The Meaning of Ezekiel 20:23 Explained

Ezekiel 20:23

KJV: I lifted up mine hand unto them also in the wilderness, that I would scatter them among the heathen, and disperse them through the countries;

YLT: I also, I have lifted up My hand to them in the wilderness, To scatter them among nations, And to spread them through lands.

Darby: I lifted up my hand also unto them in the wilderness, that I would scatter them among the nations, and disperse them through the countries;

ASV: Moreover I sware unto them in the wilderness, that I would scatter them among the nations, and disperse them through the countries;

KJV Reverse Interlinear

I lifted up  mine hand  unto them also in the wilderness,  that I would scatter  them among the heathen,  and disperse  them through the countries; 

What does Ezekiel 20:23 Mean?

Chapter Summary: Ezekiel 20

1  God refuses to be consulted by the elders of Israel
4  He shows the story of their rebellions in Egypt
19  in the desert
27  and in the land
33  He promises to gather them by the Gospel
45  Under the name of a forest he shows the destruction of Jerusalem

What do the individual words in Ezekiel 20:23 mean?

Also I raised in an oath - My hand to those in the wilderness that I would scatter them among the Gentiles and disperse them throughout the countries
גַּם־ אֲנִ֗י נָשָׂ֧אתִי אֶת־ יָדִ֛י לָהֶ֖ם בַּמִּדְבָּ֑ר לְהָפִ֤יץ אֹתָם֙ בַּגּוֹיִ֔ם וּלְזָר֥וֹת אוֹתָ֖ם בָּאֲרָצֽוֹת

גַּם־  Also 
Parse: Conjunction
Root: גַּם  
Sense: also, even, indeed, moreover, yea.
נָשָׂ֧אתִי  raised  in  an  oath 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, first person common singular
Root: נָשָׂא  
Sense: to lift, bear up, carry, take.
אֶת־  - 
Parse: Direct object marker
Root: אֹות 
Sense: sign of the definite direct object, not translated in English but generally preceding and indicating the accusative.
יָדִ֛י  My  hand 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular construct, first person common singular
Root: יָד  
Sense: hand.
לָהֶ֖ם  to  those 
Parse: Preposition, third person masculine plural
בַּמִּדְבָּ֑ר  in  the  wilderness 
Parse: Preposition-b, Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: מִדְבָּר 
Sense: wilderness.
לְהָפִ֤יץ  that  I  would  scatter 
Parse: Preposition-l, Verb, Hifil, Infinitive construct
Root: פּוּץ 
Sense: to scatter, be dispersed, be scattered.
בַּגּוֹיִ֔ם  among  the  Gentiles 
Parse: Preposition-b, Article, Noun, masculine plural
Root: גֹּוי 
Sense: nation, people.
וּלְזָר֥וֹת  and  disperse 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Preposition-l, Verb, Piel, Infinitive construct
Root: זָרָה 
Sense: to scatter, fan, cast away, winnow, disperse, compass, spread, be scattered, be dispersed.
בָּאֲרָצֽוֹת  throughout  the  countries 
Parse: Preposition-b, Article, Noun, feminine plural
Root: אֶרֶץ  
Sense: land, earth.