And I will bring you into the wilderness of the peoples, and there I will enter into judgment with you face to face.
English Standard Version (ESV)
Instead of a literal desert, God declares He will bring His people into a "wilderness of the peoples" – a state of being scattered among nations, stripped of all other comforts and alliances. There, separated from everyone else, God will "plead with you face to face," meaning He will deal with them directly and undeniably, showing His hand clearly in judgment and purification.
And I will bring you into the wilderness of the peoples, and there I will enter into judgment with you face to face.
English Standard Version (ESV)
God declares He will bring His people out from the nations where they are scattered, not back to their land immediately, but into a "wilderness of the peoples." This is a time of intense, direct confrontation where God will judge them plainly, much like He did with their ancestors in the desert, to separate the rebellious from the faithful. This spiritual wilderness serves as a distinct period of discipline and reckoning before their ultimate restoration.
God promises to bring His people into 'the wilderness of the peoples.' What kind of wilderness is this, and why does it matter?
This isn't just a physical desert. The 'wilderness of the peoples' refers to the experience of being scattered among other nations, stripped of familiar comforts and cultural identity. It's a state of being exposed and vulnerable, where God's presence (or absence) is starkly felt.
Think of it like this: the original wilderness journey for Israel was a time of intense testing, dependence on God, and facing their own failures, all while being isolated from Egypt and the Promised Land. This 'wilderness of the peoples' is a similar spiritual condition. Whether in Babylonian exile or scattered throughout history, this state is designed to sever reliance on human systems and force a confrontation with God Himself.
The phrase 'face to face' evokes intimacy, but here it's linked to judgment. What does this intense, personal encounter signify?
When God says He will 'plead with you face to face,' it's not a gentle conversation. This imagery, drawn from legal proceedings and the direct encounter God had with Israel at Sinai, signifies a no-excuses, unmistakable confrontation. God isn't hiding; He's making His case and executing His justice directly.
This 'face to face' encounter means the people cannot hide behind excuses or blame others. Their sin and God's righteousness are laid bare between them. It’s a moment where God’s hand is clearly seen in the unfolding of events, whether through exile, loss, or personal suffering. The ultimate purpose is to bring them to repentance and purification.
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Understand the original words
midbar · Hebrew Noun
A desolate or uncultivated place, often used in Scripture as a place of testing, refinement, and intimate meeting between God and His people.
mishpat · Hebrew Noun
A legal or theological process of adjudicating sin; God’s active intervention to settle accounts with His people according to His righteous standards.
panim el panim · Hebrew Phrase
A metaphor for direct, personal, and unavoidable encounter with God; it signifies a stripping away of all pretenses before the Divine Judge.
This prophecy speaks of a future judgment and purification for Israel, mirroring their past experiences in the wilderness. It underscores that God's dealings, whether in judgment or restoration, are intensely personal and direct, happening 'face to face' as they are sifted among the nations.
c. 722 BC
Assyrian Exile of Northern Kingdom
The Neo-Assyrian Empire conquers the Northern Kingdom of Israel, exiling a significant portion of its population. This event marks the beginning of a long period of dispersion for many Israelites.
605 BC
First Babylonian Deportation
Nebuchadnezzar II of Babylon begins deporting Jewish elites and skilled workers to Babylon, including figures like Daniel. This marks the start of the Babylonian exile.
597 BC
Second Babylonian Deportation
Another wave of exiles is taken to Babylon, including the prophet Ezekiel himself and King Jehoiachin. The Southern Kingdom of Judah continues to resist Babylonian power.
586 BC— this verse
Destruction of Jerusalem and Temple
Nebuchadnezzar destroys Jerusalem and its Temple, exiling most of the remaining population to Babylon. This is a catastrophic event for Judah.
c. 550-539 BC
Babylonian Exile Continues
The Jewish people live in exile in Babylon, experiencing judgment and alienation. This period is characterized by their longing for return and God's dealings with them in their 'wilderness of the peoples'.
539 BC
Persian Conquest of Babylon
Cyrus the Great of Persia conquers Babylon, eventually allowing the Jewish exiles to return to their homeland and rebuild the Temple.
This passage describes God speaking to Moses 'face to face, as one speaks to a friend,' highlighting a unique and intimate form of divine communication that parallels God's direct judgment with Ezekiel's people.
Deuteronomy 5:4The phrase 'face to face' is directly quoted here from God speaking to Israel at Sinai, emphasizing the directness and seriousness of the covenant relationship, which is now being brought to judgment in Ezekiel.
Hosea 2:14-15This passage describes God leading Israel into the wilderness to speak tenderly to them, contrasting with Ezekiel's depiction of a wilderness for judgment, but both show God using a 'wilderness' experience to deal with His people directly and profoundly.
Jeremiah 2:9Jeremiah also charges Israel with corrupting themselves and turning away from God, leading to divine judgment, which resonates with Ezekiel's message of God bringing His people into a 'wilderness' for judgment because of their unfaithfulness.
Romans 2:1-16Paul discusses how God judges people impartially, without favoritism, based on their deeds and knowledge of His law, mirroring the 'face to face' judgment in Ezekiel where God holds His people accountable for their actions.
gillEzekiel 20:35: "And I will bring you into the wilderness of the people, and there will I plead with you face to face."
And I will bring you into the wilderness of the people,.... Into Babylon, and into captivity there, which they thought to avoid by fleeing to other countries. Some think that those inhospitable nations are meant, Syro-media, Caspia, Hyrcania, Iberia, and others, into which many of the Jews were brought, who sought to live elsewhere than at Babylon; and others are of opinion tha…
ellicottEzekiel 20:35: "And I will bring you into the wilderness of the people, and there will I plead with you face to face."
(35) Into the wilderness of the people. —As in the past there was a period of probation and discipline in the wilderness, so shall there be in the future. The similarity is insisted upon in Ezekiel 20:36 , and the phrase “face to face” is taken from Deuteronomy 5:4 , not to show that the Lord will interpose again with the same sensible manifestations, but will plead with them i…
Instead of a literal desert, God declares He will bring His people into a "wilderness of the peoples" – a state of being scattered among nations, stripped of all other comforts and alliances. There, separated from everyone else, God will "plead with you face to face," meaning He will deal with them directly and undeniably, showing His hand clearly in judgment and purification.
God declares He will bring His people out from the nations where they are scattered, not back to their land immediately, but into a "wilderness of the peoples." This is a time of intense, direct confrontation where God will judge them plainly, much like He did with their ancestors in the desert, to separate the rebellious from the faithful. This spiritual wilderness serves as a distinct period of discipline and reckoning before their ultimate restoration.
God declares He will bring His people out from the nations where they are scattered, not back to their land immediately, but into a "wilderness of the peoples." This is a time of intense, direct confrontation where God will judge them plainly, much like He did with their ancestors in the desert, to separate the rebellious from the faithful. This spiritual wilderness serves as a distinct period of discipline and reckoning before their ultimate restoration.
"And I will bring you into the wilderness of the peoples, and there I will enter into judgment with you face to face." — Instead of a literal desert, God declares He will bring His people into a "wilderness of the peoples" – a state of being scattered among nations, stripped of all other comforts and alliances. There,…
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Last reviewed October 2026