Ezekiel 36 10

Ezekiel 36:10 kjv

And I will multiply men upon you, all the house of Israel, even all of it: and the cities shall be inhabited, and the wastes shall be builded:

Ezekiel 36:10 nkjv

I will multiply men upon you, all the house of Israel, all of it; and the cities shall be inhabited and the ruins rebuilt.

Ezekiel 36:10 niv

and I will cause many people to live on you?yes, all of Israel. The towns will be inhabited and the ruins rebuilt.

Ezekiel 36:10 esv

And I will multiply people on you, the whole house of Israel, all of it. The cities shall be inhabited and the waste places rebuilt.

Ezekiel 36:10 nlt

I will greatly increase the population of Israel, and the ruined cities will be rebuilt and filled with people.

Ezekiel 36 verses

Ezekiel 36 10 meaning

Ezekiel 36:10 expresses God's promise to actively restore the desolate land of Israel by dramatically increasing its population with the entire house of Israel. This restoration will manifest in cities becoming inhabited once again and the ruined places being rebuilt. It is a divine declaration of reversal of judgment and a commitment to bring the exiles back to a revitalized homeland.

Ezekiel 36 10 Context

Ezekiel 36:10 is nestled within a powerful prophetic passage (Ezekiel 36:1-38) primarily addressed to the desolate "mountains of Israel." Prior to this chapter, Ezekiel delivered prophecies of judgment against Judah and Jerusalem, explaining why the exile and the land's desolation occurred (e.g., chapters 4-5, 12-15). Chapters 33-35 depict the watchman's responsibility and the condemnation of the shepherds of Israel and Edom's enmity.

This chapter (36) marks a significant shift from judgment to extensive restoration and renewal. God explicitly states His concern for His holy name, which has been profaned among the nations due to Israel's disgrace (Ezek 36:20-23). The land itself, subjected to the taunts of surrounding nations and lying desolate, becomes the recipient of God's restorative promises. The immediate context shows God is reacting to the gentile nations who mocked and claimed Israel's desolated land. God's act of restoring the land and people is not primarily due to Israel's righteousness, but "for my holy name's sake" (Ezek 36:22), to vindicate His character and power among the nations who thought Israel's God was powerless. The verse serves as a crucial point, highlighting the tangible, physical aspects of this restoration – population growth and rebuilding – as a sign of God's faithfulness and sovereignty.

Ezekiel 36 10 Word analysis

• And I will multiply (וְהִרְבֵּיתִי v'hirbeiti): Derived from the verb rabah (רָבָה), meaning "to be great, many, numerous." The hiphil stem (causative) means "I will cause to be many," "I will make great," or "I will multiply." This emphasizes God's direct, active, and sovereign hand in increasing the population. It's a divine initiative, not a natural demographic surge or human effort. This echoes the original creation mandate (Gen 1:28) and Abrahamic promises (Gen 12:2; 15:5; 22:17), which often included population growth as a sign of blessing and covenant faithfulness.
• men (אָדָם adam): A general term for "humankind" or "people," distinct from ish (אִישׁ) which specifies "man." The use of adam highlights the totality of people, not just a specific segment. It underscores the complete re-population by the "house of Israel," meaning ordinary people who will form the community.
• upon you (עֲלֵיכֶם aleikhem): This directly addresses the land itself, personified as if capable of receiving and hosting the multitude. The land is not merely a passive stage but an active participant in the restoration, blessed to be fruitful with human life. This shows the intimate connection between the people and the land promised by God.
• all the house of Israel (כָּל בֵּית יִשְׂרָאֵל kol beit Yisrael): "All" (כָּל kol) signifies totality and completeness. "House of Israel" refers to the entire covenant community, encompassing all twelve tribes, though primarily referring to the returning exiles from the Southern Kingdom of Judah, who maintained the name 'Israel.' This phrase emphasizes that God's intention is not for a partial return or a remnant, but a comprehensive re-gathering and renewal of His chosen people as a united entity. It counters any perception of a permanent division or loss of any part of Israel.
• even all of it: An emphatic repetition (כֻּלֹּה kullōh), literally "the whole of it." This serves to doubly underscore the completeness of God's restorative work for Israel. There will be no part of Israel left ungathered or unreplicated; every member will participate in this divine multiplication.
• and the cities (וְהֶעָרִים v'ha'arim): Connects to the previous thought with "and," showing another facet of restoration. "Cities" implies organized human dwelling, civic life, and structured society. Their desolation (e.g., Jer 31:38-40; Isa 44:26) was a sign of judgment; their repopulation signifies blessing.
• shall be inhabited (וְנָשָׁ֑בְנוּ v'noshávnu): From the verb yashav (יָשַׁב), meaning "to sit, dwell, inhabit." The niphal passive form "shall be inhabited" emphasizes that this state will happen to the cities; it is an outcome, again pointing to God's orchestrating hand rather than solely human initiative. People will settle there, ending their abandoned state.
• and the wastes (וְהֶחֳרָב֥וֹת v'hehkoravōt): Plural of chorbah (חֳרְבָה), meaning "ruin," "desolation." These are the places that bear the scars of judgment and war, lying abandoned and decayed. Their very existence was a constant reminder of God's wrath and Israel's failure.
• shall be builded (תִּבָּנֶ֖ינָה tibbánenah): From banah (בָּנָה), meaning "to build, rebuild, restore." The niphal passive indicates that the wastes will be built or be rebuilt, similar to "inhabited." It means structured restoration; the land will move from ruin to functional habitations. This refers not just to Jerusalem but the broader devastated landscape of Israel.

Ezekiel 36 10 Bonus section

The promise in Ezekiel 36:10 represents a definitive reversal of the curses found in Deuteronomy and Leviticus for disobedience, which included famine, desolation of land, and exile (e.g., Lev 26:31-33; Deut 28:58-68). The re-population and rebuilding directly counteract these curses, serving as a sign that the period of God's disciplinary wrath is concluded.

This verse also foreshadows future messianic age realities. While the initial return from Babylonian exile was a partial fulfillment, the comprehensive and ideal restoration points to an ultimate, complete restoration yet to come. Scholars suggest a dual fulfillment, with the return under Cyrus as an initial taste, and a later, grander, ultimate gathering of all Israel, both physically and spiritually. The imagery of multiplying people on the land also ties into the Garden of Eden mandate to "be fruitful and multiply," connecting this renewed Israel to God's original creation intention for humanity and a flourishing existence in covenant with Him.

Ezekiel 36 10 Commentary

Ezekiel 36:10 encapsulates a core aspect of God's covenant faithfulness and restorative justice. It follows detailed pronouncements of judgment against Israel and surrounding nations, establishing God's power over all. Here, the focus shifts to hope. The "mountains of Israel," symbolic of the land itself, are addressed directly, promising an extraordinary reversal of their desolation.

The emphasis on "I will multiply" underscores that this restoration is a sovereign, divine act. It's not contingent on Israel's merit but on God's character and His desire to vindicate His name, which had been profaned by their exile. The repopulation by "all the house of Israel, even all of it" speaks to a complete and unified restoration, signaling a return from various dispersions and the re-establishment of the national entity. This directly counters the pagan notion that a defeated nation's God is weak or has abandoned His people. Instead, Yahweh proves His active sovereignty.

The specific outcomes—"cities shall be inhabited, and the wastes shall be builded"—are tangible evidence of this restoration. They signify a return to order, community, and prosperity. Desolated cities becoming thriving centers and ruins being transformed into functional habitations are visual testaments to God's powerful intervention. This physical renewal is often paired with a deeper spiritual renewal in Ezekiel (cf. Ezek 36:26-27), indicating that true flourishing encompasses both material and spiritual well-being, both orchestrated by God. The verse promises not just bare existence but a flourishing and settled future for His chosen people in their promised land.