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Ezekiel 33:24

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Son of man, they that inhabit those wastes of the land of Israel speak, saying, Abraham was one, and he inherited the land: but we [are] many; the land is given us for inheritance.

Son {H1121} of man {H120}, they that inhabit {H3427} those wastes {H2723} of the land {H127} of Israel {H3478} speak {H559}, saying {H559}, Abraham {H85} was one {H259}, and he inherited {H3423} the land {H776}: but we are many {H7227}; the land {H776} is given {H5414} us for inheritance {H4181}.

"Human being, those living in the desolate parts of the land of Isra'el are saying, 'Avraham was only one, and he inherited the land. But we are many, so [how much more] is the land given to us to inherit!'

“Son of man, those living in the ruins in the land of Israel are saying, ‘Abraham was only one man, yet he possessed the land. But we are many; surely the land has been given to us as a possession.’

Son of man, they that inhabit those waste places in the land of Israel speak, saying, Abraham was one, and he inherited the land: but we are many; the land is given us for inheritance.

Commentary

Ezekiel 33:24 captures a crucial moment in the prophetic ministry of Ezekiel, addressing the mindset of the remnant left in the devastated land of Judah after the Babylonian exile.

Context

This verse comes after the fall of Jerusalem (586 BC), a catastrophic event signaling the fulfillment of God's warnings against Israel's disobedience. Ezekiel, ministering in exile, receives news of the city's destruction (Ezekiel 33:21). In this passage, God addresses those who remained in the desolate "wastes" (Hebrew: chorbah, meaning ruin or desolation) of the land of Israel. These inhabitants, clinging to a false sense of security, presume their right to the land based on a misinterpretation of God's covenant with Abraham. They argue that if Abraham, as one man, inherited the land, then surely they, being many, have an even stronger claim. This presumption ignores the spiritual conditions tied to the land covenant, which their ancestors had repeatedly violated, leading to the very judgment they were experiencing.

Key Themes

  • Misplaced Confidence: The people's claim to the land is rooted in a misunderstanding of God's promises. They focus on numerical superiority ("we are many") and historical precedent (Abraham) rather than their current spiritual state and covenant obligations.
  • Conditional Inheritance: While God's promise to Abraham was unconditional regarding the giving of the land (Genesis 15:7), the continued possession and flourishing in that land for Israel under the Mosaic Covenant was highly conditional upon their obedience to God's laws. The people in Ezekiel's time had failed these conditions repeatedly, leading to their expulsion, as warned in Deuteronomy 28 and Leviticus 18:28.
  • Presumption vs. Repentance: Instead of recognizing their sin and repenting in the face of judgment, they exhibit pride and a sense of entitlement. This contrasts sharply with the call to repentance that Ezekiel consistently delivers.

Linguistic Insights

The term "wastes" (Hebrew: chorbah) powerfully conveys the devastated state of the land, a direct consequence of God's judgment on Israel's sin. The people inhabiting these ruins are paradoxically claiming inheritance, highlighting their spiritual blindness to the reasons for the desolation.

Practical Application

Ezekiel 33:24 serves as a potent reminder that spiritual inheritance and blessings from God are not automatic or based solely on lineage or past promises. They are often tied to present obedience, faith, and a right relationship with God. We must guard against presumption, understanding that God's grace does not negate the need for a transformed life and genuine repentance. Just as the Israelites had to learn the hard way that their claim to the land was conditional on their faithfulness, believers today are called to live out their faith consistently, understanding that true spiritual inheritance comes through faith in Christ and obedience to His Word, not merely by association or heritage.

Note: If the commentary doesn’t appear instantly, please allow 2–5 seconds for it to load. It is generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash (May 20, 2025) using a prompt focused on Biblical fidelity over bias. While the insights have been consistently reliable, we encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit.

Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated — the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • Isaiah 51:2 (6 votes)

    Look unto Abraham your father, and unto Sarah [that] bare you: for I called him alone, and blessed him, and increased him.

  • Ezekiel 33:27 (6 votes)

    Say thou thus unto them, Thus saith the Lord GOD; [As] I live, surely they that [are] in the wastes shall fall by the sword, and him that [is] in the open field will I give to the beasts to be devoured, and they that [be] in the forts and in the caves shall die of the pestilence.

  • Acts 7:5 (6 votes)

    And he gave him none inheritance in it, no, not [so much as] to set his foot on: yet he promised that he would give it to him for a possession, and to his seed after him, when [as yet] he had no child.

  • Ezekiel 36:4 (5 votes)

    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;

  • Luke 3:8 (5 votes)

    Bring forth therefore fruits worthy of repentance, and begin not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham to [our] father: for I say unto you, That God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham.

  • Jeremiah 40:7 (5 votes)

    ¶ Now when all the captains of the forces which [were] in the fields, [even] they and their men, heard that the king of Babylon had made Gedaliah the son of Ahikam governor in the land, and had committed unto him men, and women, and children, and of the poor of the land, of them that were not carried away captive to Babylon;

  • Jeremiah 39:10 (4 votes)

    But Nebuzaradan the captain of the guard left of the poor of the people, which had nothing, in the land of Judah, and gave them vineyards and fields at the same time.