Breakdown of Ezekiel 20:5-7

"and say to them, Thus says the Lord GOD: On the day when I chose Israel, I swore to the offspring of the house of Jacob, making myself known to them in the land of Egypt; I swore to them, saying, I am the LORD your God. On that day I swore…" — This verse reveals something often missed: God's solemn oath wasn't just a promise to Israel, but also a self-declaration of Himself, saying, "I am the LORD your God." This act of "making Himself…

Ezekiel 20:5-7 Meaning Explained

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Ezekiel 20:5-7

and say to them, Thus says the Lord GOD: On the day when I chose Israel, I swore to the offspring of the house of Jacob, making myself known to them in the land of Egypt; I swore to them, saying, I am the LORD your God. On that day I swore to them that I would bring them out of the land of Egypt into a land that I had searched out for them, a land flowing with milk and honey, the most glorious of all lands. And I said to them, ‘Cast away the detestable things your eyes feast on, every one of you, and do not defile yourselves with the idols of Egypt; I am the LORD your God.’

English Standard Version (ESV)

This verse reveals something often missed: God's solemn oath wasn't just a promise to Israel, but also a self-declaration of Himself, saying, "I am the LORD your God." This act of "making Himself known" in Egypt, through the gesture of lifting His hand (a sign of swearing), established His unique identity and covenant commitment before they even left the land.

What Ezekiel 20:5-7 means

God is about to review Israel's history with Ezekiel, starting from their time in Egypt. He's reminding the prophet that even in that pagan land, God chose Israel, made solemn promises to them, and revealed Himself as their God. This divine commitment forms the foundation for understanding their subsequent rebellions and God's patient dealings.

The Day God Chose Israel

God's relationship with Israel didn't start by accident. It began with a deliberate choice, a foundational moment that echoes through history.

A Divine Election

The verse opens with a powerful declaration: "In the day when I chose Israel." This wasn't a selection based on Israel's merit or actions. It was a sovereign act of God's will, a foundational decision to set them apart. The commentators highlight that this choice is a core theme, emphasizing that Israel did not choose God first, but God initiated the relationship.

This election is the bedrock of the covenant. It means God’s commitment to His people wasn't conditional on their performance from the outset. He chose them, and from that choice flows His faithfulness and purpose.

God's Oath: A Sworn Commitment

What does it mean for God to 'lift up His hand'? It's more than a gesture; it's a profound declaration of His unbreakable promise.

The Weight of God's Word

The phrase "I lifted up mine hand" is a clear reference to God taking an oath. In ancient Near Eastern culture, lifting the hand was a customary gesture accompanying an oath, signifying a solemn pledge. God uses this human custom to convey the absolute certainty and immutability of His commitment to Israel.

This oath, made in Egypt, was a covenantal act. It bound God to be their God and promised them deliverance and a promised land. The commentators note that this oath confirmed the covenant made with their ancestors, ensuring God’s faithfulness even when His people would falter. It’s a testament to God’s deep desire to be in relationship with them, sealing it with His own sacred word.

Known in Egypt: Revelation and Redemption

God didn't just choose them; He revealed Himself in a place of bondage, turning slavery into the birthplace of His covenant.

Divine Manifestation in Oppression

Understand the original words

Original language

choseבָּחַר

bachar · Hebrew Verb

The act of God sovereignly selecting a people or individual for a specific purpose, relationship, or covenantal responsibility, independent of human merit.

sworeשָׁבַע

shaba' · Hebrew Verb

A solemn, binding commitment or vow made by God to His people, often invoking His own character or existence as a guarantee of the promise.

offspringזֶרַע

zera' · Hebrew Noun

Refers to the physical descendants or the covenantal lineage of the patriarchs, indicating God's ongoing relationship with the nation of Israel as established through the patriarchs.

sworeנָשָׂא יָדִי

nasa' yadi · Hebrew Verb Phrase

An oath or solemn promise, often made by God, confirming His commitment to fulfill His purposes or covenants. It implies binding oneself to an action or a vow.

Historical context

Written: Around 593-571 BC.
Author: Ezekiel, a priest and prophet.
Location: Written from exile in Babylon, addressed to the exiles in Jerusalem.
Genre: Prophetic literature with elements of historical review and divine address; features a direct, declarative tone and uses vivid imagery.

Historical background

This verse anchors God's message to Ezekiel's generation in the foundational events of their liberation from Egypt, reminding them that their history began not with rebellion, but with God's sovereign choice and solemn oath to redeem them and be their God.

c. 1500s-1300s BC
Israelites Settle in Egypt
Following a period of famine, the descendants of Jacob (Israel) migrate to Egypt, initially welcomed, but eventually enslaved. They begin to adopt some Egyptian customs and religious practices.
c. 1446 BC
God Swears Covenant to Abraham's Seed
God chooses Abraham's descendants, making a solemn oath (represented by 'lifting up His hand') to be their God and to give them the land of Canaan. This promise is rooted in the future redemption from Egypt.
c. 1446 BC— this verse
God Reveals Himself in Egypt
God makes Himself known as Jehovah to the Israelites through Moses, initiating the process of their deliverance from slavery and revealing His covenant promises.
c. 1446 BC
The Exodus from Egypt
God powerfully delivers the Israelites from Egyptian bondage through a series of plagues and the miraculous parting of the Red Sea, fulfilling His oath.

Key themes

01God's sovereign choice
02Covenant sworn by God
03Divine self-revelation
04Divine faithfulness demonstrated

Cross-references

Exodus 6:2-8

This passage directly recounts God's covenant promises to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, establishing the foundation for His oath to Israel in Egypt mentioned in Ezekiel.

Deuteronomy 7:6-8

It emphasizes God's sovereign choice of Israel, not based on their merit but on His love and faithfulness to His oath, echoing the theme of God's initiative in Ezekiel 20:5.

Psalm 103:7

This psalm highlights God's faithfulness and the revelation of His ways to Moses and the people, directly connecting to God 'making Himself known' in Egypt as stated in Ezekiel.

Jeremiah 33:23-24

This passage reflects on God's rejection of Israel and Judah, questioning His promises, but it indirectly affirms the foundational covenant and choice mentioned in Ezekiel.

Matthew 23:31-32

Jesus' accusation that the people are filling up the measure of their fathers speaks to a long history of rebellion, directly aligning with Ezekiel's reminder of the fathers' actions in Egypt.

Scholarly commentary

Ezekiel 20:5: "And say unto them, Thus saith the Lord GOD; In the day when I chose Israel, and lifted up mine hand unto the seed of the house of Jacob, and made myself known unto them in the land of Egypt, when I lifted up mine hand unto them, saying, I am the LORD your God;"

(5) When I chose Israel. —In Ezekiel 20:5-9 the Lord takes up the first, or Egyptian period of the history* of Israel. The record of that period, as it has come to us in the Pentateuch, does not contain either any commands…
ellicott

Ezekiel 20:5: "And say unto them, Thus saith the Lord GOD; In the day when I chose Israel, and lifted up mine hand unto the seed of the house of Jacob, and made myself known unto them in the land of Egypt, when I lifted up mine hand unto them, saying, I am the LORD your God;"

5 . when I chose Israel ] The choice or election of Israel is referred to only here in Ez., and also once in Jeremiah 33:24 . The idea is much insisted on in Isaiah 40-66. Already, however, Deuteronomy 7:6 . lifted up mine…
cambridge

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What Ezekiel 20:5-7 means

Original language

choseבָּחַר

bachar · Hebrew Verb

The act of God sovereignly selecting a people or individual for a specific purpose, relationship, or covenantal responsibility, independent of human merit.

sworeשָׁבַע

shaba' · Hebrew Verb

A solemn, binding commitment or vow made by God to His people, often invoking His own character or existence as a guarantee of the promise.

offspringזֶרַע

zera' · Hebrew Noun

Refers to the physical descendants or the covenantal lineage of the patriarchs, indicating God's ongoing relationship with the nation of Israel as established through the patriarchs.

sworeנָשָׂא יָדִי

nasa' yadi · Hebrew Verb Phrase

An oath or solemn promise, often made by God, confirming His commitment to fulfill His purposes or covenants. It implies binding oneself to an action or a vow.

Historical background

c. 1500s-1300s BC

Israelites Settle in Egypt

Following a period of famine, the descendants of Jacob (Israel) migrate to Egypt, initially welcomed, but eventually enslaved. They begin to adopt some Egyptian customs and religious practices.

c. 1446 BC

God Swears Covenant to Abraham's Seed

God chooses Abraham's descendants, making a solemn oath (represented by 'lifting up His hand') to be their God and to give them the land of Canaan. This promise is rooted in the future redemption from Egypt.

c. 1446 BC— this verse

God Reveals Himself in Egypt

God makes Himself known as Jehovah to the Israelites through Moses, initiating the process of their deliverance from slavery and revealing His covenant promises.