Ezekiel 34 27

Ezekiel 34:27 kjv

And the tree of the field shall yield her fruit, and the earth shall yield her increase, and they shall be safe in their land, and shall know that I am the LORD, when I have broken the bands of their yoke, and delivered them out of the hand of those that served themselves of them.

Ezekiel 34:27 nkjv

Then the trees of the field shall yield their fruit, and the earth shall yield her increase. They shall be safe in their land; and they shall know that I am the LORD, when I have broken the bands of their yoke and delivered them from the hand of those who enslaved them.

Ezekiel 34:27 niv

The trees will yield their fruit and the ground will yield its crops; the people will be secure in their land. They will know that I am the LORD, when I break the bars of their yoke and rescue them from the hands of those who enslaved them.

Ezekiel 34:27 esv

And the trees of the field shall yield their fruit, and the earth shall yield its increase, and they shall be secure in their land. And they shall know that I am the LORD, when I break the bars of their yoke, and deliver them from the hand of those who enslaved them.

Ezekiel 34:27 nlt

The orchards and fields of my people will yield bumper crops, and everyone will live in safety. When I have broken their chains of slavery and rescued them from those who enslaved them, then they will know that I am the LORD.

Ezekiel 34 verses

Ezekiel 34 27 meaning

Ezekiel 34:27 proclaims God's future promise of abundant blessings for His restored people. It details a state of comprehensive well-being, including material prosperity, physical security, and spiritual recognition of the LORD. The land will be fertile and yield its produce, and the people will live safely in their rightful territory. This will all be realized when God Himself decisively intervenes to break the bonds of their servitude and deliver them from their oppressors, leading them to experientially know Him as the sovereign and faithful God.

Ezekiel 34 27 Context

Ezekiel 34 unfolds as a powerful indictment of the corrupt "shepherds" (leaders) of Israel who neglected and exploited God's flock. Against their failure, God declares His own commitment to be the true Shepherd of His people. He promises to gather the scattered, feed the hungry, heal the sick, and protect the weak (Ezek 34:11-16). This specific verse (Ezek 34:27) comes after God details His judgment on the oppressive "fat sheep" and promises a "covenant of peace" (Ezek 34:25). Historically, the people of Israel were in Babylonian exile, enduring a period of great suffering, physical oppression, and spiritual disillusionment. Therefore, the promise of fertile land, safety, freedom from foreign domination ("broken yoke"), and a renewed knowledge of God resonated deeply with their longing for restoration and liberation, directly countering their current plight of barrenness, insecurity, and servitude under a pagan empire.

Ezekiel 34 27 Word analysis

• And the trees of the field (וְנָתְנָה עֵץ הַשָּׂדֶה, v'nat'nah etz ha'sadeh):

  • Etz ha'sadeh (עֵץ הַשָּׂדֶה) refers to "the tree of the field" collectively or as a general class. It signifies the entire natural ecosystem, specifically the wild or cultivated trees, responding directly to divine blessing.
  • Significance: This is a direct reversal of the curses found in Mosaic law where the land and trees would fail to yield fruit due to disobedience (e.g., Lev 26:20, Deut 28:23-24). It signifies the restoration of nature's benevolent order under God's renewed favor.

• shall yield their fruit (פִרְיֹו, piryô):

  • Piryo (פִרְיֹו) is "its fruit." The term pri (פְּרִי) is fruit, produce.
  • Significance: Represents abundance, prosperity, sustenance, and the visible manifestation of life and growth. It's an essential element of well-being in an agricultural society.

• and the earth (וְהָאָרֶץ, v'ha'aretz):

  • Ha'aretz (הָאָרֶץ) means "the land" or "the earth." In context, it primarily refers to the physical land of Israel.
  • Significance: The very ground, which was cursed or rendered unproductive due to sin, will once again bless its inhabitants. It speaks to the holistic restoration of the dwelling place.

• shall yield her increase (תִּתֵּן יְבוּלָהּ, titen yevûlāh):

  • Yevulah (יְבוּלָהּ) is "its produce" or "its harvest." From yevul (יְבוּל), meaning produce, crop, or yield.
  • Significance: Reinforces the idea of agricultural bounty and plentiful provisions, going beyond mere subsistence to generous plenty, ensuring the economic and physical well-being of the community.

• and they shall be safe (לָבֶטַח, la'vetaḥ):

  • La'vetaḥ (לָבֶטַח) literally means "in safety" or "in security." It stems from the root bataḥ (בָּטַח), which means to trust, be secure.
  • Significance: Encompasses peace from external threats (invaders, oppressors) and internal stability. This promise is foundational for genuine human flourishing and a primary covenant blessing, starkly contrasting their current experience of fear and insecurity in exile.

• in their land (עַל-אַדְמָתָם, 'al 'admatām):

  • 'Admatām (אַדְמָתָם) means "their ground" or "their land." This refers specifically to the territory God promised to Israel.
  • Significance: Emphasizes the people's re-establishment in their divinely allotted heritage, removing the shame and pain of displacement and exile. It signifies rightful ownership and settled habitation, crucial for national identity and covenant fulfillment.

• and they shall know that I am the LORD (וְיָדְעוּ כִּי אֲנִי יְהוָה, v'yade'û kî 'anî YHWH):

  • Yade'u (יָדְעוּ) is "they shall know" (from yada' - to know). This is not just intellectual awareness but a deep, experiential, and intimate recognition.
  • YHWH (יְהוָה) is the sacred personal name of God, signifying His covenant-keeping character and self-existent being.
  • Significance: This "recognition formula" is a hallmark of Ezekiel. It indicates that God's acts of salvation are ultimately designed to bring His people (and eventually the nations) to acknowledge His singular identity and sovereignty. True blessing includes this spiritual revelation and relationship.

• when I have broken (בְּשִׁבְרִי, b'shivriy):

  • B'shivriy (בְּשִׁבְרִי) is "in my breaking" or "when I break" (from shabar - שָׁבַר, to break, shatter).
  • Significance: Highlights God's active, decisive, and forceful intervention. It's a powerful verb, suggesting the utter destruction of what confines. This emphasizes His sovereign power in deliverance.

• the bands of their yoke (אֶת-מֹטֹּת עֻלָּם, et motṭôt 'ulām):

  • Motṭôt 'ulām (מֹטֹּת עֻלָּם) literally means "the bars of their yoke." A yoke (ol, עֹל) is an instrument of forced labor or subjugation. Motṭôt refers to the connecting pieces or staffs.
  • Significance: This is a powerful symbol of oppression, servitude, and bondage. For an exiled people, it directly represents the burden of foreign rule (Babylon). Metaphorically, it can also refer to the heavy burdens of sin or the spiritual bondage from which God delivers. God is breaking the very structure of their subjugation.

• and have delivered them (וְהִצַּלְתִּים, v'hitzzaltîm):

  • V'hitzzaltim (וְהִצַּלְתִּים) means "and I have delivered them" or "rescued them" (from natsal - נָצַל, to snatch away, save, rescue).
  • Significance: Emphasizes God's active and redemptive agency in freeing His people. It points to a saving act, pulling them out of danger or enslavement.

• out of the hand of those that served themselves of them (מִיַּד הָעֹבְדִים בָּם, miyyad ha'ôvedîm bâm):

  • Miyyad (מִיַּד) means "from the hand of," where "hand" often denotes power, control, or authority.
  • Ha'ôvedîm bâm (הָעֹבְדִים בָּם) means "those who made servants of them" or "those who exploited them." It implies those who subjugated and profited from their labor.
  • Significance: Specifically identifies the oppressors, whether foreign nations or internal unjust leaders, from whom God provides liberation. It clarifies that the deliverance is from exploitation and misuse of power, both human and potentially spiritual.

Words-group Analysis

• "And the trees of the field shall yield their fruit, and the earth shall yield her increase": These parallel clauses describe a divinely-induced period of unprecedented agricultural abundance and fertility. It paints a picture of Eden-like provision, where the very creation actively participates in the blessing, ensuring sustenance and prosperity for God's people. This speaks to a holistic physical renewal after judgment.

• "and they shall be safe in their land": This phrase ties security directly to their place of inheritance. It emphasizes a secure dwelling, free from the constant threat of war, invasion, or internal strife. This is a restoration of covenantal peace (shalom) within their designated borders, foundational for flourishing.

• "and they shall know that I am the LORD, when I have broken the bands of their yoke, and have delivered them out of the hand of those that served themselves of them": This significant clause establishes the cause and effect: God's powerful acts of liberation—breaking both the literal (Babylonian) and metaphorical yokes of oppression—will lead to a profound, experiential knowledge of His true identity. The tangible deliverance from external exploitation and internal bondage will serve as the undeniable proof of YHWH's unique sovereignty, faithfulness, and saving power, resulting in a deeper, more intimate relationship between God and His people.

Ezekiel 34 27 Bonus section

• The theme of breaking the yoke often has messianic implications in other prophetic texts, foreshadowing Christ's ultimate deliverance from spiritual and even social oppressions. His words in Matt 11:28-30, "Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light," offer a profound contrast to the harsh yokes of the world and sin described in Ezekiel.
• This verse can be understood as part of a progressive revelation concerning God's intention for His people to thrive under His direct governance. It forms a theological bridge from the failure of human leadership to the future reign of the Divine Shepherd, implicitly culminating in the 'David' who will rule as shepherd (Ezek 34:23).
• The prosperity described isn't merely for self-indulgence but forms the basis for their witness to other nations and their worship of the true God. The world would see that God provides for His people abundantly, distinguishing them from nations that served other gods who could not provide such blessings.

Ezekiel 34 27 Commentary

Ezekiel 34:27 articulates a cornerstone promise within God's comprehensive vision for the restoration of Israel. It's a vivid tapestry woven with threads of physical abundance, communal security, and profound spiritual recognition. Coming out of the dark chapter of exile and corrupt leadership, this verse promises not just an end to suffering but an active, sovereign intervention by God. The promise of the land yielding its increase directly reverses the curse of barrenness, symbolizing total economic and ecological restoration. "Safety in their land" counters the insecurity and displacement of exile, providing a profound sense of belonging and protection under God's watchful eye. Critically, these tangible blessings serve a higher spiritual purpose: to reveal God Himself. The repeated phrase "they shall know that I am the LORD" signifies that the ultimate fruit of this deliverance is a renewed, experiential, and undeniable understanding of His unique covenant-keeping character. This knowledge is not intellectual assent but a transformative, relational awareness birthed from observing His mighty act of "breaking the bands of their yoke" and rescuing them from the exploitative "hand of those that served themselves of them." This speaks to both geopolitical liberation from Babylon and a deeper, spiritual freedom from sin's bondage, prefiguring the New Covenant where Christ breaks the ultimate yoke of sin and death. In essence, God steps in as the true Shepherd, providing, protecting, and revealing Himself, ensuring His flock lacks nothing in body, spirit, or security.