Ezekiel 36:38

38 as an holy flock, as the flock of Jerusalem in the solemnities thereof, so the cities that be forsaken shall be full of the flocks of men; and they shall know, that I am the Lord. (like a holy flock, yea, like the flock in Jerusalem at its solemn feasts, so that the cities that be deserted shall again be full of flocks of people; and they shall know, that I am the Lord.)

Ezekiel 36:38 Meaning and Commentary

Ezekiel 36:38

As the holy flock, as the flock of Jerusalem in her solemn
feasts
Like flocks of sheep, which were consecrated and set apart for holy uses, for sacrifices; even like the flocks of sheep, which were brought to Jerusalem to be offered in sacrifice at the three solemn festivals in the year; especially at the passover, when the Jews came from all parts of the country to slay and eat their passover; and every family had a lamb, which in all must be a great number: we read of thirty thousand lambs and three thousand bullocks given at one time for this service by King Josiah, besides what was given by the princes, ( 2 Chronicles 35:7-9 ) . The Targum is,

``as the holy people, as a people that is cleansed, and comes to Jerusalem at the feasts of the passover:''

or, "as the flock of the Holy Ones" ^F17; either of the holy God, Father, Son, and Spirit; or of holy men, who are made holy or sanctified by the Spirit of God: so shall the waste cities be filled with flocks of men;
or with men that are like sheep for meekness, harmlessness, patience, cleanness, society, and usefulness; and not with such as are comparable to unclean beasts, or beasts of prey; so it denotes both the quantity of persons that shall inhabit Judea, and dwelt both in the cities and churches there, and the quality of them.

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FOOTNOTES:

F17 (Myvdq Nauk) "sicut oves sanctorum", Vatablus, Gussetius, Starckius.

Ezekiel 36:38 In-Context

36 and heathen men, which ever be left in your compass, shall know, that I the Lord have builded [the] destroyed things, and I have planted untilled things; I the Lord spake, and I did (it). (and the heathen, whomever be left all around you, shall know, that I the Lord have rebuilt the destroyed places, and I have planted the untilled land; I the Lord spoke, and I shall do it.)

37 The Lord God saith these things, Yet in this thing the house of Israel shall find me, that I do to them; I shall multiply them as the flock of men, (The Lord God saith these things, Yet again the house of Israel shall ask me, that I act for them; and I shall multiply them into a flock of people,)

38 as an holy flock, as the flock of Jerusalem in the solemnities thereof, so the cities that be forsaken shall be full of the flocks of men; and they shall know, that I am the Lord. (like a holy flock, yea, like the flock in Jerusalem at its solemn feasts, so that the cities that be deserted shall again be full of flocks of people; and they shall know, that I am the Lord.)