Ezekiel 20:21-24 (KJV) states: "Notwithstanding the children rebelled against me: they walked not in my statutes, neither kept my judgments to do them, which if a man do, he shall even live in them; they polluted my sabbaths: then I said, I would pour out my fury upon them, to accomplish my anger against them in the wilderness. Nevertheless I withdrew mine hand, and wrought for my name's sake, that it should not be polluted in the sight of the heathen, in whose sight I brought them forth. I lifted up mine hand unto them also in the wilderness, that I would scatter them among the heathen, and disperse them through the countries; Because they had not executed my judgments, but had despised my statutes, and had polluted my sabbaths, and their eyes were after their fathers' idols."

In this passage, the prophet Ezekiel recounts God's disappointment with the Israelites for rebelling against His statutes and not keeping His commandments, especially in regard to respecting the Sabbath. Despite their constant disobedience, God chose not to pour out His wrath upon them in the wilderness. Instead, He withheld His hand and showed mercy for the sake of His own name, so that it would not be dishonored in the eyes of the nations. However, as a consequence of their continuous disobedience, He vowed to scatter them among the nations and disperse them throughout the countries.

The theme of rebellion and divine punishment is central to this passage. The Israelites constantly rebelled against God's laws, walking contrary to His statutes and defiling the Sabbath. Their disobedience led to God's indignation, and it would have been just for Him to pour out His wrath upon them. However, in His mercy, He chose to withhold His hand for the sake of His name. This speaks to the forgiveness and long-suffering nature of God, despite the continual rebellion of His people.

The context of this passage is crucial to understanding its significance. The prophet Ezekiel was addressing the exiled Israelites in Babylon, who had been dispersed from their homeland due to their disobedience. Ezekiel uses this historical context to warn the people of their continual rebellion and the consequences it brought upon them. This serves as a powerful message to the Israelites to repent and return to following God's commandments, and to the readers of the Bible to heed the warning and avoid the same mistakes.

Symbolism is also present in this passage, particularly in the mention of the Sabbath. The Sabbath was a sign of the covenant between God and the Israelites (Exodus 31:16-17), and their disregard for it symbolized their rejection of the covenant and their rebellion against God. The scattering among the nations and dispersion throughout the countries serves as a symbol of the consequences of disobedience and a warning of the fate that awaits those who defy God's commandments.

In summary, Ezekiel 20:21-24 (KJV) depicts God's mercy in withholding His wrath despite the continual rebellion of the Israelites. It serves as a warning to the Israelites to repent and return to following God's commandments. The passage also carries a broader message to all readers of the Bible regarding the consequences of disobedience and the mercy and long-suffering nature of God. It also carries the symbolism of the Sabbath as a sign of the covenant and the scattering among the nations as a consequence of disobedience.