Ezekiel 20:14

But I acted for the sake of My name, so that it would not be profaned in the eyes of the nations in whose sight I had brought them out.

Berean Standard Bible

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Study note

Setting — God speaks through Ezekiel to the rebellious house of Israel in the wilderness, pausing a declared judgment after just resolving to pour out wrath.

The words — לְמַ֣עַן שְׁמִ֑י (le.ma.an she.mi) translates to "for the sake of my name," coupled with לְ/בִלְתִּי הֵחֵל (le.vil.ti he.chel), meaning "so that it would not be profaned."

The thread — This exact rationale recurs in Ezekiel 20:9 and Ezekiel 20:22, and aligns with the stated principle in Ezekiel 36:22 that divine action proceeds from God's name rather than human worthiness.

Why it lands — The text asserts that God withholds immediate punishment to protect His reputation before the nations, demanding that readers acknowledge His sovereign motive over their own entitlement.

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

וָאֶעֱשֶׂ֖הva./'e.'e.Sehand/ I acted לְמַ֣עַןle.Ma.'anfor [the] sake of שְׁמִ֑יshe.M/iname/ my לְבִלְתִּ֤יle./vil.Tito/ not הֵחֵל֙he.Chelto be profaned לְעֵינֵ֣יle./'ei.Neito/ [the] eyes of הַגּוֹיִ֔םha./go.Yimthe/ nations אֲשֶׁ֥ר'a.Sherwhich הוֹצֵאתִ֖יםho.tze.Ti/mI had brought out/ them לְעֵינֵיהֶֽם׃le./'ei.nei./Hemto/ eyes/ their

King James Version

But I wrought for my name’s sake, that it should not be polluted before the heathen, in whose sight I brought them out.

Cross-references

Ezekiel 20:9 But I acted for the sake of My name, that it should not be profaned in the eyes of the nations among whom they were living, in whose sight I had revealed Myself to Israel by bringing them out of the land of Egypt.
Ezekiel 20:22 But I withheld My hand and acted for the sake of My name, so that it would not be profaned in the eyes of the nations in whose sight I had brought them out.
Ezekiel 36:22 Therefore tell the house of Israel that this is what the Lord GOD says: It is not for your sake that I will act, O house of Israel, but for My holy name, which you profaned among the nations to which you went.
Ephesians 1:6 to the praise of His glorious grace, which He has freely given us in the Beloved One.
Ephesians 1:12 in order that we, who were the first to hope in Christ, would be for the praise of His glory.