Ezekiel 36 14

Ezekiel 36:14 kjv

Therefore thou shalt devour men no more, neither bereave thy nations any more, saith the Lord GOD.

Ezekiel 36:14 nkjv

therefore you shall devour men no more, nor bereave your nation anymore," says the Lord GOD.

Ezekiel 36:14 niv

therefore you will no longer devour people or make your nation childless, declares the Sovereign LORD.

Ezekiel 36:14 esv

therefore you shall no longer devour people and no longer bereave your nation of children, declares the Lord GOD.

Ezekiel 36:14 nlt

But you will never again devour your people or rob them of their children, says the Sovereign LORD.

Ezekiel 36 verses

Ezekiel 36 14 meaning

Ezekiel 36:14 is a profound divine promise delivered to the physical land of Israel, marking a complete reversal of its prior desolation. Through vivid personification, God declares that the land will cease to "devour men," signifying an end to the constant loss of life that occurred through war, famine, pestilence, and judgment, which historically rendered it desolate. Furthermore, the land will no longer "bereave your nations," meaning it will no longer suffer the tragic depletion of its population through death and sorrow, leading to emptiness and grief among its people. This solemn declaration, emphasized by "says the Lord God," guarantees a future of sustained life, safety, and flourishing for the land and its inhabitants, moving from a state of suffering to one of enduring blessing.

Ezekiel 36 14 Context

Ezekiel 36:14 is situated within a major prophecy of restoration for Israel, following a period of profound national suffering, desolation, and exile. The earlier chapters of Ezekiel often describe God's judgment upon Israel and Judah, leading to the destruction of Jerusalem and the desolation of the land due to the people's persistent idolatry and sin. Chapter 36 directly addresses the "mountains of Israel" (vv. 1, 6), acknowledging their prolonged barrenness and suffering at the hands of surrounding nations who mocked their God because of the land's perceived impotence. This particular verse reverses the past judgments. It is part of God's declaration that He will restore the land and His people, not because of Israel's merit, but for the vindication and sanctification of His own holy name, which had been profaned among the nations by their exile and the land's barren state. The verse anticipates a time when the land, once a testament to God's wrath, will become a vibrant, secure, and fruitful testament to His restorative power and faithfulness.

Ezekiel 36 14 Word analysis

• Therefore: This conjunction signifies a direct consequence of God's prior statements and purposes, particularly His resolve to act for the sake of His holy name (Eze 36:22-23). It marks a definitive shift from judgment to promised restoration.
• you shall devour (תֹאכְלִי, to'ch'li): This is a strong feminine singular verb, directly addressing the land. Derived from akal, meaning to eat or consume. Here, it is an intense personification of the land. It implies that the land itself, through its barrenness, wars fought upon it, or inability to sustain life, was actively causing the death and disappearance of its inhabitants.
• men (אָדָם, adam): A general term for humanity or people. The implication is that the devastation affected a broad spectrum of the population, not just a specific group.
• no more: This phrase denotes an absolute and permanent cessation of the described action. It guarantees that the past state of affairs, marked by death and depopulation, will never recur.
• neither shall you bereave (תְשַׁכְּלִי, t'shakk'li): Another powerful feminine singular verb, continuing the personification of the land. From shakal, meaning to make childless, cause to miscarry, or bereave. It vividly depicts the sorrowful outcome of mass death, signifying loss of children, families, and population, leading to emptiness and grief.
• your nations (goyyayikh): This refers to the peoples or population groups dwelling on or indigenous to the land. In this context, it primarily denotes the Israelites, God's covenant people, emphasizing their tragic loss and the land's inability to foster their growth.
• any more: Reinforces the "no more," signifying the complete and final end of the land's role in causing bereavement and depopulation.
• says the Lord God (נְאֻם אֲדֹנָי יְהוִה, nəʼum Adonai Yehwih): A definitive prophetic formula that asserts the divine authority, reliability, and absolute certainty of the promise. It underscores that this is an irreversible declaration from the sovereign God.

Words-group by words-group analysis

• "Therefore you shall devour men no more": This complete clause highlights the dramatic reversal of the land's previously destructive nature. It assures an end to the era where the land was perceived as an active participant in the suffering and death of its people. The shift from a land that "eats" to one that nourishes is central to the restoration.
• "neither shall you bereave your nations any more": This phrase functions as a parallel, reinforcing and emotionally deepening the first promise. It speaks to the cessation of demographic decline and the associated grief of losing generations. It foretells an era of stability, growth, and the joyful continuity of life for the population residing on the land.
• "says the Lord God": This closing formula elevates the promise from a mere hope to a divine decree. It secures the future restoration by rooting it in God's immutable character and omnipotent power, leaving no room for doubt about its certain fulfillment.

Ezekiel 36 14 Bonus section

The intense personification of the land as an entity that "devours" and "bereaves" draws a striking theological parallel to passages like Lev 18:28, where the land "vomits out" its inhabitants due to their abominations. This highlights the deep, almost spiritual, connection between God, His people, and the physical territory promised to them. The land is not a neutral backdrop but a participant in the covenant, reacting to the spiritual state of its dwellers. The promise in Ezekiel 36:14 therefore signifies a spiritual healing of the land itself, making it a hospitable place where life flourishes, rather than an inhospitable one where life is lost. This prefigures the ultimate new creation in the New Testament, where even the cosmos is renewed, and all sorrow and death are banished forever (Rev 21:1-4). The focus shifts from the land acting as an instrument of divine judgment to becoming a testament to divine blessing.

Ezekiel 36 14 Commentary

Ezekiel 36:14 delivers a powerful message of divine reversal and restoration, addressing the very land of Israel which had suffered intense desolation. The historical experience of war, famine, and exile meant a drastic loss of life, compelling the prophet to personify the land itself as "devouring" and "bereaving" its inhabitants. This anthropomorphic language is a poignant expression of how severe the judgment was—the land became an agent of sorrow, hostile to its own people. God's declaration that this will cease is not merely a promise of agricultural fertility but a comprehensive pledge for national healing. It encompasses peace, demographic growth, and an end to the profound grief that characterized past generations. The core message is God's initiative to restore His land and people, driven by His own holy name, which had been dishonored by Israel's dispersion and the land's barrenness. This promise ultimately points to a new era where the land will not only sustain but also enable the flourishing of God's covenant people, manifesting His glory and faithfulness among the nations. The divine utterance "says the Lord God" guarantees the infallibility of this restorative work.

• Practical usage example: For an individual facing a prolonged season of personal hardship or loss that feels "devouring" or "bereaving," this verse can inspire hope that God promises a time when such painful seasons "no more." It assures that divine intervention can turn circumstances from destruction to restoration.