Ezekiel 36:13

KJV

Thus saith the Lord GOD; Because they say unto you, Thou [land] devourest up men, and hast bereaved thy nations;

KJV (with Strong's)

Thus saith {H559} the Lord {H136} GOD {H3069}; Because they say {H559} unto you, Thou land devourest up {H398} men {H120}, and hast bereaved {H7921} thy nations {H1471};

Complete Jewish Bible

Adonai ELOHIM says, "Because they say to you, 'Land, you devour people and make your nations childless,'

Berean Standard Bible

For this is what the Lord GOD says: Because people say to you, ‘You devour men and deprive your nation of its children,’

American Standard Version

Thus saith the Lord Jehovah: Because they say unto you, Thou land art a devourer of men, and hast been a bereaver of thy nation;

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Ezekiel 36:13 presents a powerful divine declaration from the Lord GOD, quoting the scornful accusations leveled against the land of Israel by surrounding nations. These nations perceived the land as inherently destructive, metaphorically "devouring" its inhabitants and "bereaving" its communities, leading to perpetual loss and depopulation. This divine reiteration of the reproach highlights the profound shame and desolation Israel experienced during its exile, setting a crucial backdrop for God's subsequent, emphatic promises of future restoration, cleansing, and vindication for His people and His holy name.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Ezekiel 36:13 is strategically placed within a pivotal section of Ezekiel's prophecy, specifically [Ezekiel 36](/ezekiel/36 "Ezekiel 36 - Israel's Restoration and Spiritual Renewal"), which marks a dramatic and hopeful shift from pronouncements of judgment to glorious promises of restoration for Israel. The preceding verses ([Ezekiel 36:1-12](/ezekiel/36-1-12 "Ezekiel 36:1-12 - God's Promise to the Mountains of Israel")) detail God's indignation against the surrounding mountains and nations that gloated over Israel's desolation and sought to claim its territory. God promises to bless the mountains of Israel, making them fruitful again for the returning exiles. Verse 13, however, interrupts this positive trajectory by directly quoting the *reason* for the land's desolation and the depth of Israel's humiliation: the specific accusations of other nations. This verse serves as a direct articulation of the reproach, which God then explicitly promises to remove in the subsequent verses ([Ezekiel 36:14-15](/ezekiel/36-14-15 "Ezekiel 36:14-15 - The Land Will No Longer Devour")), ensuring the land will no longer "devour" or "bereave" its people. This stark portrayal of shame sets the stage for the grand promises of spiritual renewal, physical return, and the vindication of God's name that follow in the remainder of the chapter.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The prophecy of Ezekiel was delivered during the Babylonian exile, a period of profound national humiliation and theological crisis for Israel. The northern kingdom had fallen to Assyria centuries earlier, and now the southern kingdom of Judah had been conquered by Babylon, its temple destroyed, and its people deported. The land of Israel, once a vibrant symbol of God's blessing and covenant faithfulness, lay desolate and ruined. Surrounding nations, often hostile, would have viewed this desolation as undeniable evidence of Israel's God being weak or abandoning His people. The accusation that the land "devours" its inhabitants reflects the grim reality of repeated cycles of warfare, famine, pestilence, and exile that had decimated the population and left the land barren. Such a perception would have been a source of immense shame in the ancient Near East, where a nation's prosperity, population, and the fertility of its land were seen as direct indicators of its god's power and favor. The land itself was considered integral to the national identity and covenant relationship, so its desolation was a deep theological, cultural, and existential wound.
* **Key Themes:** Ezekiel 36:13 contributes significantly to several overarching themes within [the book of Ezekiel](/ezekiel/1 "The Book of Ezekiel - God's Glory and Israel's Restoration"):
* **Divine Sovereignty and Glory:** Even in judgment, God remains utterly sovereign, and His ultimate purpose is to vindicate His holy name among the nations (as powerfully declared in [Ezekiel 36:23](/ezekiel/36-23 "Ezekiel 36:23 - God's Name Vindicated Among the Nations")). The reproach against the land is a direct challenge to God's glory, which He promises to address with decisive action.
* **Consequences of Sin:** The "devouring" and "bereaving" are not inherent characteristics of the land but are direct, painful consequences of Israel's persistent idolatry and covenant unfaithfulness, which led to God's disciplinary judgment (cf. [Leviticus 26:33](/leviticus/26-33 "Leviticus 26:33 - Desolation of the Land Due to Disobedience")). The land's desolation vividly reflects the people's spiritual barrenness and rebellion.
* **Restoration and Renewal:** This verse provides the stark, desperate backdrop against which God's magnificent promises of restoration are made. The accusation of the land devouring its people is precisely what God promises to reverse, bringing back the exiles, cleansing them, and making the land fruitful and populous again (e.g., [Ezekiel 36:24-28](/ezekiel/36-24 "Ezekiel 36:24-28 - Promises of Return, Cleansing, and New Heart")). This theme underscores God's unwavering faithfulness to His covenant, even when His people are profoundly unfaithful.
* **Reproach and Vindication:** The profound shame Israel endured due to the land's desolate condition and the taunts of other nations is a central element. God's act of restoration is ultimately for the sake of His holy name, to remove this reproach and demonstrate His unparalleled power and faithfulness to the Gentiles (e.g., [Ezekiel 36:15](/ezekiel/36-15 "Ezekiel 36:15 - The Land Will No Longer Bring Reproach")).

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **devourest up (Hebrew, _ʼâkal'_):** From H398, this primitive root means "to eat" (literally or figuratively), "burn up," "consume," or "devour." In this context, it is used metaphorically to personify the land as an active, malevolent agent of destruction, as if it were literally consuming its inhabitants through relentless cycles of war, famine, and pestilence. This vivid and violent imagery emphasizes the devastating loss of life and the severe depopulation that had tragically befallen Israel.
* **men (Hebrew, _ʼâdâm'_):** From H120, this term refers to a human being, an individual, or the species, mankind. Here, it specifically signifies the human population of Israel, highlighting the direct and tragic impact of the land's perceived destructive nature on its people. The accusation is not merely about the loss of property or national status, but the profound and tragic loss of human life itself.
* **bereaved (Hebrew, _shâkôl'_):** From H7921, this primitive root properly means "to miscarry," "suffer abortion," or "to be childless." By analogy, it means "to bereave" (literally or figuratively), or "to lose children." This word powerfully conveys the profound, repeated, and agonizing loss of life, particularly the loss of offspring, which would have left families, communities, and the nation as a whole "childless" or severely depopulated. It speaks to a deep, generational wound and the cessation of future hope.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"Thus saith the Lord GOD;":** This opening phrase, a solemn and frequently used prophetic formula, establishes the divine authority and absolute truthfulness of the message that follows. It underscores that the subsequent words are not human opinion or speculation but a direct, authoritative revelation from the sovereign God of Israel, [Adonai YHWH](/ezekiel/36 "Ezekiel 36 - The Lord GOD's Declaration of Restoration"). This emphasizes the weight and certainty of what is about to be declared.
* **"Because they say unto you, Thou [land] devourest up men,":** This clause presents the core accusation leveled by the surrounding Gentile nations against the land of Israel. The "they" refers to these hostile nations, and "you" refers to the land itself, which is strikingly personified. The charge is that the land is inherently destructive, metaphorically "eating" or consuming its inhabitants through various calamities like war, famine, and disease, leading to widespread death and a drastic reduction in population. It implies an inherent flaw or curse upon the land itself.
* **"and hast bereaved thy nations;":** This second part of the accusation powerfully reinforces and deepens the first, emphasizing the tragic and long-lasting outcome. The land is accused of causing its "nations" (referring to its people, its communities, or perhaps its tribes) to be "bereaved" or "childless." This signifies a profound and repeated loss of life, particularly the young, resulting in a diminished and desolate population, unable to sustain itself or grow. It conveys a sense of utter devastation and the extinguishing of future generations.

#### Literary Devices
Ezekiel 36:13 employs several potent literary devices to convey its message with striking impact. **Personification** is central, as the land of Israel is directly addressed and accused of actions typically attributed to living beings: "devouring" men and "bereaving" nations. This makes the reproach profoundly vivid and impactful, as if the very soil underfoot had turned hostile and actively consumed its inhabitants. The use of **hyperbole** is also evident in the extreme nature of the accusation; while the land itself doesn't literally consume people, the calamities that befell it (war, famine, exile) were so severe that they created the *effect* of the land being a death trap. This exaggeration emphasizes the depth of Israel's suffering and the intense scorn of its neighbors. Furthermore, the verse functions as a **quotation**, presenting the direct, stinging words of Israel's accusers. This technique allows God to explicitly acknowledge the shame and humiliation His people faced, setting the stage for His powerful and direct refutation and reversal of this very reproach in the subsequent verses, thereby magnifying His redemptive intervention.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Ezekiel 36:13 serves as a profound theological pivot, articulating the depth of Israel's humiliation and the perceived failure of their covenant relationship with God, as viewed by the surrounding nations. The accusation that the land itself was a devourer and bereaver directly challenged God's promise of the land as a place of blessing, life, and abundance (e.g., [Deuteronomy 8:7-9](/deuteronomy/8-7 "Deuteronomy 8:7-9 - A Good and Spacious Land")). This perceived curse was a direct consequence of Israel's persistent sin and idolatry, which led to divine judgment in the form of war, famine, and exile, fulfilling the covenant curses (e.g., [Leviticus 26:31-33](/leviticus/26-31 "Leviticus 26:31-33 - Desolation and Scattering for Disobedience")). By quoting this specific reproach, God acknowledges the shame His people endured, not to condemn them further, but to highlight the magnitude of the restoration He is about to bring for the sake of His holy name, demonstrating His power and faithfulness to all nations, thereby transforming their shame into His glory.

* [Leviticus 26:33](/leviticus/26-33 "Leviticus 26:33 - The Land Laid Waste")
* [Jeremiah 2:7](/jeremiah/2-7 "Jeremiah 2:7 - Defiling the Good Land")
* [Isaiah 49:19](/isaiah/49-19 "Isaiah 49:19 - Desolate Places Inhabited")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Ezekiel 36:13 offers a powerful mirror for our own lives and communities, reminding us that sin has tangible, often devastating, consequences that can lead to reproach and desolation, both personally and corporately. Just as Israel's land was perceived as "devouring" and "bereaving" due to their unfaithfulness, so too can our own choices, or the collective choices of a community, lead to barrenness, loss, and the scorn of others. This verse teaches us the profound importance of acknowledging the painful realities of our failures and the reproaches that may come our way, rather than denying or minimizing them. However, it is crucial to remember that this is not the end of the story. God's willingness to quote the accusation demonstrates His deep awareness of our shame and suffering, but it is always a prelude to His redemptive action. For us, this means that even when our lives or circumstances seem "bereaved" or "devoured" by consequences, God's ultimate plan is always one of restoration, cleansing, and renewal, not for our merit, but for the vindication of His own holy name and glory. It calls us to lament our fallen state and the consequences of sin, but also to cling to the hope in the God who reverses desolation, brings life out of barrenness, and transforms shame into glory.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **In what areas of my life or community do I perceive "devouring" or "bereaving" consequences due to past choices or systemic issues, and how might I acknowledge these before God?**
* **How does the Lord's direct acknowledgment of Israel's reproach encourage me to be honest about my own struggles, failures, and the shame I may carry before God?**
* **What specific promises of God's restoration and renewal, found in His Word, can I cling to when facing personal or communal shame, loss, or desolation?**

### FAQ
**Why did the nations say the land "devoured" its people?**

Answer: The accusation that the land "devoured" its people stemmed from the visible and devastating cycles of judgment that had befallen Israel. Through repeated wars, famines, and pestilences, and ultimately the Babylonian exile, the population of Israel had been drastically reduced, and the land itself lay desolate and unproductive. From an external, pagan perspective, it appeared as though the land was inherently cursed or incapable of sustaining its inhabitants, constantly losing them through death or forced removal. This was, in fact, a direct consequence of Israel's persistent unfaithfulness to God's covenant, leading to the severe curses outlined in the Law, such as those found in [Deuteronomy 28:15-68](/deuteronomy/28 "Deuteronomy 28 - Blessings and Curses for Obedience and Disobedience"). The surrounding nations, however, interpreted this desolation not as divine judgment for sin, but as an inherent flaw in the land itself, or a sign of Israel's God being weak, impotent, or unable to protect His people. Ezekiel 36:13 precisely captures this specific reproach, which God then promises to reverse for the sake of His holy name.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Ezekiel 36:13, with its stark portrayal of a land "devouring" its people and "bereaving" its nations, finds profound Christ-centered fulfillment in the redemptive work of Jesus. The Old Testament land of Israel, meant to be a place of life and blessing, ultimately became a poignant symbol of humanity's fallen state and the devastating consequences of sin—a world that, apart from God, consumes and bereaves. Humanity, in its profound sin, was truly "devoured" by death and "bereaved" by spiritual separation from God, leading to utter spiritual desolation (cf. [Romans 6:23](/romans/6-23 "Romans 6:23 - The Wages of Sin is Death")). Jesus Christ, however, entered this "devouring" world not to be consumed by its destructive power, but to conquer it. He is the true "land" of life, the ultimate source of all blessing, who came to reverse the curse. Through His sacrificial death on the cross and His glorious resurrection, He became the ultimate Lamb of God, taking upon Himself the "devouring" judgment of sin, so that all who believe in Him might no longer be "bereaved" but receive abundant and eternal life (cf. [John 10:10](/john/10-10 "John 10:10 - Jesus Came to Give Life Abundantly")). He gathers His scattered "nations"—people from every tribe, tongue, and nation—into His body, the Church, where there is no more spiritual desolation or ultimate loss (cf. [Ephesians 2:19-22](/ephesians/2-19 "Ephesians 2:19-22 - Fellow Citizens with the Saints")). The promise in Ezekiel 36 that the land would no longer devour its people is ultimately realized in Christ, who ensures that His redeemed people will never perish (cf. [John 3:16](/john/3-16 "John 3:16 - God So Loved the World")) and will inherit a new heavens and new earth where there is no more death, sorrow, or crying (cf. [Revelation 21:4](/revelation/21-4 "Revelation 21:4 - No More Death or Mourning")). He is the one who transforms the barrenness of sin into the glorious fruitfulness of eternal life.

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

Numbers 13:32

And they brought up an evil report of the land which they had searched unto the children of Israel, saying, The land, through which we have gone to search it, [is] a land that eateth up the inhabitants thereof; and all the people that we saw in it [are] men of a great stature.