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Selected Verse: Ezekiel 8:3 - Strong Concordance

Verse	Translation	Text
Eze 8:3	Strong Concordance	And he put forth [07971] the form [08403] of an hand [03027], and took [03947] me by a lock [06734] of mine head [07218]; and the spirit [07307] lifted me up [05375] between the earth [0776] and the heaven [08064], and brought [0935] me in the visions [04759] of God [0430] to Jerusalem [03389], to the door [06607] of the inner [06442] gate [08179] that looketh [06437] toward the north [06828]; where was the seat [04186] of the image [05566] of jealousy [07068], which provoketh to jealousy [07069].
	King James	And he put forth the form of an hand, and took me by a lock of mine head; and the spirit lifted me up between the earth and the heaven, and brought me in the visions of God to Jerusalem, to the door of the inner gate that looketh toward the north; where was the seat of the image of jealousy, which provoketh to jealousy.

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A Commentary, Critical, Practical, and Explanatory on the Old and New Testaments, by Robert Jamieson, A.R. Fausset and David Brown [1882]
Instead of prompting him to address directly the elders before him, the Spirit carried him away in vision (not in person bodily) to the temple at Jerusalem; he proceeds to report to them what he witnessed: his message thus falls into two parts: (1) The abominations reported in Eze. 8:1-18. (2) The dealings of judgment and mercy to be adopted towards the impenitent and penitent Israelites respectively (Eze. 9:1-11:25). The exiles looked hopefully towards Jerusalem and, so far from believing things there to be on the verge of ruin, expected a return in peace; while those left in Jerusalem eyed the exiles with contempt, as if cast away from the Lord, whereas they themselves were near God and ensured in the possessions of the land (Eze 11:15). Hence the vision here of what affected those in Jerusalem immediately was a seasonable communication to the exiles away from it. door of the inner gate--facing the north, the direction in which he came from Chebar, called the "altar-gate" (Eze 8:5); it opened into the inner court, wherein stood the altar of burnt offering; the inner court (Kg1 6:36) was that of the priests; the outer court (Eze 10:5), that of the people, where they assembled. seat--the pedestal of the image. image of jealousy--Astarte, or Asheera (as the Hebrew for "grove" ought to be translated, Kg2 21:3, Kg2 21:7; Kg2 23:4, Kg2 23:7), set up by Manasseh as a rival to Jehovah in His temple, and arresting the attention of all worshippers as they entered; it was the Syrian Venus, worshipped with licentious rites; the "queen of heaven," wife of PhÅ“nician Baal. HAVERNICK thinks all the scenes of idolatry in the chapter are successive portions of the festival held in honor of Tammuz or Adonis (Eze 8:14). Probably, however, the scenes are separate proofs of Jewish idolatry, rather than restricted to one idol. provoketh to jealousy--calleth for a visitation in wrath of the "jealous God," who will not give His honor to another (compare the second commandment, Exo 20:5). JEROME refers this verse to a statue of Baal, which Josiah had overthrown and his successors had replaced.

A Commentary, Critical, Practical, and Explanatory on the Old and New Testaments, by Robert Jamieson, A.R. Fausset and David Brown [1882]

Instead of prompting him to address directly the elders before him, the Spirit carried him away in vision (not in person bodily) to the temple at Jerusalem; he proceeds to report to them what he witnessed: his message thus falls into two parts: (1) The abominations reported in Eze. 8:1-18. (2) The dealings of judgment and mercy to be adopted towards the impenitent and penitent Israelites respectively (Eze. 9:1-11:25). The exiles looked hopefully towards Jerusalem and, so far from believing things there to be on the verge of ruin, expected a return in peace; while those left in Jerusalem eyed the exiles with contempt, as if cast away from the Lord, whereas they themselves were near God and ensured in the possessions of the land (Eze 11:15). Hence the vision here of what affected those in Jerusalem immediately was a seasonable communication to the exiles away from it.

door of the inner gate--facing the north, the direction in which he came from Chebar, called the "altar-gate" (Eze 8:5); it opened into the inner court, wherein stood the altar of burnt offering; the inner court (Kg1 6:36) was that of the priests; the outer court (Eze 10:5), that of the people, where they assembled.

seat--the pedestal of the image.

image of jealousy--Astarte, or Asheera (as the Hebrew for "grove" ought to be translated, Kg2 21:3, Kg2 21:7; Kg2 23:4, Kg2 23:7), set up by Manasseh as a rival to Jehovah in His temple, and arresting the attention of all worshippers as they entered; it was the Syrian Venus, worshipped with licentious rites; the "queen of heaven," wife of PhÅ“nician Baal. HAVERNICK thinks all the scenes of idolatry in the chapter are successive portions of the festival held in honor of Tammuz or Adonis (Eze 8:14). Probably, however, the scenes are separate proofs of Jewish idolatry, rather than restricted to one idol.

provoketh to jealousy--calleth for a visitation in wrath of the "jealous God," who will not give His honor to another (compare the second commandment, Exo 20:5). JEROME refers this verse to a statue of Baal, which Josiah had overthrown and his successors had replaced.

Notes on the Bible, by Albert Barnes, [1834]
In the visions of God - Ezekiel was not transported "in the body," but rapt "in spirit," while he still sat amidst the elders of Judah. The inner gate - Or, the gate of the inner court. This gate, leading from the outer to the inner court (the court of the priests), is called Eze 8:5 "the gate of the altar," because it was from this side that the priests approached the brass altar. The prophet is on the "outside" of this gate, so that the "image of jealousy" was set up in the outer or people's court over against the northern entrance to the priest's court. This image was the image of a false god provoking Yahweh to "jealousy" Deu 32:16, Deu 32:21; Kg1 14:22. It may be doubted whether the scenes described in this chapter are intended to represent what actually occurred. They may be ideal pictures to indicate the idolatrous corruption of priests and people. And this is in accordance with the symbolic character of the number "four;" the four idolatries representing the idolatries in all the four quarters of the world. The false gods of pagandom are brought into the temple in order that they may be detected and exposed by being brought face to face with the God of revelation. Still history proves that the ideal picture was supported by actual facts which had occurred and were occurring.

The Scofield Bible Commentary, by Cyrus Ingerson Scofield, [1917]
visions Visions, that is, of former profanations of the temple, and of the wickedness because of which Israel was then in Babylon, show the prophet that he might justify to the new generation born in Assyria and Babylonia during the captivity, the righteousness of God in the present national chastening. The visions are retrospective; Israel had done these things, hence the captivities. This strain continues to (Eze 33:20). It is the divine view of the national sinfulness and apostasy, revealed to Ezekiel in a series of visions so vivid that though the prophet was by the river Chebar, (Eze 1:1); (Eze 1:3); (Eze 3:23); (Eze 10:15); (Eze 10:20-22); (Eze 43:3) It was as if he were transported back to Jerusalem, and to the time when these things were occurring. These visions of the sinfulness of Israel are interspersed with promises of restoration and blessing which are yet to be fulfilled. See "Israel"; (Gen 12:2); (Gen 12:3); (Rom 11:26). Also "Kingdom, (Old Testament)"; (Gen 1:26-28); (Zac 12:8).

Explanatory Notes on the Whole Bible, by John Wesley [1754-65]
And - This, and all the passages to the end of the 16th verse, was done in vision only. Inner gate - To the door of the gate of the inner court. The north - The temple courts had four gates towards the four quarters, and this was the north gate, which opened into the great court where Ahaz had set up his Damascen altar, and where the idols were set up. The image - Baal, which Manasseh had set up, Josiah had destroyed, but succeeding kings had again set it up. Jealousy - Because it was so notorious an affront to God, who had married Israel to himself.

Adam Clarke Commentary on the Whole Bible - Published 1810-1826
The image of jealousy - סמל הקנאה semel hakkinah. We do not know certainly of what form this image was, nor what god it represented. Some say it was the image of Baal, which was placed in the temple by Manasses; others, that it was the image of Mars; and others, that it was the image of Tammuz or Adonis. Calmet supports this opinion by the following reasons: - 1. The name agrees perfectly with him. He was represented as a beautiful youth, beloved by Venus; at which Mars, her paramour, being incensed and filled with jealousy, sent a large boar against Adonis, which killed him with his tusks. Hence it was the image of him who fell a victim to jealousy. 2. The prophet being returned towards the northern gate, where he had seen the image of jealousy, Eze 8:14, there saw the women lamenting for Tammuz. Now Tammuz, all agree, signifies Adonis; it was that therefore which was called the image of jealousy. 3. The Scripture often gives to the heathen idols names of degradation; as Baal-zebub, god of flies; Baal-zebul; god of dung. It is likely that it was Adonis who is called The dead, Lev 19:27, Lev 19:28; Deu 14:9, because he was worshipped as one dead. And the women represented as worshipping him were probably adulteresses, and had suffered through the jealousy of their husbands. And this worship of the image of jealousy provoked God to jealousy, to destroy this bad people.

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⁵ Thou shalt not bow down [07812] thyself to them, nor serve [05647] them: for I the LORD [03068] thy God [0430] am a jealous [07067] God [0410], visiting [06485] the iniquity [05771] of the fathers [01] upon the children [01121] unto the third [08029] and fourth [07256] generation of them that hate [08130] me;

¹⁴ Then he brought [0935] me to the door [06607] of the gate [08179] of the LORD'S [03068] house [01004] which was toward the north [06828]; and, behold, there sat [03427] women [0802] weeping [01058] for Tammuz [08542].

⁷ And he brake down [05422] the houses [01004] of the sodomites [06945], that were by the house [01004] of the LORD [03068], where the women [0802] wove [0707] hangings [01004] for the grove [0842].

⁴ And the king [04428] commanded [06680] Hilkiah [02518] the high [01419] priest [03548], and the priests [03548] of the second order [04932], and the keepers [08104] of the door [05592], to bring forth [03318] out of the temple [01964] of the LORD [03068] all the vessels [03627] that were made [06213] for Baal [01168], and for the grove [0842], and for all the host [06635] of heaven [08064]: and he burned [08313] them without [02351] Jerusalem [03389] in the fields [07709] of Kidron [06939], and carried [05375] the ashes [06083] of them unto Bethel [01008].

⁷ And he set [07760] a graven image [06459] of the grove [0842] that he had made [06213] in the house [01004], of which the LORD [03068] said [0559] to David [01732], and to Solomon [08010] his son [01121], In this house [01004], and in Jerusalem [03389], which I have chosen [0977] out of all tribes [07626] of Israel [03478], will I put [07760] my name [08034] for ever [05769]:

³ For he built up [01129] again [07725] the high places [01116] which Hezekiah [02396] his father [01] had destroyed [06]; and he reared up [06965] altars [04196] for Baal [01168], and made [06213] a grove [0842], as did [06213] Ahab [0256] king [04428] of Israel [03478]; and worshipped [07812] all the host [06635] of heaven [08064], and served [05647] them.

⁵ And the sound [06963] of the cherubims [03742]' wings [03671] was heard [08085] even to the outer [02435] court [02691], as the voice [06963] of the Almighty [07706] God [0410] when he speaketh [01696].

³⁶ And he built [01129] the inner [06442] court [02691] with three [07969] rows [02905] of hewed stone [01496], and a row [02905] of cedar [0730] beams [03773].

⁵ Then said [0559] he unto me, Son [01121] of man [0120], lift up [05375] thine eyes [05869] now the way [01870] toward the north [06828]. So I lifted up [05375] mine eyes [05869] the way [01870] toward the north [06828], and behold northward [06828] at the gate [08179] of the altar [04196] this image [05566] of jealousy [07068] in the entry [0872].

¹⁵ Son [01121] of man [0120], thy brethren [0251], even thy brethren [0251], the men [0582] of thy kindred [01353], and all the house [01004] of Israel [03478] wholly, are they unto whom the inhabitants [03427] of Jerusalem [03389] have said [0559], Get you far [07368] from the LORD [03068]: unto us is this land [0776] given [05414] in possession [04181].

²² And Judah [03063] did [06213] evil [07451] in the sight [05869] of the LORD [03068], and they provoked him to jealousy [07065] with their sins [02403] which they had committed [02398], above all that their fathers [01] had done [06213].

²¹ They have moved me to jealousy [07065] with that which is not [03808] God [0410]; they have provoked me to anger [03707] with their vanities [01892]: and I will move them to jealousy [07065] with those which are not a people [05971]; I will provoke them to anger [03707] with a foolish [05036] nation [01471].

¹⁶ They provoked him to jealousy [07065] with strange [02114] gods, with abominations [08441] provoked they him to anger [03707].

⁸ In that day [03117] shall the LORD [03068] defend [01598] the inhabitants [03427] of Jerusalem [03389]; and he that is feeble [03782] among them at that day [03117] shall be as David [01732]; and the house [01004] of David [01732] shall be as God [0430], as the angel [04397] of the LORD [03068] before [06440] them.

²⁶ And God [0430] said [0559], Let us make [06213] man [0120] in our image [06754], after our likeness [01823]: and let them have dominion [07287] over the fish [01710] of the sea [03220], and over the fowl [05775] of the air [08064], and over the cattle [0929], and over all the earth [0776], and over every creeping thing [07431] that creepeth [07430] upon the earth [0776].
²⁷ So God [0430] created [01254] man [0120] in his own image [06754], in the image [06754] of God [0430] created [01254] he him; male [02145] and female [05347] created [01254] he them.
²⁸ And God [0430] blessed [01288] them, and God [0430] said [0559] unto them, Be fruitful [06509], and multiply [07235], and replenish [04390] the earth [0776], and subdue it [03533]: and have dominion [07287] over the fish [01710] of the sea [03220], and over the fowl [05775] of the air [08064], and over every living thing [02416] that moveth [07430] upon the earth [0776].

²⁶ And [2532] so [3779] all [3956] Israel [2474] shall be saved [4982]: as [2531] it is written [1125], There shall come [2240] out of [1537] Sion [4622] the Deliverer [4506], and [2532] shall turn away [654] ungodliness [763] from [575] Jacob [2384]:

³ And I will bless [01288] them that bless [01288] thee, and curse [0779] him that curseth [07043] thee: and in thee shall all families [04940] of the earth [0127] be blessed [01288].

² And I will make of thee [06213] a great [01419] nation [01471], and I will bless [01288] thee, and make [01431] thy name [08034] great [01431]; and thou shalt be a blessing [01293]:

³ And it was according to the appearance [04758] of the vision [04758] which I saw [07200], even according to the vision [04758] that I saw [07200] when I came [0935] to destroy [07843] the city [05892]: and the visions [04759] were like the vision [04758] that I saw [07200] by the river [05104] Chebar [03529]; and I fell [05307] upon my face [06440].

²⁰ This is the living creature [02416] that I saw [07200] under the God [0430] of Israel [03478] by the river [05104] of Chebar [03529]; and I knew [03045] that they were the cherubims [03742].
²¹ Every one [0259] had four [0702] faces [06440] apiece [0259], and every one [0259] four [0702] wings [03671]; and the likeness [01823] of the hands [03027] of a man [0120] was under their wings [03671].
²² And the likeness [01823] of their faces [06440] was the same [01992] faces [06440] which I saw [07200] by the river [05104] of Chebar [03529], their appearances [04758] and themselves: they went [03212] every one [0376] straight [05676] forward [06440].

¹⁵ And the cherubims [03742] were lifted up [07426]. This is the living creature [02416] that I saw [07200] by the river [05104] of Chebar [03529].

²³ Then I arose [06965], and went forth [03318] into the plain [01237]: and, behold, the glory [03519] of the LORD [03068] stood [05975] there, as the glory [03519] which I saw [07200] by the river [05104] of Chebar [03529]: and I fell [05307] on my face [06440].

³ The word [01697] of the LORD [03068] came expressly unto Ezekiel [03168] the priest [03548], the son [01121] of Buzi [0941], in the land [0776] of the Chaldeans [03778] by the river [05104] Chebar [03529]; and the hand [03027] of the LORD [03068] was there upon him.

¹ Now it came to pass in the thirtieth [07970] year [08141], in the fourth [07243] month, in the fifth [02568] day of the month [02320], as I was among [08432] the captives [01473] by the river [05104] of Chebar [03529], that the heavens [08064] were opened [06605], and I saw [07200] visions [04759] of God [0430].

²⁰ Yet ye say [0559], The way [01870] of the Lord [0136] is not equal [08505]. O ye house [01004] of Israel [03478], I will judge [08199] you every one [0376] after his ways [01870].

⁹ These ye shall eat [0398] of all that are in the waters [04325]: all that have fins [05579] and scales [07193] shall ye eat [0398]:

²⁸ Ye shall not make [05414] any [03793] cuttings [08296] in your flesh [01320] for the dead [05315], nor print [05414] any marks [07085] upon you: I am the LORD [03068].

²⁷ Ye shall not round [05362] the corners [06285] of your heads [07218], neither shalt thou mar [07843] the corners [06285] of thy beard [02206].