Ezekiel 20

“And it came to pass in the seventh year, in the fifth month, the tenth day of the month, that certain of the elders of…” This familiar narrative signal moves the clock forward. What follows is a new scene, consequence, or answer to an earlier tension.

“Then came the word of the LORD unto me, saying,” The line’s distinctive content terms include LORD, word. Its relationship to verses 1 and 3 shows what work it does in this passage.

“Son of man, speak unto the elders of Israel, and say unto them, Thus saith the Lord GOD ; Are ye come to enquire of…” The question slows the passage down. Notice who is being pressed to answer, what the question assumes, and whether the next lines provide a response.

“Wilt thou judge them, son of man, wilt thou judge them? cause them to know the abominations of their fathers:” The question slows the passage down. Notice who is being pressed to answer, what the question assumes, and whether the next lines provide a response.

“And say unto them, Thus saith the Lord GOD ; In the day when I chose Israel, and lifted up mine hand unto the seed of…” Naming Egypt keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“In the day that I lifted up mine hand unto them, to bring them forth of the land of Egypt into a land that I had…” Naming Egypt keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“Then said I unto them, Cast ye away every man the abominations of his eyes, and defile not yourselves with the idols…” Naming Cast and Egypt keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“But they rebelled against me, and would not hearken unto me: they did not every man cast away the abominations of…” Naming Egypt keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“But I wrought for my name’s sake, that it should not be polluted before the heathen, among whom they were, in whose…” Naming Egypt keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“Wherefore I caused them to go forth out of the land of Egypt, and brought them into the wilderness.” This line supplies a reason, result, or conclusion. It should stay attached to the claim or action that gives it meaning.

“And I gave them my statutes, and shewed them my judgments, which if a man do, he shall even live in them.” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“Moreover also I gave them my sabbaths, to be a sign between me and them, that they might know that I am the LORD that…” Naming Moreover keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“But the house of Israel rebelled against me in the wilderness: they walked not in my statutes, and they despised my…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“But I wrought for my name’s sake, that it should not be polluted before the heathen, in whose sight I brought them…” The line’s distinctive content terms include heathen, name’s, polluted. Its relationship to verses 13 shows what work it does in this passage.

“Yet also I lifted up my hand unto them in the wilderness, that I would not bring them into the land which I had given…” Naming Yet keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“Because they despised my judgments, and walked not in my statutes, but polluted my sabbaths: for their heart went…” This line supplies a reason, result, or conclusion. It should stay attached to the claim or action that gives it meaning.

“Nevertheless mine eye spared them from destroying them, neither did I make an end of them in the wilderness.” Naming Nevertheless keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“But I said unto their children in the wilderness, Walk ye not in the statutes of your fathers, neither observe their…” Naming Walk keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“I am the LORD your God; walk in my statutes, and keep my judgments, and do them;” The verse names God rather than leaving the action without a source. Watch whether the next line continues, answers, or contrasts that action.

“And hallow my sabbaths; and they shall be a sign between me and you, that ye may know that I am the LORD your God.” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“Notwithstanding the children rebelled against me: they walked not in my statutes, neither kept my judgments to do…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“Nevertheless I withdrew mine hand, and wrought for my name’s sake, that it should not be polluted in the sight of the…” Naming Nevertheless keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“I lifted up mine hand unto them also in the wilderness, that I would scatter them among the heathen, and disperse them…” The line’s distinctive content terms include countries, disperse, hand. Its relationship to verses 22 and 24 shows what work it does in this passage.

“Because they had not executed my judgments, but had despised my statutes, and had polluted my sabbaths, and their eyes…” This line supplies a reason, result, or conclusion. It should stay attached to the claim or action that gives it meaning.

“Wherefore I gave them also statutes that were not good, and judgments whereby they should not live;” This line supplies a reason, result, or conclusion. It should stay attached to the claim or action that gives it meaning.

“And I polluted them in their own gifts, in that they caused to pass through the fire all that openeth the womb, that I…” The line’s distinctive content terms include caused, desolate, fire. Its relationship to verses 25 and 27 shows what work it does in this passage.

“Therefore, son of man, speak unto the house of Israel, and say unto them, Thus saith the Lord GOD ; Yet in this your…” This line supplies a reason, result, or conclusion. It should stay attached to the claim or action that gives it meaning.

“For when I had brought them into the land, for the which I lifted up mine hand to give it to them, then they saw every…” This line supplies a reason, result, or conclusion. It should stay attached to the claim or action that gives it meaning.

“Then I said unto them, What is the high place whereunto ye go? And the name thereof is called Bamah unto this day.” The question slows the passage down. Notice who is being pressed to answer, what the question assumes, and whether the next lines provide a response.

“Wherefore say unto the house of Israel, Thus saith the Lord GOD ; Are ye polluted after the manner of your fathers…” The question slows the passage down. Notice who is being pressed to answer, what the question assumes, and whether the next lines provide a response.

“For when ye offer your gifts, when ye make your sons to pass through the fire, ye pollute yourselves with all your…” The question slows the passage down. Notice who is being pressed to answer, what the question assumes, and whether the next lines provide a response.

“And that which cometh into your mind shall not be at all, that ye say, We will be as the heathen, as the families of…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“As I live, saith the Lord GOD , surely with a mighty hand, and with a stretched out arm, and with fury poured out…” The verse names Lord rather than leaving the action without a source. Watch whether the next line continues, answers, or contrasts that action.

“And I will bring you out from the people, and will gather you out of the countries wherein ye are scattered, with a…” The line’s distinctive content terms include countries, fury, gather. Its relationship to verses 33 and 35 shows what work it does in this passage.

“And I will bring you into the wilderness of the people, and there will I plead with you face to face.” The line’s distinctive content terms include face, people, plead. Its relationship to verses 34 shows what work it does in this passage.

“Like as I pleaded with your fathers in the wilderness of the land of Egypt, so will I plead with you, saith the Lord…” Naming Egypt and Like keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And I will cause you to pass under the rod, and I will bring you into the bond of the covenant:” The promise, blessing, or covenant language needs its named recipient and scope. Those details prevent a personal word in the story from becoming a promise detached from context.

“And I will purge out from among you the rebels, and them that transgress against me: I will bring them forth out of…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“As for you, O house of Israel, thus saith the Lord GOD ; Go ye, serve ye every one his idols, and hereafter also, if…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“For in mine holy mountain, in the mountain of the height of Israel, saith the Lord GOD , there shall all the house of…” This line supplies a reason, result, or conclusion. It should stay attached to the claim or action that gives it meaning.

“I will accept you with your sweet savour, when I bring you out from the people, and gather you out of the countries…” The line’s distinctive content terms include accept, countries, gather. Its relationship to verses 40 and 42 shows what work it does in this passage.

“And ye shall know that I am the LORD , when I shall bring you into the land of Israel, into the country for the which…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“And there shall ye remember your ways, and all your doings, wherein ye have been defiled; and ye shall lothe…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“And ye shall know that I am the LORD , when I have wrought with you for my name’s sake, not according to your wicked…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“Moreover the word of the LORD came unto me, saying,” Naming Moreover keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“Son of man, set thy face toward the south, and drop thy word toward the south, and prophesy against the forest of the…” Naming Son keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And say to the forest of the south, Hear the word of the LORD ; Thus saith the Lord GOD ; Behold, I will kindle a fire…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“And all flesh shall see that I the LORD have kindled it: it shall not be quenched.” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“Then said I, Ah Lord GOD ! they say of me, Doth he not speak parables?” The question slows the passage down. Notice who is being pressed to answer, what the question assumes, and whether the next lines provide a response.