The Church Fathers on this verse

Ezekiel 20:39Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

And as for you, O house of Israel: thus saith the Lord God: Walk ye every one after your idols, and serve them. But if in this also you hear me not, but defile my holy name any more with your gifts, and with your idols;

Douay-Rheims

וְאַתֶּ֨ם בֵּֽית־יִשְׂרָאֵ֜ל כֹּֽה־אָמַ֣ר ׀ אֲדֹנָ֣י יְהֹוִ֗ה אִ֤ישׁ גִּלּוּלָיו֙ לְכ֣וּ עֲבֹ֔דוּ וְאַחַ֕ר אִם־אֵינְכֶ֖ם שֹׁמְעִ֣ים אֵלָ֑י וְאֶת־שֵׁ֤ם קָדְשִׁי֙ לֹ֣א תְחַלְּלוּ־ע֔וֹד בְּמַתְּנֽוֹתֵיכֶ֖ם וּבְגִלּוּלֵיכֶֽם׃

Hebrew (Masoretic text)

The Church Fathers on this verse

2 Church Fathers comment on this verse

Jerome of Stridon

4th centuryChurch Father

The Simmach translation conveys this message: Because you have chosen not to serve Me, go ahead and worship idols and follow the paths of your images. Since you refuse to heed My voice, you will neither present sacrifices to Me nor offer incense, nor will you be acknowledged as My people. My true worshipers will serve Me not in groves, shrines, or places of false worship, as you do, but on My holy mountain, the exalted mountain of Israel. The LXX further elaborates a significant concept. Forsake your former ways, eradicate the wickedness of your thoughts, and if you choose to listen to Me after this, refraining from dishonoring My name through your offerings and idols, then the entire house of Israel will gather on My holy mountain to offer sacrifices and serve Me.

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Aquila, while partially aligning with Symmachus's view and also expressing disagreement, states, "Go," he says, "follow in the footsteps of your idols, and worship them, for you are unworthy of My reign, and I do not take pleasure in your service. Yet, if even this you disregard, dishonoring My holy name as you show that you offer to Me what you present to idols, merely to profane My name by calling yourselves Mine while being idol worshipers, then understand this: in My holy mountain, on the exalted mountain of Israel, the entire house of Israel, not you who worship idols, but those who will come to believe, will serve Me."

Theodoret of Cyrus

5th centuryChurch Father

If you choose to follow my commands and stop desecrating my sacred name—since it is from me that you derive your identity, and living in disobedience, presenting offerings to false gods, while slandering my holiness—you will be restored to your homeland. You will partake in the common provisions of your nation, embracing the fundamental blessings that you receive and recognizing that I too embrace them with grace. For it is written:

Cross references

Passages read together with this verse.