Ezekiel 8:5

“Son of man,” He said to me, “now lift up your eyes to the north.” So I lifted up my eyes to the north, and in the entrance north of the Altar Gate I saw this idol of jealousy.

Berean Standard Bible

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Study note

Setting — God addresses Ezekiel as "Son of man" and commands him to look north while the Spirit transports him to the temple courtyard. This occurs immediately after Ezekiel sees the glory of the God of Israel in the temple.

The words — The command uses שָׂא (sa'-) for "lift up" and עֵינֶי/ךָ ('ei.Nei./kha) for "your eyes," directing physical attention toward a specific location.

The thread — The directive to "lift up your eyes" echoes Jeremiah 3:2, where the same phrase points to widespread spiritual violation, and contrasts with Psalm 48:2, which associates the northern peaks with God's holy dwelling.

Why it lands — The text demands that Ezekiel observe the idolatry at the Altar Gate before God reveals further abominations. A reader must acknowledge that divine revelation often precedes the exposure of hidden rebellion.

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The Hebrew words

King James Version

Then said he unto me, Son of man, lift up thine eyes now the way toward the north. So I lifted up mine eyes the way toward the north, and behold northward at the gate of the altar this image of jealousy in the entry.

Cross-references

Ezekiel 8:3 He stretched out what looked like a hand and took me by the hair of my head. Then the Spirit lifted me up between earth and heaven and carried me in visions of God to Jerusalem, to the entrance of the north gate of the inner court, where the idol that provokes jealousy was seated.
Jeremiah 3:2 “Lift up your eyes to the barren heights and see. Is there any place where you have not been violated? You sat beside the highways waiting for your lovers, like a nomad in the desert. You have defiled the land with your prostitution and wickedness.
Psalms 48:2 Beautiful in loftiness, the joy of all the earth, like the peaks of Zaphon is Mount Zion, the city of the great King.
Psalms 78:58 They enraged Him with their high places and provoked His jealousy with their idols.
Jeremiah 32:34 They have placed their abominations in the house that bears My Name, and so have defiled it.
Zechariah 5:5 Then the angel who was speaking with me came forward and told me, “Now lift up your eyes and see what is approaching.”