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 17 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Ezek 11:19 | And I will give them one heart, and I will put a new spirit within you; | Fulfillment of the promise |
| Jer 31:33 | But this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days...I will put my law within them, and I will write it on their hearts. | New Covenant |
| Ps 51:10 | Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. | Plea for spiritual renewal |
| Isa 44:3 | For I will pour water on the thirsty land, and streams on the dry ground; I will pour my Spirit upon your offspring, and my blessing on your descendants. | Promise of Spirit outpouring |
| Jer 32:39 | I will give them one heart and one way, that they may fear me forever... | Unity of heart and obedience |
| Zech 12:10 | And I will pour out on the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem the Spirit of grace and pleas for mercy... | Spirit of grace and mercy |
| Acts 2:17-18 | "...And in the last days it shall be, God declares, that I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh..." | New Testament fulfillment (Pentecost) |
| Rom 8:4 | ...so that the just requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. | Fulfillment of law through Spirit |
| 1 Cor 6:19 | Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? | Spirit dwelling in believers |
| 2 Cor 3:3 | ...and you show that you are a letter from Christ delivered by our ministry, written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone, but on tablets of human hearts. | Spirit writing on hearts |
| Gal 5:22-23 | But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control... | Transformation by the Spirit |
| Heb 8:10 | For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, declares the Lord: I will put my laws into their minds, and write them on their hearts... | New Covenant detail |
| Heb 10:16 | ...I will put my laws on their hearts, and write them on their minds... | New Covenant repetition |
| 1 Pet 1:22 | Having purified your souls by your obedience to the truth for a sincere brotherly love, love one another earnestly from a pure heart... | Obedience and purity of heart |
| Phil 2:13 | ...for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure. | God enabling obedience |
| Ezek 36:26-27 | I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. And I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put my Spirit within you and cause you to walk in my statutes and be careful to obey my rules. | Parallel passage (identical theme) |
| Ezek 18:31 | Cast away from you all the transgressions that you have committed, and make yourselves a new heart and a new spirit! Why will you die, O house of Israel? | Call to self-renewal (contrasted with God's act) |
| Deut 30:6 | Moreover the Lord your God will put these words on your heart... | Internalization of God's word |
| John 3:3 | Jesus answered him, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God." | Spiritual rebirth |
| Rev 21:5 | And he who was seated on the throne said, "Behold, I am making all things new." | God's ultimate renewal |
Ezekiel 11 verses
Ezekiel 11 17 Meaning
God promises to gather His dispersed people from among the nations and re-establish them in their own land. This will involve giving them a new spirit and heart, characterized by a desire to walk in God's statutes and keep His judgments. It signifies a future restoration, not just physical return, but a spiritual transformation of His people, enabling them to obey Him wholeheartedly.
Ezekiel 11 17 Context
Ezekiel 11:14-21 is a message of hope following the prophecy of judgment against those who remained in Jerusalem, particularly the princes, and the destruction of the city. The people taken captive to Babylon are contrasted with those who remained and presumed their favored status. God assures the exiles that He will bring them back from their dispersion among the nations and from the foreign lands where they have been scattered. This chapter highlights God's faithfulness to His covenant promises, even amidst the judgment experienced by unfaithful Israel. It sets the stage for the further prophetic message of restoration and a new covenant.
Ezekiel 11 17 Word Analysis
- And I will gather: (וְאָסַפְתִּי,
və’āsafti) - "I will gather" implies a deliberate and powerful act of bringing together scattered individuals. It signifies restoration from dispersion, a key theme of God's faithfulness. This action is unilateral; God initiates the gathering. - all of you: (מִכֹּל,
mikol) - Emphasizes the totality of the returned community, leaving no one out who is part of His people. - from the peoples: (מִן־הָעַמִּים,
min-hā‘ammîm) - Refers to the nations surrounding Israel and the lands where they have been exiled, highlighting their dispersion. - and will assemble you: (וְקִבַּצְתִּי,
vəqibbaṣtti) - Similar to "gather," but suggests bringing them into a specific place or congregation. This points to re-establishment as a unified entity. - from the countries: (מִמַּקּוֹמוֹת,
mimmāqōmōṯ) - Denotes the geographical locations of their exile. - in which you have been scattered: (אֲשֶׁר־נְפוֹצֹתֶם־בָּם,
’ašer-nəp̄ōṣeṯem-bām) - "Scattered" (נָפוֹץ,nāp̄ōṣ) powerfully conveys the disunity and brokenness caused by exile. God will reverse this. - And I will give: (וְנָתַתִּי,
vənāṯaṯi) - God is the giver of this internal transformation. This is a divine act of grace. - to you: (לָכֶם,
lāḵem) - The recipients are specifically God's covenant people. - one heart: (לֵב אֶחָד,
lēḇ ’eḥāḏ) - Signifies unity of purpose, loyalty, and affection towards God. It's the opposite of the divided hearts of previous generations. - and I will put: (וְרוּחַ חֲדָשָׁה,
vərūaḥ ḥăḏāšāh) - God is the initiator of this new inner reality. - a new spirit (
ruach chadashah) - A completely revitalized inner life, empowered by God's Spirit. This is a qualitative change. - within you: (בְּקִרְבְּכֶם,
bəqirbəḵem) - The transformation occurs internally, deep within the individual. - and I will remove: (וַהֲסִרֹתִי,
wahăśiroti) - An active removal of what hinders. - the heart of stone: (לֵב הָאֶבֶן,
lēḇ hā’eḇen) - Represents a hardened, unresponsive, insensitive heart that is devoid of true spiritual life and incapable of responding to God's commands. - from your flesh: (מִתּוֹךְ בִּשְׂרְכֶם,
mittōḵ biśərḵem) - The source of this hardened heart is the natural, fallen human nature. - and give you: (וּנְתַתִּי,
unəṯaṯi) - Again, a direct gift from God. - a heart of flesh: (לֵב בָּשָׂר,
lēḇ bāśār) - A responsive, sensitive, living heart, capable of feeling, obeying, and relating to God. - that you may walk: (לְמַעַן תֵּלְכוּ,
ləma‘an ṯeləḵū) - The purpose of this new internal disposition is to enable consistent, faithful behavior. - in my statutes: (בְּחֻקֹּתַי,
bəḥuqqōṯai) - To follow God's divine laws and ordinances. - and keep: (וְאֶת־מִשְׁפָּטַי,
və’eṯ-mišpāṭai) - To be careful to execute and obey God's judgments and decrees. - and do them: (וְלַעֲשֹׂתָם,
vəla‘ăśōṯām) - Not just internal inclination, but external action and practice. This shows the holistic nature of the transformation.
Group Analysis:The phrases "gather and assemble," and "one heart and a new spirit," highlight God's restorative actions from the outside in (gathering from dispersion) and from the inside out (internal transformation). The contrast between "heart of stone" and "heart of flesh" underscores the radical nature of this renewal. The final phrase "that you may walk in my statutes and keep and do them" shows that this inner change is directly linked to obedient living.
Ezekiel 11 17 Bonus Section
This promise of a new heart and spirit anticipates the work of the Holy Spirit in the New Testament, a theme emphasized by Jesus (John 14:16-17) and the Apostles. The cleansing from sin and the empowerment for righteousness described here find their ultimate realization in Christian redemption. Ezekiel's prophecy contrasts with earlier commands for human-initiated repentance (e.g., Deut 30:6), shifting the focus to God's sovereign act of internal re-creation. The term "statutes" and "judgments" represents God's complete will, and the internal capacity to obey signifies a transformed relationship, not just a modified behavior. This internal capacity to obey God is a direct result of God's presence and work within His people.
Ezekiel 11 17 Commentary
This verse describes a core aspect of God's promise of restoration. The scattered nation would be regathered and unified by a profound internal change. It’s not merely a physical repatriation but a spiritual transformation. The "new heart" and "new spirit" signifies a complete redirection of the inner being towards God. The "heart of stone," symbolizing stubbornness and spiritual deadness, would be replaced by a "heart of flesh," meaning a receptive and living heart. This new nature would empower believers to not just know God's laws, but to actively desire and consistently live according to them. This profound promise is ultimately fulfilled in the New Covenant established through Jesus Christ, where the Holy Spirit indwells believers, writing God's law on their hearts and enabling true obedience.