Ezekiel 36 foretells the restoration of the land of Israel and its people. God declares His intent to act not for Israel's merit, but for the sanctification of His holy name, which was profaned among the heathen. He promises to gather Israel, cleanse them spiritually, give them a new heart and spirit, and bring them back to a prosperous land, where they will dwell as His people.
therefore prophesy, and say, Thus says the Lord GOD: Because, even because they have made you desolate, and swallowed you up on every side, that you might be a possession to the residue of the nations, and you are taken up in the lips of talkers, and the evil report of the people;
therefore, you mountains of Israel, hear the word of the Lord GOD: Thus says the Lord GOD to the mountains and to the hills, to the watercourses and to the valleys, to the desolate wastes and to the cities that are forsaken, which are become a prey and derision to the residue of the nations that are all around;
therefore thus says the Lord GOD: Surely in the fire of my jealousy have I spoken against the residue of the nations, and against all Edom, that have appointed my land to themselves for a possession with the joy of all their heart, with despite of soul, to cast it out for a prey.
Therefore prophesy concerning Eretz-Israel, and tell the mountains and to the hills, to the watercourses and to the valleys, Thus says the Lord GOD: Behold, I have spoken in my jealousy and in my wrath, because you have borne the shame of the nations:
and I will multiply on you man and animal; and they shall increase and be fruitful; and I will cause you to be inhabited after your former estate, and you will do better than at your beginnings: and you shall know that I am the LORD.
Yes, I will cause men to walk on you, even my people Israel; and they shall possess you, and you shall be their inheritance, and you shall no more henceforth bereave them of children.
neither will I let you hear any more the shame of the nations, neither shall you bear the reproach of the peoples any more, neither shall you cause your nation to stumble any more, says the Lord GOD.
Son of man, when the house of Israel lived in their own land, they defiled it by their way and by their doings: their way before me was as the uncleanness of a woman in her impurity.
and I scattered them among the nations, and they were dispersed through the countries: according to their way and according to their doings I judged them.
When they came to the nations, where they went, they profaned my holy name; in that men said of them, These are the people of the LORD, and are gone out of his land.
Therefore tell the house of Israel, Thus says the Lord GOD: I don’t do this for your sake, house of Israel, but for my holy name, which you have profaned among the nations, where you went.
I will sanctify my great name, which has been profaned among the nations, which you have profaned in their midst; and the nations shall know that I am the LORD, says the Lord GOD, when I shall be sanctified in you before their eyes.
I will also give you a new heart, and I will put a new spirit within you; and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you a heart of flesh.
Then you shall remember your evil ways, and your doings that were not good; and you shall loathe yourselves in your own sight for your iniquities and for your abominations.
Thus says the Lord GOD: In the day that I cleanse you from all your iniquities, I will cause the cities to be inhabited, and the waste places shall be built.
They shall say, This land that was desolate has become like the garden of Eden; and the waste and desolate and ruined cities are fortified and inhabited.
Then the nations that are left around you shall know that I, the LORD, have built the ruined places, and planted that which was desolate: I, the LORD, have spoken it, and I will do it.
Thus says the Lord GOD: For this, moreover, will I be inquired of by the house of Israel, to do it for them: I will increase them with men like a flock.
As the flock for sacrifice, as the flock of Jerusalem in her appointed feasts, so shall the waste cities be filled with flocks of men; and they shall know that I am the LORD.
Study Notes for Ezekiel 36
Verse 1
Ezekiel is commanded to address the physical land of Israel directly. This personification emphasizes that the land itself suffered shame and desolation alongside its inhabitants.
Verse 2
The 'ancient high places' refer to the prominent hills and territories of Israel. The enemy (primarily Edom, see v. 5) claimed these as their possession after Jerusalem’s fall, viewing the defeat as proof of Israel’s God’s weakness.
Verse 5
God's 'jealousy' is his protective zeal for his holy territory. 'Idumea' (Edom) is singled out as having maliciously seized the land, demonstrating extreme hostile intent against YHWH’s domain.
Verse 7
God promises a reversal of fortune. The surrounding nations who mocked Israel will themselves experience the shame and humiliation they inflicted.
Verse 8
The focus shifts from judging the enemies to restoring the physical land, promising immediate agricultural fertility in anticipation of the exiles' imminent return.
Verse 11
The restoration will not merely return Israel to its previous status, but will surpass it. God promises a future state that is 'better' than their initial settlement, pointing toward an ultimate, ideal restoration.
Verse 13
The slander that the land 'devourest up men' references the frequent wars, famines, and judgments that decimated Israel's population, suggesting the land itself was hostile to its inhabitants due to their sin (cf. Num. 13:32).
Verse 17
The phrase 'uncleanness of a removed woman' refers to ritual impurity associated with menstruation (Lev. 15:19). This metaphor emphasizes the profound and pervasive defilement caused by Israel’s idolatry and bloodshed.
Verse 20
When the exiles were scattered, the surrounding nations misinterpreted the event, concluding that YHWH was unable to protect his people. Thus, Israel's defeat led directly to the profaning of God's reputation among the heathen.
Verse 22
This is a pivotal theological statement: God’s actions are motivated entirely by his own holiness and honor, not by any merit or righteousness found in Israel. Restoration is an act of sovereign grace.
Verse 24
The physical gathering of the people (v. 24) precedes the spiritual transformation (v. 25ff.), establishing the order of God’s redemptive work.
Verse 25
'Sprinkle clean water' refers to ritual purification, symbolizing the inward cleansing from sin and idolatry necessary to re-establish the relationship with God.
Verse 26
This verse contains the central promise of the New Covenant (cf. Jer. 31:33). The 'stony heart' represents human rebellion and inability to obey; the 'heart of flesh' represents a renewed, responsive disposition capable of fellowship.
Verse 27
The indwelling of God's Spirit is the divine mechanism that makes the new heart effective. The Spirit provides the internal motivation and power necessary for the people to actually walk in obedience, reversing the failure of the Old Covenant.
Verse 28
The ultimate goal of the covenant relationship is realized: the people dwell securely in the promised land, and the foundational identity statement is fulfilled: 'ye shall be my people, and I will be your God.'
Verse 31
True repentance is generated by grace. Having experienced God's unmerited cleansing, the people will look back on their former sins with 'loathing' (self-disgust), highlighting the depth of their gratitude.
Verse 32
God reiterates the source of the restoration (his own name) and calls for the people to remain humble, emphasizing that shame is the only appropriate response to their past ways.
Verse 35
The land’s transformation will be so complete that it will resemble the 'garden of Eden,' symbolizing a return to paradisiacal fertility, peace, and order, reversing the curses of the exile.
Verse 36
The ultimate purpose of the restoration is the vindication of YHWH. The surrounding nations, having witnessed Israel's desolation, will now recognize God’s sovereignty and power in rebuilding them.
Verse 37
While God promises the restoration unilaterally, he still requires his people to engage in prayer and petition ('be enquired of'), establishing the necessary role of human dependence in receiving divine blessings.
Verse 38
'Holy flock' refers to the immense number of animals offered during the feasts. This metaphor illustrates the vast increase in population (flocks of men) that will fill the restored cities.
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