Eze 5:11 | JFB | STEP | 11. as I live-- the most solemn of oaths, pledging the self-existence of God for the certainty of the event. defiled my sanctuary-- the climax of Jewish guilt: their defiling Jehovah's temple by introducing idols. diminish-- literally, "withdraw," namely, Mine "eye" (which presently follows), that is, My favors; uses the Hebrew verb in the same way. As the Jews had withdrawn from God's sanctuary its sacredness by "defiling" it, so God withdraws His countenance from them. The significance of the expression lies in the allusion to , "Ye shall not diminish aught from the word which I command you"; they had done so, therefore God diminishes them. The reading found in six manuscripts, "I will cut thee off," is not so good.

‏ Ezekiel 5:11

11. as I live--the most solemn of oaths, pledging the self-existence of God for the certainty of the event.

defiled my sanctuary--the climax of Jewish guilt: their defiling Jehovah's temple by introducing idols.

diminish--literally, "withdraw," namely, Mine "eye" (which presently follows), that is, My favors; Job 36:7 uses the Hebrew verb in the same way. As the Jews had withdrawn from God's sanctuary its sacredness by "defiling" it, so God withdraws His countenance from them. The significance of the expression lies in the allusion to De 4:2, "Ye shall not diminish aught from the word which I command you"; they had done so, therefore God diminishes them. The reading found in six manuscripts, "I will cut thee off," is not so good.