Ezekiel 39:24 — Word Study
WLCכְּטֻמְאָתָ֥ם וּכְפִשְׁעֵיהֶ֖ם עָשִׂ֣יתִי אֹתָ֑ם וָאַסְתִּ֥ר פָּנַ֖י מֵהֶֽם׃ ס
BSAI dealtʻâsâh■ with themʼêth according to their uncleannessṭumʼâh [moral impurity, sinful actions] and transgressionspeshaʻ [rebellion, revolt against God] and I hidçâthar▸ [concealed, turned away] My facepânîym [presence, countenance]
| Greek | English | Parsing |
|---|---|---|
| כְּטֻמְאָתָ֥ם | according to uncleanness their | Preposition, noun common feminine singular construct, suffix |
| וּכְפִשְׁעֵיהֶ֖ם | and according to transgressions their | Conjunction, preposition, noun common masculine plural construct |
| עָשִׂ֣יתִי | I have dealt | Verb, Qal, perfect first person common singular |
| אֹתָ֑ם | the object marker them | Particle, suffix |
| וָאַסְתִּ֥ר | and I hid | Verb, Hiphil, sequential imperfect first person common singular |
| פָּנַ֖י | face my | Noun common masculine plural construct, suffix |
| מֵהֶֽם׃ ס | from them | Preposition, suffix |
Every word in the verse. Click a row to open it in the panel on the left.
| BSB | I dealt with them according to their uncleanness and transgressions, and I hid My face from them. |
| KJV | According to their uncleanness and according to their transgressions have I done unto them, and hid my face from them. |
| ASV | According to their uncleanness and according to their transgressions did I unto them; and I hid my face from them. |
| YLT | According to their uncleanness, And according to their transgressions, I have done with them, And I do hide My face from them. |
| WEB | I did to them according to their uncleanness and according to their transgressions. I hid my face from them. |
| BBE | In the measure of their unclean ways and their sins, so I did to them; and I kept my face covered from them. |
Where they part company is in the rendering of טֻמְאָה — see How Translations Differ.
The sentence has one main verb with three phrases that provide context for God's actions, emphasizing the reasons behind His judgment.
6 commentators on this verse
Gill, Jamieson, Poole, Trapp & more — read them ›
clause
verbעָשָׂה
The sentence as the grammar sees it Open the tree ›
Every word here is used elsewhere in the Old Testament.
Bars are logarithmic — אֵת, the commonest word in the Hebrew Bible, stands about 11,000 times, so a linear scale would leave everything else invisible. Click a row to open that word.
Deep Study — Ezekiel 39:24
Sections marked generated are written from the data on this page rather than by a named author. Everything else — the lexicon entries, the cross references, the manuscript readings, the counts — is quoted from its source unchanged.
Context — God's Judgment and Restoration of Israelgenerated
Ezekiel 39:24 is part of a passage where God explains how He dealt with Israel due to their disobedience and moral impurity. The surrounding verses highlight the consequences of their actions and God's intention to restore them in the future, emphasizing the relationship between sin and divine judgment.
Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ezekiel 36:19 | I dispersed them among the nations, and they were scattered throughout the lands. I judged them according to their ways and deeds. |
| 2 | Leviticus 26:24 | then I will act with hostility toward you, and I will strike you sevenfold for your sins. |
| 3 | 2 Kings 17:7–23 | All this happened because the people of Israel had sinned against the LORD their God, who had brought them out of the land of Egypt from under the hand of Pharaoh king of Egypt. They had worshiped other gods |
| 4 | Isaiah 1:20 | But if you resist and rebel, you will be devoured by the sword.” For the mouth of the LORD has spoken. |
| 5 | Isaiah 3:11 | Woe to the wicked; disaster is upon them! For they will be repaid with what their hands have done. |
The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge — 10 references, hung on the phrase they belong to
The Key Word — טֻמְאָה, ke.tum.'a.Tamgenerated
The word טֻמְאָה (tum'ah) refers to various forms of impurity, particularly moral and ritual uncleanness. It is built from a root that signifies being unclean or impure, often due to sinful actions. In this verse, it conveys the idea that Israel's moral failures led to their separation from God.
The parsing indicates that it is a feminine singular noun in construct form, showing possession — 'according to their uncleanness.' This highlights that the uncleanness belongs to the people, emphasizing their personal responsibility for their actions.
How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated
In the Berean Standard Bible, the word טֻמְאָה is rendered as uncleanness, which is consistent across the KJV and ASV.
Sentence Structuregenerated
The main verb of the verse is עָשִׂ֣יתִי ('a.sit.i), meaning 'I have dealt,' which governs the entire sentence. The structure includes two prepositional phrases that describe how God dealt with Israel: according to their uncleanness and transgressions, followed by a clause indicating the action of hiding His face.
The arrangement emphasizes God's response to Israel's actions, with the main clause clearly stating His dealings and the subordinate phrases providing the reasons for those actions.
Septuagint Backgroundgenerated
The Septuagint translates טֻמְאָה as ἀκαθαρσίας (akatharsias), which also means 'uncleanness.' This choice reflects a consistent understanding of moral impurity and aligns with the Hebrew meaning, indicating a shared interpretation of Israel's state.
The Greek term carries similar connotations of impurity, emphasizing the seriousness of the moral failures that led to God's judgment.
In plain words — the whole versegenerated
Ezekiel 39:24 describes how God dealt with Israel based on their moral failings and sins. He hid His face from them, indicating a separation due to their actions. This reflects the consequences of their disobedience and sets the stage for future restoration.
Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated
It means that God's actions were a direct response to the moral failings and sinful behaviors of the people of Israel.
Hiding His face symbolizes God's withdrawal of presence and favor due to Israel's disobedience and sin.
Transgressions refer to acts of rebellion against God, highlighting the seriousness of Israel's actions that warranted divine judgment.
This verse sets the context for understanding Israel's need for restoration after experiencing judgment due to their sins.
Reflection Questionsgenerated
- In what ways can I recognize my own moral failings and seek to address them?
- How can I ensure that I am not hiding from God's presence due to my actions?
- What steps can I take to encourage others to seek restoration in their relationship with God?
- How does understanding God's judgment help me appreciate His mercy and grace?
Commentators on this verse — 6 expositors, verse by verse
Each of these wrote on Ezekiel 39:24 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.
John Gill1697–1771Gill's Exposition of the Entire BibleAccording to their uncleanness,.... Not ceremonial, but moral; they were an impure and adulterous generation, as our Lord calls them, Matthew 12:39: and according to their transgressions have I done
Read John Gill on Ezekiel 39 →Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's CommentaryAccording to their uncleanness and according to their transgressions have I done unto them, and hid my face from them. No JFB commentary on this verse.
Read Robert Jamieson on Ezekiel 39 →Matthew Poole1624–1679Matthew Poole's Commentary on the Holy BibleWhatever severity I have seemed to use, it was but according to their sins, yet less than their sins, in punishing and hiding my face from them.
Read Matthew Poole on Ezekiel 39 →John Trapp1601–1669Trapp's Complete Commentary on the Old and New TestamentsEzekiel 39:24 According to their uncleanness and according to their transgressions have I done unto them, and hid my face from them.Ver. 24. According to their uncleanness.] I have not shown my sovereignty, or exercised tyranny towards them, but done them right.
Read John Trapp on Ezekiel 39 →CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges24. have I done unto them] did I do unto them. Ezekiel 39:25 seq. The prophet returns to the point of view occupied in ch. 33–37, before the restoration of Israel. The transition is suggested by the words I hid my face from them (Ezekiel 39:24). This shall no more be (Ezekiel 39:29); they shall be restored, and dwell safely in their land (Ezekiel 39:26), and Jehovah shall be their God in truth.
Read Cambridge on Ezekiel 39 →Daniel Denison Whedon1808–1885Whedon's Commentary on the Bible21-24. This awful judgment shall indubitably prove, both to the heathen in the farthest limits of the south (Ezekiel 39:6; Ezekiel 39:21) and to the Israelites (Ezekiel 39:22), that the former
Read Daniel Denison Whedon on Ezekiel 39 →The verse in English, compared — 17 translations, and where they part company
Every translation on this page is a decision someone had to make and commit to. Read down a column and you see one translator's judgement; read across a row and you see the range the Greek actually allows. The BSB is the wording the rest of this page is measured against, so it is listed first.
Modern formal
I dealt with them according to their uncleanness and transgressions, and I hid My face from them.
I did to them according to their uncleanness and according to their transgressions. I hid my face from them.
I dealt with them according to their uncleanness and transgressions, and I hid My face from them.
According to their uncleanness and rebellion I have dealt with them, and I hid my face from them.
Tyndale line
According to their uncleanness and according to their transgressions have I done unto them, and hid my face from them.
According to their uncleanness and according to their transgressions did I unto them; and I hid my face from them.
According to their uncleanness and according to their transgressions did I unto them; and I hid my face from them.
According to their uncleanness and according to their transgressions have I done to them, and hid my face from them.
According to their vncleannes, and according to their transgressions haue I done vnto the, and hid my face from them.
Strictly literal
According to their uncleanness and according to their transgressions I did unto them, and I hid my face from them.
According to their uncleanness, And according to their transgressions, I have done with them, And I do hide My face from them.
According to their uncleanness, || And according to their transgressions, I have done with them, || And I hide My face from them.
According to their uncleanness, and according to their transgressions did I deal with them, and hid my face from them.
I did to them according to their uncleanness and their sins, when I hid my face from them.
From the Latin
I have dealt with them according to their uncleanness, and wickedness, and hid my face from them.
Simplified
I dealt with them because of their uncleanness and sins, and I gave up on them.
In the measure of their unclean ways and their sins, so I did to them; and I kept my face covered from them.
Counted from the translations carried on this site, not from a survey of every English Bible. A rendering shared by many versions is usually inherited rather than independently arrived at — the Tyndale line in particular runs through most of them.
The sentence as the grammar sees it — from the MACULA Hebrew treebank
This is not our own analysis: it is the scholarly syntax tree for the verse, showing how the clause actually holds together.
Boxes are the grammarian's groupings — clause, noun phrase, prepositional phrase.
The four witnesses to this verse — Masoretic, Septuagint, Samaritan, Qumran
The Masoretic Text of Ezekiel 39:24 reads: "כְּטֻמְאָתָ֥ם וּכְפִשְׁעֵיהֶ֖ם עָשִׂ֣יתִי אֹתָ֑ם וָאַסְתִּ֥ר פָּנַ֖י מֵהֶֽם׃ ס" which translates to "I dealt with them according to their uncleanness and transgressions, and I hid My face from them." The Septuagint agrees with the Masoretic Text in terms of the overall content and meaning, with a word-by-word correspondence that matches all seven words. Therefore, there are no significant differences between these two ancient witnesses for this verse, indicating a strong consistency in the text regarding how God dealt with the people based on their sins.
כְּטֻמְאָתָ֥ם וּכְפִשְׁעֵיהֶ֖ם עָשִׂ֣יתִי אֹתָ֑ם וָאַסְתִּ֥ר פָּנַ֖י מֵהֶֽם׃ ס
7 of the 7 words are matched. This is the word-by-word correspondence, not the Septuagint's own sentence — its word order and its articles are its own.
Four traditions, not one. “On the leather” means the letters physically survive on the scroll, as against letters an editor has supplied to fill a hole in it — a restoration is a scholar’s reading, not a reading of the manuscript. Words in [square brackets] are supplied; the notes count them apart from what survives.
The map of this verse — what each word keeps company with
This is a map of two things, both counted rather than judged. Company kept: which words stand within three words of each of these, anywhere in the Hebrew Bible — the thicker the line, the more often the pair meet compared with chance. Built from: the words a word is made out of, taken from its own Strong’s entry. It is not a map of meaning: nothing here claims two words mean the same thing. Click any circle to see the numbers behind it.
Lexicons — every word in Ezekiel 39:24
One dossier per word, with every reference work grouped by kind — Hebrew lexicons, morphology, Bible dictionaries, topical chains and the English of the translators themselves. The verse sits at the head of each block with the word under study lit, so you never lose your place. The panel above gives the short answer; this is the long one, and it is the part of the page worth indexing.
Every entry below is the lexicographer's own text. On the Hebrew: Brown-Driver-Briggs entire and its gloss set, Strong's Hebrew Dictionary, and Tyndale House's Translators Brief lexicon. Where a cell says a work has no entry, that work genuinely has none for this word.
טֻמְאָה (tum'ah) refers to various forms of religious impurity or uncleanness. It encompasses sexual, ethical, and ritual uncleanness, as well as local impurity associated with nations. The term is built from the root word for 'unclean' and highlights different contexts in which impurity can arise.
טֻמְאָה n.f. uncleanness
sexual
of a foul or filthy mass
ethical and religious
ritual
local
base
H2932 טֻמְאָה
2932 tum'ah toom-aw'
from 2930; religious impurity:--filthiness, unclean(-ness).
see HEBREW for 02930
טֻמְאָה (tum.ah) — uncleanness.
1) uncleanness
1a) sexual
1b) of filthy mass
1c) ethical and religious
1d) ritual
1e) local (of nations)
Prep | N-fs | Suff — Preposition · noun common feminine singular construct · suffixHR/Ncfsc/Sp3mp
פֶּ֫שַׁע (pesha`) means transgression and is derived from a root that implies revolt, whether national, moral, or religious. It encompasses various forms of wrongdoing, including offenses against individuals, nations, and God, as well as the associated guilt and punishment. The entries do not indicate any significant disagreement among lexicons.
פֶּ֫שַׁע n.m. transgression
base
H6588 פֶּ֫שַׁע transgression
6588 pesha` peh'-shah
from 6586; a revolt (national, moral or
religious):--rebellion, sin, transgression, trespass.
see HEBREW for 06586
פֶּ֫שַׁע (pe.sah) — transgression.
1) transgression, rebellion
1a1) transgression (against individuals)
1a2) transgression (nation against nation)
1a3) transgression (against God)
1a3a) in general
1a3b) as recognised by sinner
1a3c) as God deals with it
1a3d) as God forgives
1a4) guilt of transgression
1a5) punishment for transgression
1a6) offering for transgression
Conj | Prep | N-mp | Suff — Conjunction · preposition · noun common masculine plural construct · suffixHC/R/Ncmpc/Sp3mp
עָשָׂה (asah) is a Hebrew verb meaning to do or make, encompassing a wide range of actions such as producing, preparing, and observing. It can refer to both concrete and abstract activities, including making offerings and attending to tasks. The verb also has forms indicating passive meanings, such as being made or offered. Notably, the Piel form refers to pressing or squeezing.
עָשָׂה 2622 vb. do, make
Qal 2524
do (1560 t.)
deal with
oft. in phr. do kindness with
abs. act, act with effect
make (670 t.)
produce, yield
prepare, esp. of dressing and cooking food
make offering
attend to, put in order
observe, celebrate, religious festival
acquire property of various kinds
appoint priests
bring about of י׳’s effecting a deliverance
use
spend, pass, days of life
Niph.
97be done
be made, of concr. things
be produced from vine
be prepared, of food
be offered
be observed, passover
be used
Pu. I was made
base
[עָשָׂה] vb. Pi. press, squeeze
base
H6213a עָשָׂה do, make .. . do (1560 + t.)
. deal with
. oft. in phr. do kindness with
. abs. act, act with effect
. . make (670 + t.)
. produce, yield
. prepare, esp. of dressing and cooking food
. make offering
. attend to, put in order
. observe, celebrate, religious festival
. acquire property of various kinds
. appoint priests
. bring about of י׳’s effecting a deliverance
. use
. spend, pass, days of life
. . be done
. . be made, of concr. things
. be produced from vine
. be prepared, of food
. be offered
. be observed, passover
. be used
. I was made
H6213b עָשָׂה Pi. press, squeeze
6213 `asah aw-saw'
a primitive root; to do or make, in the broadest sense and
widest application (as follows):--accomplish, advance,
appoint, apt, be at, become, bear, bestow, bring forth,
bruise, be busy, X certainly, have the charge of, commit, deal
(with), deck, + displease, do, (ready) dress(-ed), (put in)
execute(-ion), exercise, fashion, + feast, (fight-)ing man, +
finish, fit, fly, follow, fulfill, furnish, gather, get, go
about, govern, grant, great, + hinder, hold ((a feast)), X
indeed, + be industrious, + journey, keep, labour, maintain,
make, be meet, observe, be occupied, offer, + officer, pare,
bring (come) to pass, perform, pracise, prepare, procure,
provide, put, requite, X sacrifice, serve, set, shew, X sin,
spend, X surely, take, X thoroughly, trim, X very, + vex, be
(warr-)ior, work(-man), yield, use.
עָשָׂה (a.sah) — to make: do.
: do/perform
1) to do, fashion, accomplish, make
1a) (Qal)
1a1) to do, work, make, produce
1a1a) to do
1a1b) to work
1a1c) to deal (with)
1a1d) to act, act with effect, effect
1a2) to make
1a2a) to make
1a2b) to produce
1a2c) to prepare
1a2d) to make (an offering)
1a2e) to attend to, put in order
1a2f) to observe, celebrate
1a2g) to acquire (property)
1a2h) to appoint, ordain, institute
1a2i) to bring about
1a2j) to use
1a2k) to spend, pass
1b) (Niphal)
1b1) to be done
1b2) to be made
1b3) to be produced
1b4) to be offered
1b5) to be observed
1b6) to be used
1c) (Pual) to be made
עָשָׂה (a.sah) — to press.
(Piel) to press, squeeze
עָשָׂה (a.sah) — to make.
: make(OBJECT)
1) to do, fashion, accomplish, make
1a) (Qal)
1a1) to do, work, make, produce
1a1a) to do
1a1b) to work
1a1c) to deal (with)
1a1d) to act, act with effect, effect
1a2) to make
1a2a) to make
1a2b) to produce
V-Qal-Perf-1cs — Verb · Qal · perfect first person common singularHVqp1cs
אֵת (eth) is primarily a grammatical marker in Hebrew, indicating the definite direct object of a verb. It is not translated into English and typically precedes nouns that are definite. The word is derived from a demonstrative sense of entity, related to the Hebrew word for 'self.' Its Aramaic equivalent is יָת (yat).
אֵת the mark of the accusative, prefixed as a rule only to nouns that are definite
base
H853 אֵת the mark of the accusative, prefixed as a rule only to nouns that are definite
853 'eth ayth
apparent contracted from 226 in the demonstrative sense of
entity; properly, self (but generally used to point out more
definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or
namely):--(as such unrepresented in English).
see HEBREW for 0226
אֵת (et) — [Obj.].
sign of the definite direct object, not translated in English but generally preceding and indicating the accusative
Aramaic equivalent: yat (יָת "whom" H3487)
DirObjM | Suff — Particle · suffixHTo/Sp3mp
סָתַר (sa.tar) is a Hebrew verb meaning to hide or conceal. It encompasses various forms, including hiding oneself, being hidden, and carefully concealing something or someone. The entries indicate its use in different grammatical aspects, such as the Niphal, Piel, Pual, Hiphil, and Hithpael stems. The Aramaic equivalent is noted as סְתַר.
סָתַר vb. hide, conceal
Niph.
hide oneself
be hid, concealed
Pi. Imv. carefully hide (i.e. shelter) the outcasts
Pu. Pt. love carefully concealed
Hithp. hide oneself carefully
Hiph. conceal, hide
base
H5641 סָתַר hide, conceal . . hide oneself
. be hid, concealed
. Imv. carefully hide (i.e. shelter) the outcasts
. Pt. love carefully concealed
. hide oneself carefully
. conceal, hide
5641 cathar saw-thar'
a primitive root; to hide (by covering), literally or
figuratively:--be absent, keep close, conceal, hide (self),
(keep) secret, X surely.
סָתַר (sa.tar) — to hide.
1) to hide, conceal
1a) (Niphal)
1a1) to hide oneself
1a2) to be hidden, be concealed
1b) (Piel) to hide carefully
1c) (Pual) to be hidden carefully, be concealed
1d) (Hiphil) to conceal, hide
1e) (Hithpael) to hide oneself carefully
Aramaic equivalent: se.tar (סְתַר "to hide" H5642A)
Conj | V-Hiphil-ConsecImperf-1cs — Verb · Hiphil · sequential imperfect first person common singularHc/Vhw1cs
The Hebrew word פָּנֶה (*pāneh*) is a noun meaning 'face' or 'presence,' and it appears in various contexts, including the faces of seraphim and animals, as well as the surface of the ground. It can also function as an adverb meaning 'before' or 'in front of.' The word is built from a root that suggests turning or facing, and it encompasses a wide range of applications, both literal and figurative.
[פָּנֶה], pl. פָּנִים 2123 n.m. face, also faces
face, faces
presence, person
technically, see one's face, i.e. appear before one, in one's presence
face of seraphim
face of animals
face (= surface) of ground
as adv.loc. before
for other phrases
with prepositions
base
H6440 פָּנֶה, pl. פָּנִים face, also faces . . face, faces
. . presence, person
. technically, see one's face, i.e. appear before one, in one's presence
. face of seraphim
. face of animals
. face (= surface) of ground
. as adv. loc. before
. for other phrases
. with prepositions
6440 paniym paw-neem'
plural (but always as singular) of an unused noun (paneh
{paw-neh'}; from 6437); the face (as the part that turns);
used in a great variety of applications (literally and
figuratively); also (with prepositional prefix) as a
preposition (before, etc.):--+ accept, a-(be- )fore(-time),
against, anger, X as (long as), at, + battle, + because (of),
+ beseech, countenance, edge, + employ, endure, + enquire,
face, favour, fear of, for, forefront(-part), form(-er
time, -ward), from, front, heaviness, X him(-self), +
honourable, + impudent, + in, it, look(-eth) (- s), X me, +
meet, X more than, mouth, of, off, (of) old (time), X on,
open, + out of, over against, the partial, person, + please,
presence, propect, was purposed, by reason of, + regard, right
forth, + serve, X shewbread, sight, state, straight, + street,
X thee, X them(-selves), through (+ - out), till, time(-s)
פָּנֶה (pa.neh) — face: before.
: before/to/front
1) face
1a) face, faces
1b) presence, person
1c) face (of seraphim or cherubim)
1d) face (of animals)
1e) face, surface (of ground)
1f) as adv of loc/temp
1f1) before and behind, toward, in front of, forward, formerly, from beforetime, before
1g) with prep
1g1) in front of, before, to the front of, in the presence of, in the face of, at the face or front of, from the presence of, from before, from before the face of
פָּנֶה (pa.neh) — face.
: face
1) face
1a) face, faces
1b) presence, person
1c) face (of seraphim or cherubim)
1d) face (of animals)
1e) face, surface (of ground)
1f) as adv of loc/temp
1f1) before and behind, toward, in front of, forward, formerly, from beforetime, before
1g) with prep
1g1) in front of, before, to the front of, in the presence of, in the face of, at the face or front of, from the presence of, from before, from…
N-cp | Suff — Noun common masculine plural construct · suffixHNcmpc/Sp1bs
הֶם (hem) — them.
Personal object pronoun - suffix for propositions and verbs without an object: 3rd person masculine plural
HR/Sp3mp — Preposition · suffixHR/Sp3mp