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 37 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Ezekiel 20:37 | "And I will cause you to pass under the rod, and I will bring you into the bond of the covenant." | God's disciplinary and covenantal faithfulness |
| Jeremiah 29:11 | "For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope." | God's ultimate good intentions for His people |
| Isaiah 10:24-25 | "Therefore thus says the Lord GOD of hosts: ‘O my people, who dwell in Zion, do not be afraid of the Assyrian, though he strike you with the rod and lift his staff against you, as Egypt did. For in a very little while my indignation will be spent and my anger will be directed to their destruction.’" | God using instruments of discipline and His judgment |
| Leviticus 26:12 | "I will walk among you, and will be your God, and you shall be my people." | The foundational promise of the covenant relationship |
| Deuteronomy 8:3 | "and he humbled you and let you hunger and fed you with manna, which you did not know nor did your fathers know, that he might make known to you that man does not live by bread alone, but that man lives by every word that comes from the mouth of the LORD." | God's disciplining and provision in the wilderness |
| Hosea 2:14-15 | "Therefore, behold, I will allure her and bring her into the wilderness, and speak tenderly to her. And there I will give her her vineyards, and the Valley of Achor as an open door of hope. And there she shall sing as in the days of her youth, as on the day when she came up out of the land of Egypt." | God leading His people to a place of reconciliation |
| Amos 9:11-15 | "In that day I will raise up the booth of David that is fallen and repair its breaches, and raise up its ruins, and rebuild it as in the days of old;" | Restoration of David's fallen kingdom |
| Zechariah 13:9 | "And I will put this third into the fire, and refine it as one refines silver, and test it as gold is tested. It will call on my name, and I will answer it. I will say, ‘It is my people’; and it will say, ‘The LORD is my God.’" | Refining and purification of God's people |
| Romans 8:28 | "We know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose." | God's purpose working through all circumstances |
| 2 Corinthians 1:20 | "For all the promises of God in him are yes, and in him Amen, to the glory of God by us." | God's faithfulness to His promises in Christ |
| Revelation 21:3 | "And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, 'Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God.'" | The ultimate dwelling of God with His redeemed people |
| Matthew 1:23 | "Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall call his name Immanuel," which means God with us. | Fulfillment of God's presence with humanity |
| John 15:4 | "Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me." | The necessity of remaining in union with Christ |
| Galatians 3:26-27 | "for in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God, through faith. Putting on Christ." | Identity as children of God through faith in Christ |
| Hebrews 8:6 | "But as it is, he has obtained a ministry that is as much more excellent than the old as the covenant that he mediates is more excellent, because it is attested to by better promises." | The superior nature of the new covenant mediated by Christ |
| Hebrews 12:5-6 | "And have you forgotten the exhortation that addresses you as sons? “My son, do not regard lightly the discipline of the Lord, nor faint when you are reproved by him. For the one whom the Lord loves he disciplines, and he chastises every son whom he receives.”" | God's loving discipline of His children |
| Revelation 7:14-15 | "I said to him, “Sir, you know.” And he said to me, “These are the ones coming out of the great tribulation. They have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. Therefore they are before the throne of God and serve him day and night in his temple." | The redeemed before God's throne, cleansed by Christ |
| Isaiah 43:21 | "the people whom I formed for myself, that they might declare my praise." | God's purpose in forming His people |
| 1 Peter 2:9 | "But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light." | The identity and purpose of believers |
| Psalm 118:1 | "Oh give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; for his steadfast love endures forever!" | The enduring faithfulness of God |
Ezekiel 20 verses
Ezekiel 20 37 Meaning
Ezekiel 20:37 describes God's ultimate judgment and restoration for His people. It signifies His act of passing them before Him, discerning the faithful from the rebellious, and then bringing them into a purified covenant relationship with Him. This process leads to their true dwelling in the land of Israel, indicating a spiritual and physical return to God's presence and blessing.
Ezekiel 20 37 Context
This verse is situated within Ezekiel's prophecy, a series of visions and messages delivered to the exiles in Babylon. Chapter 20 details God's recounting of Israel's history, highlighting their repeated rebellions and His faithfulness despite their unfaithfulness. The chapter exposes their persistent idolatry and disobedience, even during their wilderness wanderings. The surrounding verses (v. 33-36) speak of God's coming intervention, a future regathering of His people from exile, and His intent to rule over them with a mighty hand and outstretched arm. Ezekiel 20:37, therefore, serves as a declaration of God's active, disciplinary, and ultimately restorative hand in His covenant people's lives, leading to their full reintegration into His covenant. The historical context for the original audience was one of despair and exile, where God's faithfulness and future plans for them were paramount.
Ezekiel 20 37 Word Analysis
וְהֶעֱבַרְתִּי (vehEevARTI) - "And I will cause to pass." From the root
abar(עבר), meaning to pass over, pass through, move. This indicates an active leading or making something go through a process.עֲלֵיכֶם (aleychem) - "over you." Plural pronoun indicating the totality of God's people.
שֵׁבֶט (shevet) - "rod" or "staff." This can signify discipline, authority, or guidance. In the context of passing under the rod, it often implies judgment or testing.
וַהֲבֵאתִי (va'hovey'ti) - "And I will bring." From the root
bo(בוא), meaning to come, to enter. This is an active bringing into something.בֶּכְנַח (bechnach) - "bond" or "band." From the root
kanach(כנח), which relates to binding or connection.בְּרִית (berit) - "covenant." A formal agreement, especially between God and His people. This word underscores the relationship God is establishing.
Group Analysis: "to pass under the rod" signifies a process of discernment, discipline, and judgment. God will separate the rebellious from the faithful. "bring you into the bond of the covenant" signifies a restored and reaffirmed relationship, entering into the benefits and responsibilities of God's covenant, marked by God's presence and renewed commitment to His people.
Ezekiel 20 37 Bonus Section
The imagery of passing "under the rod" can be likened to the practice of counting sheep or livestock as they passed through a gate or pen, where the shepherd would strike each animal with a rod to mark it. This suggests a thorough inspection and identification process. The "bond of the covenant" highlights the unbreakable, unbreakable connection God establishes with those who are truly His, a bond rooted in His grace and power. The phrase speaks to a reintegration into God’s covenant community, characterized by a cleansed and purified people living in God's presence and favor, as seen in the ultimate restoration described in the New Testament.
Ezekiel 20 37 Commentary
This verse outlines God's multifaceted work in dealing with His people. Firstly, there's a passage "under the rod," implying a process of purging and judgment where sin and rebellion are addressed and separated. This isn't arbitrary punishment but a divinely ordained refinement. Secondly, the outcome is being brought "into the bond of the covenant." This signifies a renewal of the covenant relationship, emphasizing God's faithfulness and the inclusive nature of His restored people. They are brought back into a state of fellowship and obedience, marked by God's presence among them, ultimately fulfilled in Christ who perfectly embodies and mediates the new covenant. It speaks of God’s unwavering commitment to His promises, even after His people’s repeated failures.