for the community they were meant to serve. This serves as a reminder of the seriousness of sin and the inevitable justice of God. Yet, within this justice, there is also a call to repentance and restoration, as God’s ultimate desire is for His people to return to Him.

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

(10) And the Levites that are gone away.--The connection between this and the preceding verse is made clearer by translating the first words, "Yea, even;" not only the uncircumcised in heart among the heathen are to be excluded from the sanctuary, but even the Levites who had apostatised are to bear their guilt. Levites is here used (see Ezekiel 44:13), as often, emphatically of the Levitical priests. At the great schism of the northern kingdom these had remained true to the worship of Jehovah (2Chronicles 11:13); but in the subsequent general religious declension many of them, as has appeared from Ezekiel 8, had fallen into idolatry. Such priests are to be allowed, like the priests under the law who had any physical blemish (Leviticus 21:17-23), to minister in the more menial offices of the priesthood, but not to approach the altar (Ezekiel 44:11-14).

Pulpit Commentary

Verses 10-14. - The ordinance for the Levites. According to the so-called priest-code, the Levites were Levi's descendants, who were chosen by Jehovah for service in the tabernacle (Numbers 3:6-13; Numbers 16:9), to minister to the priests when these sacrificed in the tabernacle (Numbers 8:19; Numbers 18:6), and in particular to keep the charge of the tabernacle, i.e. of the house and all its vessels (Numbers 1:53), as distinguished from the charge of the sanctuary and of the altar, which pertained to Aaron and his sons alone as priests (Numbers 18:2-6, 23). The Deuteronomic code, says Wellhausen ('Geschichte Israels,' pp. 121, etc.), was unacquainted with any such distinction between Levites and priests, who, it is alleged, composed one homogeneous body, the tribe of Levi, whose members were equally empowered to officiate at the altar (Deuteronomy 10:8), the lower duties of the tabernacle having been performed by the aforesaid strangers, and the subordination of Levites to priests having first been suggested by Ezekiel (comp. Smend, 'Der Prophet Ezekiel,' p. 361, "Der unterschied zwischen Priestern und Leviten ist hier im Enstehn begriffen"), and first formally carried out alter the exile. This theory, however, cannot be admitted as made out in face of

(1) Deuteronomy 18, which (ver. 1) recognizes "the priests" and" the Levites" as constituting "the whole tribe of Levi," and (ver. 3, 6) distinguishes between "the priest" and "the Levite;"

(2) 2 Samuel 15:24, which associates with Zadok the priest, the Levites as carriers of the ark;

(3) 1 Kings 8:4, in which the same distinction between the two bodies is recognized; . . .

Parallel Commentaries ...

Hebrew

Surely
כִּ֣י (kî)
Conjunction
Strong's 3588: A relative conjunction

the Levites
הַלְוִיִּ֗ם (hal·wî·yim)
Article | Noun - proper - masculine plural
Strong's 3881: Levites -- descendant of Levi

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

wandered away
רָֽחֲקוּ֙ (rā·ḥă·qū)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person common plural
Strong's 7368: To be or become far or distant

from Me
מֵֽעָלַ֔י (mê·‘ā·lay)
Preposition-m | first person common singular
Strong's 5921: Above, over, upon, against

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

went astray,
בִּתְע֤וֹת (biṯ·‘ō·wṯ)
Preposition-b | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct
Strong's 8582: To vacillate, reel, stray

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

wandered
תָּע֣וּ (tā·‘ū)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person common plural
Strong's 8582: To vacillate, reel, stray

away from Me
מֵֽעָלַ֔י (mê·‘ā·lay)
Preposition-m | first person common singular
Strong's 5921: Above, over, upon, against

after
אַחֲרֵ֖י (’a·ḥă·rê)
Preposition
Strong's 310: The hind or following part

their idols,
גִּלּֽוּלֵיהֶ֑ם (gil·lū·lê·hem)
Noun - masculine plural construct | third person masculine plural
Strong's 1544: A log, an idol

will bear the consequences
וְנָשְׂא֖וּ (wə·nā·śə·’ū)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person common plural
Strong's 5375: To lift, carry, take

of their iniquity.
עֲוֺנָֽם׃ (‘ă·wō·nām)
Noun - common singular construct | third person masculine plural
Strong's 5771: Iniquity, guilt, punishment for iniquity

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OT Prophets: Ezekiel 44:10 But the Levites who went far (Ezek. Eze Ezk)