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The Holy Bible, Berean Study Bible

Ezekiel 4:14

"Ah, Lord GOD," I said, "I have never defiled myself. From my youth until now I have not eaten anything found dead or mauled by wild beasts. No unclean meat has ever entered my mouth."

Bible Study Resources

Concordances:

- Nave's Topical Bible - Instruction;   Prayer;   Symbols and Similitudes;  

Dictionaries:

- American Tract Society Bible Dictionary - Dung;   Easton Bible Dictionary - Fuel;   Fausset Bible Dictionary - Ezekiel;   Holman Bible Dictionary - Beyond the River;   Dung;   Ezekiel;   Gestures;   Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible - Abomination;   Clean and Unclean;   Ezekiel;   Fuel;  

Encyclopedias:

- International Standard Bible Encyclopedia - Abomination;   Ah;   The Jewish Encyclopedia - Abomination;   Carcass;   Dietary Laws;   Nebelah;  

Parallel Translations

Christian Standard Bible®
But I said, “Oh, Lord God, I have never been defiled. From my youth until now I have not eaten anything that died naturally or was mauled by wild beasts. And impure meat has never entered my mouth.”
Hebrew Names Version
Then said I, Ah Lord GOD! behold, my soul has not been polluted; for from my youth up even until now have I not eaten of that which dies of itself, or is torn of animals; neither came there abominable flesh into my mouth.
King James Version
Then said I, Ah Lord God ! behold, my soul hath not been polluted: for from my youth up even till now have I not eaten of that which dieth of itself, or is torn in pieces; neither came there abominable flesh into my mouth.
English Standard Version
Then I said, "Ah, Lord God ! Behold, I have never defiled myself. From my youth up till now I have never eaten what died of itself or was torn by beasts, nor has tainted meat come into my mouth."
New American Standard Bible
But I said, "Oh, Lord GOD! Behold, I have never been defiled; for from my youth until now I have never eaten what died of itself or was torn by animals, nor has any unclean meat ever entered my mouth!"
New Century Version
But I said, "No, Lord God ! I have never been made unclean. From the time I was young until now I've never eaten anything that died by itself or was torn by animals. Unclean meat has never entered my mouth."
Amplified Bible
But I said, "Ah, Lord GOD! Behold (hear me), I have never been defiled; for from my youth until now I have never eaten what died on its own or was torn by beasts, nor has any unclean meat ever entered my mouth."
World English Bible
Then said I, Ah Lord Yahweh! behold, my soul has not been polluted; for from my youth up even until now have I not eaten of that which dies of itself, or is torn of animals; neither came there abominable flesh into my mouth.
Geneva Bible (1587)
Then said I, Ah, Lord God, beholde, my soule hath not bene polluted: for from my youth vp, euen vnto this houre, I haue not eaten of a thing dead, or torne in pieces, neither came there any vncleane flesh in my mouth.
New American Standard Bible (1995)
But I said, "Ah, Lord GOD! Behold, I have never been defiled; for from my youth until now I have never eaten what died of itself or was torn by beasts, nor has any unclean meat ever entered my mouth."
Legacy Standard Bible
But I said, "Ah, Lord Yahweh! Behold, I have never been defiled; for from my youth until now I have never eaten what died of itself or was torn by beasts, nor has any offensive meat ever entered my mouth."
Contemporary English Version
I said, " Lord God, please don't make me do that! Never in my life have I eaten food that would make me unacceptable to you. I've never eaten anything that died a natural death or was killed by a wild animal or that you said was unclean."
Complete Jewish Bible
I objected: "No, Adonai Elohim ! I have never defiled myself — from my youth until now I have never eaten anything that died by itself or was killed by wild animals; no such disgusting food has ever entered my mouth."
Darby Translation
Then said I, Ah, Lord Jehovah! behold, my soul hath not been defiled, and from my youth up even until now have I not eaten of that which dieth of itself, or of that which is torn; neither came there abominable flesh into my mouth.
Easy-to-Read Version
Then I said, "Oh, but Lord God , I have never eaten any unclean food. I have never eaten meat from an animal that died from a disease or from an animal that was killed by a wild animal. I have never eaten unclean meat—not from the time that I was a little baby until now. None of that bad meat ever entered my mouth."
George Lamsa Translation
Then said I, Ah LORD God! behold, I have never defiled myself; and from my youth up even till now I have not eaten of that which dies of itself or is torn in pieces by wild beasts; neither has unclean meat entered into my mouth.
Good News Translation
But I replied, "No, Sovereign Lord ! I have never defiled myself. From childhood on I have never eaten meat from any animal that died a natural death or was killed by wild animals. I have never eaten any food considered unclean."
Lexham English Bible
And I said, "Ah, Lord Yahweh! Look! I have not been defiling myself, and a dead body and mangled carcass I have not eaten from my childhood until now, and unclean meat has not come into my mouth!"
Literal Translation
Then I said, Ah, Lord Jehovah! Behold, my soul has not been defiled. I have not even eaten a carcass or a torn animal, from my youth even until now. And unclean flesh has not come into my mouth.
Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
Then sayde I: Oh LORDE God, Beholde, my soule was yet neuer stayned: for fro my youth vp vnto this houre, I dyd neuer eate of a deed carcase, or of that which was slayne of wilde beestes, nether came there euer eny vnclene flesh in my mouth.
American Standard Version
Then said I, Ah Lord Jehovah! behold, my soul hath not been polluted; for from my youth up even till now have I not eaten of that which dieth of itself, or is torn of beasts; neither came there abominable flesh into my mouth.
Bible in Basic English
Then I said, Ah, Lord! see, my soul has never been unclean, and I have never taken as my food anything which has come to a natural death or has been broken by beasts, from the time when I was young even till now; no disgusting flesh has ever come into my mouth.
JPS Old Testament (1917)
Then said I: 'Ah Lord GOD! behold, my soul hath not been polluted; for from my youth up even till now have I not eaten of that which dieth of itself, or is torn of beasts; neither came there abhorred flesh into my mouth.'
King James Version (1611)
Then said I, Ah Lord God, behold, my soule hath not bene polluted: for from my youth vp euen til now, haue I not eaten of that which dieth of it selfe, or is torne in pieces, neither came there abominable flesh into my mouth.
Bishop's Bible (1568)
Then sayde I, Oh Lorde God: beholde, my soule was yet neuer stayned, for fro my youth vp vnto this houre, I did neuer eate of a dead carkase, or of that whiche was slayne of wylde beastes, neither came there euer any vncleane fleshe in my mouth.
Brenton's Septuagint (LXX)
Then I said, Not so, Lord God of Israel: surely my soul has not been defiled with uncleanness; nor have I eaten, that which died of itself or was torn of beasts from my birth until now; neither has any corrupt flesh entered into my mouth.
English Revised Version
Then said I, Ah Lord GOD! behold, my soul hath not been polluted: for from my youth up even till now have I not eaten of that which dieth of itself, or is torn of beasts; neither came there abominable flesh into my mouth;
Wycliffe Bible (1395)
And Y seide, A! A! A! Lord God, lo! my soule is not defoulid, and fro my yong childhed til to now Y eet not a thing deed bi it silf, and to-rent of beestis; and al vnclene fleisch entride not in to my mouth.
Update Bible Version
Then I said, Ah Lord Yahweh! look, my soul has not been polluted; for from my youth up even until now I have not eaten of that which dies of itself, or is torn of beasts; neither has there come contaminated flesh into my mouth.
Webster's Bible Translation
Then said I, Ah Lord GOD! behold, my soul hath not been polluted: for from my youth even till now have I not eaten of that which dieth of itself, or is torn in pieces; neither hath abominable flesh come into my mouth.
New English Translation
And I said, "Ah, sovereign Lord , I have never been ceremonially defiled before. I have never eaten a carcass or an animal torn by wild beasts; from my youth up, unclean meat has never entered my mouth."
New King James Version
So I said, "Ah, Lord GOD! Indeed I have never defiled myself from my youth till now; I have never eaten what died of itself or was torn by beasts, nor has abominable flesh ever come into my mouth."
New Living Translation
Then I said, "O Sovereign Lord , must I be defiled by using human dung? For I have never been defiled before. From the time I was a child until now I have never eaten any animal that died of sickness or was killed by other animals. I have never eaten any meat forbidden by the law."
New Life Bible
But I said, "O Lord God! See, I have never been unclean. Since I was young until now, I have never eaten what died of itself or what was torn by wild animals. No unclean meat has ever come into my mouth."
New Revised Standard
Then I said, "Ah Lord God ! I have never defiled myself; from my youth up until now I have never eaten what died of itself or was torn by animals, nor has carrion flesh come into my mouth."
J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
Then said, I, Ah! My Lord. Yahweh, lo! my person, hath not been defiled: neither of what hath died of itself nor of what hath been torn in pieces: have I eaten, from my youthful days even unto now, neither hath come into my mouth the flesh of a foul thing.
Douay-Rheims Bible
And I said: Ah, ah, ah, O Lord God, behold my soul hath not been defiled, and from my infancy even till now, I have not eaten any thing that died of itself, or was torn by beasts, and no unclean flesh hath entered into my mouth.
Revised Standard Version
Then I said, "Ah Lord GOD! behold, I have never defiled myself; from my youth up till now I have never eaten what died of itself or was torn by beasts, nor has foul flesh come into my mouth."
Young's Literal Translation
And I say, `Ah, Lord Jehovah, lo, my soul is not defiled, and carcase, and torn thing, I have not eaten from my youth, even till now; nor come into my mouth hath abominable flesh.'
THE MESSAGE
I said, " God , my Master! Never! I've never contaminated myself with food like that. Since my youth I've never eaten anything forbidden by law, nothing found dead or violated by wild animals. I've never taken a single bite of forbidden food."

Contextual Overview

9But take wheat, barley, beans, lentils, millet, and spelt; put them in a single container and make them into bread for yourself. This is what you are to eat during the 390 days that you lie on your side. 10You are to weigh out twenty shekels of food to eat each day, and you are to eat it at set times. 11You are also to measure out a sixth of a hin of water to drink, and you are to drink it at set times. 12And you shall eat the food as you would a barley cake, after you bake it over dried human excrement in the sight of the people." 13Then the LORD said, "This is how the Israelites will eat their defiled bread among the nations to which I will banish them." 14"Ah, Lord GOD," I said, "I have never defiled myself. From my youth until now I have not eaten anything found dead or mauled by wild beasts. No unclean meat has ever entered my mouth."15"Look," He replied, "I will let you use cow dung instead of human excrement, and you may bake your bread over that." 16Then He told me, "Son of man, I am going to cut off the supply of food in Jerusalem. They will anxiously eat bread rationed by weight, and in despair they will drink water by measure. 17So they will lack food and water; they will be appalled over the sight of one another wasting away in their iniquity.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

Ah: Ezekiel 9:8, Ezekiel 20:49, Jeremiah 1:6

my soul: Acts 10:14

have I: Exodus 22:31, Leviticus 11:39, Leviticus 11:40, Leviticus 17:15

abominable: Leviticus 19:7, Deuteronomy 14:3, Isaiah 65:4, Isaiah 66:17

Reciprocal: Exodus 22:13 - torn in pieces Leviticus 7:21 - abominable Leviticus 7:24 - beast Leviticus 11:2 - General Deuteronomy 14:21 - any thing Job 6:7 - as my sorrowful meat Daniel 1:8 - defile Malachi 1:13 - torn Matthew 14:20 - were Acts 15:20 - things Colossians 2:16 - in meat Hebrews 9:10 - in meats

Cross-References

Genesis 4:5
but He had no regard for Cain and his offering. So Cain became very angry, and his countenance fell.
Genesis 4:6
"Why are you angry," said the LORD to Cain, "and why has your countenance fallen?
Genesis 4:11
Now you are cursed and banished from the ground, which has opened its mouth to receive your brother's blood from your hand.
Genesis 4:12
When you till the ground, it will no longer yield its produce to you. You will be a fugitive and a wanderer on the earth."
Genesis 4:13
But Cain said to the LORD, "My punishment is greater than I can bear.
Genesis 4:14
Behold, this day You have driven me from the face of the earth, and from Your face I will be hidden; I will be a fugitive and a wanderer on the earth, and whoever finds me will kill me."
Genesis 4:15
"Not so!" replied the LORD. "If anyone slays Cain, then Cain will be avenged sevenfold." And the LORD placed a mark on Cain, so that no one who found him would kill him.
Genesis 4:16
So Cain went out from the presence of the LORD and settled in the land of Nod, east of Eden.
Genesis 4:20
And Adah gave birth to Jabal; he was the father of those who dwell in tents and raise livestock.
Genesis 4:24
If Cain is avenged sevenfold, then Lamech seventy-sevenfold."

Gill's Notes on the Bible

Then said I, ah, Lord God!.... The interjection "ah" is expressive of sighing and groaning, as Jarchi; or of deprecation, as the Targum, which paraphrases it,

""and I said", receive my prayer, O Lord God:''

behold, my soul hath not been polluted; not meaning that his soul had not been polluted with sin, or with an evil thought, as Kimchi interprets it; but by his soul he means the inward part of his body, his stomach and belly; which had not been defiled by taking in meats which were unclean by the law, as follows:

for from my youth up, even till now, have I not eaten of that which dieth of itself, or is torn in pieces; these were forbidden to be eaten by the law; and such that did were defiled, and obliged to bathing in water, Leviticus 17:15; and from those the priests more especially were careful to abstain, as Kimchi observes; and such an one was the prophet; see Acts 10:14;

neither came there abominable flesh into my mouth; corrupt or, putrefied, or whatsoever was unclean by law, as swine's flesh, or any other. The argument is, that since he had never eaten of anything forbidden by the law of God, he could by no means think of eating that which was abhorrent to nature; as bread baked with men's dung was.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

Abominable flesh - Flesh that had become corrupt and foul by overkeeping. Compare Leviticus 19:7.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse Ezekiel 4:14. My soul hath not been polluted — There is a remarkable similarity between this expostulation of the prophet and that of St. Peter, Acts 10:14.


 
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