BOOK 26 OF 66 · MAJOR PROPHETS · KING JAMES BIBLE

Ezekiel 8

Ezekiel book home•Chapter 8 of 48•18 verses

Chapter overviewAt a glance + deeper study

REVIEWED OVERVIEW

Ezekiel 8 Overview

In a vision Ezekiel is transported to Jerusalem and shown escalating abominations inside the temple: an image provoking jealousy, secret idolatry by elders, women weeping for Tammuz, and men worshipping the sun with their backs toward the temple. The LORD declares that such violence and provocation will bring judgment.

EzekielBook

8Chapter

18Verses

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Before you read Ezekiel 8

Coming from

The LORD announces that “an end” has come upon the land. Disaster, violence, pride, famine, sword, and captivity will overturn ordinary commerce and social order; silver and gold will not deliver, the sanctuary will be profaned, and king, prince, priest, prophet, and people will all face the consequences.

In this chapter

Leads into

Ezekiel sees heavenly executioners summoned against Jerusalem and a linen-clothed figure marking those who sigh and cry over the city’s abominations. Judgment begins at the sanctuary, while Ezekiel intercedes in anguish and the LORD explains that the land is full of bloodshed and perverseness.

Key understandingExplore deeper

The vision occurs while elders of Judah sit before Ezekiel in Babylon. The prophet is shown that the temple, which some exiles may still view as proof of Jerusalem’s security, has itself become deeply defiled.

The tour moves through successive scenes of hidden and public idolatry. The point is not that one pagan practice is the only cause of judgment, but that corruption has penetrated leadership, private chambers, popular ritual, and even the inner court.

Major truths in this chapterExplore deeper

Religious buildings do not make false worship acceptable

Abominations practiced in or near the temple provoke judgment rather than guarantee protection.

Hidden idolatry is still seen by God

The elders act in chambers of imagery while saying the LORD does not see, but the vision exposes them.

Turning from God often produces moral violence as well as false worship

The LORD links the land’s violence with the temple provocations He shows Ezekiel.

Connections to the rest of ScriptureExplore deeper

Jeremiah 7:9-15

Jeremiah also rejects the belief that the temple can protect a people who persist in idolatry and injustice.

2 Kings 21:3-7

Manasseh had introduced pagan altars and images into temple-related worship, illustrating the historical roots of such defilement.

Romans 1:21-25

Paul describes the broader human pattern of exchanging the Creator’s glory for created things, which parallels Ezekiel’s exposure of idolatry.

What is clear, and where care is neededExplore deeper

Do not turn the four scenes into a secret code for four modern religions or institutions.

They are specific examples of Judah’s idolatry within Ezekiel’s temple vision.

Do not assume every historical detail of the Tammuz rite is explained in the chapter.

The text identifies the practice as an abomination without giving a full handbook of the pagan ritual.

Read Ezekiel 8 watching for…

the image of jealousy near the altar gate

the secret chamber of images and seventy elders

the women weeping for Tammuz

the men worshipping the sun toward the east

the connection between abomination, violence, and coming judgment

Chapter outline3 sections

1-6Ezekiel is carried in vision to Jerusalem and shown the image of jealousy at the temple 7-12Seventy elders secretly worship images in a chamber of abominations 13-18Women weep for Tammuz and men worship the sun, bringing judgment without pity

And it came to pass in the sixth year, in the sixth month, in the fifth day of the month, as I sat in mine house, and the elders of Judah sat before me, that the hand of the Lord GOD fell there upon me.

Then I beheld, and lo a likeness as the appearance of fire: from the appearance of his loins even downward, fire; and from his loins even upward, as the appearance of brightness, as the colour of amber.

And he put forth the form of an hand, and took me by a lock of mine head; and the spirit lifted me up between the earth and the heaven, and brought me in the visions of God to Jerusalem, to the door of the inner gate that looketh toward the north; where was the seat of the image of jealousy, which provoketh to jealousy.

And, behold, the glory of the God of Israel was there, according to the vision that I saw in the plain.

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.

He said furthermore unto me, Son of man, seest thou what they do? even the great abominations that the house of Israel committeth here, that I should go far off from my sanctuary? but turn thee yet again, and thou shalt see greater abominations.

And he brought me to the door of the court; and when I looked, behold a hole in the wall.

Then said he unto me, Son of man, dig now in the wall: and when I had digged in the wall, behold a door.

And he said unto me, Go in, and behold the wicked abominations that they do here.

So I went in and saw; and behold every form of creeping things, and abominable beasts, and all the idols of the house of Israel, pourtrayed upon the wall round about.

And there stood before them seventy men of the ancients of the house of Israel, and in the midst of them stood Jaazaniah the son of Shaphan, with every man his censer in his hand; and a thick cloud of incense went up.

Then said he unto me, Son of man, hast thou seen what the ancients of the house of Israel do in the dark, every man in the chambers of his imagery? for they say, The LORD seeth us not; the LORD hath forsaken the earth.

He said also unto me, Turn thee yet again, and thou shalt see greater abominations that they do.

Then he brought me to the door of the gate of the LORD's house which was toward the north; and, behold, there sat women weeping for Tammuz.

Then said he unto me, Hast thou seen this, O son of man? turn thee yet again, and thou shalt see greater abominations than these.

And he brought me into the inner court of the LORD's house, and, behold, at the door of the temple of the LORD, between the porch and the altar, were about five and twenty men, with their backs toward the temple of the LORD, and their faces toward the east; and they worshipped the sun toward the east.

Then he said unto me, Hast thou seen this, O son of man? Is it a light thing to the house of Judah that they commit the abominations which they commit here? for they have filled the land with violence, and have returned to provoke me to anger: and, lo, they put the branch to their nose.

Therefore will I also deal in fury: mine eye shall not spare, neither will I have pity: and though they cry in mine ears with a loud voice, yet will I not hear them.

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Ezekiel 8:4

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