Ezekiel 20:4
Wilt thou iudge them, sonne of man, wilt thou iudge them? cause them to know the abominations of their fathers: Ezekiel 20:4 (KJV)
Ezekiel was a prophet taken into exile in Babylon together with many of the people of Judah. While in exile he received visions and messages from God that he was to deliver to the Israelites. The book of Ezekiel therefore contains a mixture of prophetic visions, judgments, and promises of restoration.
The immediate audience of this verse is the rebellious Israelites who had turned away from God, embraced idolatry, and continued the pattern of abominable practices inherited from their ancestors. God addresses Ezekiel as “son of man” and asks, “wilt thou judge them, wilt thou judge them?” The rhetorical question underscores the need for divine judgment upon the people for their sins.
The second part of the verse commands, “cause them to know the abominations of their fathers.” By making the people aware of the detestable deeds of their forefathers, God intends that the current generation recognize how the sins of the fathers have shaped their own spiritual condition. This awareness is meant to lead them to self‑reflection, repentance, and a turning back to the Lord, thereby breaking the cycle of disobedience.
Both drafts point out that the surrounding context (especially verses 5‑6) reinforces the link between present sinfulness and ancestral transgression. God’s inquiry about “the generation of this people of Israel” highlights His concern for the character and spiritual health of the present generation.
Application for today follows the same principle: believers are urged to examine any cultural, familial, or personal patterns of sin that may hinder their relationship with God. Recognizing and repenting of such “abominable practices” opens the way to spiritual renewal.
Although the passage emphasizes judgment, the larger message of Ezekiel also contains hope. The book repeatedly offers forgiveness and the promise of restoration to those who genuinely repent and return to God. In summary, Ezekiel 20:4 calls for judgment on a wayward nation, urges awareness of ancestral abominations, invites repentance, and reminds us of God’s gracious willingness to forgive a contrite heart.
