Ezekiel 20:21

19 I am the LORD your God; walk in My statutes, keep My ordinances, and practice them.

20 Keep My Sabbaths holy, that they may be a sign between us, so that you may know that I am the LORD your God.’

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.

22 But 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.

23 However, with an uplifted hand I swore to them in the wilderness that I would scatter them among the nations and disperse them throughout the lands.

This was said to Israel at a particular time, so it is wise to read it together with the surrounding text. Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.

Compare

BSB
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.
KJV
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.
WEB
“‘“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.
ASV
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.
DARBY
And 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: and I said I would pour out my fury upon them, to accomplish mine anger against them in the wilderness.
BLB
And the sons also rebelled against Me. In My statutes they did not walk, and My judgments they did not keep to do them, which a man shall do them, and he will live by them. My Sabbaths they profaned, and I said to pour out My fury on them to accomplish My anger against them in the wilderness.
ÅB
Men barna var gjenstridige mot meg; de fulgte ikke mine bud og holdt ikke mine lover, så de gjorde etter dem, enda det menneske som holder dem, får leve ved dem; mine sabbater vanhelliget de. Da sa jeg at jeg ville utøse min harme over dem, fullbyrde min vrede på dem i ørkenen.
OTB
Men barna gjorde opprør mot meg: de fulgte ikke mine lover, og de var ikke nøye med å holde mine forordninger, som et menneske skal leve ved hvis de adlyder dem, og de vanhelliget mine sabbater. Så jeg besluttet å utøse min vrede over dem og slippe min harme løs mot dem i ørkenen.
B1930
Men barna var gjenstridige mot mig; de fulgte ikke mine bud og holdt ikke mine lover, så de gjorde efter dem, enda det menneske som holder dem, får leve ved dem; mine sabbater vanhelliget de. Da sa jeg at jeg vilde utøse min harme over dem, fullbyrde min vrede på dem i ørkenen.

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

  • Ezekiel 20:13

    Yet the house of Israel rebelled against Me in the wilderness. They did not follow My statutes and they rejected My ordinances—though the man who does these things will live by them—and they utterly profaned My Sabbaths. Then I resolved to pour out My wrath upon them and put an end to them in the wilderness.

    Read in context
  • Ezekiel 20:8

    But they rebelled against Me and refused to listen. None of them cast away the abominations before their eyes, and they did not forsake the idols of Egypt. So I resolved to pour out My wrath upon them and vent My anger against them in the land of Egypt.

    Read in context
  • Deuteronomy 31:27

    For I know how rebellious and stiff-necked you are. If you are already rebelling against the LORD while I am still alive, how much more will you rebel after my death!

    Read in context
  • Numbers 21:5

    and spoke against God and against Moses: “Why have you led us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness? There is no bread or water, and we detest this wretched food!”

    Read in context
  • Daniel 11:36

    Then the king will do as he pleases and will exalt and magnify himself above every god, and he will speak monstrous things against the God of gods. He will be successful until the time of wrath is completed, for what has been decreed must be accomplished.

    Read in context
  • Ezekiel 7:8

    Very soon I will pour out My wrath upon you and vent My anger against you; I will judge you according to your ways and repay you for all your abominations.

    Read in context
  • Acts 13:18

    He endured their conduct for about forty years in the wilderness.

    Read in context
  • 2 Chronicles 34:25

    because they have forsaken Me and burned incense to other gods, that they might provoke Me to anger with all the works of their hands. My wrath will be poured out upon this place and will not be quenched.’

    Read in context