Ezekiel 20:7
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)
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The phrase "abominations of your eyes" isn't just about things you see, but the things your eyes desire and feast upon, suggesting idolatry is rooted in a deep-seated longing for what distracts from God. This highlights that turning to idols isn't merely a visual error, but a betrayal driven by the heart's affections.
God reminds Israel of their origins, recounting how He chose them in Egypt and called them to Himself. He then confronts them with their deeply ingrained idolatry, urging them to abandon the "detestable things" and the idols of Egypt that had captivated their gaze. This divine command sets the stage for the sad truth that follows: they rebelled and refused to listen, leading God to express His intent to pour out His wrath.
Why does Ezekiel call idols 'the abominations of your eyes'? It wasn't just about what they did, but what they saw and desired.
God commands the people to 'cast away the abominations of your eyes.' This phrase points to something more than just outward actions of worship. It speaks to the deep-seated attraction and fascination that idols held for the Israelites. These weren't just foreign gods; they were objects that captured their attention, appealed to their senses, and stirred their desires. Think about how advertising or social media can capture our gaze and create longing for things. The idols of Egypt were similar—they were visually appealing, promising power, provision, or pleasure. God calls these 'abominations' because they drew the people's focus away from Him and led them into spiritual adultery.
After commanding them to reject Egyptian idols, God declares His identity. What's the powerful connection here?
The command to reject idols climaxes with God's powerful self-declaration: 'I am the LORD your God.' This isn't just a statement of fact; it's a foundational reminder of His covenant relationship and His unique authority. He is reminding them of who He is—the God who chose them, delivered them from Egypt, and promised them a future. By calling Himself 'the LORD your God,' He asserts His exclusive right to their worship. This declaration is meant to be the ultimate reason why they should abandon the idols of Egypt. True worship isn't about choosing between options; it's about recognizing the true God who has already chosen you and acted on your behalf.
Understand the original words
shiqquts · Hebrew Noun
Anything that is loathsome, repulsive, or morally abhorrent to God, particularly objects or practices associated with idolatry and false worship.
tame' · Hebrew Verb
To make ceremonially or morally impure; to render unclean through contact with sin, idolatry, or forbidden practices, thus separating oneself from God's holiness.
gillulim · Hebrew Noun
A representation of a false god, or any object, person, or priority that replaces the true God in one's heart and worship. They are considered empty and powerless, leading to spiritual ruin.
YHWH · Hebrew Proper Noun
The personal, covenantal name of God revealed to Israel; it signifies His eternal existence, His unchanging nature, and His faithfulness to His covenant promises.
This verse calls out to the Israelites while they are in the wilderness, shortly after their miraculous exodus from Egypt. It reminds them that their past idolatry in Egypt, even after God's gracious deliverance and law-giving, was a deep corruption they needed to shed immediately.
c. 1500s-1300s BC
Israelites Sojourn in Egypt
The Israelites lived in Egypt for centuries, during which time they were exposed to and, as the prophets suggest, participated in Egyptian idolatrous practices.
c. 1446 BC— this verse
The Exodus from Egypt
God delivered the Israelites from slavery in Egypt through Moses, initiating their journey to the Promised Land.
c. 1446 BC
Giving of the Law at Sinai
God gave the Ten Commandments and the Law to Israel at Mount Sinai, including direct prohibitions against idolatry and worshipping other gods.
c. 1406 BC
Conquest of Canaan Begins
Under Joshua, the Israelites began the conquest of the Promised Land, a land also filled with the surrounding nations' idolatrous worship.
This passage shows the Israelites' immediate relapse into idolatry with the golden calf, directly after their deliverance from Egypt, highlighting the very temptation of Egyptian idols that Ezekiel is warning against.
Joshua 24:14Here, Joshua explicitly calls the Israelites to 'put away the gods that your fathers served beyond the River and in Egypt,' reinforcing Ezekiel's message that their ingrained idolatry in Egypt was a foundational problem.
Leviticus 18:3This verse warns against following the practices of Egypt, directly connecting their customs, which included idolatry, to spiritual defilement, echoing Ezekiel's command to not defile themselves with Egyptian idols.
Acts 7:39-43Stephen recounts how the Israelites 'turned back their hearts to Egypt' and 'received the law of life, but you did not obey it,' showing their persistent attraction to Egyptian ways, including idolatry, even after receiving God's commands.
clarkeEzekiel 20:7: "Then said I unto them, Cast ye away every man the abominations of his eyes, and defile not yourselves with the idols of Egypt: I am the LORD your God."
Cast ye away - the abominations - Put away all your idols; those incentives to idolatry that ye have looked on with delight.
calvinEzekiel 20:5-8: "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;"
- 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…
The phrase "abominations of your eyes" isn't just about things you see, but the things your eyes desire and feast upon, suggesting idolatry is rooted in a deep-seated longing for what distracts from God. This highlights that turning to idols isn't merely a visual error, but a betrayal driven by the heart's affections.
God reminds Israel of their origins, recounting how He chose them in Egypt and called them to Himself. He then confronts them with their deeply ingrained idolatry, urging them to abandon the "detestable things" and the idols of Egypt that had captivated their gaze. This divine command sets the stage for the sad truth that follows: they rebelled and refused to listen, leading God to express His intent to pour out His wrath.
God reminds Israel of their origins, recounting how He chose them in Egypt and called them to Himself. He then confronts them with their deeply ingrained idolatry, urging them to abandon the "detestable things" and the idols of Egypt that had captivated their gaze. This divine command sets the stage for the sad truth that follows: they rebelled and refused to listen, leading God to express His intent to pour out His wrath.
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"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.’" — The phrase "abominations of your eyes" isn't just about things you see, but the things your eyes desire and feast upon, suggesting idolatry is rooted in a deep-seated longing for what distracts f…
