Ezekiel 36:32-38

32 1It is not for your sake that I will act, declares the Lord GOD; let that be known to you. Be ashamed and confounded for your ways, O house of Israel.
33 "Thus says the Lord GOD: On the day that 2I cleanse you from all your iniquities, 3I will cause the cities to be inhabited, and the waste places shall be rebuilt.
34 And the land that was desolate shall be tilled, instead of being the desolation that it was in the sight of all who passed by.
35 And they will say, 'This land that was desolate has become like 4the garden of Eden, and the waste and desolate and ruined cities are now fortified and inhabited.'
36 Then 5the nations that are left all around you shall know that I am the LORD; I have rebuilt the ruined places and 6replanted that which was desolate. 7I am the LORD; I have spoken, and I will do it.
37 "Thus says the Lord GOD: This also 8I will let the house of Israel ask me to do for them: 9to increase their people like 10a flock.
38 Like the flock for sacrifices,[a]11like the flock at Jerusalem during her appointed feasts, so 12shall the waste cities be filled with flocks of people. 13Then they will know that I am the LORD."

Ezekiel 36:32-38 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO EZEKIEL 36

This chapter is a prophecy concerning the desolations of the land of Israel, and the causes of them; of the return of the people to it, and the fruitfulness of it; and of spiritual blessings bestowed upon them in the latter day. And first, for the comfort of the people of Israel, it is observed that their enemies that insulted them will suffer the vengeance of God's wrath, particularly the Edomites, Eze 36:1-7, that the land of Israel should again become fruitful, its cities rebuilt, men and beasts be multiplied upon it, and be no more liable to destruction, nor bear any more the reproach of the Heathen, Eze 36:8-15, the causes of its desolation and destruction, the sins of its inhabitants, especially bloodshed, idolatry, and profanation of the name of God, Eze 36:16-20, nevertheless the Lord promises to have mercy on them, and return them to their own land, not for their sakes, but for his own name's sake, Eze 36:21-24, then follow promises of spiritual blessings to them: as purification from all sin by the blood of Christ; regeneration by his Spirit and grace; and evangelical obedience as the fruit of that, Eze 36:25-27, and others of a mixed kind, respecting partly temporal and partly spiritual blessings, Eze 36:28-36, for all which it is expected of the Lord that he should be prayed unto for them; particularly their inhabitation in their own land, and the multiplication of them in it, with which the chapter concludes, Eze 36:37,38.

Cross References 13

Footnotes 1

  • [a]. Hebrew flock of holy things
The English Standard Version is published with the permission of Good News Publishers.