Ezekiel 34 13

Ezekiel 34:13 kjv

And I will bring them out from the people, and gather them from the countries, and will bring them to their own land, and feed them upon the mountains of Israel by the rivers, and in all the inhabited places of the country.

Ezekiel 34:13 nkjv

And I will bring them out from the peoples and gather them from the countries, and will bring them to their own land; I will feed them on the mountains of Israel, in the valleys and in all the inhabited places of the country.

Ezekiel 34:13 niv

I will bring them out from the nations and gather them from the countries, and I will bring them into their own land. I will pasture them on the mountains of Israel, in the ravines and in all the settlements in the land.

Ezekiel 34:13 esv

And I will bring them out from the peoples and gather them from the countries, and will bring them into their own land. And I will feed them on the mountains of Israel, by the ravines, and in all the inhabited places of the country.

Ezekiel 34:13 nlt

I will bring them back home to their own land of Israel from among the peoples and nations. I will feed them on the mountains of Israel and by the rivers and in all the places where people live.

Ezekiel 34 verses

Ezekiel 34 13 meaning

Ezekiel 34:13 profoundly declares God's solemn promise to His dispersed people, Israel. It articulates a two-fold divine commitment: first, He will actively bring back the exiles from all the nations where they were scattered, gathering them to their ancestral homeland. Second, upon their return, He will personally assume the role of their faithful Shepherd, ensuring comprehensive provision, protection, and nurture across the entire restored land, from the heights of the mountains to the valleys and populated areas. This verse encapsulates a message of divine initiative, reversal of exile, and compassionate, meticulous care, following the indictment of their failed human leadership.

Ezekiel 34 13 Context

Ezekiel 34 serves as a powerful divine oracle against the negligent and abusive leaders of Israel, metaphorically depicted as false shepherds. The chapter begins with God's scathing indictment of these human shepherds for their failure to care for the flock, instead exploiting and scattering them (vv. 1-10). In verse 11, there is a pivotal shift where God Himself declares, "Behold, I, I myself will search for my sheep and will seek them out," initiating a promise of direct, divine intervention. Verse 13 is a central component of this promise, outlining the initial stages of God's shepherd-care for His scattered people. Historically, Israel was suffering through the Babylonian exile, a period of national dispersion, despair, and a profound sense of abandonment. This prophecy brought profound hope by reaffirming God's covenant faithfulness and His unwavering commitment to restore and care for His people, asserting His sovereign authority over their destiny despite their failures and the shortcomings of their human leaders.

Ezekiel 34 13 Word analysis

• And I will bring them out (וְהוֹצֵאתִים - wəhoṣē'tîm): The Hiphil verbal form accentuates God's direct, causative, and initiating action. This is a deliberate, powerful rescue by divine intervention, reminiscent of the Exodus, which was God "bringing out" His people from bondage.
• from the peoples (מֵהָעַמִּים - mêhā'ammîm): Refers to the Gentile nations where Israel was dispersed. It highlights the wide-ranging scattering and underscores God's omnipotence and universal sovereignty over all nations, capable of retrieving His people from anywhere on earth.
• and gather them (וְקִבַּצְתִּים - wəqibbəṣtîm): The Piel verb expresses an intense, intentional, and thorough act of collection. It signifies a complete reassembly of the dispersed, undoing the scattering. This word often carries connotations of assembling for a significant event, here for restoration and covenant renewal.
• from the countries (מֵהָאֲרָצוֹת - mêhā'ărāṣōt): Acts as a synonymous parallelism with "from the peoples," further emphasizing the extensive geographical dispersion and the comprehensive nature of God's global gathering, bringing them out of foreign lands of exile.
• and will bring them to their own land (וַהֲבֵיאתִים אֶל-אַדְמָתָם - wəhēvē'tîm 'el-'admatām): Admatām means "their ground, soil, or land." This is a deeply significant phrase, representing the fulfillment of the foundational Abrahamic covenant (Gen 12:7) and Deuteronomic promises of return. It denotes security, inheritance, identity, and the end of displacement, signifying a complete restoration to their unique covenantal home.
• and I will feed them (וְרִעִיתִים - wəri'îtîm): The verb ra'ah means "to shepherd, pasture, tend." This word is central to Ezekiel 34, identifying God as the ultimate, attentive Shepherd. It encompasses comprehensive care: providing sustenance, water, protection, guidance, and nurturing, essential functions of a shepherd for his flock.
• on the mountains of Israel (עַל-הָרֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל - 'al hārē Yisrā'ēl): A specific geographical reference to the highlands of the promised land. This grounds the promise in a tangible reality, indicating fertile, often higher, secure pastures. In prophecy, mountains (especially Zion/Israel) frequently symbolize stability, dominion, and a place of God's blessing.
• by the ravines (וּבָאֲפִיקִים - ûvā'ăphîqîm): Refers to wadis, riverbeds, or valleys, which often contain water, crucial for pasturing. This detail emphasizes the thorough and meticulous nature of God's provision—He will lead them to abundant, life-sustaining sources, even in less obvious places.
• and in all the inhabited places of the country (וּבְכֹל מֹושְׁבֵי הָאָרֶץ - ûvəkhōl mōshāvēy hā'āreṣ): This phrase ensures that God's feeding and care will extend universally throughout the entirety of the restored land, encompassing not only the pastoral wilderness but also settled areas. It symbolizes complete security and well-being everywhere, indicative of pervasive divine watchfulness and provision.

• "I will bring them out from the peoples, and gather them from the countries": This initial segment describes God's powerful, sovereign act of reversing the exile. It highlights His direct, active intervention in a global collection of His scattered people, contrasting sharply with human impotence or false hopes of self-deliverance. This is a redemptive act, not merely relocation.
• "and will bring them to their own land": This phrase specifies the destination of God's gathering: the covenantally promised land. It is more than a geographical return; it is a profound re-establishment of their national and spiritual identity, reclaiming the inheritance God granted, and affirming His enduring faithfulness to His ancient covenants.
• "and I will feed them on the mountains of Israel by the ravines, and in all the inhabited places of the country": This final phrase details God's shepherd-like provision within the re-established land. "Feed" implies comprehensive care (physical, emotional, spiritual), and the diverse locations—from high mountains to hidden ravines and settled regions—underline the thoroughness, omnipresence, and particularity of His protective and sustaining care throughout the entirety of the restored territory.

Ezekiel 34 13 Bonus section

The promise of return and sustenance in Ezekiel 34:13 resonates through various layers of fulfillment. While partially actualized by the post-exilic return from Babylon, the comprehensive nature of the prophecy, including the depth of secure feeding and the widespread gathering from "all the countries," suggests a grander, eschatological realization yet to come for the nation of Israel. The imagery of "mountains of Israel" signifies more than mere topography; it symbolizes spiritual strength, stability, and God's sovereign dominion, echoing prophetic themes of Zion's prominence. Beyond physical provision, the "feeding" under God's personal care implies a profound spiritual nurturing and communion, a restored relationship with the Creator, ultimately realized in the spiritual blessings and New Covenant established through the Messiah. This prophecy not only restores geographical connection but anticipates ultimate spiritual revival and lasting peace.

Ezekiel 34 13 Commentary

Ezekiel 34:13 serves as a pivotal assurance in the prophecy, immediately following the divine judgment on Israel's corrupt human shepherds. God Himself vows to personally undertake the global gathering of His scattered flock and restore them to their promised land. This is a declaration of sovereign grace, where God reverses the consequences of both the people's sins and their leaders' failures. His promise of "feeding" them on the "mountains of Israel by the ravines, and in all the inhabited places" emphasizes not only a physical return but also a comprehensive, meticulous, and pervasive provision within the land. It signifies spiritual and physical sustenance, security, and well-being across the entire revitalized territory, promising an era of peace and flourishing under the ultimate, faithful divine Shepherd. The verse anticipates the coming of the Messiah, the true Shepherd, who perfectly embodies this divine care.