Then he said unto me, Hast thou seen this, O son of man? Is it a light thing to the house of Judah that they commit the abominations which they commit here? for they have filled the land with violence, and have returned to provoke me to anger: and, lo, they put the branch to their nose.
And have returned to provoke me to anger: and, lo, they put the branch to their nose - proverbial, because 'they turn up the nose in scorn,' expressing their insolent security. (Septuagint) Not content with outraging "with their violence" the second table of the law-namely, that of duty toward one's neighbour - "they have returned" (i:e., they turn back afresh) to provoke me by violations of the first table (Calvin). Rather, they held up a branch or bundle of tamarisk branches (called barsom) to their nose at daybreak, while singing hymns to the rising sun (Strabo, 1: 15, p. 733). Sacred trees were frequent symbols in idol- worship. Calvin translates, 'to their own ruin'-literally, 'to their nose' - i:e., with the effect of rousing my anger (of which the Hebrew is "nose") to their ruin.