Ezekiel 12 15

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 verses

Ezekiel 12 15 Meaning

Ezekiel 12:15 states that the people, having experienced divine judgment in the form of exile and dispersion, will then truly and experientially come to acknowledge the absolute sovereignty and identity of the Lord God. Their scattering across many nations and lands serves as the inescapable proof of His power and authority, demonstrating that He is indeed YHWH, the covenant God who controls all aspects of their destiny, including their punishment.

Ezekiel 12 15 Context

Ezekiel chapter 12 vividly illustrates the impending exile of Judah through a series of symbolic actions performed by the prophet. Prior to verse 15, Ezekiel, residing among the exiles in Babylon, dramatically packs his bags and publicly exits his house through a hole in the wall, then leaves with his face covered as if escaping in the dark. These acts represent the flight of King Zedekiah from Jerusalem and the capture of its inhabitants. The people of Jerusalem, including Zedekiah, were deluded by false prophets and a stubborn disbelief in the imminent fall of their city, thinking they would escape divine judgment. This verse, therefore, clarifies the divine purpose behind these prophetic signs and the ensuing historical events: the humiliation and scattering are designed by God to break their arrogance and force an experiential realization of His absolute power, distinguishing Him from false deities or human rulers. It functions as a direct polemic against the people's misplaced trust in the security of Jerusalem and their misunderstanding of God's holy character.

Ezekiel 12 15 Word analysis

• And they shall know (וְיָדְעוּ - v'yād'û):
  • "and they": Refers primarily to the remaining inhabitants of Jerusalem and Judah, who would undergo the exile.
  • "shall know" (יָדְעוּ - yada): This Hebrew verb signifies deep, intimate, and often experiential knowledge, not merely intellectual assent. It means to recognize or understand fully, acquired through personal encounter and consequence. Here, it implies a knowing borne of severe suffering and the stark reality of their dispersed condition, proving God's warnings true. It moves beyond theoretical belief to undeniable conviction.
• that I am the LORD (כִּי אֲנִי יְהוָה - kî 'ănî YHWH):
  • "that I am" (אֲנִי - 'ănî): The emphatic first-person singular pronoun, stressing the personal and undeniable identity of the speaker. It echoes God's self-declaration, "I Am who I Am" (Ex 3:14), emphasizing His unique, eternal existence.
  • "the LORD" (יְהוָה - YHWH): The covenant name of God, revealing His personal relationship with Israel, His unchanging nature, and His absolute sovereignty as the one true God. This formula appears frequently in Ezekiel, asserting YHWH's authority over nations and their history, especially through judgment. It declares Him to be not just a god, but the supreme, covenant-keeping (and covenant-enforcing) God.
• when I shall scatter them (בְּהָפִיצִי אוֹתָם - bəhāfîṣî 'ôṯām):
  • "when I shall scatter" (בְּהָפִיצִי - b'hafîṣî - haphel participle from פוץ, putz): Emphasizes divine agency. God Himself is the one causing the scattering. The Hiphil form highlights His direct action. Putz means to scatter, disperse, or dash in pieces, conveying a violent and comprehensive dispersion.
  • "them" (אוֹתָם - 'ôṯām): Referring back to the people of Jerusalem/Judah, who would experience the judgment.
• among the nations (בַּגּוֹיִם - bagoyim):
  • "among the nations" (גּוֹיִם - goyim): The gentile peoples, highlighting that the exile would not merely be displacement but integration into foreign, pagan cultures, far from the land and temple that were central to their identity. This amplifies the severity of their punishment and the shame of their dispersion among those who did not acknowledge YHWH.
• and disperse them (וְזֵרִיתִי אוֹתָם - v'zērîtî 'ôṯām):
  • "and disperse" (וְזֵרִיתִי - v'zērîtî - qal perfect from זרה, zarah): Another strong verb for scattering, signifying to sow, fan, or spread abroad, often used for wind scattering chaff. The conjunction "and" links this action, intensifying the picture of thorough and widespread distribution. This reinforces the idea that their scattering would be comprehensive and complete.
• in the countries (בַּאֲרָצוֹת - ba'arāṣôṯ):
  • "in the countries" (אֲרָצוֹת - 'arāṣôt): Synonymous with "nations," it further emphasizes the broad geographical scope of their dispersion, reiterating that they would be found in numerous foreign lands, far from home, reinforcing the depth and reach of God's judgment.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• "And they shall know that I am the LORD": This is a recurring theological phrase in Ezekiel, emphasizing that divine self-revelation often comes through observable, historical events, particularly judgment, confirming God's true identity and absolute authority to those who denied it. It is an indictment of their previous ignorance and a promise of inescapable, though painful, clarity.
• "when I shall scatter them among the nations, and disperse them in the countries": The use of two strong, synonymous verbs for "scatter" and "disperse" underscores the completeness and intentionality of God's actions. The dispersion is not accidental; it is a divinely orchestrated consequence, serving as the very mechanism through which the "knowing" will occur. The phrases "among the nations" and "in the countries" amplify the pervasive and comprehensive nature of their banishment from their homeland and spiritual center.

Ezekiel 12 15 Bonus section

The specific choice of the two Hebrew verbs for scattering—putz (פוּץ) and zarah (זרָה)—adds significant depth. Putz often connotes breaking or dashing into fragments, suggesting a violent, dismembering dispersion of the collective. Zarah, on the other hand, frequently refers to scattering seeds or winnowing chaff, implying a wide-ranging, deliberate spread that can cover a vast area. Combined, they paint a comprehensive picture: the people would be violently broken up and then systematically sown across a multitude of foreign lands, losing their communal identity and physical cohesion in their homeland. This highlights not only the severity of the judgment but also the meticulous planning behind it.

Furthermore, this verse also sets the stage for a crucial shift in the "knowing." While in this context, "knowing YHWH" comes through judgment, later in Ezekiel, it also comes through restoration (e.g., Ez 36:11, 23, 38; 37:6, 13). This establishes a theological trajectory where initial, painful recognition of God's power through punishment leads eventually to a joyful, covenantal recognition of His faithfulness through redemption. The current judgment is thus a necessary step towards a fuller, more profound relationship in the future.

Ezekiel 12 15 Commentary

Ezekiel 12:15 provides the interpretive key to the preceding prophetic signs and the grim future facing Judah. The phrase "they shall know that I am the LORD" is a hallmark of Ezekiel's prophecy, underscoring that God's actions, both in judgment and later in restoration, are ultimately aimed at His self-revelation. For a people steeped in idolatry and false security, God's true nature as sovereign Lord had become obscured. Their "knowing" would not be through gentle persuasion or intellectual assent, but through the bitter, undeniable experience of divine judgment—their forcible displacement from their promised land and cherished city, dispersed among the pagan nations they often sought to emulate. This scattering, while a punishment for sin (particularly breaking the covenant as detailed in Leviticus 26 and Deuteronomy 28), was also an unavoidable and necessary pedagogy. Only through such radical upheaval, when all human defenses failed and their traditional world crumbled, would they truly perceive that the Lord (YHWH) alone orchestrates history and fulfills His word, demonstrating His absolute control over the destiny of Israel and the nations. This painful revelation serves as a prelude to a future, redemptive "knowing" in repentance and restoration.