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Ezekiel 20:4

Old Testament Major Prophet ASV (1901)

What does Ezekiel 20:4 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “Wilt thou judge them, son of man, wilt thou judge them? Cause them to know the abominations of their fathers;” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

Wilt thou judge them, son of man, wilt thou judge them? Cause them to know the abominations of their fathers;
Ezekiel 20:4 — American Standard Version

Context — Ezekiel 20

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
1And it came to pass in the seventh year, in the fifth [month], the tenth [day] of the month, that certain of the elders of Israel came to inquire of Jehovah, and sat before me.
2And the word of Jehovah came unto me, saying,
3Son of man, speak unto the elders of Israel, and say unto them, Thus saith the Lord Jehovah: Is it to inquire of me that ye are come? As I live, saith the Lord Jehovah, I will not be inquired of by you.
4Wilt thou judge them, son of man, wilt thou judge them? Cause them to know the abominations of their fathers;
5and say unto them, Thus saith the Lord Jehovah: In the day when I chose Israel, and sware unto the seed of the house of Jacob, and made myself known unto them in the land of Egypt, when I sware unto them, saying, I am Jehovah your God;
6in that day I sware unto them, to bring them forth out of the land of Egypt into a land that I had searched out for them, flowing with milk and honey, which is the glory of all lands.
7And I said unto them, Cast ye away every man the abominations of his eyes, and defile not yourselves with the idols of Egypt; I am Jehovah your God.
← Ezekiel 20:3Ezekiel 20:5 →
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What do historical commentaries say?

John Gill's Exposition
John Gill (1697–1771) · Exposition of the Old and New Testament · 18th-century historical commentary
“Wilt thou judge them, son of man? &c.] Excuse them, patronise them, defend their cause, and plead for them? surely thou wilt not; or rather, wilt thou not reprove and correct them, judge and condemn them, for their sins and wickedness? this thou oughtest to do: wilt thou judge [them]? this is repeated, to show the vehemency of the speaker, and the duty of the prophet: cause them to know the abominations of their fathers: the sins they committed, which were abominable in themselves, and rendered them abominable unto God, and what came upon them for them; by which they would be led to see the abominable evils which they also had been guilty of, in which they had imitated their fathers, and…”
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Jamieson, Fausset & Brown
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown · Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“Wilt thou judge? . . . judge--The emphatical repetition expresses, "Wilt thou not judge? yes, judge them. There is a loud call for immediate judgment." The Hebrew interrogative here is a command, not a prohibition [MAURER]. Instead of spending time in teaching them, tell them of the abomination of their fathers, of which their own are the complement and counterpart, and which call for judgment.”
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Barnes' Notes
Albert Barnes (1798–1870) · Notes on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“Wilt thou judge them? - We should rather say, Wilt thou not judge them? i. e., wilt thou not pronounce sentence upon them? Compare Ezekiel 22:2. return to 'Top of Page'”
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Wesley's Explanatory Notes
John Wesley (1703–1791) · Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament and Old Testament notes · 18th-century historical commentary
“Wilt thou - Wilt thou not convince and reprove them? And denounce my judgments against them? The abominations - What their fathers have done, they approve, and have outdone; by that let them know what to expect. Ezekiel 20:5”
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Tyndale Open Study Notes
Tyndale House Publishers · Tyndale Open Study Notes · Modern study notes
“20:4-26 That the Lord would not answer their inquiry did not mean that he had nothing to say to them. Ezekiel would parade the detestable character of their ancestors before their eyes.”
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Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“judge them: or, plead for them, Eze 14:14, Eze 14:20, Eze 22:2, Eze 23:36, Eze 23:45; Isa 5:3; Jer 7:16, Jer 11:14, Jer 14:11-14, Jer 15:1; Co1 6:2 cause: Eze 16:2, Eze 16:3; Mat 23:29-37; Luk 11:47-51, Luk 13:33-35; Act 7:51, Act 7:52 Ezekiel 20:5”
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Related study paths

Read Ezekiel 20 in contextBrowse Hebrew word studiesOpen this verse in the study reader

Sources and verification