Ezekiel-Chap-20-Vv-19-20
-hebraicstudies.net-
Please do NOT visit this site on שַׁבָּת - Shabbat or on the מוֹעֲדִים - Mo’a’dim - Feasts!
Re Tanakh versions:
Throughout this site I may use any of
three versions of the Tanakh: 1. “Jewish Publication Society” (JPS-1917), 2. “Mechon-Mamre.org” (MEC), and 3. “Sefaria.org” (SEF), three brilliant versions, However, the
JPS-1917 is my preferred version!
Colour coded details of
our beloved TaNaKh:
1. Torah =
History & Law, 2. Nevi’im = The Prophets. 3. *Ketuvim = all other Writings.
*The Ketuvim - Includes, Poetical books -
Psalms, Proverbs, Job, the Megillot, or
Scrolls - Song of Solomon, Ruth, Lamentations of
Jeremiah, Ecclesiastes, and Esther, prophecy of Daniel, and history
of Ezra, Nehemiah, and Chronicles I & II.
Please
Note: Some alterations or
(additions) have been made relating to ‘Names’ and ‘Attributes’ of אֱלֹהִים - Elohim (God),
having been corrected like it once was pre the “Masoretic Text”.
YYYYYYY
Remember the
following truth from our beloved Torah!
“Ye
shall NOT ADD
TO THE WORD which I command
you, NEITHER SHALL YE DIMINISH FROM IT,
that ye may keep the commandments of אֱלֹהֵיכֶם יְהוָה - the LORD your Eloleichem, which I command you”. Davarim -
Deuteronomy 4:2. (JPS-1917).
YYYYYYY
With Rabbi, Dr. Reuven Ben Avraham-Goossens, PhD..
Please Note: All verses are from the JPS-1917 version of the Tanakh!
יְחֶזְקֵאל - Ezekiel Chapter 20, verses 19 and 20 offers a powerful summary of ‘Covenant identity’, ‘Divine authority’, and ‘the Purpose of Sacred time’. In the JPS-1917 translation, these two verses read as follows in Hebrew and then in English:
אֲנִי
יְהוָה
אֱלֹהֵיכֶם, בְּחֻקּוֹתַי
לֵכוּ; וְאֶת-מִשְׁפָּטַי
שִׁמְרוּ, וַעֲשׂוּ
אוֹתָם
וְאֶת-שַׁבְּתוֹתַי,
קַדֵּשׁוּ; וְהָיוּ
לְאוֹת, בֵּינִי
וּבֵינֵיכֶם-לָדַעַת,
כִּי אֲנִי
יְהוָה אֱלֹהֵיכֶם
“I am יְהוָה
אֱלֹהֵיכֶם
- the LORD your Eloheichem;
walk in My Statutes, and keep Mine Ordinances, and do them; and hallow My Sabbaths, and they shall be a sign
between Me and you, that ye may know that I am יְהוָה
אֱלֹהֵיכֶם
- the LORD your Eloheichem”.
Ezekiel Chap 20:19-20.
YYYYYYY
Let us now look at its amazing framework to deepen our analysis of this wonderful passage.
1. Historical & Contextual Setting:
The Setting: Ezekiel is addressing the
elders of
The Historical Recount:
Chapter 20 reviews Israel’s past failures, from
Egypt through the ‘wilderness generation’, highlighting how each generation
resisted אֱלֹהִים - Elohim’s
guidance, yet אֱלֹהִים - Elohim repeatedly acted to preserve His Name.
The Next Generation: Verse 18 warns the younger wilderness generation not to follow the corrupt habits of their fathers, setting up verses 19-20 as a direct call to break generational cycles.
וָאֹמַר
אֶל-בְּנֵיהֶם,
בַּמִּדְבָּר,
בְּחוּקֵּי
אֲבוֹתֵיכֶם
אַל-תֵּלֵכוּ,
וְאֶת-מִשְׁפְּטֵיהֶם
אַל-תִּשְׁמֹרוּ;
וּבְגִלּוּלֵיהֶם,
אַל-תִּטַּמָּאוּ
“And I said unto their children in the wilderness: Walk
ye not in the statutes of your fathers, neither observe their ordinances, nor
defile yourselves with their idols”.
2. Key Themes & Theological Insights:
Divine Identity (“I am יְהוָה
אֱלֹהֵיכֶם -
the LORD your Eloheichem”):
Establishes covenant authority. Compliance
with the statutes is not arbitrary law-keeping; it stems directly from the
relationship with אֱלֹהִים - Elohim.
Action & Application (“Walk... keep... do”):
“Walking”
represents daily conduct and lifestyle choices, while “keeping and doing”
emphasizes ‘internal commitment’ paired with ‘practical execution’.
Sanctification of Time (“Hallow My Sabbaths”):
The Hebrew word ‘kaddesh’ (hallow/sanctify) means to set apart. The Sabbath is presented not just as a day of rest, but as a Consecrated
mark of Devotion.
The Covenant Sign (“A sign between Me and you”):
It mirrors Exodus 31:13:
Unlike geographic borders or physical
temples, which can be destroyed, the Sabbath acts as a portable Sanctuary in
time, preserving identity during exile.
Relational Purpose (“That ye may know...”):
Observance is ultimately an avenue to
experimental, personal knowledge of אֱלֹהִים - Elohim, not just
intellectual acknowledgment.
3. Comparative Cross-References:
(1) Exodus 20:8-11 & (2) Deuteronomy 5:12-15: The foundational Sabbath commandments linking rest to Creation and Exodus liberation.
(1) “Six days shalt thou labour, and do all thy work; but
the seventh day is a Sabbath unto יְהוָה
אֱלֹהֶיךָ - the LORD thy Eloheicha, in it thou shalt not do
any manner of work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, nor thy man-servant,
nor thy maid-servant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy
gates; for in six days יְהוָה - the LORD made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and
rested on the seventh day; wherefore יְהוָה - the LORD blessed the Sabbath day, and hallowed it. Honour
thy father and thy mother, that thy days may be long upon the land which יְהוָה
אֱלֹהֶיךָ - the LORD thy Eloheicha giveth thee”. Exodus 20:8-11. (JPS-1917).
(2) “Six days shalt thou labour, and do
all thy work; but the seventh day is a Sabbath unto יְהוָה
אֱלֹהֶיךָ - the LORD thy Eloheicha, in it thou shalt not do
any manner of work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, nor thy man-servant,
nor thy maid-servant, nor thine ox, nor thine ass, nor any of thy cattle, nor
thy stranger that is within thy gates; that thy man-servant and thy
maid-servant may rest as well as thou. And thou shalt
remember that thou was a servant in the
Exodus 31:13: The original declaration of the Sabbath as a perpetual covenant sign.
“And that
their children, who have not known, may hear, and learn to fear יְהוָה אֱלֹהֵיכֶם
- the LORD your Eloheichem,
as long as ye live in the land whither ye go over the
Ezekiel 20:12:
The earlier verse in the same chapter emphasizing that the “Sabbath
demonstrates it is אֱלֹהִים - Elohim who
sanctifies
YYYYYYY
Reflection & Discussion Questions:
How does setting aside intentional, ‘holy
time’ (hallowing the Sabbath) strengthen personal connection to אֱלֹהִים - Elohim in a fast-paced
world?
In what ways can a person break ‘negative
generational patterns’ (“statutes of your fathers”) to establish healthier
spiritual habits (“walk in My statutes”)?
What does it mean for faith to be an outward “sign” to the surrounding culture of the world today?
YYYYYYY
Please Note: “hebraicstudies”
links are located down the page!
This site was originally created, for those
who desired to return to our blessed and wonderful faith. Thus be wise and work
on your faith and pray at least two or three times a day (if possible) and
always seek our beloved אֱלֹהִים - Elohim’s guidance,
for His love is always with us, especially when we seek Him, blessed be He!
However this site has become very much a teaching site with hundreds of
studies!
Remember what אֱלֹהִים - Elohim, blessed be He, said the following through a number of
our prophets...
“The More Torah,
the More Life”,
For Elohim is the One who gave us our ... “Life!”
May the שָׁלוֹם - Shalom =
Peace of צְבָאוֹת- יְהוָה= the LORD
of hosts, be with you, and please always uphold our blessed שַׁבָּת - Shabbat,
as well as the מוֹעֲדִים - Mo’a’dim - Feasts, and
continue saying your daily תְּפִלָּה - Tefeelah’s - Prayers and
regular בְּרָכָה - Be’ra’chah’s - blessings before
food and drinks, etc!
שָׁלוֹם
עֲלֵיכֶם - Shalom Aleichem - Peace be with you!
Enter ...