Ezekiel 11 20

Ezekiel 11:20 kjv

That they may walk in my statutes, and keep mine ordinances, and do them: and they shall be my people, and I will be their God.

Ezekiel 11:20 nkjv

that they may walk in My statutes and keep My judgments and do them; and they shall be My people, and I will be their God.

Ezekiel 11:20 niv

Then they will follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws. They will be my people, and I will be their God.

Ezekiel 11:20 esv

that they may walk in my statutes and keep my rules and obey them. And they shall be my people, and I will be their God.

Ezekiel 11:20 nlt

so they will obey my decrees and regulations. Then they will truly be my people, and I will be their God.

Ezekiel 11 verses

Ezekiel 11 20 Meaning

This verse articulates God's promised purpose and outcome for His people, particularly following the judgment of the exile and the promise of a renewed heart in the preceding verse. It declares that the transformation God initiates within His people will lead them to actively and wholeheartedly observe His laws, judgments, and decrees. The ultimate result of this enabled obedience is the re-establishment of the intimate covenant relationship where they belong uniquely to Him as "My people," and He faithfully demonstrates His power and presence as "their God." It is a vision of spiritual renewal resulting in practical faithfulness and restored divine fellowship.

Ezekiel 11 20 Context

Ezekiel 11 is situated in the broader context of judgment against Judah and Jerusalem, even as glimmers of hope for future restoration are revealed. In the first half of the chapter (verses 1-13), Ezekiel pronounces judgment on the wicked leaders (princes) of Jerusalem, highlighting their rebellion, idolatry, and self-serving nature, culminating in a prophecy of the city's destruction and their violent end. The "glory of the LORD" is depicted as departing from the city (verses 22-23), signaling God's withdrawal before judgment.

However, from verse 14 onwards, the tone shifts dramatically to one of divine promise for the exiles who are dispersed among the nations. While the inhabitants of Jerusalem face imminent destruction, God promises to gather a faithful remnant from the nations, restore them to the land, and most significantly, work an internal transformation within them. Verse 19 explicitly states, "And I will give them one heart and put a new spirit within them; and I will remove the heart of stone from their flesh and give them a heart of flesh." Ezekiel 11:20 then immediately follows this profound promise, delineating the purpose and consequence of this internal, spiritual renewal. It explains why God is giving them a new heart and what the new covenant relationship will entail, thereby bridging divine grace with human responsibility, all empowered by God.

Ezekiel 11 20 Word analysis

• that they may (לְמַעַן – lema'an): This introductory phrase denotes a purpose or a consequence. It signals that the preceding promise of a new heart (v. 19) has a direct, intentional objective, linking divine action to human response. God's grace enables a particular way of living.
• walk (יֵלֵכוּ – yeleku from הָלַךְ halak): Beyond mere physical movement, halak frequently signifies a person's conduct, manner of life, or a continuous mode of existence. It suggests that obedience will be an ongoing lifestyle, a pervasive pattern rather than isolated acts.
• in My statutes (בַּחֻקֹּתַי – b'chukkotai from חֹק choq): Choq refers to divine decrees, prescribed ordinances, or established laws, often implying their firm, unchanging nature as if "engraved" or fixed. These are God's foundational, authoritative pronouncements.
• and keep (וּמִשְׁפָּטַי יִשְׁמְרוּ – u'mishpatai yishmeru from שָׁמַר shamar): Shamar means to guard, watch over, preserve, or observe diligently. It implies careful attention, adherence, and a proactive commitment to uphold what has been commanded.
• My ordinances (וּמִשְׁפָּטַי – u'mishpatai from מִשְׁפָּט mishpat): Mishpat encompasses judgments, legal decisions, rights, or customs. These are moral and legal rulings, the just principles God expects His people to live by in their societal and individual interactions.
• and obey them (וְעָשׂוּ אֹתָם – v'asu otam from עָשָׂה asah): Literally "and do them." Asah means to do, make, or perform. This verb emphasizes the practical execution and active performance of God's commands, moving beyond mere intellectual knowledge or internal disposition to concrete actions.
• so that they may be My people (וְהָיוּ לִי לְעָם – v'hayu li l'am): This is a crucial phrase from the biblical covenant formula. It signifies the restoration of Israel's special identity as belonging exclusively to God, adopted and set apart by Him.
• and I may be their God (וַאֲנִי אֶהְיֶה לָהֶם לֵאלֹהִים – va'ani ehyeh lahem l'Elohim): The divine counterpart of the covenant formula. It represents God's active presence, protection, provision, and sovereign care for His chosen people, affirming His faithfulness to the covenant.

• "walk in My statutes and keep My ordinances and obey them": This triple articulation of obedience (walking, keeping, doing) underscores a holistic, thorough, and active submission to God's entire body of law. "Walking in statutes" implies a lifestyle aligned with foundational principles, "keeping ordinances" speaks to diligent observation of specific laws, and "obeying them" emphasizes practical performance, covering internal commitment and external action.
• "My statutes and My ordinances": These two terms together represent the comprehensiveness of God's revealed will. "Statutes" often refer to established decrees or fundamental principles, while "ordinances" (judgments) frequently refer to specific rulings or legal applications, reflecting justice and right behavior. Both highlight the divine origin and binding nature of God's commands.
• "My people, and I may be their God": This is the core covenant formula of the Old Testament. It signifies an unbreakable, reciprocal relationship of intimacy, identity, and commitment. "My people" expresses ownership and unique status, while "their God" assures divine protection, presence, and faithfulness, promising restoration of fellowship previously broken by disobedience.

Ezekiel 11 20 Bonus section

This verse strongly foreshadows the New Covenant prophesied by Jeremiah (Jer 31:31-34), particularly the internalization of God's law. What Ezekiel highlights is that the obedience God requires (living by His laws) He Himself enables (by providing a new heart and spirit). This divine enabling mechanism counters the previous failure of Israel under the Old Covenant, where external law could not transform a rebellious heart. The language underscores that restoration goes beyond mere physical return to the land; it is fundamentally spiritual, impacting the very core of identity and behavior. The phrase "My statutes and My ordinances" reflects God's unchanging standard for righteous living, while the renewed heart ensures the desire and capacity to meet that standard, creating a truly obedient people.

Ezekiel 11 20 Commentary

Ezekiel 11:20 serves as the culmination of God's promise of a renewed spiritual life for His people, bridging divine grace and human responsibility. The verse delineates the purpose for the new heart and spirit promised in verse 19: enabling God's people to live in full, sincere obedience to His commands. This obedience—encompassing the broad "statutes" and specific "ordinances"—is not a means to earn God's favor but the natural outflow of a supernaturally transformed will. The ultimate outcome is the restoration of the covenant ideal, where God unequivocally claims them as "My people" and acts as their ever-present and faithful "God." This vision points forward to the New Covenant era, a theme expanded in Jeremiah and applied in the New Testament, where the law is inscribed on transformed hearts, empowering a Spirit-led life of genuine submission to God's will.