Ezekiel 20:16

20:16 I did this ¹  because they rejected my regulations, did not follow my statutes, and desecrated my Sabbaths; for their hearts followed their idols. ² 

Ezekiel 44:24

44:24 “‘In a controversy they will act as judges; ³  they will judge according to my ordinances. They will keep my laws and my statutes regarding all my appointed festivals and will observe ⁴  my Sabbaths.

Ezekiel 5:6

5:6 Then she defied my regulations and my statutes, becoming more wicked than the nations ⁵  and the countries around her. ⁶  Indeed, they ⁷  have rejected my regulations, and they do not follow my statutes.

[20:16]  ¹ tn The words “I did this” are not in the Hebrew text, but are supplied for stylistic reasons. Verses 15-16 are one long sentence in the Hebrew text. The translation divides this sentence into two for stylistic reasons.

[20:16]  ² tn Heb “for after their idols their heart was going.” The use of the active participle (“was going”) in the Hebrew text draws attention to the ongoing nature of their idolatrous behavior.

[44:24]  ³ sn For a historical illustration of the priest carrying out this function, see 2 Chr 19:9-11.

[44:24]  ⁴ tn Heb “sanctify, set apart.”

[5:6]  ⁵ sn The nations are subject to a natural law according to Gen 9; see also Amos 1:3-2:3; Jonah 1:2.

[5:6]  ⁶ tn Heb “she defied my laws, becoming wicked more than the nations, and [she defied] my statutes [becoming wicked] more than the countries around her.”

[5:6]  ⁷ sn One might conclude that the subject of the plural verbs is the nations/countries, but the context (vv. 5-6a) indicates that the people of Jerusalem are in view. The text shifts from using the feminine singular (referring to personified Jerusalem) to the plural (referring to Jerusalem’s residents). See L. C. Allen, Ezekiel (WBC), 1:73.