Ezekiel 36 2

Ezekiel 36:2 kjv

Thus saith the Lord GOD; Because the enemy hath said against you, Aha, even the ancient high places are ours in possession:

Ezekiel 36:2 nkjv

Thus says the Lord GOD: "Because the enemy has said of you, 'Aha! The ancient heights have become our possession,' " '

Ezekiel 36:2 niv

This is what the Sovereign LORD says: The enemy said of you, "Aha! The ancient heights have become our possession."?'

Ezekiel 36:2 esv

Thus says the Lord GOD: Because the enemy said of you, 'Aha!' and, 'The ancient heights have become our possession,'

Ezekiel 36:2 nlt

This is what the Sovereign LORD says: Your enemies have taunted you, saying, 'Aha! Now the ancient heights belong to us!'

Ezekiel 36 verses

Ezekiel 36 2 Meaning

This verse prophesies God's direct address to mountains, speaking of judgment upon them due to Israel's past sinfulness, which caused them to be defiled.

Ezekiel 36 2 Context

Ezekiel 36 is part of a prophecy concerning the restoration of Israel. This specific chapter addresses the surrounding nations that mocked and defiled the land of Israel, especially during the Babylonian exile. God declares that He will restore His people and purify the land. Ezekiel 36:2 is the introductory verse to God’s direct address to the mountains of Israel, highlighting that even the inanimate landscape bears witness to and is affected by the sins of the people who inhabited it. The surrounding nations boasted and gloated over the destruction of Jerusalem and the scattering of its people.

Ezekiel 36 2 Word analysis

• כֹּה (koh) - Thus, so, here. An adverb indicating manner or intensity. It introduces the prophetic declaration.
• אָמַר (amar) - Said, spoke. The root verb for "to say." Here, it signifies God's authoritative declaration.
• נְאֻם (neum) - Oracle, utterance, burden. Indicates a divine message delivered by a prophet. It signifies the weight and divine origin of the speech.
• יְהוָה (YHWH) - LORD. The personal covenant name of God, emphasizing His active relationship with His people.
• אֱלֹהִים (Elohim) - God. A common Hebrew word for God, emphasizing His sovereignty and power. This dual usage underscores both God's relational and majestic nature.
• הִנֵּה (hinneh) - Behold, look, here. An interjection to draw attention to what follows, emphasizing its significance.
• אֶל (el) - To. A preposition indicating direction.
• הֶהָרִים (heharim) - The mountains. The definite article "ha" signifies "the." "Harim" is the plural of "har" (mountain). This specifically refers to the mountains of Israel, central to the geography and symbolic landscape of the Promised Land.
• וְאֶל (ve'el) - And to. "Ve" is the conjunction "and." Continues the list of recipients of God's word.
• הַגְּבָעוֹת (hagiv'ot) - The hills. "Gav'ot" is the plural of "gevah" (hill). Adds to the scope of God's declaration, encompassing the varied terrain of the land.
• וְאֶל (ve'el) - And to.
• הָעֲמָקִים (ha'amakim) - The valleys. "Amakim" is the plural of "emeq" (valley). Completes the picture of the land's topography being addressed.
• וְאֶל (ve'el) - And to.
• הַגֵּיאָ (hagei'a) - The ravines/valleys. "Gei'a" is often translated as valley or gorge, suggesting a deeper, perhaps more secluded or dramatic terrain. This further emphasizes the comprehensive nature of the address.
• וְאֶל (ve'el) - And to.
• הַמִּדְבָּר (hamidbar) - The wilderness. "Midbar" refers to the open, uncultivated land. This signifies that even the desolate areas are subject to God's word and witness.
• וְאֶל (ve'el) - And to.
• הַשָּׂדֶה (hasadeh) - The field. "Sadeh" refers to open country, a cultivated field. This includes the agriculturally significant areas.
• וְאֶל (ve'el) - And to.
• כָּל (kol) - All, every. A quantifier emphasizing the completeness of the divine message to the land.
• מַעְיָנֹתֶיהָ (ma'yanoteha) - Its springs. "Ma'yan" means spring or fountain. "Oteha" is the possessive suffix for "her" (feminine singular), referring to the land. The springs represent life-giving sources within the land.
• וְאֶל (ve'el) - And to.
• צִיֹּנֶיהָ (tsiyoneha) - Its pastures, or its moisture. "Tsiyoh" can refer to brightness, pastures, or dew. It suggests the fertile or even barren, but potentially life-sustaining, aspects of the land. The "her" suffix again points to the land.
• וְאֶל (ve'el) - And to.
• אֶרֶץ (erets) - Land. The general word for land or earth.
• יִשְׂרָאֵל (Yisra'el) - Israel. The name of the covenant people and their territory.

Words-group analysis:The verse strategically addresses the physical geography of the land of Israel: mountains, hills, valleys, ravines, wilderness, fields, springs, pastures, and the land itself. This anthropomorphism of inanimate creation signifies that the entirety of the land of Israel is implicated in and will bear witness to the history of sin and subsequent divine judgment and restoration. It also conveys the absolute authority of God's word, which extends even to the natural world. The repetition of "and to" (וְאֶל - ve'el) links each element, showing a unified divine communication to the entire land.

Ezekiel 36 2 Bonus section

This verse showcases a remarkable aspect of biblical prophecy: the engagement of the natural world in God's dealings with humanity. It aligns with the broader biblical narrative where creation often reflects or reacts to humanity's spiritual state (e.g., the curse on the ground in Genesis 3, the groaning of creation in Romans 8). The detailed address to specific geographical features emphasizes that God’s sovereignty and justice encompass all of His creation, not just the human inhabitants. The use of "Oracle of the LORD God" (נְאֻם יְהוָה אֱלֹהִים - neum YHWH Elohim) is a strong affirmation of the divine authority behind this pronouncement.

Ezekiel 36 2 Commentary

Ezekiel 36:2 is a pivotal announcement. It declares that God is not just speaking to His people, but also directly to the very land He promised to them. This is a powerful rhetorical device. The nations surrounding Israel, and even Israel itself, had viewed the land as simply a geographical entity. However, for God and His covenant people, the land of Israel is imbued with spiritual significance. It is the place where God's name would dwell. When the land was defiled by the sin of its inhabitants, it was not merely an aesthetic problem, but a spiritual defilement that required divine attention. This verse sets the stage for God’s reclaiming and purifying of the land, demonstrating that His covenant commitment extends to the deepest levels of His creation. Even the natural elements are subject to His word and serve as witnesses to His judgment and faithfulness. The mention of "its springs" and "its pastures" (or "its dew") highlights the vital, life-sustaining aspects of the land that God controlled and would restore.