Abominations in the Temple
Ezekiel 8
Carried in a vision to Jerusalem, Ezekiel is shown escalating idolatries defiling the Lord's house: images on the walls before seventy elders offering incense, women weeping for Thammuz, and men at the temple entrance turned toward the sun in worship. The Lord declares that these abominations will bring judgment without mercy.
About these editions
The Septuagint (LXX) in Greek, with Charles Thomson’s 1808 and Sir Lancelot Brenton’s 1851 English translations, set beside the King James Version and the Jewish Masoretic text (JPS 1917) where they align, so you can compare the Greek and the Hebrew. All public domain; choose which to show with the controls above.
Thomson 1808Septuagint
Brenton 1851Septuagint
Greek · BrentonSeptuagint
KJV 1769Masoretic
JPS 1917Masoretic
1
ThomsonAGAIN in the sixth year in the fifth month, on the fifth of the month as I was sitting at home, and the elders of Juda, were sitting before me, the hand of the Lord came upon me.
BrentonAnd it came to pass in the sixth year, in the fifth month, on the fifth day of the month, I was sitting in the house, and the elders of Juda were sitting before me: and the hand of the Lord came upon me.
GreekΚαὶ ἐγένετο ἐν τῷ ἕκτῳ ἔτει ἐν τῷ πέμπτῳ μηνὶ, πέμπτῃ τοῦ μηνὸς, ἐγὼ ἐκαθήμην ἐν τῷ οἴκῳ, καὶ οἱ πρεσβύτεροι Ἰούδα ἐκάθηντο ἐνώπιόν μου· καὶ ἐγένετο ἐπʼ ἐμὲ χεὶρ Κυρίου.
KJVAnd it came to pass in the sixth year, in the sixth month, in the fifth day of the month, as I sat in mine house, and the elders of Judah sat before me, that the hand of the Lord GOD fell there upon me.
JPSAnd it came to pass in the sixth year, in the sixth month, in the fifth day of the month, as I sat in my house, and the elders of Judah sat before me, that the hand of the Lord GOD fell there upon me.
2
ThomsonAnd I looked and lo! a likeness of a man! From his loins downward was fire, and from his loins upward was an appearance like that of amber.
BrentonAnd I looked, and, behold, the likeness of a man: from his loins and downwards there was fire, and from his loins upwards there was as the appearance of amber.
GreekΚαὶ ἴδον, καὶ ἰδοὺ ὁμοίωμα ἀνδρὸς, ἀπὸ τῆς ὀσφύος αὐτοῦ καὶ ἕως κάτω πῦρ, καὶ ἀπὸ τῆς ὀσφύος αὐτοῦ, ὑπεράνω αὐτοῦ ὡς ὅρασις ἠλέκτρου.
KJVThen I beheld, and lo a likeness as the appearance of fire: from the appearance of his loins even downward, fire; and from his loins even upward, as the appearance of brightness, as the colour of amber.
JPSThen I beheld, and lo a likeness as the appearance of fire: from the appearance of his loins and downward, fire; and from his loins and upward, as the appearance of brightness, as the colour of electrum.
3
ThomsonAnd he stretched forth the similitude of a hand and took hold of me by the crown of the head and a blast of wind lifted me up between heaven and earth, and in a vision of God, brought me to Jerusalem, to the vestibule of the gate facing the north, where was the pillar of the possessor.
BrentonAnd he stretched forth the likeness of a hand, and took me up by the crown of my head; and the Spirit lifted me up between the earth and sky, and brought me to Jerusalem in a vision of God, to the porch of the gate that looks to the north, where was the pillar of the Purchaser.
GreekΚαὶ ἐξέτεινεν ὁμοίωμα χειρὸς, καὶ ἀνέλαβέ με τῆς κορυφῆς μου, καὶ ἀνέλαβέ με πνεῦμα ἀναμέσον τῆς γῆς καὶ ἀναμέσον τοῦ οὐρανοῦ, καὶ ἤγαγέ με εἰς Ἱερουσαλὴμ ἐν ὁράσει Θεοῦ ἐπὶ τὰ πρόθυρα τῆς πύλης τῆς βλεπούσης εἰς Βοῤῥᾶν, οὗ ἦν ἡ στήλη τοῦ κτωμένου·
KJVAnd he put forth the form of an hand, and took me by a lock of mine head; and the spirit lifted me up between the earth and the heaven, and brought me in the visions of God to Jerusalem, to the door of the inner gate that looketh toward the north; where was the seat of the image of jealousy, which provoketh to jealousy.
JPSAnd the form of a hand was put forth, and I was taken by a lock of my head; and a spirit lifted me up between the earth and the heaven, and brought me in the visions of God to Jerusalem, to the door of the gate of the inner court that looketh toward the north; where was the seat of the image of jealousy, which provoketh to jealousy.
4
ThomsonAnd behold the glory of the Lord God of Israel was there, such in appearance as I saw in the plain.
BrentonAnd, behold, the glory of the Lord God of Israel was there, according to the vision which I saw in the plain.
GreekΚαὶ ἰδοὺ ἦν ἐκεῖ δόξα Κυρίου Θεοῦ Ἰσραὴλ κατὰ τὴν ὅρασιν ἣν ἴδον ἐν τῷ πεδίῳ.
KJVAnd, behold, the glory of the God of Israel was there, according to the vision that I saw in the plain.
JPSAnd, behold, the glory of the God of Israel was there, according to the vision that I saw in the plain.
5
ThomsonAnd He said to me, Son of man, look up with thine eyes towards the north. So I looked up with mine eyes towards the north, and behold from the north to the gate facing the east.
BrentonAnd he said to me, Son of man, lift up thine eyes toward the north. So I lifted up mine eyes toward the north, and, behold, I looked from the north toward the eastern gate.
GreekΚαὶ εἶπε πρὸς μὲ, υἱὲ ἀνθρώπου, ἀνάβλεψον τοῖς ὀφθαλμοῖς σου πρὸς Βοῤῥᾶν· καὶ ἀνέβλεψα τοῖς ὀφθαλμοῖς μου πρὸς Βοῤῥᾶν, καὶ ἰδοὺ ἀπὸ Βοῤῥᾶ ἐπὶ τὴν πύλην τὴν πρὸς ἀνατολάς,
KJVThen said he unto me, Son of man, lift up thine eyes now the way toward the north. So I lifted up mine eyes the way toward the north, and behold northward at the gate of the altar this image of jealousy in the entry.
JPSThen said He unto me: ‘Son of man, lift up thine eyes now the way toward the north.’ So I lifted up mine eyes the way toward the north, and behold northward of the gate of the altar this image of jealousy in the entry.
6
ThomsonAnd He said to me, Son of man hast thou seen what they are doing, They are committing great iniquities here that they may abstain from My holy things: but thou shalt see still greater iniquities.
BrentonAnd he said to me, Son of man, hast thou seen what these do? They commit great abominations here so that I should keep away from my sanctuary: and thou shalt see yet greater iniquities.
GreekΚαὶ εἶπε πρὸς μὲ, υἱὲ ἀνθρώπου, ἑώρακας τί οὗτοι ποιοῦσιν· ἀνομίας μεγάλας ποιοῦσιν ὧδε τοῦ ἀπέχεσθαι ἀπὸ τῶν ἁγίων μου· καὶ ἔτι ὄψει ἀνομίας μείζονας.
KJVHe said furthermore unto me, Son of man, seest thou what they do? even the great abominations that the house of Israel committeth here, that I should go far off from my sanctuary? but turn thee yet again, and thou shalt see greater abominations.
JPSAnd He said unto me: ‘Son of man, seest thou what they do? even the great abominations that the house of Israel do commit here, that I should go far off from My sanctuary? but thou shalt again see yet greater abominations.’
7
ThomsonThen He led me into the vestibule of the court,
BrentonAnd he brought me to the porch of the court.
GreekΚαὶ εἰσήγαγέ με ἐπὶ τὰ πρόθυρα τῆς αὐλῆς.
KJVAnd he brought me to the door of the court; and when I looked, behold a hole in the wall.
JPSAnd He brought me to the door of the court; and when I looked, behold a hole in the wall.
8
Thomsonand said to me, Son of man, dig. So I digged and lo! a door.
BrentonAnd he said to me, Son of man, dig: so I dug, and behold a door.
GreekΚαὶ εἶπε πρὸς μὲ, υἱὲ ἀνθρώπου, ὄρυξον· καὶ ὤρυξα, καὶ ἰδοὺ θύρα.
KJVThen said he unto me, Son of man, dig now in the wall: and when I had digged in the wall, behold a door.
JPSThen said He unto me: ‘Son of man, dig now in the wall’; and when I had digged in the wall, behold a door.
9
ThomsonAnd He said to me, Go in and see the transgressions which they are committing here.
BrentonAnd he said to me, Go in, and behold the iniquities which they practise here.
GreekΚαὶ εἶπε πρὸς μὲ, εἴσελθε, καὶ ἴδε τὰς ἀνομίας ἃς οὗτοι ποιοῦσιν ὧδε.
KJVAnd he said unto me, Go in, and behold the wicked abominations that they do here.
JPSAnd He said unto me: ‘Go in, and see the wicked abominations that they do here.’
10
ThomsonSo I went in and beheld, and lo! vain abominations and all the idols of the house of Israel portrayed upon them round about
BrentonSo I went in and looked; and beheld vain abominations, and all the idols of the house of Israel, portrayed upon them round about.
GreekΚαὶ εἰσῆλθον, καὶ ἴδον, καὶ ἰδοὺ μάταια βδελύγματα, καὶ πάντα τὰ εἴδωλα οἴκου Ἰσραὴλ διαγεγραμμένα ἐπʼ αὐτοὺς κύκλῳ.
KJVSo I went in and saw; and behold every form of creeping things, and abominable beasts, and all the idols of the house of Israel, pourtrayed upon the wall round about.
JPSSo I went in and saw; and behold every detestable form of creeping things and beasts, and all the idols of the house of Israel, portrayed upon the wall round about.
11
Thomsonand seventy men of the elders of the house of Israel; and Jechonias the son of Saphan in the midst stood foremost, and every one had a censer in his hand, and the smoke of the incense ascended.
BrentonAnd seventy men of the elders of the house of Israel, and Jechonias the son of Saphan stood in their presence in the midst of them, and each one held his censer in his hand; and the smoke of the incense went up.
GreekΚαὶ ἑβδομήκοντα ἄνδρες ἐκ τῶν πρεσβυτέρων οἴκου Ἰσραὴλ, καὶ Ἰεχονίας ὁ τοῦ Σαφὰν ἐν μέσῳ αὐτῶν εἱστήκει πρὸ προσώπου αὐτῶν, καὶ ἕκαστος θυμιατήριον αὐτοῦ εἶχεν ἐν τῇ χειρὶ, καὶ ἡ ἀτμὶς τοῦ θυμιάματος ἀνέβαινε.
KJVAnd there stood before them seventy men of the ancients of the house of Israel, and in the midst of them stood Jaazaniah the son of Shaphan, with every man his censer in his hand; and a thick cloud of incense went up.
JPSAnd there stood before them seventy men of the elders of the house of Israel, and in the midst of them stood Jaazaniah the son of Shaphan, every man with his censer in his hand; and a thick cloud of incense went up.
12
ThomsonAnd He said to me, Hast thou seen, son of man, what the elders of the house of Israel are doing, every one of them in this hidden apartment of theirs? For they said, The Lord doth not see. The Lord hath forsaken this land.
BrentonAnd he said to me, Thou hast seen, son of man, what the elders of the house of Israel do, each one of them in their secret chamber: because they have said, The Lord sees not; The Lord has forsaken the earth.
GreekΚαὶ εἶπε πρὸς μὲ, ἑώρακας, υἱὲ ἀνθρώπου, ἃ οἱ πρεσβύτεροι οἴκου Ἰσραὴλ ποιοῦσιν, ἕκαστος αὐτῶν ἐν τῷ κοιτῶνι τῷ κρυπτῷ αὐτῶν, διότι εἶπαν, οὐχ ὁρᾷ ὁ Κύριος, ἐγκαταλέλοιπε Κύριος τὴν γῆν.
KJVThen said he unto me, Son of man, hast thou seen what the ancients of the house of Israel do in the dark, every man in the chambers of his imagery? for they say, The LORD seeth us not; the LORD hath forsaken the earth.
JPSThen said He unto me: ‘Son of man, hast thou seen what the elders of the house of Israel do in the dark, every man in his chambers of imagery? for they say: The LORD seeth us not, the LORD hath forsaken the land.’
13
ThomsonThen He said to me, thou shalt see still greater transgressions which they are committing.
BrentonAnd he said to me, Thou shalt see yet greater iniquities which these do.
GreekΚαὶ εἶπε πρὸς μὲ, ἔτι ὄψει ἀνομίας μείζονας ἃς οὗτοι ποιοῦσι.
KJVHe said also unto me, Turn thee yet again, and thou shalt see greater abominations that they do.
JPSHe said also unto me: ‘Thou shalt again see yet greater abominations which they do.’
14
ThomsonThen He led me to the vestibule of the gate of the house of the Lord facing the north, and behold here were women seated, singing mournful ditties to Thammuz.
BrentonAnd he brought me in to the porch of the house of the Lord that looks to the north; and, behold, there were women sitting there lamenting for Thammuz.
GreekΚαὶ εἰσήγαγέ με ἐπὶ τὰ πρόθυρα τῆς πύλης οἴκου Κυρίου τῆς βλεπούσης πρὸς Βοῤῥᾶν· καὶ ἰδοὺ ἐκεῖ γυναῖκες καθήμεναι θρηνοῦσαι τὸν Θαμμούζ.
KJVThen he brought me to the door of the gate of the LORD’s house which was toward the north; and, behold, there sat women weeping for Tammuz.
JPSThen He brought me to the door of the gate of the LORD’S house which was toward the north; and, behold, there sat the women weeping for Tammuz.
15
ThomsonAnd He said to me, Son of man, hast thou seen? Thou shalt see still worse devices than these.
BrentonAnd he said to me, Son of man, thou hast seen; but thou shalt yet see evil practices greater than these.
GreekΚαὶ εἶπε πρὸς μὲ, υἱὲ ἀνθρώπου ἑώρακας, καὶ ἔτι ὄψει ἐπιτηδεύματα μείζονα τούτων.
KJVThen said he unto me, Hast thou seen this, O son of man? turn thee yet again, and thou shalt see greater abominations than these.
JPSThen said He unto me: ‘Hast thou seen this, O son of man? thou shalt again see yet greater abominations than these.’
16
ThomsonThen He led me into the inner court of the house of the Lord; and at the vestibule of the temple of the Lord, between the ailams and the altar, were about twenty men; their backs to the temple of the Lord, and their faces the direct contrary way; and they were worshipping the sun.
BrentonAnd he brought me into the inner court of the house of the Lord, and at the entrance of the temple of the Lord, between the porch and the altar, were about twenty men, with their back parts toward the temple of the Lord, and their faces turned the opposite way; and these were worshipping the sun.
GreekΚαὶ εἰσήγαγέ με εἰς τὴν αὐλὴν οἴκου Κυρίου τὴν ἐσωτέραν, καὶ ἐπὶ τῶν προθύρων τοῦ ναοῦ Κυρίου ἀναμέσον τῶν αἰλὰμ, καὶ ἀναμέσον τοῦ θυσιαστηρίου, ὡς εἴκοσι ἄνδρες τὰ ὀπίσθια αὐτῶν πρὸς τὸν ναὸν τοῦ Κυρίου, καὶ τὰ πρόσωπα αὐτῶν ἀπέναντι, καὶ οὗτοι προσκυνοῦσι τῷ ἡλίῳ.
KJVAnd he brought me into the inner court of the LORD’s house, and, behold, at the door of the temple of the LORD, between the porch and the altar, were about five and twenty men, with their backs toward the temple of the LORD, and their faces toward the east; and they worshipped the sun toward the east.
JPSAnd He brought me into the inner court of the LORD’S house, and, behold, at the door of the temple of the LORD, between the porch and the altar, were about five and twenty men, with their backs toward the temple of the LORD, and their faces toward the east; and they worshipped the sun toward the east.
17
ThomsonAnd He said to me, Hast thou seen? Son of man. Is it a light thing for the house of Juda to commit the transgressions, which they have committed here? Because they have filled the land with iniquity, and lo! they are as it were insulting Me to My face;
BrentonAnd he said to me, Son of man, thou hast seen this. Is it a little thing to the house of Juda to practise the iniquities which they have practised here? for they have filled the land with iniquity: and, behold, these are as scorners.
GreekΚαὶ εἶπε πρὸς μὲ, ἑώρακας υἱὲ ἀνθρώπου· μη μικρα τῷ οἴκῳ Ἰούδα τοῦ ποιεῖν τὰς ἀνομίας ἃς πεποιήκασιν ὧδε; διότι ἔπλησαν τὴν γῆν ἀνομίας· καὶ ἰδοὺ αὐτοὶ ὡς μυκτηρίζοντες.
KJVThen he said unto me, Hast thou seen this, O son of man? Is it a light thing to the house of Judah that they commit the abominations which they commit here? for they have filled the land with violence, and have returned to provoke me to anger: and, lo, they put the branch to their nose.
JPSThen He said unto me: ‘Hast thou seen this, O son of man? Is it a light thing to the house of Judah that they commit the abominations which they commit here in that they fill the land with violence, and provoke Me still more, and, lo, they put the branch to their nose?
18
Thomsontherefore I will deal with them with wrath. Mine eye shall not spare, nor will I have compassion
BrentonTherefore will I deal with them in wrath: mine eye shall not spare, nor will I have any mercy.
GreekΚαὶ ἐγὼ ποιήσω αὐτοῖς μετὰ θυμοῦ· οὐ φείσεται ὁ ὀφθαλμός μου, οὐδὲ μὴ ἐλεήσω.
KJVTherefore will I also deal in fury: mine eye shall not spare, neither will I have pity: and though they cry in mine ears with a loud voice, yet will I not hear them.
JPSTherefore will I also deal in fury; Mine eye shall not spare, neither will I have pity; and though they cry in Mine ears with a loud voice, yet will I not hear them.’