Ezekiel 11 19

Ezekiel 11:19 kjv

And I will give them one heart, and I will put a new spirit within you; and I will take the stony heart out of their flesh, and will give them an heart of flesh:

Ezekiel 11:19 nkjv

Then I will give them one heart, and I will put a new spirit within them, and take the stony heart out of their flesh, and give them a heart of flesh,

Ezekiel 11:19 niv

I will give them an undivided heart and put a new spirit in them; I will remove from them their heart of stone and give them a heart of flesh.

Ezekiel 11:19 esv

And I will give them one heart, and a new spirit I will put within them. I will remove the heart of stone from their flesh and give them a heart of flesh,

Ezekiel 11:19 nlt

And I will give them singleness of heart and put a new spirit within them. I will take away their stony, stubborn heart and give them a tender, responsive heart,

Ezekiel 11 verses

Ezekiel 11 19 Meaning

Ezekiel 11:19 expresses God's covenant promise of profound spiritual transformation for His people. It declares His divine initiative to grant them internal unity and a renewed spiritual disposition. This renewal involves a radical, sovereign act: the removal of their hardened, rebellious, and unresponsive "heart of stone" and its replacement with a "heart of flesh" – one that is sensitive, pliable, and capable of genuine obedience and relationship with Him. This internal change is the foundation for their future restoration and adherence to God's ways.

Ezekiel 11 19 Context

Ezekiel chapter 11 opens with a vision of Jerusalem, where the prophet is shown the pervasive idolatry and corrupt leadership that provoke God's judgment. The first half of the chapter details the spiritual defilement of the city's rulers (e.g., Pelatiah, Jaazaniah), signaling God's wrath and the departure of His glory from the Temple. This sets the stage for the destruction of Jerusalem and the continued exile of the people.

However, amidst this stark pronouncement of judgment (verses 1-13), God also provides a message of hope and future restoration for the scattered exiles. He calls these exiles His "little sanctuary" (v. 16) and promises to gather them back to the land of Israel (v. 17). Ezekiel 11:19, along with verse 20, describes the essential spiritual change that must accompany and enable this physical return and renewed covenant relationship. This promise underscores that physical relocation is insufficient without a radical internal transformation to align the people's hearts with God's will, a transformation they proved incapable of achieving on their own. The verse is therefore both a divine judgment (on the current generation) and a redemptive promise for the future.

Ezekiel 11 19 Word analysis

• And I will give them: This phrase, utilizing the Hebrew verb natan (נָתַן), signifies a unilateral divine act. It emphasizes God's sovereign initiative; this spiritual change is not something the people can generate or achieve themselves, but is a gracious gift from Him. It sets the tone for a completely God-driven transformation.

• one heart: Hebrew: lev echad (לֵב אֶחָד). The "heart" (lev) in ancient Near Eastern thought is the center of human intellect, will, emotions, and moral decision-making. "One heart" signifies unity and single-minded devotion. It contrasts the fragmented, double-minded, and idolatrous hearts of the people who pursued various gods and their own ways (Eze 6:9; Psa 12:2). This "one heart" implies an undivided loyalty to God and a cohesive inner disposition towards His covenant.

• and a new spirit: Hebrew: ruach chadashah (רוּחַ חֲדָשָׁה). Ruach can mean wind, breath, or spirit. Here, it refers to the inner disposition, life principle, or animating power. "New" (chadashah) implies a fresh, fundamentally altered inner nature, not merely a superficial reform or renovation of the old. This "new spirit" enables proper reception of God's truth and obedience, often seen as directly related to or even being God's Spirit itself in other prophecies (cf. Eze 36:27).

• I will put within them: Reinforces God's active, direct intervention in the deepest parts of their being. The placement is internal and fundamental.

• and I will remove: Hebrew: hasiroti (הֲסִירֹתִי). This verb denotes an active, complete, and decisive taking away or extraction. It signifies a radical divine surgery, highlighting the depth and thoroughness of the spiritual transformation. God actively purges the detrimental element.

• the heart of stone: Hebrew: lev ha'even (לֵב הָאֶבֶן). A powerful metaphor for spiritual insensitivity, hardness, stubbornness, and resistance to God's Word and will. Just as a stone cannot feel or respond, so this heart is impervious to God's appeals, incapable of contrition, and dead to spiritual promptings. This is often the condition that led to Israel's downfall and disobedience (Zec 7:12). It implies an unyielding nature, contrasted with idols made of stone but here representing human internal spiritual deadness.

• from their flesh: This phrase, mi'besaram (מִבְּשָׂרָם), means "from their physical body/being." It emphasizes that this change is deeply embedded, part of their very human constitution. The "heart of stone" is deeply ingrained, not superficial, making God's removal even more profound, touching their innermost reality as embodied beings.

• and give them a heart of flesh: Hebrew: lev basar (לֵב בָּשָׂר). "Flesh" (basar) here metaphorically describes a heart that is soft, pliable, responsive, and sensitive. Unlike stone, flesh is living, feeling, and capable of responding. This implies a heart that is receptive to God's will, tender to His Spirit's promptings, capable of expressing genuine emotion, and ready for obedience. It contrasts sharply with the "heart of stone" and depicts the renewed state, enabling true covenant fidelity.

Words-group analysis:

• "And I will give them one heart, and a new spirit I will put within them": This segment outlines the positive impartation. God's creative act provides internal coherence ("one heart") and a fundamentally transformed disposition ("a new spirit"). It highlights the spiritual resources provided by God to live a life aligned with His will, moving from division and spiritual barrenness to unified purpose and renewed vitality.

• "and I will remove the heart of stone from their flesh and give them a heart of flesh": This segment describes the radical surgical intervention and replacement. It highlights the divine solution to humanity's deep-seated problem of sin and rebellion—an internal, complete exchange of the hardened, resistant nature for a sensitive, responsive one. This pair of "remove" and "give" underscores the comprehensive and active nature of God's redemptive work. The contrast between "stone" and "flesh" emphasizes the extreme difference between the old, fallen nature and the divinely renewed state.

Ezekiel 11 19 Bonus section

The Hebrew word for "heart" (lev) encompasses the totality of the inner person: thoughts, emotions, and moral decisions. It is not just the seat of affections, but the intellectual and volitional core of an individual. Therefore, "one heart" implies intellectual clarity about God's ways, unified emotional attachment to Him, and unwavering moral resolve. This holistic renewal targets every aspect of the individual's inner being.

The promise of a "new spirit" also lays crucial groundwork for the New Testament's understanding of the indwelling Holy Spirit. While not explicitly identified as "My Spirit" here as it is in Ezekiel 36:27, this "new spirit" signifies the new inner power that enables the "heart of flesh" to truly function. The Septuagint (Greek translation of the Old Testament) renders ruach chadashah as "spirit of newness," emphasizing the qualitative difference and radical change from the former disposition. This verse highlights divine enablement as the absolute prerequisite for spiritual revival and true relationship with God, anticipating the grace and new birth of the New Covenant era.

Ezekiel 11 19 Commentary

Ezekiel 11:19 delivers a profound message of spiritual transformation that is entirely God's initiative. It goes beyond mere external compliance with the law or political restoration; it promises an internal overhaul. The "heart of stone" symbolizes humanity's innate rebellion, insensitivity, and spiritual deadness towards God, a condition evident in pre-exilic Israel's idolatry and disobedience. This stony heart renders genuine covenant fidelity impossible. God, therefore, intervenes not by expecting the people to "soften" their own hearts (which they cannot), but by radically removing it and implanting a "heart of flesh." This heart is sensitive, pliable, and responsive to His will, capable of loving Him and keeping His commands (as promised more explicitly in Eze 36:27, where His Spirit is also indwelt). This promise forms the core of the New Covenant anticipated throughout the prophets and fulfilled in Christ, enabling believers to obey God not out of coercion, but from a regenerated, willing heart, guided by the Holy Spirit. This internal renewal is the prerequisite for all true worship and righteous living.

Example: A person repeatedly attempts to follow moral codes or religious rituals, yet finds no true joy, change, or sustained obedience, much like trying to force a stone to bend. God's promise transforms this, allowing for genuine, heartfelt response to His word, enabling true repentance, love, and spiritual growth, akin to flesh readily responding to stimulus.