Old Testament
Ezekiel 7:20
The Clear Bible Translation matches the King James Version, written at a 10th-grade reading level in plain English
At a Glance
In this verse, God reflects on how something beautiful, which was meant to be a symbol of His glory, has been misused.
- Author
- Ezekiel the prophet
- Written
- Around 590 BC
- Genre
- Prophecy
- Original Audience
- Exiled Israelites in Babylon
As for the beauty of his ornament, he placed it in majesty, but they made it into images of their abominations and detestable things. Therefore, I have set it far from them.
As for the beauty of his ornament, he set it in majesty: but they made the images of their abominations and of their detestable things therein: therefore have I set it far from them.
Verse Analysis
Plain-English insight for readers
In this verse, God reflects on how something beautiful, which was meant to be a symbol of His glory, has been misused. Instead of honoring it, the people turned it into representations of their own wrongdoings and sinful practices. This act of disrespect led God to distance Himself from them. The ornament, once a sign of majesty, became tainted by their actions. It serves as a reminder that what is sacred can be corrupted by our choices. When we take something meant for good and twist it for our own purposes, we lose the connection to its true meaning. God’s response is to remove His presence from those who dishonor Him. This illustrates the importance of respecting what is holy and recognizing the consequences of our actions. It’s a call to reflect on how we treat the things that matter most in our lives, ensuring we honor their true purpose and significance, rather than allowing them to become mere objects of our own making and desires. Our relationship with the divine is affected by how we handle what is sacred. Explore related corruption.
Related Bible verses
How to apply Ezekiel 7:20 to your life
Consider how you treat the important things in your life. Are you honoring them or allowing them to be misused? Reflect on your actions and their impact on your relationships and values. Strive to maintain respect for what is meaningful and sacred to you. This can lead to a deeper connection with your purpose and beliefs.
Curated for this public verse page. Ezekiel Summary
Frequently Asked Questions
Quick, clear answers about this verse
What does Ezekiel 7:20 mean?
Ezekiel 7:20 reflects on how something beautiful, intended to symbolize God's glory, was misused by the people who turned it into representations of their sins. This misuse led God to distance Himself from them, highlighting the consequences of disrespecting what is sacred.
What is the significance of the ornament in Ezekiel 7:20?
The ornament in Ezekiel 7:20 symbolizes God's majesty and beauty, which was meant to be honored. Instead, the people corrupted it by associating it with their abominations, demonstrating how sacred things can be tainted by human actions.
What does the term 'abominations' refer to in Ezekiel 7:20?
In Ezekiel 7:20, 'abominations' refers to the sinful practices and idolatries that the people engaged in, which were offensive to God. Their actions transformed something holy into a symbol of their wrongdoing.
How does Ezekiel 7:20 relate to the concept of sacredness?
Ezekiel 7:20 illustrates the importance of respecting what is sacred. It shows that when sacred things are misused or disrespected, it can lead to a loss of connection with God and the true meaning behind those symbols.
The Book of Ezekiel
Ezekiel 1: Visions of God
The word of the LORD comes to Ezekiel the priest, the son of Buzi, by the river Chebar in the land of the Chaldeans. He sees visions of God as the heavens open. A great cloud comes from the north with a fire flashing continually and brightness around it, and from the midst appears something like glowing metal. From the fire emerge four living creatures, each with the likeness of a man. Each has four faces and four wings, and their legs are straight with feet like a calf's foot, shining like polished brass. Their faces are those of a man, a lion, an ox, and an eagle, and their wings are joined one to another as they move straight forward without turning.
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