Lectionary Calendar
Thursday, October 31st, 2024
the Week of Proper 25 / Ordinary 30
the Week of Proper 25 / Ordinary 30
advertisement
advertisement
advertisement
Attention!
StudyLight.org has pledged to help build churches in Uganda. Help us with that pledge and support pastors in the heart of Africa.
Click here to join the effort!
Click here to join the effort!
Read the Bible
Bishop's Bible
Ezekiel 20:4
Wylt thou not iudge them sonne of man, wylt thou not iudge [them?] cause them to vnderstande the abhominations of their fathers.
Jump to:Bible Study Tools • Parallel Bible Verse • Bible Contextual Overview • Bible Cross-References • Gill's Bible Notes • Clarke's Bible Notes • Barnes' Bible Notes
Bible Study Resources
Dictionaries:
- CharlesParallel Translations
Easy-to-Read Version
Should you judge them? Will you judge them, son of man? You must tell them about the terrible things their fathers have done.
Should you judge them? Will you judge them, son of man? You must tell them about the terrible things their fathers have done.
New Living Translation
"Son of man, bring charges against them and condemn them. Make them realize how detestable the sins of their ancestors really were.
"Son of man, bring charges against them and condemn them. Make them realize how detestable the sins of their ancestors really were.
New American Standard Bible
"Will you judge them, will you judge them, son of man? Make known to them the abominations of their fathers;
"Will you judge them, will you judge them, son of man? Make known to them the abominations of their fathers;
New Century Version
"Will you judge them? Will you judge them, human? Let them know the hateful things their ancestors did.
"Will you judge them? Will you judge them, human? Let them know the hateful things their ancestors did.
New English Translation
"Are you willing to pronounce judgment? Are you willing to pronounce judgment, son of man? Then confront them with the abominable practices of their fathers,
"Are you willing to pronounce judgment? Are you willing to pronounce judgment, son of man? Then confront them with the abominable practices of their fathers,
Update Bible Version
Will you judge them, son of man, will you judge them? Cause them to know the disgusting things of their fathers;
Will you judge them, son of man, will you judge them? Cause them to know the disgusting things of their fathers;
Webster's Bible Translation
Wilt thou judge them, son of man, wilt thou judge [them]? cause them to know the abominations of their fathers:
Wilt thou judge them, son of man, wilt thou judge [them]? cause them to know the abominations of their fathers:
Amplified Bible
"Will you judge them, son of man, will you judge them? Then make them know [accurately] and understand fully the repulsive acts of their fathers;
"Will you judge them, son of man, will you judge them? Then make them know [accurately] and understand fully the repulsive acts of their fathers;
English Standard Version
Will you judge them, son of man, will you judge them? Let them know the abominations of their fathers,
Will you judge them, son of man, will you judge them? Let them know the abominations of their fathers,
World English Bible
Will you judge them, son of man, will you judge them? Cause them to know the abominations of their fathers;
Will you judge them, son of man, will you judge them? Cause them to know the abominations of their fathers;
Wycliffe Bible (1395)
if thou demest hem, if thou demest, schewe thou to hem the abhomynaciouns of her fadris.
if thou demest hem, if thou demest, schewe thou to hem the abhomynaciouns of her fadris.
English Revised Version
Wilt thou judge them, son of man, wilt thou judge them? Cause them to know the abominations of their fathers;
Wilt thou judge them, son of man, wilt thou judge them? Cause them to know the abominations of their fathers;
Berean Standard Bible
Will you judge them, will you judge them, son of man? Confront them with the abominations of their fathers
Will you judge them, will you judge them, son of man? Confront them with the abominations of their fathers
Contemporary English Version
Are you willing to warn them, Ezekiel? Then remind them of the disgusting sins of their ancestors.
Are you willing to warn them, Ezekiel? Then remind them of the disgusting sins of their ancestors.
American Standard Version
Wilt thou judge them, son of man, wilt thou judge them? Cause them to know the abominations of their fathers;
Wilt thou judge them, son of man, wilt thou judge them? Cause them to know the abominations of their fathers;
Bible in Basic English
Will you be their judge, O son of man, will you be their judge? make clear to them the disgusting ways of their fathers,
Will you be their judge, O son of man, will you be their judge? make clear to them the disgusting ways of their fathers,
Complete Jewish Bible
"Are you going to judge them? Human being, are you going to judge them? Then have them realize how disgusting their ancestors' practices were.
"Are you going to judge them? Human being, are you going to judge them? Then have them realize how disgusting their ancestors' practices were.
Darby Translation
Wilt thou judge them, wilt thou judge, son of man? Cause them to know the abominations of their fathers,
Wilt thou judge them, wilt thou judge, son of man? Cause them to know the abominations of their fathers,
JPS Old Testament (1917)
Wilt thou judge them, son of man, wilt thou judge them? cause them to know the abominations of their fathers;
Wilt thou judge them, son of man, wilt thou judge them? cause them to know the abominations of their fathers;
King James Version (1611)
Wilt thou iudge them, sonne of man, wilt thou iudge them? cause them to know the abominations of their fathers:
Wilt thou iudge them, sonne of man, wilt thou iudge them? cause them to know the abominations of their fathers:
New Life Bible
Will you judge them, son of man? Will you judge them? Make known to them the sinful things their fathers did.
Will you judge them, son of man? Will you judge them? Make known to them the sinful things their fathers did.
New Revised Standard
Will you judge them, mortal, will you judge them? Then let them know the abominations of their ancestors,
Will you judge them, mortal, will you judge them? Then let them know the abominations of their ancestors,
Geneva Bible (1587)
Wilt thou iudge them, sonne of man? wilt thou iudge them? cause them to vnderstand the abominations of their fathers,
Wilt thou iudge them, sonne of man? wilt thou iudge them? cause them to vnderstand the abominations of their fathers,
George Lamsa Translation
You judge them, you judge them, O Son of man! and declare to them the abominations of their fathers;
You judge them, you judge them, O Son of man! and declare to them the abominations of their fathers;
J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
Wilt thou judge them, wilt thou judge, O son of man? The abominations of their fathers, let them know:
Wilt thou judge them, wilt thou judge, O son of man? The abominations of their fathers, let them know:
Douay-Rheims Bible
If thou judgest them, if thou judgest, O son of man, declare to them the abominations of their fathers.
If thou judgest them, if thou judgest, O son of man, declare to them the abominations of their fathers.
Revised Standard Version
Will you judge them, son of man, will you judge them? Then let them know the abominations of their fathers,
Will you judge them, son of man, will you judge them? Then let them know the abominations of their fathers,
Brenton's Septuagint (LXX)
Shall I utterly take vengeance on them, son of man? testify to them of the iniquities of their fathers:
Shall I utterly take vengeance on them, son of man? testify to them of the iniquities of their fathers:
Good News Translation
"Are you ready to pass sentence on them, mortal man? Then do so. Remind them of the disgusting things their ancestors did.
"Are you ready to pass sentence on them, mortal man? Then do so. Remind them of the disgusting things their ancestors did.
Christian Standard Bible®
“Will you pass judgment against them, will you pass judgment, son of man? Explain the detestable practices of their fathers to them.
“Will you pass judgment against them, will you pass judgment, son of man? Explain the detestable practices of their fathers to them.
Hebrew Names Version
Will you judge them, son of man, will you judge them? Cause them to know the abominations of their fathers;
Will you judge them, son of man, will you judge them? Cause them to know the abominations of their fathers;
King James Version
Wilt thou judge them, son of man, wilt thou judge them? cause them to know the abominations of their fathers:
Wilt thou judge them, son of man, wilt thou judge them? cause them to know the abominations of their fathers:
Lexham English Bible
Will you judge them? Will you judge them, son of man? Make known to them the detestable things of their ancestors.
Will you judge them? Will you judge them, son of man? Make known to them the detestable things of their ancestors.
Literal Translation
Will you judge them , will you judge, son of man? Cause them to know the abominations of their fathers.
Will you judge them , will you judge, son of man? Cause them to know the abominations of their fathers.
Young's Literal Translation
Dost thou judge them? Dost thou judge, son of man? The abominations of their fathers cause them to know,
Dost thou judge them? Dost thou judge, son of man? The abominations of their fathers cause them to know,
Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
I will geue you no answere. Wilt thou not reproue them (thou sonne of man) wilt thou not reproue them? Shewe them the abhominacions of their forefathers,
I will geue you no answere. Wilt thou not reproue them (thou sonne of man) wilt thou not reproue them? Shewe them the abhominacions of their forefathers,
THE MESSAGE
"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. "‘At that time I told them, "Get rid of all the vile things that you've become addicted to. Don't make yourselves filthy with the Egyptian no-god idols. I alone am God , your God." "‘But they rebelled against me, wouldn't listen to a word I said. None got rid of the vile things they were addicted to. They held on to the no-gods of Egypt as if for dear life. I seriously considered inflicting my anger on them in force right there in Egypt. Then I thought better of it. I acted out of who I was, not by how I felt. And I acted in a way that would evoke honor, not blasphemy, from the nations around them, nations who had seen me reveal myself by promising to lead my people out of Egypt. And then I did it: I led them out of Egypt into the desert. "‘I gave them laws for living, showed them how to live well and obediently before me. I also gave them my weekly holy rest days, my "Sabbaths," a kind of signpost erected between me and them to show them that I, God , am in the business of making them holy. "‘But Israel rebelled against me in the desert. They didn't follow my statutes. They despised my laws for living well and obediently in the ways I had set out. And they totally desecrated my holy Sabbaths. I seriously considered unleashing my anger on them right there in the desert. But I thought better of it and acted out of who I was, not by what I felt, so that I might be honored and not blasphemed by the nations who had seen me bring them out. But I did lift my hand in a solemn oath there in the desert and promise them that I would not bring them into the country flowing with milk and honey that I had chosen for them, that jewel among all lands. I canceled my promise because they despised my laws for living obediently, wouldn't follow my statutes, and went ahead and desecrated my holy Sabbaths. They preferred living by their no-god idols. But I didn't go all the way: I didn't wipe them out, didn't finish them off in the desert. "‘Then I addressed myself to their children in the desert: "Don't do what your parents did. Don't take up their practices. Don't make yourselves filthy with their no-god idols. I myself am God , your God: Keep my statutes and live by my laws. Keep my Sabbaths as holy rest days, signposts between me and you, signaling that I am God , your God." "‘But the children also rebelled against me. They neither followed my statutes nor kept my laws for living upright and well. And they desecrated my Sabbaths. I seriously considered dumping my anger on them, right there in the desert. But I thought better of it and acted out of who I was, not by what I felt, so that I might be honored and not blasphemed by the nations who had seen me bring them out. "‘But I did lift my hand in solemn oath there in the desert, and swore that I would scatter them all over the world, disperse them every which way because they didn't keep my laws nor live by my statutes. They desecrated my Sabbaths and remained addicted to the no-god idols of their parents. Since they were determined to live bad lives, I myself gave them statutes that could not produce goodness and laws that did not produce life. I abandoned them. Filthy in the gutter, they perversely sacrificed their firstborn children in the fire. The very horror should have shocked them into recognizing that I am God .' "Therefore, speak to Israel, son of man. Tell them that God says, ‘As if that wasn't enough, your parents further insulted me by betraying me. When I brought them into that land that I had solemnly promised with my upraised hand to give them, every time they saw a hill with a sex-and-religion shrine on it or a grove of trees where the sacred whores practiced, they were there, buying into the whole pagan system. I said to them, "What hill do you go to?"' (It's still called "Whore Hills.") "Therefore, say to Israel, ‘The Message of God , the Master: You're making your lives filthy by copying the ways of your parents. In repeating their vile practices, you've become whores yourselves. In burning your children as sacrifices, you've become as filthy as your no-god idols—as recently as today! "‘Am I going to put up with questions from people like you, Israel? As sure as I am the living God, I, God , the Master, refuse to be called into question by you! "‘What you're secretly thinking is never going to happen. You're thinking, "We're going to be like everybody else, just like the other nations. We're going to worship gods we can make and control." "‘As sure as I am the living God, says God , the Master, think again! With a mighty show of strength and a terrifying rush of anger, I will be King over you! I'll bring you back from the nations, collect you out of the countries to which you've been scattered, with a mighty show of strength and a terrifying rush of anger. I'll bring you to the desert of nations and haul you into court, where you'll be face-to-face with judgment. "‘As I faced your parents with judgment in the desert of Egypt, so I'll face you with judgment. I'll scrutinize and search every person as you arrive, and I'll bring you under the bond of the covenant. I'll cull out the rebels and traitors. I'll lead them out of their exile, but I won't bring them back to Israel. "‘Then you'll realize that I am God . "‘But you, people of Israel, this is the Message of God , the Master, to you: Go ahead, serve your no-god idols! But later, you'll think better of it and quit throwing filth and mud on me with your pagan offerings and no-god idols. For on my holy mountain, the high mountain of Israel, I, God , the Master, tell you that the entire people of Israel will worship me. I'll receive them there with open arms. I'll demand your best gifts and offerings, all your holy sacrifices. What's more, I'll receive you as the best kind of offerings when I bring you back from all the lands and countries in which you've been scattered. I'll demonstrate in the eyes of the world that I am The Holy. When I return you to the land of Israel, the land that I solemnly promised with upraised arm to give to your parents, you'll realize that I am God . Then and there you'll remember all that you've done, the way you've lived that has made you so filthy—and you'll loathe yourselves. "‘But, dear Israel, you'll also realize that I am God when I respond to you out of who I am, not by what I feel about the evil lives you've lived, the corrupt history you've compiled. Decree of God , the Master.'" God 's Message came to me: "Son of man, face south. Let the Message roll out against the south. Prophesy against the wilderness forest of the south. "Tell the forest of the south, ‘Listen to the Message of God! God , the Master, says, I'll set a fire in you that will burn up every tree, dead trees and live trees alike. Nobody will put out the fire. The whole country from south to north will be blackened by it. Everyone is going to see that I, God , started the fire and that it's not going to be put out.'" And I said, "O God , everyone is saying of me, ‘He just makes up stories.'"
"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. "‘At that time I told them, "Get rid of all the vile things that you've become addicted to. Don't make yourselves filthy with the Egyptian no-god idols. I alone am God , your God." "‘But they rebelled against me, wouldn't listen to a word I said. None got rid of the vile things they were addicted to. They held on to the no-gods of Egypt as if for dear life. I seriously considered inflicting my anger on them in force right there in Egypt. Then I thought better of it. I acted out of who I was, not by how I felt. And I acted in a way that would evoke honor, not blasphemy, from the nations around them, nations who had seen me reveal myself by promising to lead my people out of Egypt. And then I did it: I led them out of Egypt into the desert. "‘I gave them laws for living, showed them how to live well and obediently before me. I also gave them my weekly holy rest days, my "Sabbaths," a kind of signpost erected between me and them to show them that I, God , am in the business of making them holy. "‘But Israel rebelled against me in the desert. They didn't follow my statutes. They despised my laws for living well and obediently in the ways I had set out. And they totally desecrated my holy Sabbaths. I seriously considered unleashing my anger on them right there in the desert. But I thought better of it and acted out of who I was, not by what I felt, so that I might be honored and not blasphemed by the nations who had seen me bring them out. But I did lift my hand in a solemn oath there in the desert and promise them that I would not bring them into the country flowing with milk and honey that I had chosen for them, that jewel among all lands. I canceled my promise because they despised my laws for living obediently, wouldn't follow my statutes, and went ahead and desecrated my holy Sabbaths. They preferred living by their no-god idols. But I didn't go all the way: I didn't wipe them out, didn't finish them off in the desert. "‘Then I addressed myself to their children in the desert: "Don't do what your parents did. Don't take up their practices. Don't make yourselves filthy with their no-god idols. I myself am God , your God: Keep my statutes and live by my laws. Keep my Sabbaths as holy rest days, signposts between me and you, signaling that I am God , your God." "‘But the children also rebelled against me. They neither followed my statutes nor kept my laws for living upright and well. And they desecrated my Sabbaths. I seriously considered dumping my anger on them, right there in the desert. But I thought better of it and acted out of who I was, not by what I felt, so that I might be honored and not blasphemed by the nations who had seen me bring them out. "‘But I did lift my hand in solemn oath there in the desert, and swore that I would scatter them all over the world, disperse them every which way because they didn't keep my laws nor live by my statutes. They desecrated my Sabbaths and remained addicted to the no-god idols of their parents. Since they were determined to live bad lives, I myself gave them statutes that could not produce goodness and laws that did not produce life. I abandoned them. Filthy in the gutter, they perversely sacrificed their firstborn children in the fire. The very horror should have shocked them into recognizing that I am God .' "Therefore, speak to Israel, son of man. Tell them that God says, ‘As if that wasn't enough, your parents further insulted me by betraying me. When I brought them into that land that I had solemnly promised with my upraised hand to give them, every time they saw a hill with a sex-and-religion shrine on it or a grove of trees where the sacred whores practiced, they were there, buying into the whole pagan system. I said to them, "What hill do you go to?"' (It's still called "Whore Hills.") "Therefore, say to Israel, ‘The Message of God , the Master: You're making your lives filthy by copying the ways of your parents. In repeating their vile practices, you've become whores yourselves. In burning your children as sacrifices, you've become as filthy as your no-god idols—as recently as today! "‘Am I going to put up with questions from people like you, Israel? As sure as I am the living God, I, God , the Master, refuse to be called into question by you! "‘What you're secretly thinking is never going to happen. You're thinking, "We're going to be like everybody else, just like the other nations. We're going to worship gods we can make and control." "‘As sure as I am the living God, says God , the Master, think again! With a mighty show of strength and a terrifying rush of anger, I will be King over you! I'll bring you back from the nations, collect you out of the countries to which you've been scattered, with a mighty show of strength and a terrifying rush of anger. I'll bring you to the desert of nations and haul you into court, where you'll be face-to-face with judgment. "‘As I faced your parents with judgment in the desert of Egypt, so I'll face you with judgment. I'll scrutinize and search every person as you arrive, and I'll bring you under the bond of the covenant. I'll cull out the rebels and traitors. I'll lead them out of their exile, but I won't bring them back to Israel. "‘Then you'll realize that I am God . "‘But you, people of Israel, this is the Message of God , the Master, to you: Go ahead, serve your no-god idols! But later, you'll think better of it and quit throwing filth and mud on me with your pagan offerings and no-god idols. For on my holy mountain, the high mountain of Israel, I, God , the Master, tell you that the entire people of Israel will worship me. I'll receive them there with open arms. I'll demand your best gifts and offerings, all your holy sacrifices. What's more, I'll receive you as the best kind of offerings when I bring you back from all the lands and countries in which you've been scattered. I'll demonstrate in the eyes of the world that I am The Holy. When I return you to the land of Israel, the land that I solemnly promised with upraised arm to give to your parents, you'll realize that I am God . Then and there you'll remember all that you've done, the way you've lived that has made you so filthy—and you'll loathe yourselves. "‘But, dear Israel, you'll also realize that I am God when I respond to you out of who I am, not by what I feel about the evil lives you've lived, the corrupt history you've compiled. Decree of God , the Master.'" God 's Message came to me: "Son of man, face south. Let the Message roll out against the south. Prophesy against the wilderness forest of the south. "Tell the forest of the south, ‘Listen to the Message of God! God , the Master, says, I'll set a fire in you that will burn up every tree, dead trees and live trees alike. Nobody will put out the fire. The whole country from south to north will be blackened by it. Everyone is going to see that I, God , started the fire and that it's not going to be put out.'" And I said, "O God , everyone is saying of me, ‘He just makes up stories.'"
New King James Version
Will you judge them, son of man, will you judge them? Then make known to them the abominations of their fathers.
Will you judge them, son of man, will you judge them? Then make known to them the abominations of their fathers.
New American Standard Bible (1995)
"Will you judge them, will you judge them, son of man? Make them know the abominations of their fathers;
"Will you judge them, will you judge them, son of man? Make them know the abominations of their fathers;
Legacy Standard Bible
Will you judge them, will you judge them, son of man? Make them know the abominations of their fathers
Will you judge them, will you judge them, son of man? Make them know the abominations of their fathers
Contextual Overview
1 In the seuenth yere the tenth day of the fift moneth, certayne of the elders of Israel came for to aske counsayle at the Lorde, and sate downe before me. 2 Then came the worde of the Lorde vnto me, saying: 3 Thou sonne of man, speake vnto the elders of Israel, and say vnto them, thus saith the Lorde God, Are ye come to enquire of me? As truely as I liue I wyll not be sought of you, saith the Lorde God. 4 Wylt thou not iudge them sonne of man, wylt thou not iudge [them?] cause them to vnderstande the abhominations of their fathers.
Bible Verse Review
from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge
judge them: or, plead for them, Ezekiel 14:14, Ezekiel 14:20, Ezekiel 22:2, Ezekiel 23:36, Ezekiel 23:45, Isaiah 5:3, Jeremiah 7:16, Jeremiah 11:14, Jeremiah 14:11-14, Jeremiah 15:1, 1 Corinthians 6:2
cause: Ezekiel 16:2, Ezekiel 16:3, Matthew 23:29-37, Luke 11:47-51, Luke 13:33-35, Acts 7:51, Acts 7:52
Reciprocal: 1 Samuel 7:6 - judged 2 Kings 21:15 - since the day Isaiah 58:1 - spare Jeremiah 6:27 - General Jeremiah 34:14 - but Hosea 2:2 - Plead with Micah 3:8 - to declare
Cross-References
Genesis 19:24
Then the Lorde rayned vpon Sodome and Gomorrhe brymstone and fire, from the Lorde out of heauen:
Then the Lorde rayned vpon Sodome and Gomorrhe brymstone and fire, from the Lorde out of heauen:
Genesis 20:6
And God sayde vnto him in a dreame: I wote well that thou dyddest it in the singlenesse of thy heart: I kept thee also that thou shuldest not sinne against me, and therefore suffred I thee not to touche her.
And God sayde vnto him in a dreame: I wote well that thou dyddest it in the singlenesse of thy heart: I kept thee also that thou shuldest not sinne against me, and therefore suffred I thee not to touche her.
Genesis 20:17
And so Abraham prayed vnto God, & God healed Abimelech, and his wife, and his maydens, & they bare chyldren.
And so Abraham prayed vnto God, & God healed Abimelech, and his wife, and his maydens, & they bare chyldren.
Genesis 20:18
For the Lorde had closed vp all the wombes of the house of Abimelech, because of Abrahams wyfe.
For the Lorde had closed vp all the wombes of the house of Abimelech, because of Abrahams wyfe.
2 Samuel 4:11
Howe much more when wicked men haue slayne a righteous person in his owne house and vpon his bed? Shal I not nowe therfore require his blood of your hande, & take you from the earth?
Howe much more when wicked men haue slayne a righteous person in his owne house and vpon his bed? Shal I not nowe therfore require his blood of your hande, & take you from the earth?
1 Chronicles 21:17
And Dauid sayde vnto God: Is it not I that commaunded the people to be numbred? It is I that haue sinned and done euyll in deede: and what haue these sheepe done? Let thyne hande O Lorde my God be on me, and on my fathers house: but not on thy people, that they shoulde be punished.
And Dauid sayde vnto God: Is it not I that commaunded the people to be numbred? It is I that haue sinned and done euyll in deede: and what haue these sheepe done? Let thyne hande O Lorde my God be on me, and on my fathers house: but not on thy people, that they shoulde be punished.
Gill's Notes on the Bible
Wilt thou judge them, son of man?.... Excuse them, patronise them, defend their cause, and plead for them? surely thou wilt not; or rather, wilt thou not reprove and correct them, judge and condemn them, for their sins and wickedness? this thou oughtest to do:
wilt thou judge [them]? this is repeated, to show the vehemency of the speaker, and the duty of the prophet:
cause them to know the abominations of their fathers: the sins they committed, which were abominable in themselves, and rendered them abominable unto God, and what came upon them for them; by which they would be led to see the abominable evils which they also had been guilty of, in which they had imitated their fathers, and what they had reason to expect in consequence of them.
Barnes' Notes on the Bible
Wilt thou judge them? - We should rather say, Wilt thou not judge them? i. e., wilt thou not pronounce sentence upon them? Compare Ezekiel 22:2.
Clarke's Notes on the Bible
Verse Ezekiel 20:4. Wilt thou judge them — If thou wilt enter into any discussion with them, show them the abomination of their fathers. The whole chapter is a consecutive history of the unfaithfulness ingratitude, rebellion, and idolatry of the Jews, from the earliest times to that day; and vindicates the sentence which God had pronounced against them, and which he was about to execute more fully in delivering them and the city into the hands of the Chaldeans.
