Ezekiel 8:6
And he said to me, “Son of man, do you see what they are doing, the great abominations that the house of Israel are committing here, to drive me far from my sanctuary? But you will see still greater abominations.”
English Standard Version (ESV)
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The verse highlights that these "great abominations" aren't just offensive actions; they are presented as the direct cause for God being forced to withdraw from His sanctuary. This means their sin was so profound that it necessitated His departure, a chilling precursor to the temple's eventual destruction.
Ezekiel is being shown a terrifying vision of the abominations happening within the very temple in Jerusalem. God asks him if he sees these acts of idolatry, explaining they are so grievous they are causing Him to withdraw from His sanctuary. The vision isn't over; God tells Ezekiel he will see even worse things as the tour of corruption continues.
What does it mean when God 'goes far off' from His sanctuary? It's not just a physical departure, but something deeply personal.
The passage highlights God's profound grief and distress over the 'great abominations' happening in His temple. The phrasing suggests that these actions aren't just offensive; they are so severe they compel God to withdraw. This isn't about God being forced out, but His presence becoming unbearable due to the people's sin. It's a powerful image of a holy God reacting to rebellion and idolatry within the very place meant for His dwelling.
This withdrawal has immediate consequences:
Ezekiel sees 'great abominations,' but the vision isn't over. What's worse than what he's already seen?
The verse ends with a chilling promise: 'But you will see still greater abominations.' This isn't just a repetition of the same sin; it implies a deepening depravity and a progression of evil.
The Escalation of Sin
Understand the original words
ben-adam · Hebrew Noun phrase
A title used frequently in Ezekiel, emphasizing the prophet's humanity and frailty in contrast to the majesty and holiness of God. It highlights his role as a representative of mankind before God.
to'ebah · Hebrew Noun
Actions, objects, or practices that are morally disgusting and detestable to God. In the Old Testament, it is frequently used to describe idolatry and activities that violate the covenant with God.
miqdash · Hebrew Noun
A place set apart for the worship of God, typically referring to the Temple in Jerusalem. It represents the focal point of God's presence among His people.
yisra'el · Hebrew Noun
Ezekiel is receiving this vision in exile, likely shortly after the second deportation, meaning the Jerusalem he sees is still standing but deeply corrupt. The abominations he witnesses are not in a ruined city, but within the very heart of Judah's worship, driving God away before its final destruction.
c. 722 BC
Fall of Samaria and the Northern Kingdom
The Assyrian Empire conquers the northern kingdom of Israel, deporting many of its inhabitants. This event marks a significant blow to the united Israel and foreshadows future judgment for the southern kingdom.
605 BC
First Deportation to Babylon
Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, begins his campaigns against Judah, conquering Jerusalem and deporting a group of elites, including the prophet Daniel. This is the beginning of the Babylonian exile.
597 BC— this verse
Second Deportation to Babylon
Babylon deports King Jehoiachin and thousands more Judeans, including the prophet Ezekiel, to Babylon. This marks a deepening of the exile and a loss of leadership in Jerusalem.
586 BC
Fall of Jerusalem and Destruction of the Temple
The Babylonians return, destroy Jerusalem and its magnificent temple, and exile the remaining population. This catastrophic event fulfills prophecies of judgment and signifies the apparent abandonment of God's sanctuary.
This passage directly follows Ezekiel's vision and describes the glory of the Lord departing from the temple, emphasizing the consequence of the abominations seen earlier.
Jeremiah 7:14This verse echoes God's promise to abandon His sanctuary because of the wickedness of His people, mirroring the sentiment in Ezekiel 8:6 that the abominations would drive God away.
1 Corinthians 3:17Paul warns that if anyone defiles God's temple, God will destroy him, highlighting the sacredness of God's dwelling place and the severe judgment that follows its desecration, similar to what Ezekiel witnessed.
Romans 1:22-23This passage describes people exchanging the truth of God for a lie and worshipping created things, which is a thematic parallel to the idolatrous acts that prompted God's departure from His sanctuary in Ezekiel's vision.
Matthew 24:15Jesus speaks of the 'abomination of desolation' standing in the holy place, directly referencing the concept of desecration within God's sacred space that leads to judgment, much like the abominations Ezekiel sees.
pulpitEzekiel 8:6: "He said furthermore unto me, Son of man, seest thou what they do? even the great abominations that the house of Israel committeth here, that I should go far off from my sanctuary? but turn thee yet again, and thou shalt see greater abominations."
Verse 6. - That I should go far off, etc. The lesson taught was that already implied in the fact that the glorious vision and come to him from the north (Ezekiel 1:4). The temple was already as a God-deserted shrine. His return to it now…
ellicottEzekiel 8:6: "He said furthermore unto me, Son of man, seest thou what they do? even the great abominations that the house of Israel committeth here, that I should go far off from my sanctuary? but turn thee yet again, and thou shalt see greater abominations."
(6) That I should go far off from my sanctuary. —In the original this is simply an infinitive, without any subject expressed, “for the removing far off,” and may therefore be understood either of the removing of the people or of the Divin…
The verse highlights that these "great abominations" aren't just offensive actions; they are presented as the direct cause for God being forced to withdraw from His sanctuary. This means their sin was so profound that it necessitated His departure, a chilling precursor to the temple's eventual destruction.
Ezekiel is being shown a terrifying vision of the abominations happening within the very temple in Jerusalem. God asks him if he sees these acts of idolatry, explaining they are so grievous they are causing Him to withdraw from His sanctuary. The vision isn't over; God tells Ezekiel he will see even worse things as the tour of corruption continues.
Ezekiel is being shown a terrifying vision of the abominations happening within the very temple in Jerusalem. God asks him if he sees these acts of idolatry, explaining they are so grievous they are causing Him to withdraw from His sanctuary. The vision isn't over; God tells Ezekiel he will see even worse things as the tour of corruption continues.
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Refers to the religious and political nation descended from Jacob. It denotes the covenant people whom God chose to be a light to the nations but who frequently fell into rebellion.
"And he said to me, “Son of man, do you see what they are doing, the great abominations that the house of Israel are committing here, to drive me far from my sanctuary? But you will see still greater abominations.”" — The verse highlights that these "great abominations" aren't just offensive actions; they are presented as the direct cause for God being forced to withdraw from His sanctuary. This means their sin wa…
