Ezekiel 36:22

Israel to Be Renewed for His Name's Sake

22 "Therefore say to the house of Israel, 'Thus says the Lord GOD, "It is ¹not for your sake, O house of Israel, that I am about to act, but for My holy name, which you have profaned among the nations where * you went.

Ezekiel 36:22 Meaning and Commentary

Ezekiel 36:22

Therefore say unto the house of Israel
This is an order to the prophet, the son of man, ( Ezekiel 36:17 ) : thus saith the Lord God, I do not this for your sakes, O house of
Israel;
what he hereafter promises to do for them, both with respect to things temporal and spiritual; which he did, not on account of any deserts or worthiness in them; for they had none, having done nothing to merit his favour, but, on the contrary, everything to provoke the eyes of his glory: but for my holy name's sake, which ye have profaned among the Heathen,
whither ye went;
for the honour of his holy name, for the glory of his holy word, holy worship, and holy religion; all which were traduced and reproached among the Heathen, by reason of the ungodly behaviour of the Jews.

Ezekiel 36:22 In-Context

20 "When they came to the nations where they went, they profaned My holy name, because it was said of them, 'These are the people of the LORD ; yet they have come out of His land.'

21 "But I had concern for My holy name, which the house of Israel had profaned among the nations where they went.

22 "Therefore say to the house of Israel, 'Thus says the Lord GOD, "It is not for your sake, O house of Israel, that I am about to act, but for My holy name, which you have profaned among the nations where you went.

23 "I will vindicate the holiness of My great name which has been profaned among the nations, which you have profaned in their midst. Then the nations will know that I am the LORD ," declares the Lord GOD, "when I prove Myself holy among you in their sight.

24 "For I will take you from the nations, gather you from all the lands and bring you into your own land.

Cross References

• 1. Deuteronomy 7:7, 8; Deuteronomy 9:5, 6; Ezekiel 36:32