Ezekiel 20 37

Ezekiel 20:37 kjv

And I will cause you to pass under the rod, and I will bring you into the bond of the covenant:

Ezekiel 20:37 nkjv

"I will make you pass under the rod, and I will bring you into the bond of the covenant;

Ezekiel 20:37 niv

I will take note of you as you pass under my rod, and I will bring you into the bond of the covenant.

Ezekiel 20:37 esv

I will make you pass under the rod, and I will bring you into the bond of the covenant.

Ezekiel 20:37 nlt

I will examine you carefully and hold you to the terms of the covenant.

Ezekiel 20 verses

Ezekiel 20 37 Meaning

Ezekiel 20:37 speaks of God's sovereign and disciplinary action towards His people, Israel. It describes a process where God, acting as a shepherd, will scrutinize, select, and purify a remnant through trials ("passing under the rod"). This divinely orchestrated purification leads them into a renewed and unbreakable commitment ("bond") to His covenant, signifying a deeper and more faithful relationship with Him.

Ezekiel 20 37 Context

Ezekiel 20 presents a stark historical review of Israel's persistent rebellion against God, from their time in Egypt through the wilderness and into the promised land, continuing to the present exile. Despite their idolatry and unfaithfulness, God reaffirms His commitment to His covenant name and purpose to restore His people. However, this restoration will not be without a necessary purification. Verses 33-44 describe a future "new exodus" where God will gather Israel from the nations but will also bring them into a wilderness of judgment. Within this judgmental process, He will "cause them to pass under the rod" to discern and separate the truly faithful from the rebellious, thereby re-establishing a covenant bond with a purified remnant. This verse falls at the cusp of divine judgment leading to a gracious but conditional restoration, ensuring a holy people for a holy God.

Ezekiel 20 37 Word analysis

• And I will cause you to pass (וְהַעֲבַרְתִּי, vehaha'avarti):

  • Hiphil stem of the verb עָבַר (‘avar), meaning "to pass over/through."
  • The Hiphil makes it causative: "I will make you pass," "I will cause you to go through."
  • Significance: God is the active, sovereign agent. This is not a process Israel initiates but one God implements. It underscores divine control and purpose behind their trials and eventual restoration.

• under the rod (תַּחַת הַשָּׁבֶט, tachat hash'shavet):

  • תַּחַת (tachat): "under," "beneath."
  • הַשָּׁבֶט (hash'shavet): "the rod," "staff," "scepter," or "tribe."
  • Meaning: Primarily references the shepherd's rod. As seen in Lev 27:32, the shepherd used a rod to count his sheep as they passed under it, ensuring accurate tithing. Here, it is a metaphor for divine scrutiny, discernment, discipline, and selection. It implies judgment to separate the true sheep from goats, or to prune away the unfaithful. It also carries connotations of the shepherd's authority, guidance, and protection (Ps 23:4), used to direct the flock.
  • Polemics: It highlights YHWH as the true shepherd, capable of discerning His flock, contrasting with the ineffective or misleading "shepherds" of Israel (Eze 34) and the false gods and practices they pursued.

• and I will bring you (וְהֵבֵאתִי אֶתְכֶם, veheveiti et'khem):

  • Hiphil stem of the verb בּוֹא (bo’), meaning "to come."
  • Causative: "I will cause you to come," or "I will bring you."
  • Significance: Reiterates God's active, initiating role in the restoration process, not simply passive observation. He deliberately brings them into this new state.

• into the bond (בְּמָסֹרֶת, b'masoret):

  • מָסֹרֶת (masoret): Derived from a root meaning "to bind," "to tie."
  • Signifies a "bond," "tether," "fetter," or "chain."
  • Meaning: In this context, it speaks of a binding commitment, a secure obligation, or a solemn tie. It’s not a bond of slavery, but a bond of faithfulness and commitment within the covenant relationship. It emphasizes loyalty and belonging, the result of the purifying process.

• of the covenant (הַבְּרִית, ha'b'rit):

  • בְּרִית (b'rit): "covenant," "pact," "treaty."
  • Meaning: Refers to the sacred relationship between God and His chosen people, based on divine promises and mutual obligations. Here, it signifies a renewed and deepened covenant relationship, fortified by the discipline of passing "under the rod," which ensures a committed people for a holy God. This foreshadows the principles of the New Covenant (Jer 31:31-34) where God writes His law on their hearts.

• Words-group analysis:

  • "pass under the rod, and I will bring you into the bond of the covenant": This phrase describes a divinely appointed journey. It begins with a necessary period of examination and discipline (the "rod") – a refining process to sift out rebellion and lukewarmness. The result of this process is not rejection for the faithful, but a closer, more enduring, and deeply committed relationship ("bond") to God's sacred promises and requirements (the "covenant"). This transformation ensures that the restored people will genuinely fulfill their covenant responsibilities out of true allegiance.

Ezekiel 20 37 Bonus section

• Shepherd Motif Significance: In the ancient Near East, the shepherd was a potent symbol of leadership and divine care. For God to act as a shepherd, particularly with a rod for counting and separating, reaffirmed His rightful sovereignty and role as the ultimate ruler and guardian of Israel, countering the human kings who often failed in this role.
• The Wilderness of the Peoples: The verse is set in the context of God gathering His people into a "wilderness of the peoples" (Eze 20:35). This isn't the physical Sinai wilderness, but metaphorically refers to a period of judgment and purification among the nations before full restoration to their land. It's a "second exodus" of a different nature—one of judgment before re-gathering.
• A "Qualified" Return: Not all who were ethnically Israel would be restored in a covenant relationship. The passing "under the rod" implies that only a remnant, those whose hearts are turned back to God, will enter into the renewed covenant bond. This speaks to the qualitative, not merely quantitative, aspect of God's redemptive work.
• Progressive Revelation: While not explicitly naming the New Covenant here, this verse lays significant groundwork for Jeremiah's fuller articulation and ultimately for Christ's establishment of the New Covenant, where the Spirit writes God's law on hearts (Heb 8:8-12). The "bond" here anticipates that inward commitment.

Ezekiel 20 37 Commentary

Ezekiel 20:37 encapsulates God's ultimate intention for His people: restoration through purification. God's act of causing Israel to "pass under the rod" signifies a thorough, discriminatory process, much like a shepherd inspecting each animal for health or counting them for a specific purpose. This divine discipline is not aimless punishment but a precise method of separating the truly devoted from those who merely feign allegiance or cling to idols. The goal is to forge a deeper, unshakeable connection, symbolized by the "bond of the covenant." This bond represents a relationship characterized by loyalty and faithfulness, instilled through the refining fires of trial. It anticipates a day when God will have a people who truly serve Him with their whole heart, fulfilling the purpose for which they were chosen, foreshadowing the indwelling Spirit that enables New Covenant obedience.