Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD; Because ye multiplied more than the nations that are round about you, and have not walked in my statutes, neither have kept my judgments, neither have done according to the judgments of the nations that are round about you;
Because ye multiplied more than the nations, х hªmaanªkem (H1995)] - rather, 'have been more abundantly outrageous;' literally, to tumultuate х haamah (H1993)], to have an extravagant rage for idols.
Neither have done according to the judgments of the nations - have not been as tenacious of the true religion as the nations have been of the false. The pagan "changed" not their gods, but the Jews changed Yahweh for idols (see Ezekiel 5:6, "changed my judgments into wickedness" - i:e., idolatry, Jeremiah 2:11). The Chaldaic version and the Masora support the negative х lo' (H3808)]. Others omit it, as it is omitted in Ezekiel 11:12, "but have done after the manners of the pagan that are round about you;" and translate, 'but have done according to the judgments,' etc. However, both Ezekiel 11:12 and also this verse are true. They in one sense "did according to the pagan" - namely, in all that was bad; in another-namely, in that which was good-zeal for religion-they did not. Ezekiel 5:9 also proves the negative to be genuine. God says, because in changing their religion they have not done as the nations, which have not changed theirs, "I (also) will do in thee that which I have not done."