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.

Not for your sakes do {H6213} I this, saith {H5002} the Lord {H136} GOD {H3069}, be it known {H3045} unto you: be ashamed {H954} and confounded {H3637} for your own ways {H1870}, O house {H1004} of Israel {H3478}.

Understand,' says Adonai ELOHIM, 'that I am not doing this for your sake. Instead, be ashamed and dismayed for your ways, house of Isra'el.'

It is not for your sake that I will act, declares the Lord GOD—let it be known to you. Be ashamed and disgraced for your ways, O house of Israel!

Nor for your sake do Ithis, saith the Lord Jehovah, be it known unto you: be ashamed and confounded for your ways, O house of Israel.

Ezekiel 36:32 is a powerful declaration from God to the exiled house of Israel, emphasizing the true motivation behind His promised restoration. It serves as a stark reminder that God's redemptive work is rooted in His own character and purposes, not in human merit.

Context

This verse is part of a larger prophecy in Ezekiel 36, where God promises to regather, cleanse, and restore Israel to their land after their exile. The preceding verses (Ezekiel 36:22-31) detail this miraculous transformation: God will sprinkle clean water upon them, give them a new heart and a new spirit, and make their desolate land fruitful. Verse 32 clarifies that this profound act of grace is not a reward for Israel's past faithfulness, but precisely because their unfaithfulness had profaned God's holy name among the nations. God is acting "for his holy name's sake," as explicitly stated in Ezekiel 36:22.

Key Themes

  • Divine Motivation and Sovereignty: The core message is that God's actions are driven by His own glory and character, not by the worthiness of His people. His decision to restore Israel is an act of sovereign grace, intended to vindicate His name before the world. This principle is foundational to understanding God's redemptive plan throughout Scripture.
  • Human Unworthiness and Repentance: The command, "be ashamed and confounded for your own ways, O house of Israel," is a call to profound humility and repentance. It acknowledges Israel's deep sinfulness and the justness of their past judgment. Despite their shame, God extends mercy.
  • Grace Over Merit: This verse powerfully underscores that salvation and restoration are entirely by grace, not by works or human effort. It counters any notion that Israel's return from exile was earned, reinforcing the unmerited favor of God. This theme resonates with the New Testament teaching that salvation is a gift of God, not of works.

Linguistic Insights

The phrase "Lord GOD" in the KJV translates the Hebrew Adonai Yahweh, combining the title of sovereign Master (Adonai) with the covenant name of God (Yahweh), emphasizing His absolute authority and faithfulness to His promises. The words "ashamed" (Hebrew: bosh) and "confounded" (Hebrew: kalam) convey a deep sense of humiliation, disgrace, and confusion. This is not merely embarrassment, but a profound realization of their moral failure and the just consequences, leading to a state of utter self-abasement before a holy God.

Practical Application

For believers today, Ezekiel 36:32 serves as a vital reminder of the nature of God's grace. Our salvation, blessings, and spiritual renewal are not earned through our good deeds, moral standing, or religious efforts. Instead, they are freely given by God out of His boundless love and for the glory of His own name. This verse encourages a spirit of humility, prompting us to acknowledge our own sinfulness and unworthiness, while simultaneously marveling at the incredible, undeserved mercy of God. It guards against pride and self-righteousness, directing all praise and honor to the Lord, whose compassion never fails.

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.

  • 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.

  • Ezekiel 36:22

    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.

  • 2 Timothy 1:9

    Who hath saved us, and called [us] with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began,

  • Titus 3:3

    For we ourselves also were sometimes foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving divers lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, [and] hating one another.

  • Titus 3:6

    Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour;

  • Daniel 9:18

    O my God, incline thine ear, and hear; open thine eyes, and behold our desolations, and the city which is called by thy name: for we do not present our supplications before thee for our righteousnesses, but for thy great mercies.

  • Daniel 9:19

    O Lord, hear; O Lord, forgive; O Lord, hearken and do; defer not, for thine own sake, O my God: for thy city and thy people are called by thy name.

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