Ezekiel 12:15 kjv
And they shall know that I am the LORD, when I shall scatter them among the nations, and disperse them in the countries.
Ezekiel 12:15 nkjv
"Then they shall know that I am the LORD, when I scatter them among the nations and disperse them throughout the countries.
Ezekiel 12:15 niv
"They will know that I am the LORD, when I disperse them among the nations and scatter them through the countries.
Ezekiel 12:15 esv
And they shall know that I am the LORD, when I disperse them among the nations and scatter them among the countries.
Ezekiel 12:15 nlt
And when I scatter them among the nations, they will know that I am the LORD.
Ezekiel 12 15 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Eze 12:15 | "And I will scatter them among the nations, and I will disperse them through the countries." | |
| Eze 13:10 | "Because, indeed, because they have led astray My people, saying, ‘Peace!’ when there is no peace;" | Prophetic consequence for false leaders |
| Eze 14:12, 13 | "The word of the LORD came again to me: 'Son of man, when a land sins against Me by a persistent trespass, and I stretch out My hand against it and break the staff of its bread, and send famine against it, and cut off from it man and beast.'" | God's judgment through famine |
| Eze 33:27 | "‘Son of man, say to your people, "Thus says the Lord GOD: ‘The people of the land use the sword, and spill blood in their midst, and pollute themselves with their idols."’" | Warning of judgment |
| Lev 26:33 | "But I will scatter you among the nations and will draw a sword after you..." | Levitical law concerning punishment |
| Deut 4:27 | "And the LORD will scatter you among the peoples, and you will be left few in number among the nations..." | Deuteronomic warning of scattering |
| Jer 15:2 | "When they say to you, ‘Where should we go?’ you shall say to them, ‘Thus says the LORD: “Those marked for death, to death; and those for the sword, to the sword; those for famine, to famine; and those for captivity, to captivity.”’" | Foretelling multiple forms of judgment |
| Jer 24:9, 10 | "And I will make them a horror to all the kingdoms of the earth because of what Manasseh the son of Hezekiah, king of Judah, did in Jerusalem." | Judah's sin leading to exile |
| Luke 21:24 | "and they will fall by the edge of the sword and be led captive into all the nations..." | Jesus' prophecy about Jerusalem's destruction |
| Acts 8:1, 4 | "Now Saul was consenting to the execution of Stephen. At that time a great persecution arose against the church which was at Jerusalem; and all except the apostles were scattered throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria." | Persecution leading to scattering of believers |
| Rev 18:4 | "And I heard another voice from heaven saying, “Come out of her, my people, lest you share in her sins, and lest you receive of her plagues." | Call to separate from judgment |
Ezekiel 12 verses
Ezekiel 12 15 Meaning
This verse signifies that a remnant, spared from scattering and destruction by the sword, famine, or pestilence, will ultimately face exile. Even among those who survive the initial judgments, they will not escape the broader consequence of God's dealings with disobedient Israel, which involved deportation to foreign lands. The scattering itself is a divine judgment.
Ezekiel 12 15 Context
Ezekiel 12 prophesies about the impending destruction of Jerusalem and the exile of its people. The chapter details symbolic actions Ezekiel performs to illustrate the coming judgment. Verse 15 specifically addresses the fate of those who survive the initial onslaught of war, famine, and pestilence. They will not escape God's overarching judgment of exile, intended to demonstrate His power and holiness among the nations. The prophecy contrasts those who remain defiant with those who heed God's word.
Ezekiel 12 15 Word Analysis
- "And I": (וְאֲנִי - v'ani) - Connects this statement to the previous actions or pronouncements by God. Emphasizes God's direct involvement in the unfolding events.
- "will scatter": (אַפִיצֵם - afitzem) - From the root (פוּץ - putz), meaning to scatter, disperse, spread abroad. This signifies a forced removal and distribution among various peoples. It carries the connotation of not being allowed to regroup.
- "them": (אֹתָם - otam) - Refers back to the people of Israel, specifically those who are remnant.
- "among": (בַּגּוֹיִם - baggoyim) - Literally "in/among the nations." Implies being mixed with and subject to Gentile peoples and their cultures.
- "the nations": (בַּגּוֹיִם - baggoyim) - Goy refers to a nation, people, or non-Israelite group. Here it highlights the international scope of the judgment and God's dealings.
- "and": (וְ - v') - A conjunction connecting the first part of the consequence to the second.
- "will disperse": (וַאֲפִיצֵם - v'afitzem) - Again from (פוּץ - putz). This reiterates and strengthens the idea of scattering, perhaps emphasizing a more complete spreading out.
- "them": (אֹתָם - otam) - Again referring to the people.
- "through": (בָּאֲרָצוֹת - ba'artzot) - Literally "in/through the countries/lands." This indicates the geographical breadth of the dispersion.
- "the countries": (בָּאֲרָצוֹת - ba'artzot) - Eretz can mean land, earth, or country. It refers to the various regions and territories of the world outside of their own land.
Group Analysis: The verse strongly emphasizes a dual action of "scattering" and "dispersing" among both "nations" and "countries." This dual language underscores the totality of the removal from their homeland and their subsequent integration or subjection to foreign rule and culture. It highlights the extensive geographical spread and the loss of national identity.
Ezekiel 12 15 Bonus Section
The concept of "scattered among the nations" for Israel serves as a foretype. In the New Testament, this scattering motif is applied to the early church after Stephen's martyrdom (Acts 8:1), leading to the spread of the Gospel. While the nature of the scattering differs (divine judgment vs. persecution), the result is a wider proclamation of God's word. Furthermore, the complete dismantling of national identity through exile directly contrasts with the unifying work of the Holy Spirit, which builds a spiritual household of God where distinctions of nation are transcended in Christ (Galatians 3:28).
Ezekiel 12 15 Commentary
This verse underscores the severity of God's judgment upon His people. Even those who survive immediate disasters like war, famine, or plague are not exempt from being scattered abroad. This scattering was a disciplinary measure, designed to teach them their reliance on God and the consequences of their disobedience. It also served to spread knowledge of God's power (though often in His judgment) among the Gentile nations. The theme of exile is a recurring motif in the Old Testament, a consequence of breaking the covenant. The scattering signifies a complete loss of autonomy and a period of subservience, a stark contrast to the blessings of obedience. This verse speaks to a comprehensive judgment that extends beyond immediate physical destruction to national displacement.