Ezekiel 34:26

KJV

And I will make them and the places round about my hill a blessing; and I will cause the shower to come down in his season; there shall be showers of blessing.

KJV (with Strong's)

And I will make {H5414} them and the places round about {H5439} my hill {H1389} a blessing {H1293}; and I will cause the shower {H1653} to come down {H3381} in his season {H6256}; there shall be showers {H1653} of blessing {H1293}.

Complete Jewish Bible

I will make them and the places around my hill a blessing, and I will cause the rain to fall when it should - there will be showers of blessing.

Berean Standard Bible

I will make them and the places around My hill a blessing. I will send down showers in season—showers of blessing.

American Standard Version

And I will make them and the places round about my hill a blessing; and I will cause the shower to come down in its season; there shall be showers of blessing.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Ezekiel 34:26 delivers a profound promise of divine restoration and abundant provision, marking a pivotal shift from judgment to grace. Following God's condemnation of Israel's failed human leaders, this verse declares His personal commitment to transform His people and their dwelling places into a source of blessing, ensuring timely and overflowing sustenance, symbolized by life-giving rain. It encapsulates God's unwavering faithfulness and His intention to bring comprehensive flourishing to those under His direct, pastoral care.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Ezekiel 34 is a crucial chapter within Ezekiel's broader prophetic message, which oscillates between pronouncements of judgment against Israel's sin and promises of future restoration. The verses immediately preceding Ezekiel 34:26 (Ezekiel 34:1-10) contain a scathing indictment against the corrupt "shepherds" (leaders) of Israel who have neglected, exploited, and scattered God's flock (the people). In a dramatic contrast, God declares in Ezekiel 34:11-16 that He Himself will intervene as the true and faithful Shepherd, actively seeking out His lost sheep, binding up the injured, strengthening the weak, and leading them to good pasture. Verse 26, therefore, is a direct and glorious outflow of this divine commitment, forming part of a series of comprehensive promises (Ezekiel 34:25-31) that establish a "covenant of peace." This covenant ensures not only security and protection but also profound fruitfulness, the enduring presence of God among His people, and a reversal of the curses of exile and desolation, making the promise of blessing foundational to Israel's future hope.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The prophecies of Ezekiel were delivered to the Jewish exiles in Babylon, a people who had suffered the devastating loss of their land, their temple, and their national sovereignty. They lived in a semi-arid region where the availability of rain was not merely a convenience but an absolute necessity for survival, directly impacting agriculture, livestock, and daily life. The concept of "showers in his season" would have resonated deeply with their lived experience, symbolizing God's direct and timely intervention in their physical well-being and the reversal of the curses of drought and famine, which were often seen as divine judgment (cf. the covenant curses in [Deuteronomy 28:23-24](/deuteronomy/28-23-24 "Deuteronomy 28:23-24 - Curses of Drought and Scarcity")). The reference to "my hill" most likely points to Mount Zion in Jerusalem, the sacred site of the Temple, which had been destroyed. This signifies God's intention to restore not only the physical land and its inhabitants but also the spiritual heart of their nation, making it a beacon of His presence and blessing that would radiate outward to the surrounding areas.
* **Key Themes:** This verse powerfully contributes to several overarching themes in Ezekiel and the broader prophetic tradition. It highlights **Divine Restoration**, demonstrating God's active and sovereign role in reversing the effects of judgment and desolation, transforming a scattered and suffering people into a blessed and flourishing community. The promise of "showers of blessing" underscores **Abundant Provision**, signifying not just sufficiency but overflowing, timely, and life-sustaining favor, a theme echoed in other passages promising prosperity and fruitfulness (e.g., [Leviticus 26:4](/leviticus/26-4 "Leviticus 26:4 - Promise of Rain and Yield") and [Deuteronomy 11:14](/deuteronomy/11-14 "Deuteronomy 11:14 - Early and Latter Rain")). It reaffirms **Covenant Faithfulness**, showing that despite Israel's unfaithfulness and the failures of its human leaders, God remains true to His promises, initiating this renewal out of His own immutable character and covenantal commitment. Furthermore, it reinforces the theme of **God as the True Shepherd**, as these blessings are a direct result of His personal care, responsibility, and provision for His flock, meeting their every need. The restoration of "my hill" connects to the theme of **God's Dwelling Presence**, indicating that His blessing would return to the spiritual and geographical center of His people, making them a testimony to His glory.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **make (Hebrew, _nâthan'_):** This primitive root is remarkably versatile, primarily meaning "to give" but extending to "put, make, appoint, bestow." In Ezekiel 34:26, its usage emphasizes God's active, sovereign role in bringing about the promised transformation and provision. It signifies that the blessing is not a passive outcome or a natural process, but a direct, intentional, and powerful divine act, highlighting God's deliberate agency in blessing His people.
* **blessing (Hebrew, _bᵉrâkâh'_):** Derived from the verb "to bless" (בָרַךְ), this noun signifies benediction, prosperity, favor, and comprehensive well-being. In this context, it encapsulates the multi-faceted flourishing God promises, encompassing both material abundance (such as timely rain and fertile land) and spiritual favor. This blessing transforms the recipients, enabling them not only to receive God's favor but also to become a channel of it, radiating His goodness and prosperity outwards.
* **shower (Hebrew, _geshem'_):** This term refers specifically to a downpour or heavy rain. In the semi-arid climate of ancient Israel, rain was synonymous with life, fertility, and divine favor. Its repetition in the verse, particularly in the emphatic phrase "showers of blessing," underscores the lavish, abundant, and consistent nature of God's provision, indicating that His favor will far exceed mere sufficiency, bringing forth superabundant life and fruitfulness.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"And I will make them and the places round about my hill a blessing":** This initial clause powerfully asserts God's direct agency ("I will make") in transforming His people ("them") and their dwelling places ("the places round about my hill," which refers to Jerusalem/Mount Zion, the spiritual and geographical heart of Israel) into a source of blessing. This transformation implies not only that they will be recipients of divine favor but also that they will become a channel of it, radiating God's goodness and prosperity outwards to their surroundings and beyond.
* **"and I will cause the shower to come down in his season":** Here, God promises timely and appropriate provision. The "shower" (rain) is a critical life-sustaining element in an agricultural society, and "in his season" highlights God's perfect timing, wisdom, and attentiveness in meeting the specific needs of His people. This ensures fruitfulness, sustenance, and the flourishing of the land, demonstrating God's meticulous care.
* **"there shall be showers of blessing":** This concluding phrase serves as an emphatic summary and intensification of the promise. The repetition of "showers" and "blessing" underscores the lavish, abundant, and continuous nature of God's favor. It speaks to an overflowing, superabundant provision that goes beyond basic needs, signifying a state of comprehensive well-being, divine delight, and an unending flow of God's gracious presence.

#### Literary Devices
Ezekiel 34:26 employs several powerful literary devices to convey its message of hope and comprehensive restoration. **Repetition** is prominently featured in the phrase "showers of blessing," which appears twice, emphasizing the abundance, certainty, and overflowing nature of God's promised provision. This repetition creates a sense of divine generosity and unwavering commitment. The phrase "showers of blessing" also functions as a potent **Metaphor**, where literal rain, vital for physical sustenance and prosperity in ancient Israel, represents a broader, comprehensive divine favor encompassing spiritual renewal, material abundance, and relational flourishing. Furthermore, **Symbolism** is at play: "my hill" (Mount Zion/Jerusalem) symbolizes God's dwelling presence and the spiritual center of His people, indicating that the blessing will emanate from the very heart of their restored relationship with Him. The entire verse stands as a powerful **Prophetic Promise**, a declaration of future divine action that instills profound hope and confidence in God's redemptive power and His unwavering faithfulness to His covenant.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Ezekiel 34:26 beautifully articulates God's unwavering commitment to His covenant people, even in their brokenness and the failures of their human leadership. It moves beyond mere physical provision to encompass a holistic restoration, demonstrating that God's ultimate desire is for His people to thrive under His direct, personal care. This promise of abundant blessing, rooted in God's character as the faithful Shepherd, foreshadows the comprehensive spiritual and physical renewal found in the New Covenant. It teaches us that true flourishing comes from God's sovereign hand, perfectly timed and lavishly given, transforming not only the recipients but also making them a conduit of blessing to others.

* [Psalm 65:9-13](/psalm/65-9-13 "Psalm 65:9-13 - God's Abundant Provision and Blessing")
* [Isaiah 44:3](/isaiah/44-3 "Isaiah 44:3 - Pouring Water on the Thirsty")
* [Malachi 3:10](/malachi/3-10 "Malachi 3:10 - Pouring Out Abundant Blessing")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Ezekiel 34:26 offers profound encouragement and a powerful reminder of God's character as the ultimate provider and restorer. In a world often marked by scarcity, anxiety, and the failures of human leadership, this verse calls us to fix our gaze on the Divine Shepherd who promises not just sufficiency but overflowing blessing "in his season." It assures us that even in our personal or collective "exiles"—seasons of despair, desolation, spiritual dryness, or societal brokenness—God is able and willing to bring refreshing, renewal, and fruitfulness. This promise invites us to cultivate a posture of trust, knowing that our ultimate source of provision and well-being is God Himself, who delights in showering His people with good gifts. Furthermore, it challenges us to consider how we, having received such abundant blessings, might become channels of blessing to the "places round about" us, reflecting God's generosity, compassion, and care to a world in desperate need of His transforming touch. Our lives, empowered by His grace, are meant to be a testimony to His overflowing goodness.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **In what areas of your life do you currently feel a "drought" or a particular need for God's refreshing "showers of blessing"?**
* **How does the promise of God providing "in his season" impact your patience and trust in His perfect timing amidst delays or difficulties?**
* **Considering that God makes "them... a blessing," how can your life, empowered by God's grace, become a source of blessing to others in your community or sphere of influence?**
* **What does this verse teach you about God's unwavering faithfulness, even when human leaders or challenging circumstances fail?**

### FAQ
**What does "my hill" refer to in this verse, and why is it significant?**

Answer: "My hill" (Hebrew: _gibʻâh_) most likely refers to Mount Zion in Jerusalem, where the Temple was located. This reference is profoundly significant because it signifies that God's promised blessing and restoration would extend to the very heart of His people's spiritual and national identity. Even though the Temple had been destroyed during the exile, God promises its restoration and that His presence would once again make Jerusalem a center of blessing, radiating outward. This is consistent with other prophetic visions of a restored Jerusalem as a place of divine presence and universal blessing (e.g., [Isaiah 2:2-3](/isaiah/2-2-3 "Isaiah 2:2-3 - Nations Flow to Zion") and [Zechariah 8:3](/zechariah/8-3 "Zechariah 8:3 - God Returns to Zion")).

**Is "showers of blessing" only about physical rain and material prosperity, or does it have a deeper meaning?**

Answer: While the immediate context in an agricultural society certainly implies physical rain and its resultant material prosperity, the phrase "showers of blessing" carries a much deeper and broader meaning. It is a rich metaphor for comprehensive divine favor that encompasses all aspects of life: spiritual renewal, emotional well-being, relational harmony, and physical provision. In the New Testament, this concept finds its ultimate fulfillment in the outpouring of the Holy Spirit, which brings spiritual vitality, regeneration, and fruitfulness to believers (e.g., [Acts 2:17-18](/acts/2-17-18 "Acts 2:17-18 - The Spirit Poured Out") and [Titus 3:5-6](/titus/3-5-6 "Titus 3:5-6 - Washing of Regeneration and Renewal by the Holy Spirit")). Therefore, it signifies a holistic flourishing that flows from God's gracious and sustaining presence, extending far beyond mere material gain.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Ezekiel 34:26 finds its ultimate and most profound fulfillment in Jesus Christ, the True and Good Shepherd. The Old Testament promise of God making His people and their land "a blessing" and sending "showers of blessing" points directly to the spiritual abundance and life that flow from Christ. He is the one who perfectly embodies the faithful Shepherd, gathering the scattered sheep (as seen in [John 10:16](/john/10-16 "John 10:16 - Jesus Gathers All Sheep")), leading them to green pastures, and laying down His life for them ([John 10:11](/john/10-11 "John 10:11 - The Good Shepherd Lays Down His Life")). The "showers of blessing" are realized in the outpouring of the Holy Spirit, whom Jesus promised to send from the Father (as described in [John 7:37-39](/john/7-37-39 "John 7:37-39 - Rivers of Living Water") and [Acts 2:33](/acts/2-33 "Acts 2:33 - The Spirit Poured Out by Christ")), bringing spiritual vitality, regeneration, and fruitfulness to all who believe. Through Christ, believers are not only recipients of God's abundant blessing but are also made a blessing to the world, becoming "the light of the world" and "the salt of the earth" ([Matthew 5:13-16](/matthew/5-13-16 "Matthew 5:13-16 - Salt and Light of the World")). The "hill" (Mount Zion) ultimately points to the new Jerusalem, the heavenly dwelling place where God's presence fully resides, and from which all blessings flow eternally through Christ, the Lamb ([Revelation 21:3-4](/revelation/21-3-4 "Revelation 21:3-4 - God Dwells with His People") and [Revelation 22:1-2](/revelation/22-1-2 "Revelation 22:1-2 - River of Life from the Throne")). Thus, Ezekiel's vision of a blessed land under God's direct care is fully realized in the spiritual reality of the Church, the body of Christ, and in the future hope of His eternal kingdom.

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

Deuteronomy 28:12

The LORD shall open unto thee his good treasure, the heaven to give the rain unto thy land in his season, and to bless all the work of thine hand: and thou shalt lend unto many nations, and thou shalt not borrow.

Isaiah 44:3

For I will pour water upon him that is thirsty, and floods upon the dry ground: I will pour my spirit upon thy seed, and my blessing upon thine offspring:

Leviticus 26:4

Then I will give you rain in due season, and the land shall yield her increase, and the trees of the field shall yield their fruit.

Psalms 68:9

Thou, O God, didst send a plentiful rain, whereby thou didst confirm thine inheritance, when it was weary.

Genesis 12:2

And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing:

Zechariah 8:13

And it shall come to pass, [that] as ye were a curse among the heathen, O house of Judah, and house of Israel; so will I save you, and ye shall be a blessing: fear not, [but] let your hands be strong.

Isaiah 19:24

In that day shall Israel be the third with Egypt and with Assyria, [even] a blessing in the midst of the land: