Ezekiel 36:17-27

17 "Son of man, when the house of Israel dwelt in their own land, they defiled it by their own way and by their doings; their way was before Me as the uncleanness of a removed woman.

18 Therefore I poured My fury upon them for the blood that they had shed upon the land and for their idols wherewith they had polluted it.

19 And I scattered them among the heathen, and they were dispersed through the countries; according to their way and according to their doings I judged them.

20 And when they entered unto the heathen whither they went, they profaned My holy name, when they said to them, `These are the people of the LORD, and are gone forth out of His land.'

21 But I had pity for Mine holy name, which the house of Israel had profaned among the heathen whither they went.

22 "Therefore say unto the house of Israel, `Thus saith the Lord GOD: I do not this for your sakes, O house of Israel, but for Mine holy name's sake, which ye have profaned among the heathen whither ye went.

23 And I will sanctify My great name which was profaned among the heathen, which ye have profaned in the midst of them; and the heathen shall know that I am the LORD, saith the Lord GOD, when I shall be sanctified in you before their eyes.

24 For I will take you from among the heathen and gather you out of all countries, and will bring you into your own land.

25 "`Then will I sprinkle clean water upon you, and ye shall be clean; from all your filthiness and from all your idols will I cleanse you.

26 A new heart also will I give you and a new spirit will I put within you; and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you a heart of flesh.

27 And I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes, and ye shall keep My judgments and do them.

Ezekiel 36:17-27 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.