Ezekiel 37:21-23

21 and say to them, ‘This is what the Sovereign LORD says: I will take the Israelites out of the nations where they have gone. I will gather them from all around and bring them back into their own land.
22 I will make them one nation in the land, on the mountains of Israel. There will be one king over all of them and they will never again be two nations or be divided into two kingdoms.
23 They will no longer defile themselves with their idols and vile images or with any of their offenses, for I will save them from all their sinful backsliding,[a] and I will cleanse them. They will be my people, and I will be their God.

Ezekiel 37:21-23 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO EZEKIEL 37

This chapter contains a prophecy of the Jews' return from captivity to their own land; of the union of the each tribes with one another; and of the glorious kingdom of Christ among them. Their restoration is represented by a vision of dry bones made alive; the place in which they were; the condition they were in; and the manner in which they were made to live, are described, Eze 37:1-10, the explication and application of this vision to the Jews, Eze 37:11-14, their union is signified by a sign or emblem of two sticks, which became one in the hand of the prophet, Eze 37:15-17, the meaning of this is shown, Eze 37:18-20, then follow promises of their return to their own land, in express words; of their being one kingdom, under one King, Christ, the antitype of David, of their sanctification; of their covenant interest in God, made manifest to them; and of his presence, and dwelling among them, Eze 37:21-28.

Cross References 6

  • 1. S ver 12; S Isaiah 43:5-6; S Ezekiel 20:42; Ezekiel 36:24; Ezekiel 39:27; Micah 4:6
  • 2. S Ezekiel 17:22; S Ezekiel 34:13-14
  • 3. Isaiah 11:13; Jeremiah 3:18; Jeremiah 33:24; S Jeremiah 50:4; Hosea 1:11
  • 4. Ezekiel 36:25; Ezekiel 43:7
  • 5. S Jeremiah 7:24
  • 6. Ezekiel 11:18; S Ezekiel 36:28; Nahum 2:2

Footnotes 1

  • [a]. Many Hebrew manuscripts (see also Septuagint); most Hebrew manuscripts "all their dwelling places where they sinned"
Scripture quoted by permission.  Quotations designated (NIV) are from THE HOLY BIBLE: NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®.  NIV®.  Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica.  All rights reserved worldwide.