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.

Berean Standard Bible

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Study note

Setting — Yahweh addresses Israel in the wilderness, interrupting His declared intention to pour out wrath after their rebellion and Sabbath profanation. He explains the moment He chose restraint over execution.

The words — The phrase וַ/הֲשִׁבֹ֙תִי יָדִ֔/י (va./ha.shi.Vo.ti ya.D/i) literally means "and I turned back My hand," describing the physical withholding of judgment. He follows with וָ/אַ֖עַשׂ לְמַ֣עַן שְׁמִ֑/י (va./'A.'as le.Ma.'an she.M/i) to declare He acted for the sake of His own name.

The thread — Ezekiel 20:9 and Ezekiel 20:14 repeat the formula that God withholds wrath to keep His name from being profaned before the nations. Psalm 78:38 mirrors this pattern by noting God often restrains His anger and forgives iniquity.

Why it lands — The text states that judgment is suspended to protect God's reputation before watching nations, not because Israel's rebellion was excused. It requires the reader to acknowledge that divine action is governed by the preservation of God's name rather than human merit.

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

וַהֲשִׁבֹ֙תִי֙va./ha.shi.Vo.tiand/ I turned back אֶת־'et-<obj.>יָדִ֔יya.D/ihand/ my וָאַ֖עַשׂva./'A.'asand/ 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 אֲשֶׁר־'a.Sher-which הוֹצֵ֥אתִיho.Tze.tiI brought out אוֹתָ֖ם'o.Ta/m<obj.>/ them לְעֵינֵיהֶֽם׃le./'ei.nei./Hemto/ eyes/ their

King James Version

Nevertheless I withdrew mine hand, and wrought for my name’s sake, that it should not be polluted in the sight of the heathen, in whose sight I brought them forth.

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 20:14 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.
Psalms 78:38 And yet He was compassionate; He forgave their iniquity and did not destroy them. He often restrained His anger and did not unleash His full wrath.
Isaiah 48:9 For the sake of My name I will delay My wrath; for the sake of My praise I will restrain it, so that you will not be cut off.
Jeremiah 14:21 For the sake of Your name do not despise us; do not disgrace Your glorious throne. Remember Your covenant with us; do not break it.
Job 13:21 Withdraw Your hand from me, and do not let Your terror frighten me.
Psalms 79:9 Help us, O God of our salvation, for the glory of Your name; deliver us and atone for our sins, for the sake of Your name.
Jeremiah 14:7 Although our iniquities testify against us, O LORD, act for the sake of Your name. Indeed, our rebellions are many; we have sinned against You.
Ezekiel 20:17 Yet I looked on them with pity and did not destroy them or bring them to an end in the wilderness.
Psalms 25:11 For the sake of Your name, O LORD, forgive my iniquity, for it is great.