King James Version

What Does Ezekiel 12:20 Mean?

Ezekiel 12:20 in the King James Version says “And the cities that are inhabited shall be laid waste, and the land shall be desolate; and ye shall know that I am the L...” — study this verse from Ezekiel chapter 12 with commentary, cross-references, and original Hebrew word analysis.

“And the cities that are inhabited shall be laid waste, and the land shall be desolate; and ye shall know that I am the LORD.”

Ezekiel 12:20 · KJV

Context

18

Son of man, eat thy bread with quaking, and drink thy water with trembling and with carefulness;

19

And say unto the people of the land, Thus saith the Lord GOD of the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and of the land of Israel; They shall eat their bread with carefulness, and drink their water with astonishment, that her land may be desolate from all that is therein, because of the violence of all them that dwell therein. all that: Heb. the fulness thereof

20

And the cities that are inhabited shall be laid waste, and the land shall be desolate; and ye shall know that I am the LORD.

21

And the word of the LORD came unto me, saying,

22

Son of man, what is that proverb that ye have in the land of Israel, saying, The days are prolonged, and every vision faileth?

Read Ezekiel 12 full chapter

Commentary

KJV Study Commentary
God continues: 'And the cities that are inhabited shall be laid waste, and the land shall be desolate; and ye shall know that I am the LORD.' This announces comprehensive destruction—inhabited cities will become waste, productive land will become desolate. The Hebrew charav (חָרַב, 'laid waste') indicates violent destruction, while shemamah (שְׁמָמָה, 'desolate') suggests uninhabited emptiness.

The purpose clause 'ye shall know that I am the LORD' ties even devastating judgment to God's self-revelation. Knowledge of Yahweh—His sovereignty, holiness, justice, and covenant faithfulness—is the ultimate purpose. Even destruction serves pedagogical ends, teaching through consequences what mercy couldn't teach through blessing. This demonstrates that God's glory and the knowledge of Him are reality's ultimate goals.

From a Reformed perspective, this verse illustrates that God's self-glorification through both blessing and judgment is proper ordering of reality, not divine egotism. As Creator, God is reality's center; proper knowledge of Him is humanity's chief end (Westminster Shorter Catechism Q1). Judgment that produces this knowledge, though painful, serves ultimate good by aligning people with truth.

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Historical & Cultural Context

Archaeological evidence confirms Judean cities' destruction circa 586 BC. Excavations at sites like Lachish, Beth-Shemesh, and Ramat Rahel show destruction layers from this period—burned buildings, arrowheads, evidence of violent conquest. The land remained sparsely populated during the exile, with significant depopulation not reversed until Persian period return.

The 'knowledge of God' theme connects to Hosea's indictment: 'My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge' (Hosea 4:6). Israel's covenant calling was to know God and make Him known. Their failure necessitated judgment that would teach, through devastating consequences, what prophetic warning couldn't teach. Post-exilic Judaism did indeed gain deeper knowledge of God through suffering—becoming militantly monotheistic and torah-centered.

Reflection Questions

  1. How does the recognition that even judgment serves to reveal God's character transform your understanding of suffering?
  2. What does archaeological confirmation of biblical judgments teach about Scripture's historical reliability?
  3. In what ways have you gained knowledge of God through difficult experiences rather than through blessing alone?

Original Language Analysis

Hebrew · 10 words
וְהֶעָרִ֤ים1 of 10

“And the cities”

H5892

a city (a place guarded by waking or a watch) in the widest sense (even of a mere encampment or post)

הַנּֽוֹשָׁבוֹת֙2 of 10

“that are inhabited”

H3427

properly, to sit down (specifically as judge. in ambush, in quiet); by implication, to dwell, to remain; causatively, to settle, to marry

תֶּחֱרַ֔בְנָה3 of 10

“shall be laid waste”

H2717

to parch (through drought) i.e., (by analogy,) to desolate, destroy, kill

וְהָאָ֖רֶץ4 of 10

“and the land”

H776

the earth (at large, or partitively a land)

שְׁמָמָ֣ה5 of 10

“shall be desolate”

H8077

devastation; figuratively, astonishment

תִֽהְיֶ֑ה6 of 10
H1961

to exist, i.e., be or become, come to pass (always emphatic, and not a mere copula or auxiliary)

וִֽידַעְתֶּ֖ם7 of 10

“and ye shall know”

H3045

to know (properly, to ascertain by seeing); used in a great variety of senses, figuratively, literally, euphemistically and inferentially (including o

כִּֽי8 of 10
H3588

(by implication) very widely used as a relative conjunction or adverb (as below); often largely modified by other particles annexed

אֲנִ֥י9 of 10
H589

i

יְהוָֽה׃10 of 10

“that I am the LORD”

H3068

(the) self-existent or eternal; jeho-vah, jewish national name of god

Study Guide

Historical Context

This verse is found in the book of Ezekiel. Understanding the historical and cultural background helps illuminate its meaning for the original audience and for us today.

Theological Significance

Ezekiel 12:20 contributes to our understanding of God's character and His relationship with humanity. Consider how this verse connects to the broader themes of Scripture.

Cross-References

Verses related to Ezekiel 12:20 from Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

Isaiah 7:23-24Jeremiah 4:7Jeremiah 25:9Isaiah 3:26Lamentations 5:18Daniel 9:17

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