Ezekiel 33:24 kjv
Son of man, they that inhabit those wastes of the land of Israel speak, saying, Abraham was one, and he inherited the land: but we are many; the land is given us for inheritance.
Ezekiel 33:24 nkjv
"Son of man, they who inhabit those ruins in the land of Israel are saying, 'Abraham was only one, and he inherited the land. But we are many; the land has been given to us as a possession.'
Ezekiel 33:24 niv
"Son of man, the people living in those ruins in the land of Israel are saying, 'Abraham was only one man, yet he possessed the land. But we are many; surely the land has been given to us as our possession.'
Ezekiel 33:24 esv
"Son of man, the inhabitants of these waste places in the land of Israel keep saying, 'Abraham was only one man, yet he got possession of the land; but we are many; the land is surely given us to possess.'
Ezekiel 33:24 nlt
"Son of man, the scattered remnants of Israel living among the ruined cities keep saying, 'Abraham was only one man, yet he gained possession of the entire land. We are many; surely the land has been given to us as a possession.'
Ezekiel 33 24 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Ezekiel 34:13 | "I will bring them out from the peoples and gather them from the countries, and will bring them into their own land." | Fulfillment of God's promise to gather Israel |
| Jeremiah 23:3 | "I will gather the remnant of my flock out of all the countries where I have driven them." | God's promise to regather scattered sheep |
| Isaiah 11:12 | "He will raise a signal for the nations and will gather the dispersed of Israel, and collect the scattered of Judah from the four corners of the earth." | Prophecy of gathering the dispersed Israel |
| John 10:16 | "And I have other sheep that are not of this fold. I must bring them also, and they will listen to my voice. So there will be one flock, with one shepherd." | Jesus speaking of gathering believers |
| Acts 15:16 | "After this I will return, and I will rebuild the tent of David that has fallen. I will rebuild its ruins, and I will set it up," | Peter quoting Amos about rebuilding David's tent |
| Romans 11:26 | "and in this way all Israel will be saved. As it is written, 'The deliverer will come from Zion, he will banish godlessness from Jacob;'" | Paul on salvation of all Israel |
| Matthew 19:28 | "Jesus said to them, 'Truly, I say to you, in the new world, when the Son of Man will sit on his glorious throne, you will who are followed me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.'" | Promises of future rule for disciples |
| Revelation 7:9 | "After this I looked, and behold, a great multitude that no one could number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, with palm branches in their hands," | Vision of redeemed from all nations |
| Deuteronomy 30:3 | "then the LORD your God will restore your fortunes and have mercy on you, and he will again gather you from all the peoples where the LORD your God has scattered you." | Conditional promise of restoration |
| Zechariah 10:8 | "I will whistle for them and gather them, for I have redeemed them, and they shall multiply as they multiplied in former times." | God's active gathering and multiplication |
| Hosea 1:11 | "The people of Judah and the people of Israel will be gathered together into one stream, and will go up out of the land." | Unity of Judah and Israel in the future |
| Isaiah 43:5 | "Fear not, for I am with you; I will bring your offspring from the east, and from the west I will gather you." | God's assurance of gathering his people |
| Jeremiah 29:14 | "I will be found by you, declares the LORD, and I will restore your fortunes and gather you from all the nations and from all the places where I have driven you, declares the LORD," | God's promise of finding and gathering |
| Micah 2:12 | "I will gather all of you, O Jacob; I will collect the remnant of Israel; I will bring them together like sheep in a pen, like a flock in its pasture, a loud noisw of sheep." | Gathering Jacob and remnant of Israel |
| Ezekiel 28:25 | "Thus says the Lord GOD: When I gather the house of Israel from the peoples among whom they are scattered, and through them I sanctify myself in their sight, then they shall dwell in their own land that I gave to my servant Jacob." | Similar promise tied to sanctification |
| Ezekiel 11:17 | "Say, 'Thus says the Lord GOD: I will gather you from the peoples and assemble you from the countries where you have been scattered, and I will give you the land of Israel.'" | Promise of gathering and returning land |
| Deuteronomy 11:12 | "a land that the LORD your God cares for. The eyes of the LORD your God are always upon it, from the beginning of the year to the end of the year." | God's constant care for the promised land |
| Leviticus 26:5 | "Threshing shall last until the vintage, and vintage until the time of sowing, and you shall eat your bread to the full and dwell in your land securely." | Promise of security and sustenance |
| Psalm 147:2 | "The LORD builds up Jerusalem; he gathers the outcasts of Israel." | God's work of building and gathering |
| Acts 2:5,47 | "Now there were dwelling in Jerusalem Jews, devout men from every nation under heaven.... And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved." | God adding to the church, inclusive of nations |
Ezekiel 33 verses
Ezekiel 33 24 Meaning
The sons of Israel, who had previously acted as exiles and scattered people, are being addressed. Despite their former state of being scattered and forming very few numbers, they are now reassured that they will inherit and fill the land. This promise is presented as a consequence of God's restorative actions on their behalf.
Ezekiel 33 24 Context
Ezekiel chapter 33 begins with Ezekiel being appointed as a watchman for Israel, tasked with warning the people of impending judgment due to their sin. He recounts the judgment that fell upon the land. Following this, in chapter 34, God criticizes the false shepherds (leaders) of Israel who have exploited the sheep (the people) instead of caring for them. God promises to shepherd his people himself, providing them with good pasture and a safe dwelling place. Chapter 33:24, occurring after these pronouncements of judgment and promises of future restoration, serves to emphasize the ultimate outcome for God's faithful people: a return to their land and a secure inheritance. This verse counters the despair of exile and reinforces the divine promise of a future dwelling in the promised land, specifically for those who have been scattered.
Ezekiel 33 24 Word Analysis
And (וְ, ve): A common conjunctive particle, linking this verse to the preceding declarations.
You (אַתֶּם, attem): Plural pronoun, referring to the dispersed people of Israel.
said (אָמַר, amar): In the Qal perfect tense, indicating a completed action. Here, it implies God's declarative statement to His people.
unto (אֶל, el): A preposition indicating direction or recipient.
are (הָיוּ, hayu): Qal imperfect, plural, from היה (hayah), "to be." It signifies their past state or existence.
one (אַחַד, echad): Cardinal number, emphasizing singularity.
father (אָב, av): A term referring to a progenitor or ancestor. It points to Abraham.
And (וְ, ve): Conjunction.
you (אַתֶּם, attem): Plural pronoun.
were (הָיָה, hayah): Imperfect, plural.
few (מְעָט, me'at): Adjective or adverb, meaning "a small number" or "little."
Surely (כִּי, ki): An adverb of affirmation, meaning "surely," "indeed," or "truly."
I (אָנֹכִי, anokhi): First person singular pronoun, emphatically pointing to God.
will (בְּ, be): This appears in the construct form with a preposition in many Hebrew verbs. Here it might indicate God's action towards the people. (Re-evaluation: This appears to be a mistranslation or misinterpretation in the initial rendering; the Hebrew is typically active.) Correcting the phrasing for clarity: The statement signifies God’s active agency.
increase (הִרְבָּה, hirbah): Hiphil infinitive construct, from רָבָה (ravah), meaning "to multiply" or "to make numerous." This refers to God making the people numerous.
you (אֹתְכֶם, otchem): Object pronoun.
And (וְ, ve): Conjunction.
they (הֵמָּה, hemmah): Third person masculine plural pronoun.
shall (וְ, ve): Here the waw is conjunctive, leading into the verb.
be (הָיוּ, hayu): Qal perfect, plural.
land (אֶרֶץ, eretz): Feminine noun, meaning "land," "earth," "country." Refers to the land of Israel.
dwelling (מוֹשָׁב, mosháv): Masculine noun, from ישׁב (yashav), meaning "dwelling place," "settlement," or "habitation."
therein (בָּהּ, vah): Prepositional phrase, "in it" (referring to the land).
Group analysis (The scattering and re-gathering theme): The contrast between "you were few" and "I will multiply you" highlights God's sovereign power to reverse circumstances. The mention of Abraham as "one father" connects this future multitude to the original patriarchal promise of numerous descendants (Genesis 15:5). The phrase "dwelling therein" signifies a secure and permanent habitation, contrasting with their previous exile and displacement.
Ezekiel 33 24 Bonus Section
The assurance of being multiplied is deeply rooted in God's covenant promises. The imagery of becoming numerous connects directly to God's promise to Abraham in Genesis 12:2, "And I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you and make your name great, so that you shall be a blessing." The scattering mentioned implicitly refers to the historical exiles of Israel and Judah. This verse anticipates a future ingathering that supersedes all previous dispersions, pointing towards a spiritual fulfillment where all nations are brought into God's kingdom, mirroring the multitude in Revelation 7:9. The security implied in "dwelling therein" speaks to a restored relationship and covenant faithfulness.
Ezekiel 33 24 Commentary
This verse offers a powerful assurance of God's faithfulness and restorative power. It speaks to the seemingly impossible situation of a people reduced to a small remnant, assuring them that God will not only restore but significantly increase their numbers and secure them in their land. This promise echoes the patriarchal covenant with Abraham, that his descendants would be as numerous as the stars and possess the land. It underlines God's active role in the history of His people, bringing them from dispersion to dwelling. The ultimate fulfillment of this promise is seen in the spiritual multiplication of God's people through Christ and the gathering of believers from all nations into the new heavens and new earth.
- Practical usage example: For believers facing times of discouragement or a sense of being a small minority, this verse reminds them that God's purposes are not thwarted by current circumstances. His ability to multiply and establish His people transcends human limitations, offering hope and perseverance.