Bible Strands
Ezekiel 20:40
For on My holy mountain, the high mountain of Israel, declares the Lord GOD, there the whole house of Israel, all of them, will serve Me in the land. There I will accept them and will require your offerings and choice gifts, along with all your holy sacrifices.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — The Lord GOD speaks through Ezekiel to the house of Israel immediately after condemning their ongoing idolatry (Ezekiel 20:39). He announces a future moment when the entire nation will serve Him in the land.
The words — נְאֻם אֲדֹנָי (ne.'um a.do.Nai) translates literally as "utterance of the Lord," functioning as a divine declaration formula. מְר֣וֹם (me.Rom) means "height" or "high place," emphasizing the elevated status of the location.
The thread — The theme of accepted worship on God's holy mountain appears in Isaiah 56:7 and Isaiah 60:7, where gathered peoples bring offerings and serve at the altar. Malachi 3:4 similarly notes that Judah and Jerusalem will again present pleasing sacrifices to the LORD.
Why it lands — The text requires the reader to recognize that God's acceptance depends entirely on His sovereign choice to gather and cleanse His people, not on their past failures. It demands a shift from idolatrous self-reliance to exclusive service in the place He designates.
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
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.
Cross-references
- Isaiah 56:7 I will bring them to My holy mountain and make them joyful in My house of prayer. Their burnt offerings and sacrifices will be accepted on My altar, for My house will be called a house of prayer for all the nations.”
- Isaiah 60:7 All the flocks of Kedar will be gathered to you; the rams of Nebaioth will serve you and go up on My altar with acceptance; I will adorn My glorious house.
- Malachi 3:4 Then the offerings of Judah and Jerusalem will please the LORD, as in days of old and years gone by.
- Isaiah 66:23 From one New Moon to another and from one Sabbath to another, all mankind will come to worship before Me,” says the LORD.
- Ezekiel 17:23 I will plant it on the mountain heights of Israel so that it will bear branches; it will yield fruit and become a majestic cedar. Birds of every kind will nest under it, taking shelter in the shade of its branches.
- Ezekiel 43:27 At the end of these days, from the eighth day on, the priests are to present your burnt offerings and peace offerings on the altar. Then I will accept you, declares the Lord GOD.’”
- 1 Peter 2:5 you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.
- Psalms 2:6 “I have installed My King on Zion, upon My holy mountain.”
- Psalms 68:15 A mountain of God is Mount Bashan; a mountain of many peaks is Mount Bashan.
- Isaiah 2:2 In the last days the mountain of the house of the LORD will be established as the chief of the mountains; it will be raised above the hills, and all nations will stream to it.