Ezekiel 36:6

KJV

Prophesy therefore concerning the land of Israel, and say unto the mountains, and to the hills, to the rivers, and to the valleys, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I have spoken in my jealousy and in my fury, because ye have borne the shame of the heathen:

KJV (with Strong's)

Prophesy {H5012} therefore concerning the land {H127} of Israel {H3478}, and say {H559} unto the mountains {H2022}, and to the hills {H1389}, to the rivers {H650}, and to the valleys {H1516}, Thus saith {H559} the Lord {H136} GOD {H3069}; Behold, I have spoken {H1696} in my jealousy {H7068} and in my fury {H2534}, because ye have borne {H5375} the shame {H3639} of the heathen {H1471}:

Complete Jewish Bible

"Therefore prophesy concerning the land of Isra'el, and say to the mountains, the hills, the streams and the valleys that Adonai ELOHIM says this: 'I speak in my jealousy and fury, because you have endured being shamed by the nations.

Berean Standard Bible

Therefore, prophesy concerning the land of Israel and tell the mountains and hills, the ravines and valleys, that this is what the Lord GOD says: Behold, I have spoken in My burning zeal because you have endured the reproach of the nations.

American Standard Version

Therefore prophesy concerning the land of Israel, and say unto the mountains and to the hills, to the watercourses and to the valleys, Thus saith the Lord Jehovah: Behold, I have spoken in my jealousy and in my wrath, because ye have borne the shame of the nations:

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Ezekiel 36:6 is a pivotal prophetic declaration from the Lord GOD to the desolate land of Israel, promising divine intervention and restoration. It conveys God's intense, righteous indignation—His "jealousy and fury"—over the reproach and dishonor His land and people have suffered at the hands of pagan nations. This verse sets the stage for a dramatic reversal of fortune, where God's honor, which was seemingly compromised by Israel's exile and desolation, will be powerfully vindicated through the land's renewal.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Ezekiel 36:6 is situated within a broader section of Ezekiel's prophecy (chapters 33-39) that shifts from pronouncements of judgment against Israel and the nations to promises of restoration and renewal for Israel. Specifically, chapter 36 begins with God addressing the "mountains of Israel" directly, contrasting their current desolation and the scorn they have endured with a future of abundant blessing and repopulation. This verse immediately follows God's condemnation of the surrounding nations, particularly Edom, for their malicious rejoicing over Israel's downfall and their intent to possess the land (Ezekiel 36:1-5). God's declaration in verse 6 is His direct, impassioned response to this desecration and shame, setting the stage for the glorious promises of a new heart, a new spirit, and a restored covenant relationship found later in the chapter (e.g., [Ezekiel 36:26-27](/ezekiel/36-26 "Ezekiel 36:26-27 - A New Heart and Spirit")).
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The prophecy in Ezekiel 36:6 is delivered during the Babylonian exile, after the destruction of Jerusalem and its Temple in 586 BC. The land of Israel, once a vibrant testament to God's covenant faithfulness, lay desolate, its cities in ruins, and its people scattered. Neighboring nations, often hostile, saw this desolation as evidence of Israel's God being weak or defeated, thus bringing "shame" upon the land and, by extension, upon the name of Yahweh. The cultural understanding of national deities meant that the defeat of a nation implied the defeat of its god. Therefore, the "shame of the heathen" was not merely Israel's disgrace but a direct affront to God's honor and reputation among the nations. God's response is rooted in His covenant promises to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, which included the perpetual possession of the land, a promise that seemed utterly broken by the exile.
* **Key Themes:** This verse powerfully contributes to several overarching themes in Ezekiel and the broader prophetic literature. The theme of **Divine Zeal and Sovereignty** is paramount, as God declares His righteous indignation ("jealousy and fury") over the desecration of His land and the suffering of His people, asserting His absolute control over historical events and His unwavering commitment to His covenant. Furthermore, it highlights the theme of **Vindication and Restoration**, where God promises to reverse Israel's humiliation and restore their dignity and prosperity, not because of their merit, but for the sake of His holy name (as seen in [Ezekiel 36:22-23](/ezekiel/36-22 "Ezekiel 36:22-23 - God's Name Vindicated")). The **Personification of the Land** is also a significant theme, as God addresses the physical elements of Israel (mountains, hills, rivers, valleys) as if they are sentient beings, underscoring His intimate connection to the land itself and emphasizing that the coming restoration will be comprehensive, affecting every geographical feature and making it fruitful once more.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS

#### Key Word Analysis
* **Prophesy (Hebrew, _nâbâʼ'_):** From H5012, this primitive root means "to prophesy, i.e. speak (or sing) by inspiration (in prediction or simple discourse)." In Ezekiel 36:6, it underscores the divine origin and authority of the message. Ezekiel is not merely offering his opinion or a human forecast, but speaking directly as God's mouthpiece, delivering a word that is inspired and carries the weight of divine decree. This act of prophesying to the land itself highlights the extraordinary nature of God's communication and His direct engagement with the physical realm.
* **Jealousy (Hebrew, _qinʼâh'_):** From H7068, this term signifies "jealousy or envy; zeal." When applied to God, "jealousy" is not a petty human emotion but a righteous, passionate commitment to His exclusive covenant relationship with Israel and His own holy name. It reflects His protective love and His intolerance for anything that defiles His people, His land, or His honor. Here, it is the driving force behind His promise of restoration, demonstrating His fervent desire to reclaim what is rightfully His and to defend His reputation against the "shame of the heathen."
* **Shame (Hebrew, _kᵉlimmâh'_):** From H3639, meaning "disgrace; confusion, dishonour, reproach, shame." This word encapsulates the humiliating experience of Israel during the exile. It refers to the public disgrace and mockery they endured from surrounding nations who attributed Israel's downfall to the weakness or abandonment of their God. God's declaration that Israel has "borne the shame of the heathen" acknowledges the depth of their humiliation and provides the direct motivation for His furious and zealous intervention to remove this reproach and vindicate His name.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"Prophesy therefore concerning the land of Israel, and say unto the mountains, and to the hills, to the rivers, and to the valleys,"**: This opening command establishes Ezekiel's role as a divine messenger, but uniquely, his audience is not just the people but the very topography of the land. This direct address to the physical features—mountains, hills, rivers, and valleys—signifies God's intimate connection to the land itself and His intention for a comprehensive, physical restoration. It implies that the land, too, has suffered and will participate in the coming renewal.
* **"Thus saith the Lord GOD;"**: This is a standard prophetic formula, emphasizing that the preceding and following words are not Ezekiel's own, but the authoritative, undeniable word of Yahweh, the sovereign Lord. The combination of "Lord" (Adonai, H136) and "GOD" (YHWH, H3069) powerfully asserts His absolute authority and His covenant faithfulness, underscoring the certainty and power behind the prophecy.
* **"Behold, I have spoken in my jealousy and in my fury,"**: This clause reveals the profound divine motivation for the coming restoration. God's "jealousy" (H7068, _qinʼâh'_) is His righteous zeal for His own honor and His covenant people, while His "fury" (H2534, _chêmâh'_) is His intense, righteous indignation against those who have desecrated His land and mocked His name. These are not capricious human emotions but expressions of His holy character, demonstrating His passionate commitment to justice and His unwavering resolve to act on behalf of His covenant.
* **"because ye have borne the shame of the heathen:"**: This final clause provides the direct reason for God's zealous and furious intervention. The "shame of the heathen" (H3639, _kᵉlimmâh'_) refers to the reproach, mockery, and desolation that Israel and its land endured at the hands of the pagan nations. This public humiliation was not just a suffering for Israel but a direct affront to God's reputation, as the nations perceived Israel's downfall as a sign of God's inability or weakness. God's action is therefore a necessary vindication of His own name and power.

#### Literary Devices
Ezekiel 36:6 employs several powerful literary devices to convey its message. **Personification** is prominently used as God commands Ezekiel to "prophesy... unto the mountains, and to the hills, to the rivers, and to the valleys." By addressing the inanimate geographical features of the land as if they can hear and respond, the text emphasizes God's direct and comprehensive involvement in the land's restoration. This also suggests that the land itself has suffered and will be a direct recipient of divine blessing. Furthermore, the verse utilizes **Anthropomorphism** by attributing human emotions of "jealousy" and "fury" to God. This is not to suggest human limitations in God, but rather to convey the intense, righteous passion and unwavering commitment of the divine will to His covenant and His name. Finally, the phrase "mountains, hills, rivers, and valleys" serves as a **Merism**, a rhetorical device where two contrasting parts represent the whole. In this case, it encompasses the entirety of the land of Israel, from its highest peaks to its lowest depths, signifying that God's promised restoration will be total and all-encompassing, affecting every part of the physical territory.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Ezekiel 36:6 powerfully articulates God's profound commitment to His covenant and His own holy name. The divine "jealousy" and "fury" are not arbitrary emotions but righteous responses to the desecration of His land and the dishonor brought upon His name by the "heathen." This passage underscores the theological truth that God is not indifferent to the suffering of His people or the scorn of His adversaries. His zeal is a protective love, ensuring that His purposes prevail and His glory is ultimately revealed to all nations. The restoration promised here is not primarily for Israel's comfort, but for the vindication of God's character and power in the eyes of the world, demonstrating that He is indeed the sovereign Lord who keeps His promises, even when they seem impossible to human eyes. This divine action serves as a powerful testament to His faithfulness and His unwavering resolve to uphold His covenant.

* [Deuteronomy 32:21](/deuteronomy/32-21 "Deuteronomy 32:21 - God's Jealousy for His People")
* [Isaiah 42:8](/isaiah/42-8 "Isaiah 42:8 - God's Glory Not Shared")
* [Joel 2:18](/joel/2-18 "Joel 2:18 - The Lord's Jealousy for His Land")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Ezekiel 36:6 offers profound comfort and challenge for believers today. It reminds us that God is deeply invested in His people and His purposes, even when circumstances appear bleak or His name seems dishonored. For those who feel shamed, marginalized, or subjected to reproach, this verse provides assurance that God sees their suffering and will act with zealous love to bring about vindication and restoration. It encourages us to trust in God's sovereign power and His unwavering commitment to His own glory, knowing that He will ultimately set right all wrongs. Furthermore, it challenges us to consider how our lives, as God's people, reflect His character to the world. When we bear "shame" for Christ's sake, we can be confident that God's righteous indignation is stirred on our behalf, and His ultimate plan for our restoration and His glory will prevail, calling us to live in a way that honors Him, even amidst adversity.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **In what areas of your life or in the world around you do you see God's name being dishonored or His people bearing "shame"?**
* **How does understanding God's "jealousy and fury" as righteous indignation change your perception of His character?**
* **What specific "shame" or reproach might you be experiencing that you can entrust to God's zealous care for vindication?**

### FAQ

**What does it mean for God to speak in "jealousy and fury"?**

Answer: When the Bible describes God as having "jealousy" (Hebrew: _qinʼâh_) and "fury" (Hebrew: _chêmâh_), it's crucial to understand these terms anthropomorphically, not as human flaws but as divine attributes. God's **jealousy** is His righteous zeal and exclusive devotion to His covenant relationship with His people and His own holy name. It's a protective, possessive love that demands loyalty and reacts strongly to anything that threatens His honor or His people's well-being, much like a faithful husband is jealous for his wife. His **fury** or wrath is His intense, holy indignation against sin, injustice, and the desecration of what is sacred to Him. In Ezekiel 36:6, this "jealousy and fury" are directed at the nations who shamed Israel and, by extension, God's name. It signifies His unwavering commitment to His promises and His powerful resolve to vindicate His glory and restore His people and land, as promised throughout [Ezekiel 36](/ezekiel/36 "Ezekiel 36 - Restoration of Israel").

**Why does God address the "mountains, hills, rivers, and valleys" of Israel?**

Answer: God addresses the physical landscape of Israel—the "mountains, hills, rivers, and valleys"—through Ezekiel as a powerful literary and theological device known as personification. This highlights several key points. First, it emphasizes God's direct and intimate connection to the land itself, which was integral to His covenant with Israel. The land, like the people, had suffered desolation and shame. Second, it signifies the comprehensive nature of the promised restoration; it will not just be a spiritual or demographic renewal but a physical transformation of the very ground of Israel, making it fruitful and habitable again. This imagery underscores that no part of God's creation, especially His chosen land, is outside His sovereign care and redemptive plan. It also serves to magnify the divine word, demonstrating that God's decree is so powerful that even inanimate objects are commanded to hear and respond, as seen in the broader context of [Ezekiel's prophecies](/ezekiel "The Book of Ezekiel").

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Ezekiel 36:6, with its declaration of God's zealous intervention for His shamed land and people, finds its ultimate and most profound fulfillment in Jesus Christ. While the immediate context points to the physical restoration of Israel after the Babylonian exile, the deeper spiritual reality foreshadows the new covenant accomplished through Christ. The "shame of the heathen" that Israel bore prefigures the universal shame and condemnation of humanity under sin, a burden that Christ Himself bore on the cross. Just as God's "jealousy and fury" moved Him to vindicate His name by restoring Israel, so too did His righteous indignation against sin lead Him to send His Son to redeem humanity. Through Christ's atoning sacrifice, the ultimate "shame" of sin is removed, and a spiritual restoration far greater than any physical return from exile is offered. Believers are given a "new heart and a new spirit" (echoing [Ezekiel 36:26](/ezekiel/36-26 "Ezekiel 36:26 - A New Heart")), enabling them to walk in God's statutes, not by their own power, but by the indwelling Holy Spirit ([Ezekiel 36:27](/ezekiel/36-27 "Ezekiel 36:27 - God's Spirit in You")). The desolate spiritual landscape of humanity, once barren and shamed by sin, is made fruitful through union with Christ, the true "land of Israel" in whom all God's promises find their "Yes" and "Amen" ([2 Corinthians 1:20](/2_corinthians/1-20 "2 Corinthians 1:20 - God's Promises in Christ")). Thus, God's zealous love, first declared to the mountains and valleys of ancient Israel, is fully manifested in the person and work of the [Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world](/john/1-29 "John 1:29 - Jesus, the Lamb of God").

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 123:3

Have mercy upon us, O LORD, have mercy upon us: for we are exceedingly filled with contempt.

Psalms 123:4

Our soul is exceedingly filled with the scorning of those that are at ease, [and] with the contempt of the proud.

Ezekiel 34:29

And I will raise up for them a plant of renown, and they shall be no more consumed with hunger in the land, neither bear the shame of the heathen any more.

Psalms 74:23

Forget not the voice of thine enemies: the tumult of those that rise up against thee increaseth continually.

Psalms 74:10

O God, how long shall the adversary reproach? shall the enemy blaspheme thy name for ever?

Ezekiel 36:4

Therefore, ye mountains of Israel, hear the word of the Lord GOD; Thus saith the Lord GOD to the mountains, and to the hills, to the rivers, and to the valleys, to the desolate wastes, and to the cities that are forsaken, which became a prey and derision to the residue of the heathen that [are] round about;

Ezekiel 36:5

Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD; Surely in the fire of my jealousy have I spoken against the residue of the heathen, and against all Idumea, which have appointed my land into their possession with the joy of all [their] heart, with despiteful minds, to cast it out for a prey.