Nevertheless mine eye spared them from destroying them, neither did I make an end of them in the wilderness.
Parallel translations
- WEB Nevertheless my eye spared them, and I didn’t destroy them, neither did I make a full end of them in the wilderness.
- BSB Yet I looked on them with pity and did not destroy them or bring them to an end in the wilderness.
- NKJV Nevertheless My eye spared them from destruction. I did not make an end of them in the wilderness.
- NASB Yet My eye spared them rather than destroying them, and I did not bring about their annihilation in the wilderness.
- NLT Nevertheless, I took pity on them and held back from destroying them in the wilderness.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
Yet God's eye spared them, and He did not utterly destroy them in the wilderness. His mercy preserved a people despite their rebellion.
Overview
Even under just sentence, God tempered judgment with compassion, refusing to make a complete end of Israel. This restraint preserved the covenant line and kept His promises moving forward. It displays the steadfast love of God who, though He chastens, does not abandon His people, ultimately securing them in Christ.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 10
- Ezek 11:13And it came to pass, when I prophesied, that Pelatiah the son of Benaiah died. Then fell I down upon my face, and cried with a loud voice, and said, Ah Lord GOD! wilt thou make a full end of the remnant of Israel?
- Jer 4:27For thus hath the LORD said, The whole land shall be desolate; yet will I not make a full end.
- Jer 5:18Nevertheless in those days, saith the LORD, I will not make a full end with you.
- Ezek 8:18Therefore will I also deal in fury: mine eye shall not spare, neither will I have pity: and though they cry in mine ears with a loud voice, yet will I not hear them.
- 1 Sam 24:10Behold, this day thine eyes have seen how that the LORD had delivered thee to day into mine hand in the cave: and some bade me kill thee: but mine eye spared thee; and I said, I will not put forth mine hand against my lord; for he is the LORD’s anointed.
- Neh 9:19Yet thou in thy manifold mercies forsookest them not in the wilderness: the pillar of the cloud departed not from them by day, to lead them in the way; neither the pillar of fire by night, to shew them light, and the way wherein they should go.
- Ps 78:37–38For their heart was not right with him, neither were they stedfast in his covenant.
- Ezek 7:2Also, thou son of man, thus saith the Lord GOD unto the land of Israel; An end, the end is come upon the four corners of the land.
- Nah 1:8–9But with an overrunning flood he will make an utter end of the place thereof, and darkness shall pursue his enemies.
- Ezek 9:10And as for me also, mine eye shall not spare, neither will I have pity, but I will recompense their way upon their head.
Resources, by level
Commentaries & study tools
Free animated overview and word-study videos for this book.
Sermons and teaching on this passage from across YouTube.
Clear, readable, conservative exposition — the best free place to start on any passage.
Matthew Henry, Barnes, Gill, the Pulpit Commentary, Ellicott, Cambridge, and more — stacked on one page for this exact verse.
The beloved Puritan exposition of this whole book — warm, devotional, and verse by verse (free, CCEL).
Hebrew/Greek interlinear, word definitions, and cross-references for this verse.
Christ at the center
The promise of one Shepherd-King David, a new heart and new Spirit, and the river of life flowing from the temple all stream toward Christ, the good Shepherd who gives the Spirit.
How Ezekiel 20:17 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Hebrew word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.