Ezekiel 36:17 kjv
Son of man, when the house of Israel dwelt in their own land, they defiled it by their own way and by their doings: their way was before me as the uncleanness of a removed woman.
Ezekiel 36:17 nkjv
"Son of man, when the house of Israel dwelt in their own land, they defiled it by their own ways and deeds; to Me their way was like the uncleanness of a woman in her customary impurity.
Ezekiel 36:17 niv
"Son of man, when the people of Israel were living in their own land, they defiled it by their conduct and their actions. Their conduct was like a woman's monthly uncleanness in my sight.
Ezekiel 36:17 esv
"Son of man, when the house of Israel lived in their own land, they defiled it by their ways and their deeds. Their ways before me were like the uncleanness of a woman in her menstrual impurity.
Ezekiel 36:17 nlt
"Son of man, when the people of Israel were living in their own land, they defiled it by the evil way they lived. To me their conduct was as unclean as a woman's menstrual cloth.
Ezekiel 36 17 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Ezekiel 36:17 | "When they were among the nations, to which they went, they profaned my holy name, when they said of them, 'These are the people of the LORD, and yet they have gone out of his land.'" | 2 Sam 7:23, Jer 14:7, Lam 1:8, Rev 17:5, Isa 43:25, Ps 106:46, Num 15:41, Lev 22:32, Rom 2:24, Deut 28:37, Jer 24:9, 1 Pet 4:16, Lev 19:12, Isa 48:11, Jer 44:16, Ps 79:9, Ezek 20:9, Ezek 20:44, Ezek 39:25, Ezek 43:20 |
Ezekiel 36 verses
Ezekiel 36 17 Meaning
This verse describes the state of the Israelites, specifically their perpetual stumbling and defilement due to their sins and iniquities. It highlights that their inherent transgressions made them continually unworthy and dishonorable in the eyes of the nations.
Ezekiel 36 17 Context
In Ezekiel chapter 36, God is speaking to the mountains of Israel, promising a future restoration and cleansing for His people. This chapter follows a series of prophecies of judgment against the surrounding nations and the land of Israel itself. Verses 16-23 specifically address how the people of Israel brought disgrace upon God's name through their sins. Their exile and scattered state among the nations led the nations to mock God, assuming He was powerless to protect His people or restore them from their land. This verse provides the divine explanation for why they were scattered in the first place – their own unrighteousness.
Ezekiel 36 17 Word analysis
- Son of man: (Hebrew: ben-adam ben-adam) A common prophetic formula, often used by Ezekiel, referring to humanity or, more specifically, a human representative, emphasizing God's authority speaking to a mortal.
- When they were: Refers to the period of Israel's exile and dispersion among the nations.
- Among the nations: Indicates their presence and interaction within the gentile populations as captives or exiles.
- To which they went: Highlights the involuntary nature of their dispersal due to divine judgment.
- They profaned: (Hebrew: chālalū chalalū) To desecrate, pollute, violate, or treat as common; in this context, it means they treated God's name with disrespect or dishonor.
- My holy name: God's divine appellation and character, which was tarnished by His people's unholy actions.
- When they said: Describes the pagan nations' perception and their utterances concerning the Israelites.
- Of them: Referring to the Israelites.
- These are the people of the LORD: The nations recognized them as God's chosen people, distinguishing them from others.
- And yet they have gone out of his land: This is the crux of the nations' mockery – despite being God's people, they were unable to remain in or return to their promised land, implying God's weakness or failure.
Words group by words:
- "profaned my holy name, when they said of them, 'These are the people of the LORD, and yet they have gone out of his land.'" - This phrase encapsulates the theological crisis caused by Israel's exile. The nations’ perception, driven by Israel’s disobedience, attributed God’s perceived failure to His own nature, not understanding the covenantal consequences of sin.
Ezekiel 36 17 Bonus section
This verse can be understood in light of the New Testament concept of believers being ambassadors for Christ (2 Corinthians 5:20). The conduct of believers today still reflects upon the name of God. The prophetic message here also anticipates God's ultimate vindication through the Messiah, Jesus Christ, who would secure a permanent place for His people in His kingdom and uphold His holiness, thereby sanctifying His name in the sight of the nations. The repeated emphasis on God’s name being profaned and later sanctified throughout Ezekiel underlines God’s supreme concern for His own glory.
Ezekiel 36 17 Commentary
The verse points to a fundamental spiritual principle: the behavior of God's people directly impacts the perception of God Himself. When Israel, in its sin and exile, was unable to sustain itself in its land, the surrounding nations falsely concluded that the God of Israel was inferior to their own gods or that He had abandoned His people. This highlights the missionary responsibility inherent in God's covenant people, as their lives were meant to be a testament to God's power and holiness. The profaning of God's name underscores the severe consequences of disobedience, not only for the nation but for God's reputation among unbelievers. God's subsequent restoration is not merely for Israel's sake but to demonstrate His power and to vindicate His name among all peoples.