Ezekiel 11:17

Therefore say, Thus saith the Lord GOD; I will even gather you from the people, and assemble you out of the countries where ye have been scattered, and I will give you the land of Israel.

Therefore say {H559}, Thus saith {H559} the Lord {H136} GOD {H3069}; I will even gather {H6908} you from the people {H5971}, and assemble {H622} you out of the countries {H776} where ye have been scattered {H6327}, and I will give {H5414} you the land {H127} of Israel {H3478}.

Therefore, say that Adonai ELOHIM says this: '"I will gather you from the peoples and collect you from the countries where you have been scattered, and I will give the land of Isra'el to you."

Therefore declare that this is what the Lord GOD says: ‘I will gather you from the peoples and assemble you from the countries to which you have been scattered, and I will give back to you the land of Israel.’

Therefore say, Thus saith the Lord Jehovah: I will gather you from the peoples, and assemble you out of the countries where ye have been scattered, and I will give you the land of Israel.

Ezekiel 11:17 stands as a powerful promise of future restoration amidst a context of impending judgment. This verse, delivered by the prophet Ezekiel, offers a beacon of hope to the exiled people of Israel, assuring them of God's unwavering faithfulness to His covenant promises.

Context

The book of Ezekiel primarily addresses the Jewish people during their Babylonian exile. Chapters 8-11 describe the departure of God's glory from the Jerusalem Temple due to the rampant idolatry and corruption among the city's leaders and inhabitants. While the initial verses of chapter 11 pronounce judgment and the destruction of Jerusalem, verse 16 begins a shift, promising that God would be "a little sanctuary" to the exiles. Verse 17 then directly follows with a profound declaration of future gathering and restoration, highlighting God's mercy even in the midst of severe discipline.

Key Themes

  • Divine Sovereignty and Promise: The phrase "Thus saith the Lord GOD" underscores that this is a direct, authoritative declaration from God Himself. It emphasizes God's sovereign power to execute His will, regardless of human circumstances or failures. His promises are sure.
  • Gathering and Restoration: The core message is God's active role in bringing His scattered people back together. "I will even gather you from the people, and assemble you out of the countries where ye have been scattered" speaks to a comprehensive and deliberate act of divine retrieval, collecting them from all nations where they had been dispersed due to judgment.
  • Return to the Land of Israel: The ultimate goal of this gathering is the restoration to their ancestral homeland: "and I will give you the land of Israel." This reaffirms God's covenant with Abraham concerning the land (Genesis 12:7), demonstrating His faithfulness even after His people's disobedience led to their removal from it.
  • Hope Amidst Judgment: For the exiles, this prophecy was a vital source of hope. It counteracted the despair of their situation, assuring them that their scattering was not the end of God's plan for them but a painful, temporary phase leading to ultimate restoration and spiritual renewal, as further elaborated in subsequent verses (e.g., Ezekiel 11:19 and Ezekiel 36:26).

Linguistic Insights

The Hebrew verbs used for "gather" (qabats) and "assemble" (kanas) both convey the idea of collecting dispersed items or people. Their combined use here emphasizes the thoroughness and intentionality of God's action in bringing His people back from their scattered state. The "land of Israel" ('eretz Yisrael) is not just any territory; it is the specific, divinely promised inheritance, central to Israel's identity and covenant relationship with God.

Reflection and Application

Ezekiel 11:17 offers profound lessons for believers today. It reminds us of God's unwavering faithfulness, even when we experience the consequences of our own sin or live through periods of spiritual "exile" or difficulty. Just as God promised to gather and restore His ancient people, He continually works to bring individuals and communities back into right relationship with Him.

This verse provides comfort that God's ultimate plan for His people will prevail. It encourages us to trust in His promises for future hope and restoration, whether in personal life, in the church, or looking forward to the new heavens and new earth where all things will be made new. God's ability to gather the scattered and restore the lost is a testament to His enduring love and power.

Note: Commentary was generated by an advanced AI, utilizing a prompt that emphasized Biblical fidelity over bias. We've found these insights to be consistently reliable, yet we always encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

  • Ezekiel 28:25

    Thus saith the Lord GOD; When I shall have gathered the house of Israel from the people among whom they are scattered, and shall be sanctified in them in the sight of the heathen, then shall they dwell in their land that I have given to my servant Jacob.

  • Ezekiel 34:13

    And I will bring them out from the people, and gather them from the countries, and will bring them to their own land, and feed them upon the mountains of Israel by the rivers, and in all the inhabited places of the country.

  • Jeremiah 3:18

    In those days the house of Judah shall walk with the house of Israel, and they shall come together out of the land of the north to the land that I have given for an inheritance unto your fathers.

  • Ezekiel 36:24

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

  • Jeremiah 24:5

    Thus saith the LORD, the God of Israel; Like these good figs, so will I acknowledge them that are carried away captive of Judah, whom I have sent out of this place into the land of the Chaldeans for [their] good.

  • Isaiah 11:11

    And it shall come to pass in that day, [that] the Lord shall set his hand again the second time to recover the remnant of his people, which shall be left, from Assyria, and from Egypt, and from Pathros, and from Cush, and from Elam, and from Shinar, and from Hamath, and from the islands of the sea.

  • Isaiah 11:16

    And there shall be an highway for the remnant of his people, which shall be left, from Assyria; like as it was to Israel in the day that he came up out of the land of Egypt.

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