What Does Ezekiel 8:13 Mean in the King James?
He said also unto me, Turn thee yet again, and thou shalt see greater abominations that they do.
The analysis reads the King James wording.
King James Version The King James Version, first published in 1611. Selah Verse shows the standard text.
THE KEY
Each return of attention reveals a more severe layer of what is being done.
THE MEANING
The verse meets you at a second turn of attention: what comes into view is more abhorrent than the layer already visible. It names these as deeds being done, keeping the revealed horror concrete.
WHAT THIS UNDOES
It undoes the assumption that one painful glimpse shows the whole reality; another turn can expose a deeper, more terrible layer.
THE ROOT
תָּשׁוּב
tashuv
GROWS FROM
שׁוּב
shuv
Turn back; return.
Shuv means a turn back or return, so the repeated command is a movement, not just another glance. Each return of attention opens a further layer of what is being done.
ALSO GROWS
shav: Returned; turned back.
שָׁב
This verb form keeps the root’s sense of turning as an actual movement.
meshubah: Turning away; backsliding.
מְשׁוּבָה
The same root can name a turn away, showing that the direction of a turn matters.
תּוֹעֵבוֹת
to'evot
GROWS FROM
תעב
t-ʿ-b
To abhor; to be abhorrent.
“Abominations” in this verse is to'evot. The noun for an abhorrent act is built from ta’av, “to abhor,” keeping revulsion inside the word itself. The acts are named with the force of something loathsome.
ALSO GROWS
to'evah: An abhorrent or detestable thing.
תּוֹעֵבָה
The singular form shows the same root naming a specific thing as abhorrent.
to'ev: Abhorrent; detestable.
תּוֹעֵב
This form applies the root directly to what is loathsome.
גְּדֹלוֹת
gedolot
GROWS FROM
גדל
g-d-l
Grow; become great.
The word rendered “greater” belongs to gadal, “grow, become great.” Alongside “turn again,” it frames the next view as an escalation in scale.
ALSO GROWS
gadol: Great; large.
גָּדוֹל
This adjective shares the root behind the scale of what is revealed.
gadal: Grow; become great.
גָּדַל
The verb makes the root’s sense of increase explicit.
THE PATTERN
Further disclosure brings concealed deeds into view and reveals their full severity.
Thou hast set our iniquities before thee, our secret sins in the light of thy countenance.For there is nothing covered, that shall not be revealed; neither hid, that shall not be known.But all things that are reproved are made manifest by the light: for whatsoever doth make manifest is light.THE THREAD
Therefore say thou unto them, Thus saith the LORD of hosts; Turn ye unto me, saith the LORD of hosts, and I will turn unto you, saith the LORD of hosts.Both verses use שׁוּב (shuv), the root for turning back or returning: here another turn reveals a further layer, while Zechariah speaks of turning toward the LORD and the LORD turning toward you. The shared root holds a change of direction and a relational return together.
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