Ezekiel 36:22 kjv
Therefore say unto the house of Israel, thus saith the Lord GOD; I do not this for your sakes, O house of Israel, but for mine holy name's sake, which ye have profaned among the heathen, whither ye went.
Ezekiel 36:22 nkjv
"Therefore say to the house of Israel, 'Thus says the Lord GOD: "I do not do this for your sake, O house of Israel, but for My holy name's sake, which you have profaned among the nations wherever you went.
Ezekiel 36:22 niv
"Therefore say to the Israelites, 'This is what the Sovereign LORD says: It is not for your sake, people of Israel, that I am going to do these things, but for the sake of my holy name, which you have profaned among the nations where you have gone.
Ezekiel 36:22 esv
"Therefore say to the house of Israel, Thus says the Lord GOD: It is not for your sake, O house of Israel, that I am about to act, but for the sake of my holy name, which you have profaned among the nations to which you came.
Ezekiel 36:22 nlt
"Therefore, give the people of Israel this message from the Sovereign LORD: I am bringing you back, but not because you deserve it. I am doing it to protect my holy name, on which you brought shame while you were scattered among the nations.
Ezekiel 36 22 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Ezekiel 36:22 | "Therefore say to the house of Israel, ‘Thus says the Lord GOD: It is not for your sake, O house of Israel, that I am about to do this for you, but for My holy name’s sake, which you have profaned among the nations wherever you have gone. | God's action for His name's sake |
| Isaiah 43:7 | "...whom I created for my glory, whom I formed and made.” | God's creation for His glory |
| Romans 3:23 | "...for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God." | Humanity's falling short of glory |
| Romans 9:17 | "For the Scripture says to Pharaoh, “For this very purpose I have raised you up, that my power may be displayed in you, and that my name may be proclaimed in all the earth.”" | God raising Pharaoh for His name's sake |
| 1 Corinthians 10:31 | "So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God." | All to God's glory |
| Ezekiel 20:9,14,22 | Repetitions emphasizing God acting for His name's sake in dealing with Israel. | God acts for His name's sake |
| Jeremiah 14:7 | "We know our iniquities, O LORD, the wickedness of our fathers, for we have sinned against you." | Confession of sin |
| Psalm 79:9 | "Help us, O God of our salvation, for the glory of your name! Deliver us, and atone for our sins, for your name’s sake!" | Prayer for help in God's name's sake |
| Deuteronomy 9:28 | "...lest the land from which you brought us say, ‘Because the LORD was not able to bring them into the land that he promised them, and because he hated them, he has brought them out to put them to death in the wilderness.’" | Israel's sin leading to nations' accusation |
| Nehemiah 5:9 | "‘So I took action,’ he said, ‘and rebuked the nobles and the officials. I told them, “Each of you is demanding interest from your own people.” I called together a great assembly to deal with them." | Leader rebuking wrongdoing |
| Ezekiel 36:20 | "But when they came to the nations, wherever 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.’”" | Israel profaning God's name abroad |
| Isaiah 52:5 | "Now therefore what have I here, says the LORD, seeing that my people are taken away for nothing? Their rulers howl, says the LORD, and continually all day long my name is despised." | Nations despising God's name |
| Jeremiah 32:36-41 | God's promise to restore Israel and give them a new heart for His pleasure. | Restoration and new heart promise |
| Acts 4:24 | "When they heard it, they lifted their voices together to God and said, 'Sovereign Lord, who made the heaven and the earth and the sea and everything in them,'" | Prayer acknowledging God's sovereignty |
| Romans 11:36 | "For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be glory forever! Amen." | All things are for God's glory |
| John 17:10 | "all mine are yours, and yours are mine, and I am glorified in them." | Jesus glorified in believers |
| Revelation 4:11 | "“Worthy are you, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they existed and were created.”" | God worthy of glory |
| Matthew 5:16 | "In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven." | Believers' works glorify God |
| John 12:28 | "Father, glorify your name.” Then a voice came from heaven: “I have glorified it, and I will glorify it again.”" | God's name glorified |
| 2 Corinthians 5:20 | "Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God." | Christians as ambassadors for God |
Ezekiel 36 verses
Ezekiel 36 22 Meaning
This verse is a promise from God regarding His people, Israel. It declares that His actions toward them will not be for their sake, but for the sake of His holy name, which had been profaned among the nations due to Israel's sin and subsequent exile. God will sanctify Himself through His dealings with them, demonstrating His power and holiness, ultimately leading to their restoration and the world recognizing His sovereignty.
Ezekiel 36 22 Context
This verse is found in Ezekiel chapter 36, a section of the book that offers prophecies of restoration to the people of Israel, particularly after their exile in Babylon. The immediate preceding verses (36:16-19) detail the scattering and mistreatment of Israel by the nations due to their sins. These nations accused Israel and, by extension, God Himself, of weakness. Ezekiel 36:22 serves as God's response to this situation, explaining the motivation behind His impending actions of restoration. He emphasizes that His intervention is not a reward for Israel's righteousness but a demonstration of His own holiness and power, thereby vindicating His name. The larger context of Ezekiel deals with the judgment for sin and the promise of future renewal, centering on the glory of God and the establishment of His kingdom.
Ezekiel 36 22 Word analysis
- Therefore (Arabic: על־כֵּ֗ן - 'al-ken): Indicates a consequence or result of what has been previously stated or understood. It connects the coming actions of God to the preceding discourse about Israel's dispersion and the nations' accusations.
- say (Arabic: אִמְר֣וּ - imru): Imperative form, commanding the prophet to speak to the house of Israel.
- to the house of Israel (Arabic: לְבֵ֣ית יִשְׂרָאֵ֗ל - lə·ḇêṯ · yiś·râ·’êl): Refers specifically to the people of Israel, both the Northern Kingdom (ten tribes) and the Southern Kingdom (Judah).
- Thus says the Lord GOD (Arabic: כֹּֽה־אָמַר֩ אֲדֹנָ֨י יְהֹוִ֜ה - kōh-’ā·māḏ ’ă·ḏō·nāy · Yə·hô·wîh): A formal prophetic formula emphasizing the divine origin and authority of the message.
- It is not (Arabic: לֹא֩ - lō’): A strong negation, denying a specific reason.
- for your sake (Arabic: לְמַעַנְכֶם֙ - lə·mā·‘an·ḵem): Denotes that God's action is not for Israel's merit or because of their deservingness.
- O house of Israel (Arabic: אַתֶּ֣ם - ’attem): Emphasis placed again on the recipients of the message, reinforcing the personal nature of God's address.
- that I am about to do (Arabic: אֲשֶׁר־אֲנִי֩ עֹשֶׂ֨ה - ’ă·šer-’ă·nî ·‘ō·śêh): Indicates an imminent action, a declaration of future divine intervention.
- this for you (Arabic: לָכֶ֣ם - lāḵem): Refers to the impending acts of salvation and restoration described in the prophecy.
- but (Arabic: כִּ֗י - kî): Introduces the true reason or motive.
- for My holy name’s sake (Arabic: לְמַ֧עַן שְׁמִ֣י הַקָּדוֹשׁ — lə·mā·‘an-šə·mî · ha·qqā·ḏôš): This is the crucial phrase. The motive is God's own intrinsic holiness and the reputation of His name, which has been desecrated.
- which you have profaned (Arabic: אֲשֶׁר־חִלַּלְתֶּ֥ם - ’ă·šer-ḥal·laḏ·tem): "Ḥil·laḏ·tem" means to defile, profane, desecrate, or treat with contempt. This points to Israel's actions that brought dishonor to God's name.
- among the nations (Arabic: בַּגּוֹיִ֗ם - ḇag·ḡō·wîm): Specifies the context of the profanation – it occurred in the eyes of the gentile nations.
- wherever you have gone (Arabic: אֲשֶׁר־הָלַכְתֶּ֣ם שָׁ֑מָּה - ’ă·šer-hā·laḵ·tem-šā·mâ): Highlights the widespread nature of Israel's exile and the continuous desecration of God's name during their dispersion.
Words Group Analysis:
- "It is not for your sake... but for My holy name's sake": This direct contrast is central. It shifts the focus from human merit to divine sovereignty and integrity. God's actions are driven by His covenant faithfulness and His need to demonstrate His holy character.
- "which you have profaned among the nations wherever you have gone": This phrase explains how God's name was profaned. Israel's disobedience, suffering, and dispersion led the nations to believe that the God of Israel was either powerless or evil, thus profaning His name.
Ezekiel 36 22 Bonus Section
The concept of "God acting for His name's sake" is a recurring theme throughout the Old Testament, demonstrating God's deep concern for His reputation. This includes His promises to Abraham, His deliverance of Israel from Egypt, and His judgment and restoration prophecies concerning His people. This emphasis on God’s name highlights His immutable character and His desire for all to acknowledge His supreme sovereignty and holiness. It also speaks to the corporate responsibility of believers to live in such a way that God’s name is honored. The theological significance is immense, as it frames God's interaction with creation through the lens of His own inherent glory and purpose.
Ezekiel 36 22 Commentary
This verse is a cornerstone for understanding God's restorative actions. It establishes that salvation history is not primarily driven by human deservingness, but by God's covenant faithfulness and His own glory. Israel's sins had indeed caused the nations to revile God's name (Ezekiel 36:20), implying that God was unable to protect or vindicate His people. Therefore, God’s act of restoration in bringing them back from exile and blessing them would be a powerful demonstration of His unique holiness and power. This act would publicly vindicate His name, proving to the nations that He is indeed the sovereign LORD. This principle extends to the New Covenant, where believers, through God’s grace, become agents through whom God’s name is glorified, not by their own efforts, but by God’s work in them and through them (1 Cor. 10:31; Matt. 5:16). The ultimate fulfillment is seen in the new heavens and new earth where God's presence and glory will be manifest without blemish.