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Friday, August 8th, 2025
the Week of Proper 13 / Ordinary 18
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Read the Bible

Contemporary English Version

Ezekiel 20:6

I swore that I would rescue them from Egypt and lead them to a land I had already chosen. This land was rich with milk and honey and was the most splendid land of all.

Bible Study Resources

Concordances:

- Nave's Topical Bible - Honey;   Milk;  

Dictionaries:

- Charles Buck Theological Dictionary - Repentance;   Fausset Bible Dictionary - Oath;   Palestine;   Holman Bible Dictionary - Exodus;   Ezekiel;   Hastings' Dictionary of the New Testament - Honey;   Weights and Measures;   Morrish Bible Dictionary - Egyptians;   The Hawker's Poor Man's Concordance And Dictionary - Canaan;   People's Dictionary of the Bible - Lead;   Wilson's Dictionary of Bible Types - Flow;   Forehead;  

Encyclopedias:

- International Standard Bible Encyclopedia - Espy;   Honey;   Milk;   The Jewish Encyclopedia - Hafṭarah;   Honey;  

Parallel Translations

Christian Standard Bible®
On that day I swore to them that I would bring them out of the land of Egypt into a land I had searched out for them, a land flowing with milk and honey, the most beautiful of all lands.
Hebrew Names Version
in that day I swore to them, to bring them forth out of the land of Mitzrayim into a land that I had searched out for them, flowing with milk and honey, which is the glory of all lands.
King James Version
In the day that I lifted up mine hand unto them, to bring them forth of the land of Egypt into a land that I had espied for them, flowing with milk and honey, which is the glory of all lands:
English Standard Version
On that day I swore to them that I would bring them out of the land of Egypt into a land that I had searched out for them, a land flowing with milk and honey, the most glorious of all lands.
New American Standard Bible
on that day I swore to them, to bring them out from the land of Egypt into a land that I had selected for them, flowing with milk and honey, which is the glory of all the lands.
New Century Version
At that time I promised them I would bring them out of Egypt into a land I had found for them, a fertile land, the best land in the world.
Amplified Bible
on that day I swore to them to bring them out of the land of Egypt into a land that I had selected for them, [plentiful and] flowing with milk and honey, [a land] which is an ornament and a glory to all lands.
World English Bible
in that day I swore to them, to bring them forth out of the land of Egypt into a land that I had searched out for them, flowing with milk and honey, which is the glory of all lands.
Geneva Bible (1587)
In the day yt I lift vp mine hand vnto them to bring them forth of the land of Egypt, into a land that I had prouided for them, flowing with milke & hony which is pleasant among all lands,
New American Standard Bible (1995)
on that day I swore to them, to bring them out from the land of Egypt into a land that I had selected for them, flowing with milk and honey, which is the glory of all lands.
Legacy Standard Bible
on that day I swore to them, to bring them out from the land of Egypt into a land that I had selected for them, flowing with milk and honey, which is the glory of all lands.
Berean Standard Bible
On that day I swore to them to bring them out of Egypt into a land that I had searched out for them, a land flowing with milk and honey, the glory of all lands.
Complete Jewish Bible
On the day I raised my hand to them, pledging to bring them out of the land of Egypt into a land I had reconnoitered for them, a land flowing with milk and honey, the most beautiful of all lands,
Darby Translation
in that day I lifted up my hand unto them, to bring them out of the land of Egypt into a land that I had espied for them, flowing with milk and honey, which is the ornament of all lands;
Easy-to-Read Version
On that day I promised to take you out of Egypt and lead you to the land I was giving to you. That was a good land filled with many good things. It was the most beautiful of all countries!
George Lamsa Translation
On that day I swore to them to bring them forth out of the land of Egypt into a land that I had given to them, a land flowing with milk and honey, which is the glory of all lands;
Good News Translation
It was then that I promised to take them out of Egypt and lead them to a land I had chosen for them, a rich and fertile land, the finest land of all.
Lexham English Bible
On that day I swore to them to bring them out from the land of Egypt to the land that I had searched out for them, flowing with milk and honey—it is the most beautiful of all of the lands.
Literal Translation
In that day I lifted up My hand to them to bring them out from the land of Egypt into a land flowing with milk and honey that I had searched out for them, the glory of it is to all lands.
Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
euen in the daye that I lift vp myne honde ouer them, to bringe them out of the londe of Egipte: in to a londe that I had prouyded for them, which floweth with mylcke and hony, and is a pleasaunt lode amonge all other:
American Standard Version
in that day I sware unto them, to bring them forth out of the land of Egypt into a land that I had searched out for them, flowing with milk and honey, which is the glory of all lands.
Bible in Basic English
In that day I gave my oath to take them out of the land of Egypt into a land which I had been searching out for them, a land flowing with milk and honey, the glory of all lands:
JPS Old Testament (1917)
in that day I lifted up My hand unto them, to bring them forth out of the land of Egypt into a land that I had sought out for them, flowing with milk and honey, which is the beauty of all lands;
King James Version (1611)
In the day that I lifted vp mine hand vnto them to bring them foorth of the land of Egypt, into a lande that I had espied for them, flowing with milke and hony, which is the glory of all lands:
Bishop's Bible (1568)
Euen in the day that I lift vp mine hande vnto them, to bryng them out of the lande of Egypt into a lande that I had prouided for them, which floweth with mylke and hony, and is pleasaunt among all other landes:
Brenton's Septuagint (LXX)
in that day I helped them with my hand, to bring them out of the land of Egypt into the land which I prepared for them, a land flowing with milk and honey, it is abundant beyond every land.
English Revised Version
in that day I lifted up mine hand unto them, to bring them forth out of the land of Egypt into a land that I had espied for them, flowing with milk and honey, which is the glory of all lands:
Wycliffe Bible (1395)
in that dai Y reiside myn hond for hem, that Y schulde leede hem out of the lond of Egipt, in to the lond which Y hadde purueiede to hem, the lond flowynge with mylk and hony, which is noble among alle londis.
Update Bible Version
in that day I swore to them, to bring them forth out of the land of Egypt into a land that I had searched out for them, flowing with milk and honey, which is the glory of all lands.
Webster's Bible Translation
In the day [that] I lifted up my hand to them, to bring them forth from the land of Egypt into a land that I had espied for them, flowing with milk and honey, which [is] the glory of all lands:
New English Translation
On that day I swore to bring them out of the land of Egypt to a land which I had picked out for them, a land flowing with milk and honey, the most beautiful of all lands.
New King James Version
On that day I raised My hand in an oath to them, to bring them out of the land of Egypt into a land that I had searched out for them, 'flowing with milk and honey,' Exodus 3:8">[fn] the glory of all lands.
New Living Translation
I took a solemn oath that day that I would bring them out of Egypt to a land I had discovered and explored for them—a good land, a land flowing with milk and honey, the best of all lands anywhere.
New Life Bible
On that day I promised to bring them out of the land of Egypt to a land I had chosen for them, a land flowing with milk and honey, the most beautiful of all lands.
New Revised Standard
On that day I swore to them that I would bring them out of the land of Egypt into a land that I had searched out for them, a land flowing with milk and honey, the most glorious of all lands.
J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
In that day, lifted I up my hand to them, to bring them forth out of the land of Egypt, - into a land that I had looked out for them flowing with milk and honey, The beauty, it was of all lands,
Douay-Rheims Bible
In that day I lifted up my hand for them to bring them out of the land of Egypt, into a land which I had provided for them, flowing with milk and honey, which excelled amongst all lands.
Revised Standard Version
On that day I swore to them that I would bring them out of the land of Egypt into a land that I had searched out for them, a land flowing with milk and honey, the most glorious of all lands.
Young's Literal Translation
In that day I did lift up My hand to them, To bring them forth from the land of Egypt, Unto a land that I spied out for them, Flowing with milk and honey, A beauty it [is] to all the lands,
THE MESSAGE
Get Rid of All the Things You've Become Addicted To In the seventh year, the fifth month, on the tenth day of the month, some of the leaders of Israel came to ask for guidance from God . They sat down before me. Then God 's Message came to me: "Son of man, talk with the leaders of Israel. Tell them, ‘ God , the Master, says, "Have you come to ask me questions? As sure as I am the living God, I'll not put up with questions from you. Decree of God , the Master."' "Son of man, why don't you do it? Yes, go ahead. Hold them accountable. Confront them with the outrageous obscenities of their parents. Tell them that God , the Master, says: "‘On the day I chose Israel, I revealed myself to them in the country of Egypt, raising my hand in a solemn oath to the people of Jacob, in which I said, "I am God , your personal God." On the same day that I raised my hand in the solemn oath, I promised them that I would take them out of the country of Egypt and bring them into a country that I had searched out just for them, a country flowing with milk and honey, a jewel of a country.

Contextual Overview

5 Tell them that long ago I, the Lord God, chose Israel to be my own. I appeared to their ancestors in Egypt and made a solemn promise that I would be their God and the God of their descendants. 6 I swore that I would rescue them from Egypt and lead them to a land I had already chosen. This land was rich with milk and honey and was the most splendid land of all. 7 I told them to get rid of their disgusting idols and not to sin by worshiping the gods of Egypt. I reminded them that I was the Lord their God, 8 but they still rebelled against me. They refused to listen and kept on worshiping their idols and foreign gods. In my anger, I decided to punish the Israelites in Egypt. 9 But that would have made me look like a liar, because I had already promised in front of everyone that I would lead them out of Egypt.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

lifted: Ezekiel 20:5, Ezekiel 20:15, Ezekiel 20:23, Ezekiel 20:42

to bring: Genesis 15:13, Genesis 15:14, Exodus 3:8, Exodus 3:17, Exodus 14:1 - Exodus 15:27

into: Deuteronomy 8:7-9, Deuteronomy 11:11, Deuteronomy 11:12, Deuteronomy 32:8

flowing: Exodus 13:5, Exodus 33:3, Leviticus 20:24, Numbers 13:27, Numbers 14:8, Deuteronomy 6:3, Deuteronomy 11:9, Deuteronomy 26:9, Deuteronomy 26:15, Deuteronomy 27:3, Deuteronomy 31:20, Deuteronomy 32:13, Deuteronomy 32:14, Joshua 5:6, Jeremiah 11:5, Jeremiah 32:22

which is: Ezekiel 20:15, Psalms 48:2, Daniel 8:9, Daniel 11:16, Daniel 11:41, Zechariah 7:14

Reciprocal: Exodus 6:8 - swear Numbers 10:33 - went before Deuteronomy 1:33 - Who went Deuteronomy 3:25 - the good land Deuteronomy 7:19 - great Judges 18:10 - where there Nehemiah 9:25 - a fat land Psalms 47:4 - choose Psalms 106:24 - the pleasant land Isaiah 32:12 - pleasant fields Jeremiah 2:7 - brought Jeremiah 3:19 - pleasant land Jeremiah 11:4 - I commanded Ezekiel 16:8 - I sware Ezekiel 20:28 - the which Ezekiel 44:12 - therefore Ezekiel 47:14 - lifted up mine hand Acts 7:39 - whom

Cross-References

Genesis 3:3
except the one in the middle. He told us not to eat fruit from that tree or even to touch it. If we do, we will die."
Genesis 20:6
God spoke to Abimelech in another dream and said: I know you are innocent. That's why I kept you from sleeping with Sarah and doing anything wrong.
Genesis 20:7
Her husband is a prophet. Let her go back to him, and his prayers will save you from death. But if you don't return her, you and all your people will die.
Genesis 26:11
Then Abimelech warned his people that anyone who even touched Isaac or Rebekah would be put to death.
Genesis 31:7
and that he keeps cheating me by changing my wages time after time. But God has protected me.
Genesis 35:5
While Jacob and his family were traveling through Canaan, God terrified the people in the towns so much that no one dared bother them.
Genesis 39:9
No one in my master's house is more important than I am. The only thing he hasn't given me is you, and that's because you are his wife. I won't sin against God by doing such a terrible thing as this."
Exodus 34:24
I will force the nations out of your land and enlarge your borders. Then no one will try to take your property when you come to worship me these three times each year.
1 Samuel 25:26
but please take this gift of food that I've brought and share it with your followers. The Lord has kept you from taking revenge and from killing innocent people. But I hope your enemies and anyone else who wants to harm you will end up like Nabal. I swear this by the living Lord and by your life.
1 Samuel 25:34
If you hadn't come to meet me so quickly, every man and boy in Nabal's family and in his servants' families would have been killed by morning. I swear by the living Lord God of Israel who protected you that this is the truth.

Gill's Notes on the Bible

In the day [that] I lifted up my hand unto them, to bring them forth of the land of Egypt,.... Not only promised and swore to it, but exerted his power in the miracles he wrought, by bringing plagues upon the Egyptians, to oblige them to let them go forth from thence:

into a land that I had espied for them; which he had in his eye and in his heart for them; which he had in his mind provided for them, and was determined in his purposes to bring them to; and which he, as it were, looked out for them, and singled out as the best and most suitable for them:

flowing with milk and honey; a phrase often used, to express the fruitfulness of the land, of Canaan, and the great plenty of provisions in it:

which [is] the glory of all lands; that is, either which fertility, signified by milk and honey, is the glory of all lands, or makes all countries desirable where they are found; or else, which land of Canaan, being so fruitful, is more glorious or desirable than any other country; it greatly surpassing all others in its situation, soil, and climate. The Targum is,

"which is the praise of all provinces;''

that is, was praised and commended by the inhabitants of all other provinces for the plenty in it; which must needs be very great, to support so large a number of inhabitants in it, and yet its compass but small.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

The children of Israel in Egypt were warned to abstain from the idolatry of the pagan. This purpose they lost sight of, yet God spared them and brought them into another state of probation.

Ezekiel 20:5

Lifted up mine hand - i. e., sware, because the hand was lifted up in adjuration.

Ezekiel 20:8

Idols of Egypt - These incidental notices show the children of Israel in Egypt to have been addicted to idolatry. Compare Joshua 24:14.

Ezekiel 20:9

I wrought for my name’s sake - Lest it should appear to the Egyptians that Yahweh was a God who would, but could not, save.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse Ezekiel 20:6. To bring them forth of the land of Egypt — When they had been long in a very disgraceful and oppressive bondage.

A land that I had espied for them — God represents himself as having gone over different countries in order to find a comfortable residence for these people, whom he considered as his children.

Flowing with milk and honey — These were the characteristics of a happy and fruitful country, producing without intense labour all the necessaries and comforts of life. Of the happiest state and happiest place, a fine poet gives the following description: -

Ver erat aeternum, placidique tepentibus auris

Mulcebant Zephyri natos sine semine flores.

Mox etiam fruges tellus inarata ferebat:

Nec renovatus ager gravidis canebat aristis.

Flumina jam lactis, jam flumina nectaris ibant:

Flavaque de viridi stillabant ilice mella.

OVID'S Metam. lib. i., 107.

On flowers unsown soft Zephyr spreads his wing,

And time itself was one eternal spring;

Ensuing years the yellow harvest crowned,

The bearded blade sprang from the untilled ground,

And laden, unrenewed, the fields were found.

Floods were with milk, and floods with nectar filled,

And honey from the sweating oaks distilled.


In the flourishing state of Judea every mountain was cultivated as well as the valleys. Among the very rocks the vines grew luxuriantly.


 
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