Ezekiel 36:8

8 “But you, O mountains of Israel, ¹shall shoot forth your branches and yield your fruit to my people Israel, for ²they will soon come home.

Ezekiel 36:8 Meaning and Commentary

Ezekiel 36:8

But ye, O mountains of Israel
Literally understood, as appears by what follows; for though they could not hear what was said, the proprietors of them could, now in captivity; and the efficacy of the word should be seen on them, producing the following effects: ye shall shoot forth your branches;
that is, the trees that grew upon them should; the vines, and the olive trees, planted on hills and mountains, as was usual, as appears from the mount of Olives, and other places: and yield your fruit to my people of Israel;
not only put forth branches, but bear fruit; and which should be given to the right owners, the people of Israel, and not to the Heathens, who had claimed the ancient mountains for their possession: for they are at hand to come;
the Israelites; either by repentance, as Kimchi; or by a return from the Babylonish captivity, which was about forty or fifty years after this prophecy; and which was but a shadow and figure of their restoration in the latter day, yet to come; which might be said to be at hand, or near, with respect to God, with whom two or three thousand years are as nothing. The Targum is,

``for the day of my redemption is near to come.''

Ezekiel 36:8 In-Context

6 Therefore prophesy concerning the land of Israel, and say to the mountains and hills, to the ravines and valleys, Thus says the Lord God: Behold, I have spoken in my jealous wrath, because you have suffered the reproach of the nations.

7 Therefore thus says the Lord God: I swear that the nations that are all around you shall themselves suffer reproach.

8 “But you, O mountains of Israel, shall shoot forth your branches and yield your fruit to my people Israel, for they will soon come home.

9 For behold, I am for you, and I will turn to you, and you shall be tilled and sown.

10 And I will multiply people on you, the whole house of Israel, all of it. The cities shall be inhabited and the waste places rebuilt.

Cross References

• 1. 36:8 See ch. 17:23
• 2. 36:8 ch. 12:23; [Isa. 56:1]