Ezekiel 20:41

I will accept you with your sweet savour, when I bring you out from the people, and gather you out of the countries wherein ye have been scattered; and I will be sanctified in you before the heathen.

I will accept {H7521} you with your sweet {H5207} savour {H7381}, when I bring you out {H3318} from the people {H5971}, and gather {H6908} you out of the countries {H776} wherein ye have been scattered {H6327}; and I will be sanctified {H6942} in you before {H5869} the heathen {H1471}.

I will accept you with your sweet aroma when I bring you out from the peoples and gather you out of the countries where you were scattered; and through you I will manifest my holiness in the sight of the nations.

When I bring you from the peoples and gather you from the lands to which you have been scattered, I will accept you as a pleasing aroma. And I will show My holiness through you in the sight of the nations.

As a sweet savor will I accept you, when I bring you out from the peoples, and gather you out of the countries wherein ye have been scattered; and I will be sanctified in you in the sight of the nations.

Commentary

Ezekiel 20:41 is a powerful promise of restoration and divine acceptance, given amidst a lengthy rebuke of Israel's historical rebellion. It highlights God's unwavering commitment to His people, not because of their merit, but for the sake of His own holy name.

Context

Chapter 20 of Ezekiel presents a stark historical overview of Israel’s persistent idolatry and disobedience, from their time in Egypt through the wilderness and into the Promised Land. Despite their rebellious spirit, God repeatedly withheld His full wrath for the sake of His name among the nations. Verse 41 shifts from this recounting of judgment and unfaithfulness to a future hope, promising a time when God Himself will gather His scattered people and restore them to a right relationship with Him. This promise of divine gathering and restoration is a recurring theme in the prophetic books, offering hope amidst the pronouncements of exile.

Key Themes

  • Divine Restoration and Gathering: The verse explicitly states God's active role in bringing His people "out from the people, and gather you out of the countries wherein ye have been scattered." This speaks to a physical return from exile, but also implies a spiritual renewal.
  • Acceptance and "Sweet Savour": God declares, "I will accept you with your sweet savour." The Hebrew phrase for "sweet savour" (rêach nîchôach) is frequently used in the Old Testament to describe sacrifices that are pleasing and acceptable to God (e.g., Leviticus 1:9). This suggests that the restored Israel's worship and obedience will finally be offered in a way that God finds delightful, a stark contrast to their previous defiled offerings.
  • God's Sanctification Before the Nations: The ultimate purpose of this restoration is stated: "and I will be sanctified in you before the heathen." God's holiness and power will be demonstrated and vindicated before the Gentile nations through His work in Israel. This is not just about Israel's comfort, but about God's glory being revealed to the world, a theme powerfully echoed in Ezekiel 36:23.
  • Covenant Faithfulness: Despite Israel's repeated failures and deserved judgment, God's promise to restore them underscores His unwavering faithfulness to His covenant promises, showcasing His grace and mercy.

Linguistic Insights

The term "sweet savour" (KJV) translates the Hebrew rêach nîchôach, which literally means "a soothing aroma" or "a pleasing odor." This phrase is deeply rooted in the Levitical sacrificial system, indicating an offering that is entirely acceptable to God. For Israel, this implies that their future worship and renewed relationship will finally align with God's desires, becoming a true spiritual offering. The word "sanctified" (Hebrew niqdashti) means to be "set apart" or "made holy." Here, it signifies that God's actions in restoring Israel will display His unique holiness and power to all observing nations (the "heathen" or goyim).

Practical Application

Ezekiel 20:41 offers profound lessons for believers today:

  • Hope in God's Faithfulness: Just as God remained faithful to Israel despite their unfaithfulness, He remains faithful to His people today. Even when we stumble, God's promises of acceptance and restoration hold true for those who turn to Him.
  • True Worship is Acceptable: The "sweet savour" points to worship that is pleasing to God. In the New Covenant, our acceptance is through the perfect sacrifice of Christ, who offered Himself as a "sweet-smelling savour" (Ephesians 5:2). Our lives, offered in gratitude and obedience through Christ, become a spiritual "sweet savour" to God (Romans 12:1).
  • God's Glory as the Ultimate Goal: This verse reminds us that God's ultimate purpose in saving and restoring His people is to glorify Himself. Our redemption and transformation are not just for our benefit, but so that God's holiness and power can be revealed through us to the world.
  • Divine Initiative: The verse emphasizes God's active role ("I will accept," "I will bring," "I will gather," "I will be sanctified"). Our restoration and ability to offer acceptable worship are fundamentally a result of God's grace and initiative.
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Cross-References

  • 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 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.

  • Ezekiel 38:23

    Thus will I magnify myself, and sanctify myself; and I will be known in the eyes of many nations, and they shall know that I [am] the LORD.

  • Ezekiel 28:22

    And say, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I [am] against thee, O Zidon; and I will be glorified in the midst of thee: and they shall know that I [am] the LORD, when I shall have executed judgments in her, and shall be sanctified in her.

  • Ezekiel 39:27

    When I have brought them again from the people, and gathered them out of their enemies' lands, and am sanctified in them in the sight of many nations;

  • Ezekiel 39:29

    Neither will I hide my face any more from them: for I have poured out my spirit upon the house of Israel, saith the Lord GOD.

  • Micah 7:12

    [In] that day [also] he shall come even to thee from Assyria, and [from] the fortified cities, and from the fortress even to the river, and from sea to sea, and [from] mountain to mountain.