Bible Commentaries
Ezekiel 36

Verse 1

What now follows refers to the yet future Restoration of the People and Land of Israel and Judah, as shown in the Structure above.

son of man . See note on Ezekiel 2:1 ,

mountains of Israel. See Ezekiel 6:1-7 ; Ezekiel 36:1 .

the LORD. Hebrew. Jehovah . App-4 ,

Verse 2

the Lord GOD. Hebrew. Adonai Jehovah . See note on Ezekiel 2:4 .

the enemy . Note the Structure above.

hath said . The 1611 edition of the Authorized Version reads "had said"

the ancient high places = the everlasting hills, promised to Israel (Genesis 49:26 . Deuteronomy 13:13 ; Deuteronomy 33:15 ).

Verse 3

Because = Because, even because. Figure of speech Epizeuxis . App-6 .

swallowed you up . Like a beast of prey. Compare Job c. e. Psalms 56:1 , Psalms 56:2 ; Psalms 57:3 .Ecclesiastes 10:12 .

are = have been.

infamy = evil report.

Verse 4

hear . Figure of speech Apostrophe . App-6 .

to the mountains, &c. Note the Figure of speech Merismos ( App-6 ).

rivers = torrents, or ravines. Hebrew. aphikim . See note on "channels", 2 Samuel 22:15 .

Verse 5

fire of My jealousy . Reference to Pentateuch (Deuteronomy 4:24 ),

heathen = nations.

Idumea = Edom,

minds = souls. Hebrew. nephesh . App-18 ,

Verse 6

the land of Israel = the soil of Israel. See note on Ezekiel 11:17 . Behold. Figure of speech Asterismos . App-8 .

Verse 7

lifted up Mine hand = sworn. Hebrew idiom. Reference to Pentateuch (Exodus 6:8 . Numbers 14:30 . Deuteronomy 32:40 ). Compare Daniel 12:7 . Elsewhere only in Pentateuch. See Genesis 14:22 , and Ezekiel 20:5 ,

heathen = nations.

that are = which are yours; referring to "ours" in Ezekiel 36:2 .

Verse 10

men. Hebrew ' adam . App-14 .

Verse 11

old = former.

ye shall know , &c. See note on Ezekiel 6:7 .

Verse 12

bereave , &c. = make childless.

Verse 13

Thou land devourest, &c. Reference to Pentateuch (Numbers 13:32 ). App-92 .

Verse 14

bereave . Hebrew text reads "cause to fall"; but margin reads "make childless". Some codices, with three early printed editions, Aramaean, Septuagint, Syriac, and Vulgate, read "make childless" (text and margin)

saith the Lord GOD = [is] Adonai Jehovah's oracle,

Verse 15

the people = peoples.

thy. The 1611 edition of the Authorized Version reads "the".

Verse 17

land = soil.

they defiled it , &c. Reference to Pentateuch (Leviticus 15:19 ; Leviticus 18:25 , Leviticus 18:27 , Leviticus 18:30 . Numbers 35:33 , Numbers 35:34 ). App-92 .

as the uncleanness , &c. Reference to Pentateuch (Leviticus 15:19 ; Leviticus 15:18 , Leviticus 15:19 , &c.)

Verse 18

I poured, &o. Sea Ezekiel 7:8 ; Ezekiel 7:14 , Ezekiel 7:19 ; Ezekiel 21:31 . Compare 2 Chronicles 34:21 , 2 Chronicles 34:25 .Jeremiah 7:20 ; Jeremiah 44:6 , &c.

idols = dirty idols

Verse 19

I scattered , &c. See Ezekiel 5:12 ; Ezekiel 22:15 . Reference to Pentateuch (Leviticus 26:33 .Deuteronomy 28:64; Deuteronomy 28:64 ). App-92 .

according to their way . See Ezekiel 7:3 , Ezekiel 7:8 ; Ezekiel 18:30 ; Ezekiel 22:31 ; Ezekiel 39:24 .

Verse 20

they. Hebrew text reads "he", or "it". A special various reading called Sevir ( App-34 ), and some codices, with Aramaic, Septuagint, Syriac, and Vulgate, read "they".

profaned, &c. Ref to Pentateuch (Leviticus 19:12 , &c.) App-92 .

holy . See note on Exodus 3:5 .

name. See note on Psalms 20:1 .

they said to them: i.e. men said of Israel.

gone = come.

Verse 21

I had pity, &c. See Ezekiel 20:9 , Ezekiel 20:14 , Ezekiel 20:22 .

Verse 22

not . . . for your sakes, &c. Reference to Pentateuch (Deuteronomy 7:7 , Deuteronomy 7:8 ; Deuteronomy 9:5-7 ). App-92 . Compare Psalms 106:8 ; Psalms 115:1 , Psalms 115:2 .

Verse 23

I will sanctify, &c. The opposite of the profanation of Ezekiel 36:20 .

shall know. See note on Ezekiel 6:10 .

in you. So in the Babylonian Codex; but some codices, with Codex Hillel and three early printed editions (one in margin), read "in them".

their. The Babylonian Codex, Codex Hillel, and other codices, with nine early printed editions (one Rabbinic, in margin), read "your".

Verse 24

will bring you, &c. Compare Ezekiel 11:17 ; Ezekiel 34:13 ; Eze 34:37 , Ezekiel 34:21 , Ezekiel 34:25 ; Ezekiel 39:27 , Ezekiel 39:28 , &c. Ref to Pentateuch (Deuteronomy 30:3-6 ). App-92 . into your own land on to your own soil. Hebrew 'ado:oeh. Not the some word as in Ezekiel 36:28 .

Verse 25

Then . Note the time for the fulfilment of this prophecy. Not now, among the Gentiles; not now, in the Church of God; but, when Israel shall be brought back "into their own land" (verses: Ezekiel 36:16-24 ). Note the "you . . . ye . . . your", &c., of verses: Ezekiel 36:25-29 . Observe the importance of this word "Then" in other passages. See notes on Exodus 17:8 . Malachi 3:4 , Malachi 3:16 . Matthew 25:1 . 1 Thessalonians 4:17 , &c.

sprinkle = throw. See Leviticus 1:5

water. See Isaiah 44:3 .

you . . . ye . . . your. The same People referred to Isa 44:25-29 as in or Ezekiel 16:17 . See the Structure, p. 1167.

Verse 26

new heart . Not the old heart improved, but a new heart created and "given". The old one "taken away".

spirit. Hebrew. ruach . App-9 .

Verse 27

statutes . . . judgments. Reference to Pentateuch. See note on Deuteronomy 4:1 . App-92 .

Verse 28

land. Hebrew ' eretz . Not the same word as in Ezekiel 36:24 . ye: i.e. the People who are the subject of these verses. See note on "Then", Ezekiel 36:25 .

be My People = become to Me a people. Reference to Pentateuch (Leviticus 26:12 ).

be your God = become to you it God.

God. Hebrew. Elohim . App-4 .

Verse 29

the corn, &c. Pointing to the physical blessings.

Verse 30

reproach, &c. Reference to Pentateuch (Deuteronomy 29:23-28 ). App-92 . Compare Joel 2:17 , Joel 2:26 .

Verse 31

shall ye remember. See Ezekiel 6:9 ; Ezekiel 16:61-63 ; Ezekiel 20:43 .

evil . Hebrew. ra a'. App-44 .

iniquities. Hebrew. 'raa , App-44 .

abominations: i.e. idolatries.

Verse 32

be ashamed. Compare Ezekiel 16:63 .

Verse 33

In the day that = When. See App-18 .

cause you to dwell, &c. = cause the cities to be inhabited.

Verse 35

like the garden of Eden . Ref, to Pentateuch (Genesis 2:8-15 ). See note on Ezekiel 28:13 .

fenced = fortified.

Verse 37

yet . . . be enquired of : i.e. the time shall come when they will ask for what they had in the past despised.

Verse 38

As the holy flock = Like a flock of holy offerings.

solemn feasts = appointed seasons.