Ezekiel 28 26

Ezekiel 28:26 kjv

And they shall dwell safely therein, and shall build houses, and plant vineyards; yea, they shall dwell with confidence, when I have executed judgments upon all those that despise them round about them; and they shall know that I am the LORD their God.

Ezekiel 28:26 nkjv

And they will dwell safely there, build houses, and plant vineyards; yes, they will dwell securely, when I execute judgments on all those around them who despise them. Then they shall know that I am the LORD their God." ' "

Ezekiel 28:26 niv

They will live there in safety and will build houses and plant vineyards; they will live in safety when I inflict punishment on all their neighbors who maligned them. Then they will know that I am the LORD their God.'?"

Ezekiel 28:26 esv

And they shall dwell securely in it, and they shall build houses and plant vineyards. They shall dwell securely, when I execute judgments upon all their neighbors who have treated them with contempt. Then they will know that I am the LORD their God."

Ezekiel 28:26 nlt

They will live safely in Israel and build homes and plant vineyards. And when I punish the neighboring nations that treated them with contempt, they will know that I am the LORD their God."

Ezekiel 28 verses

Ezekiel 28 26 Meaning

This verse offers a profound promise of restoration and security for the people of Israel after their return from exile. It paints a picture of physical safety, economic prosperity, and national confidence, all directly contingent upon God's decisive intervention in judging the hostile nations that surrounded them. The ultimate outcome is a deepened covenantal relationship, where Israel will fully acknowledge the LORD as their unique God. It signifies a complete reversal of their current state of vulnerability, fear, and desolation.

Ezekiel 28 26 Context

Ezekiel 28 culminates a series of prophecies primarily directed against Tyre, a prominent Phoenician city state. Chapters 26 and 27 describe Tyre's grandeur and its prophesied destruction due to its pride and commercial arrogance. Chapter 28 shifts focus, beginning with a lament for Tyre's king, portrayed with characteristics that echo the fall of Lucifer, highlighting the spiritual sin behind the physical kingdom. Amidst these judgments against Gentile nations—Egypt, Tyre, Sidon (addressed just before verse 26)—this final verse provides a dramatic contrast. While surrounding nations face God's wrath, Israel receives a divine promise of ultimate security and restoration. This verse stands as a hope-filled conclusion to a section otherwise dominated by pronouncements of doom, positioning Israel's future prosperity directly against the backdrop of their enemies' downfall. It speaks to a post-exilic and ultimately an eschatological future for God's chosen people.

Ezekiel 28 26 Word analysis

• And they shall dwell safely therein, (וְיָשְׁבוּ עָלֶיהָ לָבֶטַח - v'yashvu aleha lavetakh)

  • וְיָשְׁבוּ (v'yashvu): "And they shall dwell/inhabit." Implies permanent, settled habitation, contrasting with their nomadic, exiled, or insecure past.
  • עָלֶיהָ (aleha): "upon it" or "therein," referring back to the "land of Israel" from previous verses, emphasizing the specific, promised territory.
  • לָבֶטַח (lavetakh): "safely," "securely," "in confidence." Denotes a state of profound peace and freedom from fear, a divinely given security. This security is not based on their own might, but on God's protection.

• and shall build houses, and plant vineyards; (וּבָנוּ בָתִּים וְנָטְעוּ כְרָמִים - uvannu battim v'nat'u keramim)

  • וּבָנוּ בָתִּים (uvannu battim): "And they shall build houses." A quintessential sign of permanence, stability, and restoration after destruction or exile. It counters the state of ruin.
  • וְנָטְעוּ כְרָמִים (v'nat'u keramim): "And plant vineyards." Indicates long-term planning, hope for the future, prosperity, and enjoying the fruits of their labor – an ideal biblical image of peace and well-being. This is an act of confidence in lasting security.

• yea, they shall dwell with confidence, (וְיָשְׁבוּ בָטַח - v'yashvu batach)

  • וְיָשְׁבוּ בָטַח (v'yashvu batach): "And they shall dwell with confidence/security." This phrase powerfully reiterates and intensifies the initial "dwell safely." The repetition of yashvu and emphasis on security (batach) underscores the absolute certainty and depth of this promised peace. It is not merely physical safety but also mental and emotional assurance.

• when I have executed judgments upon all those that despise them round about them; (בַּעֲשֹוֹתִי שְׁפָטִים בְּכֹל הַשָּׂאטִים אֹתָם מִסְּבִיבוֹתֵיהֶם - ba'asoti sh'fatim b'khol hassatim otam mis'vivotehem)

  • בַּעֲשֹוֹתִי שְׁפָטִים (ba'asoti sh'fatim): "When I have executed judgments." This is key. It directly attributes the cause of Israel's security to God's action. "Judgments" (שְׁפָטִים - sh'fatim) refer to divine, legal, and authoritative verdicts and their execution, specifically against those who wronged Israel.
  • בְּכֹל הַשָּׂאטִים אֹתָם (b'khol hassatim otam): "upon all those that despise them/treat them with contempt." Hassatim (הַשָּׂאטִים) comes from a root meaning to scorn, mock, or treat with utter contempt, specifically targeting the constant antagonism Israel faced from surrounding nations.
  • מִסְּבִיבוֹתֵיהֶם (mis'vivotehem): "round about them." Emphasizes the omnipresent threat Israel endured from its neighbors. God's judgments will remove this encirclement of hostility.

• and they shall know that I am the LORD their God. (וְיָדְעוּ כִּי אֲנִי יְהוָה אֱלֹהֵיהֶם - v'yad'u ki ani YHWH Elohehem)

  • וְיָדְעוּ (v'yad'u): "And they shall know." This "knowing" is not merely intellectual recognition, but an experiential, intimate, and affirming knowledge derived from witnessing God's powerful acts.
  • כִּי אֲנִי יְהוָה אֱלֹהֵיהֶם (ki ani YHWH Elohehem): "that I am the LORD their God." This covenant formula is foundational throughout Ezekiel and the Old Testament. YHWH (יהוה) is God's personal, covenant name, denoting His unchanging, self-existent nature and faithfulness. Elohehem (אֱלֹהֵיהֶם) emphasizes His exclusive relationship as "their God." The phrase confirms God's sovereignty and His unwavering covenant commitment, vindicated by His actions.

Ezekiel 28 26 Bonus section

This verse subtly interweaves human action with divine agency, showcasing God's sovereignty over history. While God acts decisively to judge Israel's enemies, Israel is simultaneously called to "build houses and plant vineyards"—acts of faith, hope, and investment in the future, despite past tribulations. This collaboration reflects a principle seen throughout scripture: God often works through the obedient actions of His people. The "knowing" of God ("know that I am the LORD their God") is portrayed not as a prerequisite for His action, but as the inevitable and desired outcome of His redemptive acts. This experience transforms their understanding of God's character and covenant faithfulness, moving from theological assent to lived conviction. The phrase "round about them" for the hostile nations highlights a specific theological pattern: God often deals with Israel's immediate geographical enemies to establish internal peace and His sovereignty, reflecting the reality of their historical struggles and preparing them for a larger revelation of His kingdom.

Ezekiel 28 26 Commentary

Ezekiel 28:26 serves as a climactic promise within the prophecies concerning surrounding nations, declaring a divinely engineered restoration for Israel. This verse reverses the sorrowful experience of exile and constant external threat, envisioning a future of peace, permanence, and prosperity within their own land. The triple assurance of dwelling "safely," "building houses," and "planting vineyards" speaks to a security so deep it fosters long-term planning and enjoyment, a complete reversal from desolation and uncertainty. Critically, this secure state is not achieved by Israel's might or strategic alliances, but directly as a result of "My" (God's) execution of judgments on "all those that despise them." This divine intervention establishes the foundation for Israel's peace by neutralizing their perpetual adversaries. The culmination of these events is a profound theological revelation: "they shall know that I am the LORD their God." This knowing transcends mere acknowledgment; it is an experiential and covenantal understanding, forged through witnessing God's justice and faithfulness, solidifying their unique relationship with the sovereign YHWH. This promise, while historically pointing to the post-exilic return, also carries significant eschatological weight, hinting at the ultimate, secure kingdom of God.