Ezekiel 36:22

KJV

Therefore say unto the house of Israel, Thus saith the Lord GOD; I do not [this] for your sakes, O house of Israel, but for mine holy name's sake, which ye have profaned among the heathen, whither ye went.

KJV (with Strong's)

Therefore say {H559} unto the house {H1004} of Israel {H3478}, Thus saith {H559} the Lord {H136} GOD {H3069}; I do {H6213} not this for your sakes, O house {H1004} of Israel {H3478}, but for mine holy {H6944} name's {H8034} sake, which ye have profaned {H2490} among the heathen {H1471}, whither ye went {H935}.

Complete Jewish Bible

"Therefore tell the house of Isra'el that Adonai ELOHIM says this: 'I am not going to do this for your sake, house of Isra'el, but for the sake of my holy name, which you have been profaning among the nations where you went.

Berean Standard Bible

Therefore tell the house of Israel that this is what the Lord GOD says: It is not for your sake that I will act, O house of Israel, but for My holy name, which you profaned among the nations to which you went.

American Standard Version

Therefore say unto the house of Israel, Thus saith the Lord Jehovah: I do not this for your sake, O house of Israel, but for my holy name, which ye have profaned among the nations, whither ye went.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Ezekiel 36:22 stands as a profound declaration of God's unwavering commitment to His own glory and reputation, rather than to the merit of His unfaithful people, Israel. In this pivotal prophetic utterance, the Lord GOD reveals that His impending acts of restoration and re-gathering of Israel from exile are not a reward for their righteousness, but a necessary vindication of His holy name, which had been dishonored and "profaned" among the Gentile nations through Israel's sin and subsequent dispersion. This verse underscores God's absolute sovereignty and His ultimate purpose to glorify Himself before all creation.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Ezekiel 36:22 is situated within a significant shift in the book of Ezekiel, moving from pronouncements of judgment against Israel and surrounding nations (chapters 1-32) to powerful prophecies of restoration, hope, and the establishment of a New Covenant (chapters 33-48). Specifically, chapters 33-39 detail the spiritual and physical renewal of Israel, the return to the land, and the indwelling of God's Spirit. This particular verse serves as the foundational theological premise for the subsequent promises, explaining *why* God will act to restore Israel despite their persistent rebellion. It immediately precedes the promise of a new heart and spirit in [Ezekiel 36:26-27](/ezekiel/36-26 "Ezekiel 36:26-27 - The Promise of a New Heart and Spirit"), emphasizing that the divine initiative is entirely rooted in God's character and purpose.

* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The "house of Israel" in this verse refers to the Jewish people in Babylonian exile, having been deported from their homeland following the destruction of Jerusalem and the Temple in 586 BC. Their exile was a direct consequence of their covenant unfaithfulness, idolatry, and moral corruption. In the ancient Near Eastern worldview, the defeat and exile of a nation often implied the weakness or defeat of their god. Thus, Israel's dispersion among the "heathen" (Gentile nations) led these nations to mock or question the power and faithfulness of YHWH, the God of Israel. Their perception was that YHWH was either unable to protect His people or had abandoned them, thereby "profaning" His name and diminishing His reputation in the eyes of the world. God's declaration in this verse directly confronts this perception, asserting His sovereign control over history and His ultimate concern for His own renown.

* **Key Themes:** This verse powerfully articulates several core themes central to Ezekiel and the broader biblical narrative. Firstly, it highlights **God's Sovereignty and Glory**, emphatically stating that God's primary motivation for action is "for mine holy name's sake." This underscores that God's ultimate concern is His own honor and reputation among all nations, not human merit. Secondly, it addresses the **Profaning of God's Name**, a recurring theme in Ezekiel, where Israel's unfaithfulness and subsequent judgment brought disrepute to YHWH among the Gentiles. Their conduct made God's name appear common or ineffective, demanding divine intervention to restore its sanctity. Finally, the verse powerfully demonstrates **Unmerited Grace and Divine Initiative**. God's decision to restore Israel is presented as an act of pure, unearned favor, explicitly stating, "I do not [this] for your sakes." This theme resonates with other Old Testament passages, such as [Deuteronomy 9:5](/deuteronomy/9-5 "Deuteronomy 9:5 - Not for Your Righteousness"), where God clarifies that Israel's possession of the land was not due to their righteousness, but His covenant faithfulness and sovereign purpose.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS

#### Key Word Analysis
* **house (Hebrew, _bayith'_):** This term, while literally meaning a physical dwelling, is used here in its broader application to refer to the "house of Israel," signifying the entire nation, family, or people of Israel. It denotes their collective identity and lineage, emphasizing that God's address is to the whole covenant community, despite their scattered state.
* **profaned (Hebrew, _châlal'_):** From the root H2490, this word means "to make common," "to defile," or "to pollute." It carries the strong implication of treating something sacred as ordinary, contemptible, or unholy. In this context, Israel's actions and their resulting exile caused God's holy name to be treated as common or powerless by the Gentile nations, thereby defiling His reputation and honor.
* **heathen (Hebrew, _gôwy'_):** This term (H1471) refers to "foreign nations" or "Gentiles." It highlights the international context of God's concern for His name. Israel's profaning of God's name was not an internal matter but had global implications, as it occurred "among the heathen," the very nations to whom God intended His glory to be revealed.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"Therefore say unto the house of Israel, Thus saith the Lord GOD;"**: This opening phrase establishes the divine authority of the message. Ezekiel is commanded to speak directly to the exiled nation, indicating that this is a direct, authoritative word from the Sovereign Lord (Adonai Yahweh), not a human opinion or observation. It signals a profound and certain declaration.
* **"I do not [this] for your sakes, O house of Israel,"**: This is a crucial negative declaration. God explicitly states that His impending actions of restoration are *not* motivated by Israel's merit, worthiness, or any perceived righteousness on their part. It directly confronts any notion that their suffering or future return is a reward for their conduct, emphasizing their unworthiness and the purely gracious nature of God's plan.
* **"but for mine holy name's sake,"**: This clause reveals the true, singular motivation behind God's redemptive work. God's actions are driven by His own intrinsic holiness and His commitment to His divine reputation. His "holy name" represents His character, power, and covenant faithfulness. It is paramount that His name be honored and sanctified among all nations, and His actions will ensure this.
* **"which ye have profaned among the heathen, whither ye went."**: This final clause explains *how* God's name was profaned and *where* this profaning occurred. Israel's sinful conduct and subsequent exile caused God's name to be dishonored and treated as common or ineffective by the Gentile nations ("the heathen") among whom they were scattered. Their unfaithfulness and perceived abandonment by their God brought disrepute to His glorious name.

#### Literary Devices
Ezekiel 36:22 employs several powerful literary devices to convey its profound theological message. The most prominent is **Emphasis through Repetition and Contrast**. The phrase "O house of Israel" is repeated, directly addressing the audience and reinforcing the personal nature of God's message to His covenant people. More significantly, the verse establishes a stark **Contrast** between two motivations: "not for your sakes... but for mine holy name's sake." This antithesis powerfully highlights God's absolute sovereignty and His self-referential purpose, dismantling any human-centric view of salvation or restoration. Furthermore, the declaration "Thus saith the Lord GOD" serves as a device of **Divine Authority**, underscoring the unchallengeable truth and certainty of the prophecy. The entire verse functions as a form of **Theological Irony**, where Israel's actions, which led to their disgrace and the profaning of God's name, paradoxically become the very catalyst for God's glorious intervention to vindicate His name, demonstrating His ultimate control even over human sin.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Ezekiel 36:22 serves as a cornerstone for understanding God's redemptive purposes throughout Scripture. It profoundly establishes that God's ultimate motivation is the vindication and glorification of His own holy name, not the merit or deservingness of humanity. This principle permeates biblical theology, revealing a God who is utterly sovereign, self-sufficient, and whose actions are always consistent with His perfect character. The restoration of Israel, therefore, is not merely about their well-being, but about God demonstrating His power, faithfulness, and holiness to a watching world. This divine initiative, rooted in grace rather than human performance, sets the stage for the New Covenant promises and the broader scope of salvation history, where God's glory is the supreme end.

* [Isaiah 48:11](/isaiah/48-11 "Isaiah 48:11 - God's Glory Alone")
* [Psalm 115:1](/psalm/115-1 "Psalm 115:1 - Not to Us, But to Your Name Be Glory")
* [Romans 9:14-16](/romans/9-14 "Romans 9:14-16 - God's Sovereign Choice")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Ezekiel 36:22 offers a profound and challenging perspective on our relationship with God and our purpose in the world. It compels us to shift our focus from what we deserve or what we can accomplish to the absolute supremacy of God's glory. Understanding that God acts primarily for His name's sake liberates us from the burden of earning His favor and anchors our hope in His unwavering character. Our lives, as believers, are meant to be a living testament to His holiness and power, reflecting His glory to a world that often misrepresents or dismisses Him. This verse calls us to align our motivations with God's, seeking His honor in every thought, word, and deed, recognizing that His reputation is ultimately at stake in our witness. It reminds us that even when we fail and profane His name, His commitment to His own glory ensures His continued redemptive work in and through us.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **In what ways might my actions, consciously or unconsciously, be profaning God's name in the eyes of the world around me?**
* **How does understanding that God acts for His own name's sake change my perspective on prayer, evangelism, or even personal suffering?**
* **If God's primary motivation is His glory, how can I more intentionally live a life that reflects and magnifies His holy name?**

### FAQ
**Why is God's "name" so important in this verse and throughout the Bible?**

Answer: In biblical thought, a "name" represents the entire character, reputation, authority, and essence of a person. When God speaks of acting "for mine holy name's sake," it means He acts to uphold His own divine character—His holiness, faithfulness, power, justice, and love—before all creation. Israel's sin and exile had led the Gentile nations to conclude that YHWH was either weak or unfaithful, thus bringing disrepute to His "name." God's actions of restoration are therefore necessary to vindicate His true nature and demonstrate that He is indeed the sovereign, covenant-keeping God, as seen in passages like [Exodus 34:5-7](/exodus/34-5 "Exodus 34:5-7 - The Lord Proclaims His Name").

**Does this verse imply that human actions don't matter since God acts for His own sake, not ours?**

Answer: Not at all. While God's primary motivation is His own glory, this verse does not diminish the significance of human actions. Instead, it underscores the profound responsibility we have as those who bear His name. Israel's actions *did* matter; they "profaned" God's name. God's decision to act despite their unworthiness highlights His immense grace and faithfulness, which then calls His people to a renewed commitment to holiness. The subsequent verses in Ezekiel 36, particularly [Ezekiel 36:26-27](/ezekiel/36-26 "Ezekiel 36:26-27 - The Promise of a New Heart and Spirit"), promise a new heart and spirit that enables obedience, demonstrating that God's ultimate goal is a people who *do* glorify His name through their transformed lives. Our actions matter because they either honor or dishonor the God whose name we bear.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Ezekiel 36:22 finds its ultimate and most glorious fulfillment in the person and work of Jesus Christ. The promise of God acting "for mine holy name's sake" culminates in God the Father sending His Son, Jesus, who perfectly glorified the Father's name on earth. Jesus Himself declared, "I have glorified you on earth by finishing the work that you gave me to do" ([John 17:4](/john/17-4 "John 17:4 - Jesus Glorifies the Father")). Through His perfect obedience, sacrificial death on the cross, and triumphant resurrection, Christ accomplished the ultimate act of vindicating God's holy name, demonstrating His justice, mercy, and power to a degree unimaginable under the Old Covenant. The "profaning" of God's name by Israel's sin is ultimately atoned for by the [Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world](/john/1-29 "John 1:29 - Jesus, the Lamb of God"). Furthermore, the promise of a restored "house of Israel" and a new heart is fulfilled in the New Covenant established by Christ's blood, where believers, both Jew and Gentile, are united into the spiritual Israel, the Church ([Galatians 3:28-29](/galatians/3-28 "Galatians 3:28-29 - One in Christ Jesus")). Through the indwelling Holy Spirit, promised in [Ezekiel 36:27](/ezekiel/36-27 "Ezekiel 36:27 - God's Spirit in His People"), believers are empowered to live lives that genuinely "sanctify" and glorify God's name, becoming a people zealous for good works and a light to the nations, reflecting the glory of the Father through the Son ([Matthew 5:16](/matthew/5-16 "Matthew 5:16 - Let Your Light Shine")). Thus, God's self-glorifying purpose, declared in Ezekiel, is perfectly and eternally realized in Christ and His redeemed people.

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

Psalms 106:8

Nevertheless he saved them for his name's sake, that he might make his mighty power to be known.

Ezekiel 36:32

Not for your sakes do I [this], saith the Lord GOD, be it known unto you: be ashamed and confounded for your own ways, O house of Israel.

Psalms 115:1

¶ Not unto us, O LORD, not unto us, but unto thy name give glory, for thy mercy, [and] for thy truth's sake.

Psalms 115:2

Wherefore should the heathen say, Where [is] now their God?

Deuteronomy 9:5

Not for thy righteousness, or for the uprightness of thine heart, dost thou go to possess their land: but for the wickedness of these nations the LORD thy God doth drive them out from before thee, and that he may perform the word which the LORD sware unto thy fathers, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.

Deuteronomy 9:7

¶ Remember, [and] forget not, how thou provokedst the LORD thy God to wrath in the wilderness: from the day that thou didst depart out of the land of Egypt, until ye came unto this place, ye have been rebellious against the LORD.

Deuteronomy 7:7

The LORD did not set his love upon you, nor choose you, because ye were more in number than any people; for ye [were] the fewest of all people: