Ezekiel 20:13
New International Version
“’Yet the people of Israel rebelled against me in the wilderness. They did not follow my decrees but rejected my laws—by which the person who obeys them will live—and they utterly desecrated my Sabbaths. So I said I would pour out my wrath on them and destroy them in the wilderness.

New Living Translation
“But the people of Israel rebelled against me, and they refused to obey my decrees there in the wilderness. They wouldn’t obey my regulations even though obedience would have given them life. They also violated my Sabbath days. So I threatened to pour out my fury on them, and I made plans to utterly consume them in the wilderness.

English Standard Version
But the house of Israel rebelled against me in the wilderness. They did not walk in my statutes but rejected my rules, by which, if a person does them, he shall live; and my Sabbaths they greatly profaned. “Then I said I would pour out my wrath upon them in the wilderness, to make a full end of them.

Berean Standard Bible
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.

King James Bible
But the house of Israel rebelled against me in the wilderness: they walked not in my statutes, and they despised my judgments, which if a man do, he shall even live in them; and my sabbaths they greatly polluted: then I said, I would pour out my fury upon them in the wilderness, to consume them.

New King James Version
Yet the house of Israel rebelled against Me in the wilderness; they did not walk in My statutes; they despised My judgments, ‘which, if a man does, he shall live by them’; and they greatly defiled My Sabbaths. Then I said I would pour out My fury on them in the wilderness, to consume them.

New American Standard Bible
But the house of Israel rebelled against Me in the wilderness. They did not walk in My statutes and they rejected My ordinances, which, if a person follows them, then he will live by them; and they greatly profaned My Sabbaths. Then I resolved to pour out My wrath on them in the wilderness, to annihilate them.

NASB 1995
“But the house of Israel rebelled against Me in the wilderness. They did not walk in My statutes and they rejected My ordinances, by which, if a man observes them, he will live; and My sabbaths they greatly profaned. Then I resolved to pour out My wrath on them in the wilderness, to annihilate them.

NASB 1977
“But the house of Israel rebelled against Me in the wilderness. They did not walk in My statutes, and they rejected My ordinances, by which, if a man observes them, he will live; and My sabbaths they greatly profaned. Then I resolved to pour out My wrath on them in the wilderness, to annihilate them.

Legacy Standard Bible
But the house of Israel rebelled against Me in the wilderness. They did not walk in My statutes, and they rejected My judgments, which, if a man does them, he will live by them; and My sabbaths they greatly profaned. Then I said I would pour out My wrath on them in the wilderness, to completely destroy them.

Amplified Bible
But the house of Israel rebelled against Me in the wilderness. They did not walk in My statutes and they despised and rejected My ordinances, which, if a man keeps, he will live; and they greatly profaned My Sabbaths. Then I decided to pour out My wrath on them in the wilderness, to annihilate them.

Christian Standard Bible
“ ‘But the house of Israel rebelled against me in the wilderness. They did not follow my statutes and they rejected my ordinances—the person who does them will live by them. They also completely profaned my Sabbaths. So I considered pouring out my wrath on them in the wilderness to put an end to them.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
But the house of Israel rebelled against Me in the wilderness. They did not follow My statutes and they rejected My ordinances—the person who does them will live by them. They also completely profaned My Sabbaths. So I considered pouring out My wrath on them in the wilderness to put an end to them.

American Standard Version
But the house of Israel rebelled against me in the wilderness: they walked not in my statutes, and they rejected mine ordinances, which if a man keep, he shall live in them; and my sabbaths they greatly profaned. Then I said I would pour out my wrath upon them in the wilderness, to consume them.

Contemporary English Version
But the Israelites rebelled against me in the desert. They refused to obey my laws and teachings, and they treated the Sabbath like any other day. Then in my anger, I decided to destroy the Israelites in the desert once and for all.

English Revised Version
But the house of Israel rebelled against me in the wilderness: they walked not in my statutes, and they rejected my judgments, which if a man do, he shall live in them; and my sabbaths they greatly profaned: then I said I would pour out my fury upon them in the wilderness, to consume them.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
" 'But the people of Israel rebelled against me in the desert. They didn't live by my laws, and they rejected my rules. 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 in the desert and completely wipe them out.

Good News Translation
But even in the desert they defied me. They broke my laws and rejected my commands, which bring life to anyone who obeys them. They completely profaned the Sabbath. I was ready to let them feel the force of my anger there in the desert and to destroy them.

International Standard Version
"But the house of Israel rebelled against me in the wilderness. They didn't live by my statutes. They despised my ordinances, which if a person observes, he'll live by them. They greatly profaned my Sabbaths. So I said I would pour out my anger on them and bring them to an end in the wilderness.

Majority Standard Bible
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.

NET Bible
But the house of Israel rebelled against me in the wilderness; they did not follow my statutes and they rejected my regulations (the one who obeys them will live by them), and they utterly desecrated my Sabbaths. So I decided to pour out my rage on them in the wilderness and destroy them.

New Heart English Bible
But the house of Israel rebelled against me in the wilderness: they didn't walk in my statutes, and they rejected my ordinances, which if a man keep, he shall live in them; and my Sabbaths they greatly profaned. Then I said I would pour out my wrath on them in the wilderness, to consume them.

Webster's Bible Translation
But the house of Israel rebelled against me in the wilderness: they walked not in my statutes, and they despised my judgments, which if a man doeth, he shall even live in them; and my sabbaths they greatly profaned: then I said, I would pour out my fury upon them in the wilderness, to consume them.

World English Bible
“‘“But the house of Israel rebelled against me in the wilderness. They didn’t walk in my statutes and they rejected my ordinances, which if a man keeps, he shall live in them. They greatly profaned my Sabbaths. Then I said I would pour out my wrath on them in the wilderness, to consume them.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
And the house of Israel rebels against Me in the wilderness, "" They have not walked in My statutes, "" And they have despised My judgments, "" Which the man who does—lives by them. And they have greatly defiled My Sabbaths, "" And I speak—to pour out My fury on them in the wilderness, to consume them.

Young's Literal Translation
And -- rebel against me do the house of Israel in the wilderness, In My statutes they have not walked, And My judgments they have despised, Which the man who doth -- liveth by them. And My sabbaths they have greatly polluted, And I say to pour out My fury on them in the wilderness, to consume them.

Smith's Literal Translation
And the house of Israel will rebel against me fit the desert: in my laws they went not, and my judgments they rejected, which a man shall do them and he lived in them: and my Sabbaths they profaned greatly and saying, To pour out my wrath upon them in the desert to finish them.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
But the house of Israel provoked me in the desert: they walked not in my statutes, and they cast away my judgments, which if a man do he shall live in them: and they grievously violated my sabbaths. I said therefore that I would pour out my indignation upon them in the desert, and would consume them.

Catholic Public Domain Version
But the house of Israel provoked me in the desert. They did not walk in my precepts, and they cast aside my judgments, which, if a man does them, he shall live by them. And they grievously violated my Sabbaths. Therefore, I said that I would pour out my fury upon them in the desert, and that I would consume them.

New American Bible
But the house of Israel rebelled against me in the wilderness. They did not observe my statutes, and they rejected my ordinances that bring life to those who keep them. My sabbaths, too, they desecrated grievously. Then I considered pouring out my fury on them in the wilderness to put an end to them,

New Revised Standard Version
But the house of Israel rebelled against me in the wilderness; they did not observe my statutes but rejected my ordinances, by whose observance everyone shall live; and my sabbaths they greatly profaned. Then I thought I would pour out my wrath upon them in the wilderness, to make an end of them.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
But the house of Israel rebelled against me in the wilderness; they did not walk in my commandments, and they despised my judgments, which if a man would do, he would live by them; and my sabbaths they greatly polluted; then I said, I will pour out my fury upon them in the wilderness and destroy them.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And they of the house of Israel angered me in the wilderness, and they did not walk in my commands, and they rejected my judgments, for if a son of man does them he lives by them; and my Sabbaths they have defiled, and I said: ‘I shall pour my anger upon them in the wilderness and I shall destroy them’
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
But the house of Israel rebelled against Me in the wilderness; they walked not in My statutes, and they rejected Mine ordinances, which if a man do, he shall live by them, and My sabbaths they greatly profaned; then I said I would pour out My fury upon them in the wilderness, to consume them.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And I said to the house of Israel in the wilderness, Walk ye in my commandments: but they walked not in them, and they rejected mine ordinances, which if a man shall do, he shall even live in them; and they grievously profaned my sabbaths: and I said that I would pour out my wrath upon them in the wilderness, to consume them.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Israel's Rebellion in Egypt
12I also gave them My Sabbaths as a sign between us, so that they would know that I am the LORD who sanctifies them. 13Yet 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. 14But I 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
Numbers 14:22-23
not one of the men who have seen My glory and the signs I performed in Egypt and in the wilderness—yet have tested Me and disobeyed Me these ten times— / not one will ever see the land that I swore to give their fathers. None of those who have treated Me with contempt will see it.

Psalm 78:40-41
How often they disobeyed Him in the wilderness and grieved Him in the desert! / Again and again they tested God and provoked the Holy One of Israel.

Nehemiah 9:16-17
But they and our fathers became arrogant and stiff-necked and did not obey Your commandments. / They refused to listen and failed to remember the wonders You performed among them. They stiffened their necks and appointed a leader to return them to their bondage in Egypt. But You are a forgiving God, gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and rich in loving devotion, and You did not forsake them.

Deuteronomy 9:7-8
Remember this, and never forget how you provoked the LORD your God in the wilderness. From the day you left the land of Egypt until you reached this place, you have been rebelling against the LORD. / At Horeb you provoked the LORD, and He was angry enough to destroy you.

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

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? ...

Psalm 95:8-11
do not harden your hearts as you did at Meribah, in the day at Massah in the wilderness, / where your fathers tested and tried Me, though they had seen My work. / For forty years I was angry with that generation, and I said, “They are a people whose hearts go astray, and they have not known My ways.” ...

Exodus 16:28-29
Then the LORD said to Moses, “How long will you refuse to keep My commandments and instructions? / Understand that the LORD has given you the Sabbath; that is why on the sixth day He will give you bread for two days. On the seventh day, everyone must stay where he is; no one may leave his place.”

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.

Acts 7:39-42
But our fathers refused to obey him. Instead, they rejected him and in their hearts turned back to Egypt. / They said to Aaron, ‘Make us gods who will go before us! As for this Moses who led us out of the land of Egypt, we do not know what has happened to him.’ / At that time they made a calf and offered a sacrifice to the idol, rejoicing in the works of their hands. ...

Deuteronomy 32:15-18
But Jeshurun grew fat and kicked—becoming fat, bloated, and gorged. He abandoned the God who made him and scorned the Rock of his salvation. / They provoked His jealousy with foreign gods; they enraged Him with abominations. / They sacrificed to demons, not to God, to gods they had not known, to newly arrived gods, which your fathers did not fear. ...

1 Corinthians 10:5-11
Nevertheless, God was not pleased with most of them, for they were struck down in the wilderness. / These things took place as examples to keep us from craving evil things as they did. / Do not be idolaters, as some of them were. As it is written: “The people sat down to eat and drink and got up to indulge in revelry.” ...

Exodus 32:9-10
The LORD also said to Moses, “I have seen this people, and they are indeed a stiff-necked people. / Now leave Me alone, so that My anger may burn against them and consume them. Then I will make you into a great nation.”

Isaiah 48:18
If only you had paid attention to My commandments, your peace would have been like a river, and your righteousness like waves of the sea.

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!


Treasury of Scripture

But the house of Israel rebelled against me in the wilderness: they walked not in my statutes, and they despised my judgments, which if a man do, he shall even live in them; and my sabbaths they greatly polluted: then I said, I would pour out my fury on them in the wilderness, to consume them.

rebelled

Ezekiel 20:8
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.

Exodus 16:28
And the LORD said unto Moses, How long refuse ye to keep my commandments and my laws?

Exodus 32:8
They have turned aside quickly out of the way which I commanded them: they have made them a molten calf, and have worshipped it, and have sacrificed thereunto, and said, These be thy gods, O Israel, which have brought thee up out of the land of Egypt.

and they

Ezekiel 20:16,24
Because they despised my judgments, and walked not in my statutes, but polluted my sabbaths: for their heart went after their idols…

Leviticus 26:15,43
And if ye shall despise my statutes, or if your soul abhor my judgments, so that ye will not do all my commandments, but that ye break my covenant: …

2 Samuel 12:9
Wherefore hast thou despised the commandment of the LORD, to do evil in his sight? thou hast killed Uriah the Hittite with the sword, and hast taken his wife to be thy wife, and hast slain him with the sword of the children of Ammon.

which

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

and my

Ezekiel 20:8,21
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…

Exodus 16:27,28
And it came to pass, that there went out some of the people on the seventh day for to gather, and they found none…

Numbers 15:31-36
Because he hath despised the word of the LORD, and hath broken his commandment, that soul shall utterly be cut off; his iniquity shall be upon him…

I said

Ezekiel 20:8,21
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…

Exodus 32:10
Now therefore let me alone, that my wrath may wax hot against them, and that I may consume them: and I will make of thee a great nation.

Numbers 14:11,12,29
And the LORD said unto Moses, How long will this people provoke me? and how long will it be ere they believe me, for all the signs which I have shewed among them? …

Jump to Previous
Consume Despised Fury Greatly House Israel Judgments Live Observes Ordinances Polluted Pour Profaned Rebelled Rejected Sabbaths Statutes Walk Walked Wilderness Wrath
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Consume Despised Fury Greatly House Israel Judgments Live Observes Ordinances Polluted Pour Profaned Rebelled Rejected 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














Yet the house of Israel rebelled against Me in the wilderness
The phrase "house of Israel" refers to the collective people of Israel, God's chosen nation. In Hebrew, "house" (בֵּית, bayit) often signifies a family or lineage, emphasizing the communal identity of Israel. The "wilderness" (מִדְבָּר, midbar) is not just a physical location but a significant period in Israel's history, representing a time of testing and reliance on God. The rebellion here is a recurring theme in the Old Testament, highlighting Israel's struggle with faithfulness despite God's continuous provision and guidance.

They did not follow My statutes and they rejected My ordinances
"Statutes" (חֻקִּים, chuqqim) and "ordinances" (מִשְׁפָּטִים, mishpatim) refer to the laws and decrees given by God to Israel. These were not arbitrary rules but divine instructions meant to guide Israel in righteousness and holiness. The rejection of these laws signifies a deeper spiritual rebellion, a turning away from the covenant relationship established at Sinai. Historically, this disobedience led to severe consequences, as the statutes were designed to set Israel apart as a holy nation.

which, if a man keeps, he will live by them
This phrase underscores the life-giving nature of God's laws. The Hebrew word for "live" (חָיָה, chayah) implies not just physical survival but a flourishing, abundant life. The statutes were intended to bring blessing and prosperity, reflecting God's desire for His people to thrive under His care. This echoes the covenantal promise that obedience leads to life, a theme reiterated throughout Scripture.

And they utterly profaned My Sabbaths
The Sabbath (שַׁבָּת, shabbat) was a sign of the covenant between God and Israel, a day set apart for rest and worship. To "profane" (חָלַל, chalal) means to treat something sacred with irreverence or disrespect. By disregarding the Sabbath, Israel not only broke a commandment but also dishonored the relationship with God, showing a lack of trust in His provision and sovereignty. The Sabbath was a gift, a reminder of God's creation and redemption, and its profanation was a serious breach of faith.

So I resolved to pour out My wrath upon them in the wilderness, to consume them
God's "wrath" (חֵמָה, chemah) is not capricious anger but a righteous response to sin and rebellion. The decision to "consume" (כָּלָה, kalah) reflects the severity of Israel's disobedience and the holiness of God. The wilderness, a place of both testing and revelation, becomes the setting for divine judgment. Yet, even in judgment, there is a redemptive purpose, as God's discipline aims to bring His people back to repentance and restoration. This verse serves as a sobering reminder of the consequences of turning away from God's commands and the importance of faithfulness in the covenant relationship.

(13) Rebelled against me.--See Exodus 32:1-6; Numbers 14:1-4; Numbers 14:16; Numbers 25:1-3; and for the desecration of the Sabbath in particular, Exodus 16:27; Numbers 15:32. . . . Verse 13. - It is hardly necessary to count up the several instances of rebellion, from the sin of the golden calf onward. Of direct violation of the sabbath we have but two recorded instances (Exodus 16:27; Numbers 15:32); but the prophet looked below the surface, and would count a mere formal observance, that did not sanctify the sabbath, as a pollution of the holy day. (For parallel teaching in the prophets, see Isaiah 56:2-4; Isaiah 58:13; Jeremiah 17:21-27; and later on in the history, probably as the result of their teaching, Nehemiah 10:31-33; Nehemiah 13:15-22.) Then I said. The history of Numbers 14:26 and Numbers 26:65 was probably in Ezekiel's thoughts.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
Yet the house
בֵֽית־ (ḇêṯ-)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 1004: A house

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

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
בִ֨י (ḇî)
Preposition | first person common singular
Strong's Hebrew

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

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

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

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

and they rejected
מָאָ֗סוּ (mā·’ā·sū)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person common plural
Strong's 3988: To spurn, to disappear

My ordinances—
מִשְׁפָּטַ֣י (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
וְאֶת־ (wə·’eṯ-)
Conjunctive waw | Direct object marker
Strong's 853: Untranslatable mark of the accusative case

utterly
מְאֹ֑ד (mə·’ōḏ)
Adverb
Strong's 3966: Vehemence, vehemently, wholly, speedily

profaned
חִלְּל֣וּ (ḥil·lə·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.
שַׁבְּתֹתַ֖י (šab·bə·ṯō·ṯay)
Noun - common plural construct | first person common singular
Strong's 7676: Intermission, the Sabbath

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

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

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

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

and put an end to them
לְכַלּוֹתָֽם׃ (lə·ḵal·lō·w·ṯām)
Preposition-l | Verb - Piel - Infinitive construct | third person masculine plural
Strong's 3615: To be complete, at an end, finished, accomplished, or spent

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


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OT Prophets: Ezekiel 20:13 But the house of Israel rebelled against (Ezek. Eze Ezk)
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