I will turn my face from them, and they shall profane my treasured place. Robbers shall enter and profane it.
English Standard Version (ESV)
The "secret place" here refers not just to the inner sanctuary of the Temple, but to something God deeply cherished and protected, like a hidden treasure. It’s the place where His presence dwelled, and its profanation signifies a profound breach of trust and intimacy, not merely a physical desecration.
I will turn my face from them, and they shall profane my treasured place. Robbers shall enter and profane it.
English Standard Version (ESV)
God declares He will withdraw His presence and protection from His people, leaving them vulnerable. This abandonment means that the Chaldean invaders, referred to as "robbers," will not only conquer Jerusalem but will desecrate and defile the most sacred parts of the Temple itself. This act signifies the complete destruction of their holy space and the end of God's protective watch over it.
Ever feel like God's presence has vanished, leaving you exposed? Ezekiel's prophecy reveals a profound reason why this can happen.
God's Hidden Face
The verse begins with a striking image: "I will turn my face from them." This isn't just God looking away in disinterest; it's a powerful statement of divine withdrawal. When God turns His face, His protection, guidance, and favor are removed.
Think about it: When God's face is turned towards His people, He is present, actively guarding and leading. But when He turns His face away, it signifies judgment and abandonment, leaving people vulnerable to the consequences of their sin.
This withdrawal is a direct response to their actions. God isn't capricious; His turning away is a deliberate act of justice when His covenant is broken.
What does it mean to 'profane' something sacred? Ezekiel's prophecy shows how sin doesn't just hurt people, but desecrates God's own dwelling.
The Sanctity of God's Space
God declares, 'they shall profane my treasured place.' This 'treasured place' is understood by commentators to be the Temple in Jerusalem, and even more specifically, the Holy of Holies – the innermost sanctuary where God's presence dwelled. It was God's special, precious dwelling on earth.
To 'profane' it means to treat it with utter irreverence, to defile and desecrate what is holy. This wasn't just physical destruction; it was a spiritual violation. When God's people sinned, they not only broke their covenant with Him but also violated the very space where His glory resided.
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The consequence? God withdraws His protection, and the enemy—the 'robbers' (the Babylonian soldiers)—are allowed to enter and complete the desecration. This shows that sin has cosmic implications, affecting not only our relationship with God but the sanctity of His dwelling and His name.
Understand the original words
panim · Hebrew Noun
Often implies a withdrawal of divine favor, protection, or communion; when God turns His face, it signifies judgment and the removal of His blessing due to persistent rebellion.
segullah · Hebrew Noun
An object or location highly valued by God, specifically set apart for His name; in Ezekiel, it refers to the Temple in Jerusalem, which represented His covenant presence among His people.
Ezekiel's prophecy of God turning His face from His 'treasured place' and allowing robbers to defile it is directly tied to the Babylonian destruction of Jerusalem and the Temple in 587/586 BC. This devastating event was the culmination of prior judgments and the ultimate sign of God's abandonment of a disobedient people and their sacred spaces.
c. 722 BC
Fall of Samaria
The Northern Kingdom of Israel falls to the Assyrian Empire, leading to the exile of many Israelites and the scattering of the ten tribes.
605 BC
First Deportation to Babylon
Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon conquers Judah and deports a group of prominent citizens, including the prophet Daniel, to Babylon.
597 BC— this verse
Second Deportation to Babylon
Following a revolt, Nebuchadnezzar deports more Judeans and King Jehoiachin to Babylon, including the prophet Ezekiel. This event directly precedes Ezekiel's ministry and the prophecy in this verse.
587/586 BC
Fall of Jerusalem and Destruction of the Temple
Nebuchadnezzar's armies conquer Jerusalem, destroy Solomon's Temple, and exile the remaining population to Babylon. This fulfills the prophecies of devastation.
539 BC
Cyrus the Great conquers Babylon
The Persian Empire under Cyrus conquers Babylon, opening the way for the return of exiled peoples, including the Judeans.
538 BC
Decree of Cyrus
Cyrus issues a decree allowing the exiled Judeans to return to Jerusalem and rebuild their Temple, marking the end of the Babylonian exile.
This psalm laments the desecration of God's sanctuary, mirroring Ezekiel's prophecy of enemies entering and defiling the temple, emphasizing the profound grief when God's holy places are profaned.
Lamentations 2:6-7This passage directly echoes Ezekiel's theme, describing how God has treated His sanctuary with contempt, allowing enemies to invade and desecrate the very place He once inhabited.
Jeremiah 52:12-17This historical account provides the fulfillment of Ezekiel's prophecy, detailing the Babylonian army's destruction of the Temple, aligning with the 'robbers' entering and defiling the 'secret place'.
Matthew 24:15-16Jesus references the 'abomination of desolation' standing in the holy place, connecting the concept of divine judgment allowing enemies to desecrate holy ground to a future event.
pooleEzekiel 7:22: "My face will I turn also from them, and they shall pollute my secret place: for the robbers shall enter into it, and defile it."
My face will I turn; either from the Jews, who cry under such violence and profaneness; or, from the Chaldeans who act it, neither relieving the one nor restraining the other. My secret place; either, 1. My enclosed land of Judea. Or, 2. My city Jerusalem. Or, 3. The temple. And, 4. The holy of holies: all which the Babylonian conquerors trampled under…
barnesEzekiel 7:22: "My face will I turn also from them, and they shall pollute my secret place: for the robbers shall enter into it, and defile it."
My secret place - The inner sanctuary, hidden from the multitude, protected by the most high.
The "secret place" here refers not just to the inner sanctuary of the Temple, but to something God deeply cherished and protected, like a hidden treasure. It’s the place where His presence dwelled, and its profanation signifies a profound breach of trust and intimacy, not merely a physical desecration.
God declares He will withdraw His presence and protection from His people, leaving them vulnerable. This abandonment means that the Chaldean invaders, referred to as "robbers," will not only conquer Jerusalem but will desecrate and defile the most sacred parts of the Temple itself. This act signifies the complete destruction of their holy space and the end of God's protective watch over it.
God declares He will withdraw His presence and protection from His people, leaving them vulnerable. This abandonment means that the Chaldean invaders, referred to as "robbers," will not only conquer Jerusalem but will desecrate and defile the most sacred parts of the Temple itself. This act signifies the complete destruction of their holy space and the end of God's protective watch over it.
"I will turn my face from them, and they shall profane my treasured place. Robbers shall enter and profane it." — The "secret place" here refers not just to the inner sanctuary of the Temple, but to something God deeply cherished and protected, like a hidden treasure. It’s the place where His presence dwelled, a…
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Last reviewed October 2026