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New Revised Standard

Ezekiel 44:10

But the Levites who went far from me, going astray from me after their idols when Israel went astray, shall bear their punishment.

Bible Study Resources

Concordances:

- Nave's Topical Bible - Idolatry;   Levites;   Minister, Christian;   Sin;   Thompson Chain Reference - Estrangement;   Fellowship-Estrangement;   Guiltiness;   Innocence-Guilt;   Torrey's Topical Textbook - Idolatry;  

Dictionaries:

- Baker Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology - Sanctuary;   Fausset Bible Dictionary - Levites;   Holman Bible Dictionary - Ezekiel;   Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible - Aaron;   Fasting;   Moses;   Nations;   Priests and Levites;   The Hawker's Poor Man's Concordance And Dictionary - Prince;   People's Dictionary of the Bible - Temple;  

Encyclopedias:

- International Standard Bible Encyclopedia - Criticism (the Graf-Wellhausen Hypothesis);   Iniquity;   Priests and Levites;   Temple Keepers (Servants);   The Jewish Encyclopedia - Josiah;   Nasi;   Priest;  

Parallel Translations

Christian Standard Bible®
Surely the Levites who wandered away from me when Israel went astray, and who strayed from me after their idols, will bear the consequences of their iniquity.
Hebrew Names Version
But the Levites who went far from me, when Yisra'el went astray, who went astray from me after their idols, they shall bear their iniquity.
King James Version
And the Levites that are gone away far from me, when Israel went astray, which went astray away from me after their idols; they shall even bear their iniquity.
English Standard Version
But the Levites who went far from me, going astray from me after their idols when Israel went astray, shall bear their punishment.
New American Standard Bible
"But the Levites who went far from Me when Israel went astray, who went astray from Me following their idols, shall suffer the punishment for their wrongdoing.
New Century Version
"‘But the Levites who stopped obeying me when Israel left me and who followed their idols must be punished for their sin.
Amplified Bible
"But the Levites who went far away from Me when Israel went astray, who went astray from Me after their idols, they shall bear the punishment for their sin and guilt.
Geneva Bible (1587)
Neither yet ye Leuites that are gone backe from me, when Israel went astray, which went astray from thee after their idoles, but they shal beare their iniquitie.
New American Standard Bible (1995)
"But the Levites who went far from Me when Israel went astray, who went astray from Me after their idols, shall bear the punishment for their iniquity.
Legacy Standard Bible
But the Levites who went far from Me when Israel went astray, who went astray from Me after their idols, shall bear the punishment for their iniquity.
Berean Standard Bible
Surely the Levites who wandered away from Me when Israel went astray, and who wandered away from Me after their idols, will bear the consequences of their iniquity.
Contemporary English Version
The Lord said: Some of the Levites turned their backs on me and joined the other people of Israel in worshiping idols. So these Levites must be punished!
Complete Jewish Bible
"‘Rather, the L'vi'im, who went far away from me when Isra'el went astray, going astray after their idols — they will bear the consequences of their guilt,
Darby Translation
But the Levites who went away far from me, when Israel went astray, going astray from me after their idols, they shall even bear their iniquity;
Easy-to-Read Version
In the past, the Levites left me when Israel turned away from me. Israel left me to follow their idols. The Levites will be punished for their sin.
George Lamsa Translation
Neither shall the Levites who went away far from me when Israel went astray from me after their idols, and who have borne their iniquity.
Good News Translation
The Lord said to me, "I am punishing those Levites who, together with the rest of the people of Israel, deserted me and worshiped idols.
Lexham English Bible
But the Levites who removed themselves from me at the going astray of Israel, who went astray from me and went after their idols, as a result they will bear their guilt.
Literal Translation
But the Levites who have gone far from Me, when Israel went astray, who went astray from Me, going after their idols, even they shall bear their iniquity.
Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
No ner the Leuites that be gone backe fro me, and haue disceaued the people of Israel with erroures, goinge after their Idols: therfore shal thei beare their owne wickednes.
American Standard Version
But the Levites that went far from me, when Israel went astray, that went astray from me after their idols, they shall bear their iniquity.
Bible in Basic English
But as for the Levites, who went far from me, when Israel went out of the right way, turning away from me to go after their images; their punishment will come on them.
JPS Old Testament (1917)
But the Levites, that went far from Me, when Israel went astray, that went astray from Me after their idols, they shall bear their iniquity;
King James Version (1611)
And the Leuites that are gone away farre from me, when Israel went astray, which went astray away from me after their idoles, they shall euen beare their iniquitie.
Bishop's Bible (1568)
But the Leuites that went backe from me when Israel went astraye, which strayed from me after their idols, shal beare their iniquitie:
Brenton's Septuagint (LXX)
But as for the Levites who departed far from me when Israel went astray from me after their imaginations, they shall even bear their iniquity.
English Revised Version
But the Levites that went far from me, when Israel went astray, which went astray from me after their idols; they shall bear their iniquity.
World English Bible
But the Levites who went far from me, when Israel went astray, who went astray from me after their idols, they shall bear their iniquity.
Wycliffe Bible (1395)
But also Leuytis, `ether men of the lynage of Leuy, that yeden fer a wei fro me in the errour of the sones of Israel, and erriden fro me aftir her idols, and baren her wickidnesse,
Update Bible Version
But the Levites that went far from me, when Israel went astray, that went astray from me after their idols, they shall bear their iniquity.
Webster's Bible Translation
And the Levites that have gone away far from me, when Israel went astray, who went astray from me after their idols; they shall even bear their iniquity.
New English Translation
"‘But the Levites who went far from me, straying off from me after their idols when Israel went astray, will be responsible for their sin.
New King James Version
"And the Levites who went far from Me, when Israel went astray, who strayed away from Me after their idols, they shall bear their iniquity.
New Living Translation
And the men of the tribe of Levi who abandoned me when Israel strayed away from me to worship idols must bear the consequences of their unfaithfulness.
New Life Bible
"The Levites who went far from Me when Israel left Me to follow their false gods, will be punished for their sin.
J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
But as for the Levites. Who went far from me, when Israel went astray. Who went astray from me, after their manufactured gods, Therefore shall they bear their iniquity,
Douay-Rheims Bible
Moreover the Levites that went away far from me, when the children of Israel went astray, and have wandered from me after their idols, and have borne their iniquity:
Revised Standard Version
But the Levites who went far from me, going astray from me after their idols when Israel went astray, shall bear their punishment.
Young's Literal Translation
but -- the Levites who have gone far off from me, in the wandering of Israel when they went astray from Me after their idols, and they have borne their iniquity.
THE MESSAGE
"The Levites who walked off and left me, along with everyone else—all Israel—who took up with all the no-god idols, will pay for everything they did wrong. From now on they'll do only the menial work in the Sanctuary: guard the gates and help out with the Temple chores—and also kill the sacrificial animals for the people and serve them. Because they acted as priests to the no-god idols and made my people Israel stumble and fall, I've taken an oath to punish them. Decree of God , the Master. Yes, they'll pay for what they've done. They're fired from the priesthood. No longer will they come into my presence and take care of my holy things. No more access to The Holy Place! They'll have to live with what they've done, carry the shame of their vile and obscene lives. From now on, their job is to sweep up and run errands. That's it.

Contextual Overview

10 But the Levites who went far from me, going astray from me after their idols when Israel went astray, shall bear their punishment. 11 They shall be ministers in my sanctuary, having oversight at the gates of the temple, and serving in the temple; they shall slaughter the burnt offering and the sacrifice for the people, and they shall attend on them and serve them. 12 Because they ministered to them before their idols and made the house of Israel stumble into iniquity, therefore I have sworn concerning them, says the Lord God , that they shall bear their punishment. 13 They shall not come near to me, to serve me as priest, nor come near any of my sacred offerings, the things that are most sacred; but they shall bear their shame, and the consequences of the abominations that they have committed. 14 Yet I will appoint them to keep charge of the temple, to do all its chores, all that is to be done in it. 15 But the levitical priests, the descendants of Zadok, who kept the charge of my sanctuary when the people of Israel went astray from me, shall come near to me to minister to me; and they shall attend me to offer me the fat and the blood, says the Lord God . 16 It is they who shall enter my sanctuary, it is they who shall approach my table, to minister to me, and they shall keep my charge.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

the Levites: Ezekiel 44:15, Ezekiel 22:26, Ezekiel 48:11, 2 Kings 23:8, 2 Kings 23:9, 2 Chronicles 29:4, 2 Chronicles 29:5, Nehemiah 9:34, Jeremiah 23:11, Zephaniah 3:4, 1 Timothy 5:22

bear: Genesis 4:13, Leviticus 19:8, Numbers 5:31, Psalms 38:4, Isaiah 53:11

Reciprocal: Leviticus 13:4 - shut up Numbers 16:9 - separated 1 Samuel 2:31 - I will cut 1 Samuel 2:36 - is left 1 Chronicles 9:23 - the oversight Ezra 2:62 - General Ezekiel 14:11 - the house Ezekiel 23:35 - therefore Ezekiel 44:12 - and they shall Zechariah 5:6 - This is an ephah Malachi 2:8 - ye are

Cross-References

Genesis 44:17
But he said, "Far be it from me that I should do so! Only the one in whose possession the cup was found shall be my slave; but as for you, go up in peace to your father."
Genesis 44:24
When we went back to your servant my father we told him the words of my lord.
Genesis 44:25
And when our father said, ‘Go again, buy us a little food,'
Genesis 44:33
Now therefore, please let your servant remain as a slave to my lord in place of the boy; and let the boy go back with his brothers.
Exodus 22:3
but if it happens after sunrise, bloodguilt is incurred. When someone causes a field or vineyard to be grazed over, or lets livestock loose to graze in someone else's field, restitution shall be made from the best in the owner's field or vineyard. When fire breaks out and catches in thorns so that the stacked grain or the standing grain or the field is consumed, the one who started the fire shall make full restitution. When someone delivers to a neighbor money or goods for safekeeping, and they are stolen from the neighbor's house, then the thief, if caught, shall pay double. If the thief is not caught, the owner of the house shall be brought before God, to determine whether or not the owner had laid hands on the neighbor's goods. In any case of disputed ownership involving ox, donkey, sheep, clothing, or any other loss, of which one party says, "This is mine," the case of both parties shall come before God; the one whom God condemns shall pay double to the other. When someone delivers to another a donkey, ox, sheep, or any other animal for safekeeping, and it dies or is injured or is carried off, without anyone seeing it, an oath before the Lord shall decide between the two of them that the one has not laid hands on the property of the other; the owner shall accept the oath, and no restitution shall be made. But if it was stolen, restitution shall be made to its owner. If it was mangled by beasts, let it be brought as evidence; restitution shall not be made for the mangled remains. When someone borrows an animal from another and it is injured or dies, the owner not being present, full restitution shall be made. If the owner was present, there shall be no restitution; if it was hired, only the hiring fee is due. When a man seduces a virgin who is not engaged to be married, and lies with her, he shall give the bride-price for her and make her his wife. But if her father refuses to give her to him, he shall pay an amount equal to the bride-price for virgins. You shall not permit a female sorcerer to live. Whoever lies with an animal shall be put to death. Whoever sacrifices to any god, other than the Lord alone, shall be devoted to destruction. You shall not wrong or oppress a resident alien, for you were aliens in the land of Egypt. You shall not abuse any widow or orphan. If you do abuse them, when they cry out to me, I will surely heed their cry; my wrath will burn, and I will kill you with the sword, and your wives shall become widows and your children orphans. If you lend money to my people, to the poor among you, you shall not deal with them as a creditor; you shall not exact interest from them. If you take your neighbor's cloak in pawn, you shall restore it before the sun goes down; for it may be your neighbor's only clothing to use as cover; in what else shall that person sleep? And if your neighbor cries out to me, I will listen, for I am compassionate. You shall not revile God, or curse a leader of your people. You shall not delay to make offerings from the fullness of your harvest and from the outflow of your presses. The firstborn of your sons you shall give to me. You shall do the same with your oxen and with your sheep: seven days it shall remain with its mother; on the eighth day you shall give it to me. You shall be people consecrated to me; therefore you shall not eat any meat that is mangled by beasts in the field; you shall throw it to the dogs.

Gill's Notes on the Bible

And the Levites that are gone away far from me,.... These Levites were priests, as appears from Ezekiel 44:13, who professed themselves Gospel preachers, ministers of the reformed churches; but departed from the reformation principles; erred from the faith; and either mixed it with the doctrines of men, or wholly dropped, concealed, or dissembled it; departed from the word of God, as the rule of faith and practice; and set up their own reason as their guide in matters of religion; were gone off from the pure worship of God and his ordinances, and entirely neglected the discipline of his house:

when Israel went astray, which went astray away from me after their idols; though there may be an allusion to some apostasy of literal Israel, under the Old Testament, and from whence language may be borrowed to express this; either to the Israelites joining themselves to Baalpeor in the fields of Moab, in the time of Phinehas, who was zealous and faithful to the Lord, from whom Zadok descended after mentioned: or to the defection in the times of Jeroboam and Rehoboam, when all Israel forsook the word of the Lord: or to the times of Ahaz, when Uriah the priest made an altar like to that at Damascus by the king's order; and which idolatrous practices increased in the times of Manasseh; when, no doubt, many of the priests and Levites, either through fear of kings, or on account of gain, and for the sake of their livelihood, departed from the Lord and his worship: but the reference is to a defection in the times of the New Testament, and in the latter days of those times; not to the falling away of the church of Rome, and its departure from the faith and order of the Gospel, predicted 2 Thessalonians 2:3, though, no doubt, some truly godly ministers have been carried away with the errors of that church, and afterwards restored, as these Levites: but the case here referred to is the declension in the reformed churches; their formality; their great imperfection in the service of God; their departure from the doctrine of faith they once heard and received, which they are called upon to repent of; their defiling themselves with superstition and will worship, and going after the idols of their own hearts, corrupt reason, the doctrines and inventions of men, and carnal rites and ceremonies; see Revelation 3:1:

they shall even bear their iniquity; that is, the Levites, priests, or ministers; they shall bear the shame and disgrace, when they come to see their errors, and the punishment and chastisement of their sin, of which hereafter.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

Admonition to the ministering priests, grounded upon former neglect.

Ezekiel 44:4

The north gate before the house - The north gate of the inner court. God expostulates with His people in the seat of their former idolatries Ezekiel 8:3.

Ezekiel 44:5

Mark well - The careful arrangements made had all been intended to keep the temple and its surroundings from profanation. Hence, attention to these particulars is enjoined.

Ezekiel 44:7

Strangers - This refers especially to the sin of unauthorized and unfaithful priests ministering in the services of the temple. Compare marginal references.

Ezekiel 44:8

Mine holy things - The altar, its sacrifices, the sacred utensils, and the like.

For yourselves - According to your own pleasure, not My ordinances Numbers 16:40.

Ezekiel 44:10

The Levites as a body had remained true to the temple-service at Jerusalem 2 Chronicles 11:13; but individuals among them deserted to Israel probably from the first (see the marginal references), as in later years some went over to the worship of the Samaritans on Mount Gerizim. These apostate Levites “shall bear their iniquities,” they shall not be restored to their former rank and privileges.

Ezekiel 44:11

Ministers - As, according to the new system, the Levites, as a body, were to receive their portion in the “oblation” Ezekiel 45:5; the only manner in which the Levites of Ezekiel 44:10 could live at all, was as part of the whole body, to which they were therefore reunited, but in the lowest grade. It is remarkable that the number of Levites who returned after the captivity was very small, not exceeding 400, of whom only 74 were priests’ assistants (Ezra 2:40-42; compare Ezra 8:15-19). The gap in their number was filled up by 220 Nethinim (“given” ones), probably originally strangers and captives, who, although employed in the temple services, were held by the Jews in the lowest repute.

Ezekiel 44:12

Lifted up mine hand - i. e., “The Lord sware” Ezekiel 20:5, that they should bear their iniquities.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse Ezekiel 44:10. And the Levites that are gone away far from me — This refers to the schism of Jeroboam, who, when he set up a new worship, got as many of the priests and Levites to join him in his idolatry as he could. These, on the return from the captivity, should not be permitted to perform the functions of priests in the new temple; but they might be continued as keepers of all the charge of the house-be treasurers, guards of the temple, porters, c. see Ezekiel 44:11-15. The whole of these passages refer to the period of time when the second temple was built.


 
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