Ezekiel 20:27
“Therefore, son of man, speak to the house of Israel and say to them, Thus says the Lord GOD: In this also your fathers blasphemed me, by dealing treacherously with me.
English Standard Version (ESV)
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The verse highlights that "blasphemy" here isn't just about speaking against God, but about actions that deeply dishonor Him. The specific "trespass" committed by their fathers, even after being brought into the promised land, was offering sacrifices in forbidden places, showing a profound disregard for God's direct commands and authority.
The prophet Ezekiel is recounting Israel's history of rebellion to a delegation of elders. After detailing their sins in Egypt and the wilderness, he now moves to their actions after God brought them into the Promised Land. Instead of gratitude, they immediately began their idolatrous practices, offering sacrifices on high places and under trees, which God considers a grave insult and betrayal.
The text says Israel's fathers 'blasphemed' God. What does that really mean, and how is it more than just bad words?
In Ezekiel 20:27, the word 'blaspheme' doesn't refer to saying curse words against God. Instead, it describes a deep disrespect and betrayal shown through actions. When the Israelites, even after being brought into the Promised Land, turned to idolatrous practices on 'every high hill,' they were essentially saying God's way wasn't good enough. This 'high-handed disregard' (as one commentary notes) for God's commands and worship was a direct insult to His character and His reputation. It was a failure to honor Him as their God, diminishing His worth in their eyes and in the eyes of others.
The verse mentions a 'trespass.' What kind of offense is this, and why is it so serious in God's eyes?
The act of 'dealing treacherously' is described as committing a 'trespass' against God. This word points to a serious violation, not just of a law, but of a relationship. In the ancient Near East, a trespass often involved violating a treaty or a sacred trust. For Israel, their covenant with God was that sacred trust. By turning to other gods, they were breaking their solemn promises and acting as if God's faithfulness and provision weren't enough. This wasn't a minor slip-up; it was a deliberate act of disloyalty that fundamentally undermined the relationship God had established with them. It was a profound spiritual infidelity.
Understand the original words
gādāp̱ · Hebrew Verb
To speak contemptuously, mock, or revile God; it is a profound defiance of His holiness, authority, and character, often associated with rebellion or idolatry.
māʿal · Hebrew Verb
To act unfaithfully, break a promise, or violate a covenant; it describes a betrayal of a trust relationship, particularly between God and His people.
Ezekiel's prophecy comes during the Babylonian exile. This verse points to the deep-seated sin of idolatry that began even after Israel entered the Promised Land, showing that their current suffering in exile was a consequence of generations of rebellion.
c. 1400 BC
Israel enters Canaan
After wandering in the wilderness for 40 years, the Israelites, under Joshua's leadership, finally enter and begin conquering the Promised Land.
c. 1400 BC - 586 BC
Period of the Judges and Monarchy
This long era saw cycles of faithfulness and unfaithfulness, including the establishment of the monarchy, divided kingdoms, and persistent struggles with idolatry. The people often adopted Canaanite religious practices, sacrificing on high places.
c. 605 BC
First Deportation to Babylon
Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon deports a significant portion of the Judean elite, including the prophet Daniel, marking the beginning of the Babylonian exile.
597 BC
Second Deportation to Babylon
Nebuchadnezzar deports King Jehoiachin and thousands more Judeans, including the prophet Ezekiel, to Babylon. The Temple in Jerusalem is plundered.
This passage echoes Ezekiel's theme, highlighting how Israel 'dealt treacherously' with God by seeking other gods, showing a consistent pattern of unfaithfulness throughout their history.
Hosea 2:13This verse directly links Israel's forgetfulness of God with their participation in idolatrous festivals, illustrating the 'trespass' and disregard for God's commands that constitute blasphemy in Ezekiel's context.
Psalm 78:57-58This psalm recounts Israel's repeated turning away from God and engaging in idolatry, mirroring Ezekiel's critique of their fathers' betrayal of God even after receiving His blessings.
Romans 2:24Paul quotes Jeremiah, stating that Israel's actions cause God's name to be blasphemed among the nations, underscoring how their treacherous behavior, as described in Ezekiel, brings reproach upon God's reputation.
cambridgeEzekiel 20:27: "Therefore, son of man, speak unto the house of Israel, and say unto them, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Yet in this your fathers have blasphemed me, in that they have committed a trespass against me."
27 . Yet in this ] i.e. the following act, Ezekiel 20:28 , cf. Ezekiel 23:38 . have blasphemed ] Past tense: blasphemed … they committed. The blasphemy is not in words, but in high-handed disregard of his commands, Numbers 15:30 . 27–29 . The people on their entry and in their abode in…
bensonEzekiel 20:27: "Therefore, son of man, speak unto the house of Israel, and say unto them, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Yet in this your fathers have blasphemed me, in that they have committed a trespass against me."
Ezekiel 20:27-29 . Therefore, son of man, speak, &c. — Here the prophet proceeds with the story of their rebellions for their further humiliation, and shows that they persisted in them after they were settled in the land of Canaan. Thus saith the Lord, Yet in this, &c. — Or, Moreover in…
The verse highlights that "blasphemy" here isn't just about speaking against God, but about actions that deeply dishonor Him. The specific "trespass" committed by their fathers, even after being brought into the promised land, was offering sacrifices in forbidden places, showing a profound disregard for God's direct commands and authority.
The prophet Ezekiel is recounting Israel's history of rebellion to a delegation of elders. After detailing their sins in Egypt and the wilderness, he now moves to their actions after God brought them into the Promised Land. Instead of gratitude, they immediately began their idolatrous practices, offering sacrifices on high places and under trees, which God considers a grave insult and betrayal.
The prophet Ezekiel is recounting Israel's history of rebellion to a delegation of elders. After detailing their sins in Egypt and the wilderness, he now moves to their actions God brought them into the Promised Land. Instead of gratitude, they immediately began their idolatrous practices, offering sacrifices on high places and under trees, which God considers a grave insult and betrayal.
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586 BC— this verse
Fall of Jerusalem and Destruction of the Temple
Babylonian forces destroy Jerusalem and the First Temple, ending the Davidic monarchy and leading to a third, larger deportation of the remaining population.
c. 593 BC - 571 BC
Ezekiel's Prophetic Ministry in Babylon
Ezekiel delivers messages of judgment and future hope to the exiles, confronting their sin and God's reasons for their punishment.
"“Therefore, son of man, speak to the house of Israel and say to them, Thus says the Lord GOD: In this also your fathers blasphemed me, by dealing treacherously with me." — The verse highlights that "blasphemy" here isn't just about speaking against God, but about actions that deeply dishonor Him. The specific "trespass" committed by their fathers, even after being brou…
