Bible Strands
Ezekiel 11:18
When they return to it, they will remove all its detestable things and all its abominations.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — The Lord GOD speaks through Ezekiel to the exiled Israelites, promising to gather them from scattered nations back to the land of Israel (Ezekiel 11:17). This declaration immediately precedes the divine pledge to replace their stone hearts with fleshly ones (Ezekiel 11:19).
The words — The Hebrew verb הֵסִירוּ (he.Si.ru) translates literally as "they will remove." It acts on the direct object marker אֶת־ ('et-) followed by כָּל־ (kol-), "all," and שִׁקּוּצֶיהָ (shi.ku.Tzei./ha), "its detestable things."
The thread — The removal of detestable things and abominations recurs in Ezekiel 5:11, where defiled sanctuary objects are condemned, and Ezekiel 37:23, where the restored people cease defiling themselves with idols. Ezekiel 7:20 similarly links detestable idols to the misuse of sacred ornaments.
Why it lands — The text declares a future physical and spiritual cleansing that must occur before the covenant relationship is fully restored. It requires the reader to acknowledge that returning to the land necessitates the deliberate removal of idolatrous practices.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Hebrew words
King James Version
And they shall come thither, and they shall take away all the detestable things thereof and all the abominations thereof from thence.
Cross-references
- Ezekiel 5:11 Therefore as surely as I live, declares the Lord GOD, because you have defiled My sanctuary with all your detestable idols and abominations, I Myself will withdraw My favor; I will not look upon you with pity, nor will I spare you.
- Ezekiel 37:23 They will no longer defile themselves with their idols or detestable images, or with any of their transgressions. I will save them from all their apostasies by which they sinned, and I will cleanse them. Then they will be My people, and I will be their God.
- Ezekiel 7:20 His beautiful ornaments they transformed into pride and used them to fashion their vile images and detestable idols. Therefore I will make these into something unclean for them.
- Ezekiel 42:7 An outer wall in front of the chambers was fifty cubits long and ran parallel to the chambers and the outer court.
- Isaiah 1:25 I will turn My hand against you; I will thoroughly purge your dross; I will remove all your impurities.
- Isaiah 30:22 So you will desecrate your silver-plated idols and your gold-plated images. You will throw them away like menstrual cloths, saying to them, “Be gone!”
- Jeremiah 16:18 And I will first repay them double their iniquity and their sin, because they have defiled My land with the carcasses of their detestable idols, and they have filled My inheritance with their abominations.”
- Ezekiel 11:21 But as for those whose hearts pursue detestable things and abominations, I will bring their conduct down upon their own heads, declares the Lord GOD.”
- Hosea 14:8 O Ephraim, what have I to do anymore with idols? It is I who answer and watch over him. I am like a flourishing cypress; your fruit comes from Me.
- Micah 5:10 “In that day,” declares the LORD, “I will remove your horses from among you and wreck your chariots.