Ezekiel 11 17

Ezekiel 11:17 kjv

Therefore say, Thus saith the Lord GOD; I will even gather you from the people, and assemble you out of the countries where ye have been scattered, and I will give you the land of Israel.

Ezekiel 11:17 nkjv

Therefore say, 'Thus says the Lord GOD: "I will gather you from the peoples, assemble you from the countries where you have been scattered, and I will give you the land of Israel." '

Ezekiel 11:17 niv

"Therefore say: 'This is what the Sovereign LORD says: I will gather you from the nations and bring you back from the countries where you have been scattered, and I will give you back the land of Israel again.'

Ezekiel 11:17 esv

Therefore say, 'Thus says the Lord GOD: I will gather you from the peoples and assemble you out of the countries where you have been scattered, and I will give you the land of Israel.'

Ezekiel 11:17 nlt

I, the Sovereign LORD, will gather you back from the nations where you have been scattered, and I will give you the land of Israel once again.'

Ezekiel 11 verses

Ezekiel 11 17 Meaning

Ezekiel 11:17 declares a solemn promise from God to the exiled Israelites. It reassures them that despite their scattering due to judgment, God Himself will actively gather them from all the nations where they were dispersed and bring them back to their covenantal land, the land of Israel. This verse signifies a divine act of restoration, driven by God's faithfulness rather than the people's merit, reversing the consequences of their sin and fulfilling His ancient promises.

Ezekiel 11 17 Context

Ezekiel 11 records a dramatic shift from prophecies of impending judgment to a glimmer of hope for the future. Prior to this verse, the chapter condemns Jerusalem's wicked leaders and promises the city's destruction and the dispersion of its inhabitants. God's glory is shown departing from the Temple (Ezek 11:22-23), signaling the imminent fall of the city and its temple. Amidst this grim pronouncement of judgment on those remaining in Jerusalem, verse 16 offers a word of comfort to the exiles already in Babylon, assuring them that God himself will be a "sanctuary" for them in their dispersion. Verse 17 then follows, articulating the precise promise of future restoration: the divine gathering of the scattered people back to their ancestral land, emphasizing God's direct agency and faithfulness to His covenant despite Israel's disobedience and punishment through exile. This promise is delivered to Ezekiel during the Babylonian exile, when the exiles are in despair, questioning God's presence and faithfulness, making the promise of return profoundly significant.

Ezekiel 11 17 Word analysis

• Therefore say, 'Thus says the Lord God: A standard prophetic formula indicating the divine origin and absolute authority of the message. It signals a shift, often from judgment to promise or a new phase in revelation. Hebrew: Ko amar Adonai YHWH (כֹּה אָמַר אֲדֹנָי יְהוִה), affirming the Lord's absolute sovereignty and covenant fidelity.
• I will gather you (וְקִבַּצְתִּי אֶתְכֶם): Highlights God's active, determined initiative. The Hebrew verb qabats (קָבַץ) means to collect, assemble, or bring together. It directly contrasts the previous scattering (divine judgment) with a future, deliberate act of reunion (divine grace). This is a definitive promise.
• from the peoples (מֵהָעַמִּים): Denotes all Gentile nations where the Israelites might have been dispersed. The term ammim (עַמִּים) refers to the diverse ethnic groups or peoples, emphasizing the broad and comprehensive nature of the dispersion and the subsequent ingathering. God's power extends beyond Babylon to all corners of the earth.
• and assemble you (וְקִבַּצְתִּי אֶתְכֶם): Repetition of the root verb for "gather" or "assemble." This intensifies the certainty and completeness of God's act. It’s not a partial return but a comprehensive re-gathering.
• out of the countries (מֵהָאֲרָצוֹת): Similar to "from the peoples," it refers to various territories and lands where they were exiled. Hebrew aratzot (אֲרָצוֹת) specifies geographical locations, underlining the physical, earthly scope of the restoration. It complements "peoples" for a thorough understanding of the diaspora.
• where you have been scattered (אֲשֶׁר נְפוֹצוֹתֶם): A direct reference to the judgment of exile. The verb naphats (נָפַץ) means to break, shatter, or scatter, conveying the traumatic and dispersed state of the exiles. This acknowledges their present condition and confirms that God is addressing their deepest pain and longing.
• and I will give you (וְנָתַתִּי לָכֶם): Emphasizes God's sovereign and gratuitous act. This return is not earned but bestowed as a divine gift, reinforcing the covenantal nature of the land and God's unwavering faithfulness. The Hebrew natan (נָתַן) means to give, grant, or bestow.
• the land of Israel (אֶת-אֶרֶץ יִשְׂרָאֵל): Specifies the divinely promised territory. This is not just any land but the ancestral, covenantal land, central to their identity and God's promises to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Hebrew: Eretz Yisrael (אֶרֶץ יִשְׂרָאֵל). This re-gifting signifies the re-establishment of their national identity and covenant relationship within the physical bounds God had designated.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• "I will gather you from the peoples and assemble you out of the countries": This double expression strongly emphasizes the comprehensiveness and certainty of God's redemptive work. He will actively reverse the process of dispersion that was a consequence of their sin, demonstrating His omnipotence and unwavering commitment. It implies both a physical repatriation and a spiritual reunification of His people.
• "where you have been scattered, and I will give you the land of Israel": This pairing directly links their current state of punishment (scattering) to God's future act of grace (giving back the land). It establishes the covenantal continuity, showing that God's promises related to the land remain intact even after the exiles' disobedience and the temporary loss of their homeland. The "land of Israel" represents not just geography, but their spiritual heritage, identity, and the place of God's presence among them.

Ezekiel 11 17 Bonus section

This promise of gathering is a clear demonstration of hesed – God's steadfast love and covenant faithfulness. It directly counteracts the exiles' despair, who, witnessing the destruction of Jerusalem and their dispersion, might have felt utterly abandoned or concluded that God's covenant with them was completely annulled. The explicit mention of "the land of Israel" underscores the continued validity of God's promises, directly challenging the notion that the exile permanently revoked their claim to the land. This promise, while initially fulfilled through returns under Cyrus and Nehemiah, ultimately finds echoes in messianic prophecies of a greater, complete spiritual and physical restoration, highlighting its ongoing theological significance beyond its immediate historical fulfillment.

Ezekiel 11 17 Commentary

Ezekiel 11:17 is a cornerstone prophecy of hope amidst desolation. It proclaims God's unyielding commitment to His covenant people, Israel, even in their deepest period of judgment and despair during the Babylonian exile. The verse clearly positions the ingathering as a divine initiative, stressing that it is God Himself who will act, rather than relying on human effort or merit. This restoration is presented as thorough, gathering from all nations and lands of their dispersion. Critically, the promise extends beyond mere return to any land; it specifically targets "the land of Israel," underscoring the enduring significance of the Abrahamic covenant regarding the promised territory. This act of divine reversal is foundational, laying the groundwork for further prophecies of spiritual renewal and the re-establishment of a purified, unified people. It testifies to God's grace prevailing over human sin and judgment, offering comfort and assurance to a people feeling utterly forsaken.