King James Version

What Does Ezekiel 20:39 Mean?

Ezekiel 20:39 in the King James Version says “As for you, O house of Israel, thus saith the Lord GOD; Go ye, serve ye every one his idols, and hereafter also, if ye w...” — study this verse from Ezekiel chapter 20 with commentary, cross-references, and original Hebrew word analysis.

“As for you, O house of Israel, thus saith the Lord GOD; Go ye, serve ye every one his idols, and hereafter also, if ye will not hearken unto me: but pollute ye my holy name no more with your gifts, and with your idols.”

Ezekiel 20:39 · KJV

Context

37

And I will cause you to pass under the rod, and I will bring you into the bond of the covenant: bond: or, delivering

38

And I will purge out from among you the rebels, and them that transgress against me: I will bring them forth out of the country where they sojourn, and they shall not enter into the land of Israel: and ye shall know that I am the LORD.

39

As for you, O house of Israel, thus saith the Lord GOD; Go ye, serve ye every one his idols, and hereafter also, if ye will not hearken unto me: but pollute ye my holy name no more with your gifts, and with your idols.

40

For in mine holy mountain, in the mountain of the height of Israel, saith the Lord GOD, there shall all the house of Israel, all of them in the land, serve me: there will I accept them, and there will I require your offerings, and the firstfruits of your oblations, with all your holy things. firstfruits: or, chief

41

I will accept you with your sweet savour, when I bring you out from the people, and gather you out of the countries wherein ye have been scattered; and I will be sanctified in you before the heathen. sweet: Heb. savour of rest

Read Ezekiel 20 full chapter

Commentary

KJV Study Commentary
As for you, O house of Israel, thus saith the Lord GOD; Go ye, serve ye every one his idols, and hereafter also, if ye will not hearken unto me: but pollute ye my holy name no more with your gifts, and with your idols. This shocking verse employs biting irony and divine sarcasm to expose Israel's spiritual hypocrisy. The phrase "Go ye, serve ye every one his idols" is not permission but prophetic irony—if you insist on idolatry, at least be consistent rather than hypocritical. The Hebrew lekhu ivdu (לְכוּ עִבְדוּ, "go serve") uses imperative forms that sound permissive but function as rhetorical condemnation.

The devastating indictment comes in the second half: "pollute ye my holy name no more with your gifts, and with your idols." Israel's sin was not merely serving idols but attempting to worship both Yahweh and idols simultaneously—offering sacrifices to God while maintaining household idols, observing festivals while consulting pagan shrines. The Hebrew chillelu (חַלְּלוּ, "pollute" or "profane") indicates treating sacred things as common or defiling what should be holy. Their syncretistic worship profaned God's name more than pure paganism would have.

This passage reveals God's hatred of religious hypocrisy and half-hearted devotion. Divided loyalty is more offensive than open rebellion because it presumes to use God while refusing to submit fully to Him. The verse anticipates Jesus' teaching that no one can serve two masters (Matthew 6:24) and His rebuke of lukewarm Laodicea (Revelation 3:15-16). God demands wholehearted allegiance or none at all.

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Historical & Cultural Context

Ezekiel prophesied among the exiles in Babylon (593-571 BC), following the first deportation in 597 BC but before Jerusalem's final destruction in 586 BC. Chapter 20 recounts Israel's long history of rebellion, from Egypt through the wilderness to the promised land and exile. The elders of Israel came to Ezekiel seeking a prophetic word from God (v. 1), but God refused to be inquired of by them (v. 3) because of their persistent idolatry.

Archaeological discoveries confirm widespread syncretism in pre-exilic Judah. Excavations at Israelite sites have uncovered Asherah poles, foreign altars, and fertility cult objects alongside evidence of Yahweh worship. Jeremiah and Ezekiel both condemned the people for worshiping "the queen of heaven" (Jeremiah 44:17-19) while claiming loyalty to God. They wanted God's blessings without His lordship, His protection without His precepts, His favor without their faithfulness.

God's ironic command to serve idols exclusively rather than mixing idolatry with Yahweh worship exposed the absurdity of their position. Either acknowledge Yahweh as the only true God and serve Him alone, or admit you've chosen idols and abandon pretense. The half-hearted syncretism insulted both God's holiness and their own intelligence. Within years, Jerusalem's destruction would end the nation's double-mindedness by removing both temple and idols.

Reflection Questions

  1. In what areas of life are you attempting to serve both God and an idol (materialism, approval, comfort, control), thereby profaning His name?
  2. How does offering God religious activities (church attendance, Bible reading, prayer) while maintaining idolatrous priorities parallel Israel's offense?
  3. What specific "gifts" or religious practices might you be using to assuage conscience while avoiding full surrender to God's lordship?
  4. How does Christ's exclusive claim to be "the way, the truth, and the life" (John 14:6) confront all forms of spiritual syncretism in your heart?
  5. What would it look like practically to eliminate the divided loyalty in your most stubborn area of compromise?

Original Language Analysis

Hebrew · 24 words
וְאַתֶּ֨ם1 of 24
H859

thou and thee, or (plural) ye and you

בֵּֽית2 of 24

“As for you O house”

H1004

a house (in the greatest variation of applications, especially family, etc.)

יִשְׂרָאֵ֜ל3 of 24

“of Israel”

H3478

he will rule as god; jisral, a symbolical name of jacob; also (typically) of his posterity

כֹּֽה4 of 24
H3541

properly, like this, i.e., by implication, (of manner) thus (or so); also (of place) here (or hither); or (of time) now

אָמַ֣ר׀5 of 24

“thus saith”

H559

to say (used with great latitude)

אֲדֹנָ֣י6 of 24

“the Lord”

H136

the lord (used as a proper name of god only)

יְהוִֹ֗ה7 of 24

“GOD”

H3069

god

אִ֤ישׁ8 of 24

“ye every one”

H376

a man as an individual or a male person; often used as an adjunct to a more definite term (and in such cases frequently not expressed in translation)

וּבְגִלּוּלֵיכֶֽם׃9 of 24

“and with your idols”

H1544

properly, a log (as round); by implication, an idol

לְכ֣וּ10 of 24
H1980

to walk (in a great variety of applications, literally and figuratively)

עֲבֹ֔דוּ11 of 24

“ye serve”

H5647

to work (in any sense); by implication, to serve, till, (causatively) enslave, etc

וְאַחַ֕ר12 of 24

“and hereafter”

H310

properly, the hind part; generally used as an adverb or conjunction, after (in various senses)

אִם13 of 24
H518

used very widely as demonstrative, lo!; interrogative, whether?; or conditional, if, although; also oh that!, when; hence, as a negative, not

אֵינְכֶ֖ם14 of 24
H369

a nonentity; generally used as a negative particle

שֹׁמְעִ֣ים15 of 24

“also if ye will not hearken”

H8085

to hear intelligently (often with implication of attention, obedience, etc.; causatively, to tell, etc.)

אֵלָ֑י16 of 24
H413

near, with or among; often in general, to

וְאֶת17 of 24
H853

properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)

שֵׁ֤ם18 of 24

“name”

H8034

an appellation, as a mark or memorial of individuality; by implication honor, authority, character

קָדְשִׁי֙19 of 24

“ye my holy”

H6944

a sacred place or thing; rarely abstract, sanctity

לֹ֣א20 of 24
H3808

not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no; often used with other particles

תְחַלְּלוּ21 of 24

“unto me but pollute”

H2490

properly, to bore, i.e., (by implication) to wound, to dissolve; figuratively, to profane (a person, place or thing), to break (one's word), to begin

ע֔וֹד22 of 24
H5750

properly, iteration or continuance; used only adverbially (with or without preposition), again, repeatedly, still, more

בְּמַתְּנֽוֹתֵיכֶ֖ם23 of 24

“no more with your gifts”

H4979

a present; specifically (in a good sense), a sacrificial offering, (in a bad sense) a bribe

וּבְגִלּוּלֵיכֶֽם׃24 of 24

“and with your idols”

H1544

properly, a log (as round); by implication, an idol

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 20:39 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 20:39 from Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

Ezekiel 43:7Ezekiel 20:25-26Hosea 4:17Isaiah 1:13-15Judges 10:142 Thessalonians 2:11

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