“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)
The text reveals that "blasphemy" here isn't just about offensive words, but about actions that show a "high-handed disregard" for God's commands and a betrayal of His covenant. This deliberate "trespass" was an act of profound disrespect, almost like spitting in God's face, rather than simply a mistake.
“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)
The prophet Ezekiel is recounting Israel's long history of rebellion against God, moving from their time in Egypt and the wilderness to their settlement in the promised land. This section emphasizes how, even after God brought them into Canaan, they continued to dishonor Him by adopting the idolatrous practices of the surrounding nations, setting up altars on every high hill and under leafy trees. This unfaithfulness is presented as a grave insult and betrayal of God's promises and faithfulness to them.
What does it mean to 'blaspheme' God? It's more than just speaking ill of Him. Ezekiel reveals a deeper, more dangerous form of dishonor.
The prophet is told that Israel's fathers 'blasphemed' God not primarily through insults, but through their actions.
A Deeper Kind of Disrespect
When Israel entered the Promised Land, they found enticing spots for worship. But these places led them astray, turning divine favor into divine wrath.
The specific act of blasphemy mentioned here is rooted in Israel's worship practices in the land God gave them.
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Forsaking God's Place for Their Own
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 here doesn't just condemn the Israelites' actions in the wilderness; it points to a deep-seated pattern of rebellion that continued even after they settled in the Promised Land. Their choice to worship at 'high places' while also offering sacrifices to God shows a disturbing willingness to blend His commands with forbidden pagan practices, a spiritual betrayal that marked their history and ultimately led to their exile.
c. 1400 BC
Israel enters Canaan
After 40 years in the wilderness, the Israelites finally enter the Promised Land, a land flowing with milk and honey, a fulfillment of God's covenant promises.
c. 1400 BC - 586 BC— this verse
Worship at High Places
From their settlement in Canaan, many Israelites engaged in idolatrous worship at 'high places' (altars on hills or under trees), even while offering sacrifices to the Lord. This practice deeply angered God, as it mixed forbidden pagan practices with His worship.
c. 722 BC
Fall of the Northern Kingdom
The Assyrian Empire conquers the Northern Kingdom of Israel, exiling its people. This serves as a stark warning of the consequences of persistent disobedience and idolatry.
586 BC
Fall of Jerusalem and Babylonian Exile
The Babylonians conquer the Southern Kingdom of Judah, destroy Jerusalem and the Temple, and exile most of the remaining population. This is the ultimate consequence of generations of unfaithfulness.
This passage echoes the sentiment of God's people turning away to worship other gods, highlighting the 'treacherous dealing' and 'abominations' that dishonor God, much like the 'trespass' mentioned in Ezekiel.
Psalm 78:56-57This Psalm describes Israel's repeated unfaithfulness and turning to idols even after God's faithfulness, paralleling how their fathers in Ezekiel's account continued to blaspheme God through their actions despite His covenant faithfulness.
Hosea 5:7This verse speaks of Israel dealing treacherously against the Lord by bearing strange children, a concept that aligns with the 'treacherous dealing' and 'trespass' mentioned in Ezekiel, where their worship of idols is seen as a betrayal of their covenant relationship with God.
Romans 1:21This New Testament passage describes people knowing God but not honoring Him as God, becoming futile in their thinking and exchanging the truth about God for a lie, which reflects the essence of blaspheming God through actions that show disregard for His commands and glory, as seen in Ezekiel 20:27.
Deuteronomy 31:20Here, God foretells that when Israel is settled in the promised land, they will turn to other gods. This prophetic warning directly foreshadows the actions described in Ezekiel 20, where the fathers committed a trespass by worshiping on high places and trees, thus blaspheming God.
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 text reveals that "blasphemy" here isn't just about offensive words, but about actions that show a "high-handed disregard" for God's commands and a betrayal of His covenant. This deliberate "trespass" was an act of profound disrespect, almost like spitting in God's face, rather than simply a mistake.
The prophet Ezekiel is recounting Israel's long history of rebellion against God, moving from their time in Egypt and the wilderness to their settlement in the promised land. This section emphasizes how, even after God brought them into Canaan, they continued to dishonor Him by adopting the idolatrous practices of the surrounding nations, setting up altars on every high hill and under leafy trees. This unfaithfulness is presented as a grave insult and betrayal of God's promises and faithfulness to them.
The prophet Ezekiel is recounting Israel's long history of rebellion against God, moving from their time in Egypt and the wilderness to their settlement in the promised land. This section emphasizes how, even after God brought them into Canaan, they continued to dishonor Him by adopting the idolatrous practices of the surrounding nations, setting up altars on every high hill and under leafy trees. This unfaithfulness is presented as a grave insult and betrayal of God's promises and faithfulness to them.
"“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 text reveals that "blasphemy" here isn't just about offensive words, but about actions that show a "high-handed disregard" for God's commands and a betrayal of His covenant. This deliberate "tres…
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Last reviewed October 2026