Ezekiel 44:10

And the Leuites that are gone away farre from me, when Israel went astray, which went astray away from me after their idoles, they shall euen beare their iniquitie. Ezekiel 44:10 (KJV)

The quoted sentence is presented as a verse from Ezekiel and is set within the larger prophetic context of the book. Ezekiel, a prophet among the exiles in Babylon after the Babylonian captivity, received visions concerning a future temple and detailed instructions for the priestly tribe of Israel. The passage therefore reflects the tone of Ezekiel’s visions concerning worship, holiness, and the responsibilities of the Levites.

The Levites were descendants of Levi, one of Jacob’s twelve sons, and were set apart to serve in the tabernacle and later in the temple. Their duties included assisting the priests, maintaining the sacred furnishings, and ensuring the proper conduct of worship. Throughout the Old Testament the Levites are portrayed as the tribe entrusted with the care of God’s house, a role that is reiterated in the authentic portions of Ezekiel chapters 40‑48.

The quoted text states that some Levites “went astray” when Israel as a whole turned away from God and pursued idols. The biblical narrative does record periods when Israel fell into idolatry, and it records that the Levites were expected to remain faithful. However, the specific claim that a group of Levites joined the idolatrous behavior and would “bear their iniquity” is not found in any standard translation of Ezekiel. Scholars note that no verse in the KJV or other canonical versions matches this wording, and the sentence should be regarded as a paraphrase rather than a direct quotation.

According to the quoted passage, the Levites who strayed would bear their own iniquity, implying personal accountability for rebellion against God. In contrast, the authentic Ezekiel text emphasizes the holiness required of the Levites in the restored temple and outlines blessings for those who obey God’s commands, without explicitly stating that they will bear iniquity for past idolatry. This tension highlights the need to distinguish between the paraphrased statement and the actual biblical teaching, which calls the Levites to renewed dedication and service in the future sanctuary.