Ezekiel 36:3 kjv
Therefore prophesy and say, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Because they have made you desolate, and swallowed you up on every side, that ye might be a possession unto the residue of the heathen, and ye are taken up in the lips of talkers, and are an infamy of the people:
Ezekiel 36:3 nkjv
therefore prophesy, and say, 'Thus says the Lord GOD: "Because they made you desolate and swallowed you up on every side, so that you became the possession of the rest of the nations, and you are taken up by the lips of talkers and slandered by the people"?
Ezekiel 36:3 niv
Therefore prophesy and say, 'This is what the Sovereign LORD says: Because they ravaged and crushed you from every side so that you became the possession of the rest of the nations and the object of people's malicious talk and slander,
Ezekiel 36:3 esv
therefore prophesy, and say, Thus says the Lord GOD: Precisely because they made you desolate and crushed you from all sides, so that you became the possession of the rest of the nations, and you became the talk and evil gossip of the people,
Ezekiel 36:3 nlt
Therefore, son of man, give the mountains of Israel this message from the Sovereign LORD: Your enemies have attacked you from all directions, making you the property of many nations and the object of much mocking and slander.
Ezekiel 36 3 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Ezek 36:4 | Therefore, you mountains of Israel, hear the word of the Sovereign LORD. | Direct continuation |
| Ezek 6:3 | And say to them, Thus says the Lord GOD to the mountains, to the hills, to the ravines, and to the valleys: Behold, I, even I, will bring a sword upon you, and I will destroy your high places. | Specific judgment prophecy |
| Deut 28:37 | You shall become a byword, a taunt, and an execration among all the nations to which the LORD will drive you. | Fulfillment of curse |
| Lev 26:33 | And I will scatter you among the nations, and I will draw out a sword after you. | Covenant curse |
| Jer 25:9 | behold, I will send for all the tribes of the north,’ declares the LORD, ‘and I will send for Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, my servant, and I will bring them against this land and its inhabitants, and against all these surrounding nations. | Divine instrument of judgment |
| Jer 44:2 | Thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, ‘You have seen all the disaster that I have brought upon Jerusalem and upon all the cities of Judah. Behold, this day they are a desolation, and no man dwells in them. | Desolation due to sin |
| Ps 79:4 | We have become a reproach to our neighbors, a mockery and a scorn to those around us. | Echo of shame/mockery |
| Ps 44:14 | You make us a byword among the nations, a laughingstock among the peoples. | Shared experience of shame |
| Zeph 2:15 | This is the city that was exultant, that felt secure, and that said in its heart, “I am she, and there is no one else.” What a desolation she has become, a haunt for beasts! Every one who passes by her hisses and waves his hand. | Parallel to devastation |
| Isa 5:25 | ...and the LORD will raise a signal for nations far off, and will whistle for them from the end of the earth; and behold, they will come with speed. | Foreshadowing invasion |
| Jer 32:43-44 | ...fields shall be bought for silver and signed and witnessed, buying and selling, in the land of Benjamin, in the places about Jerusalem, and in the cities of Judah, in the cities of the hill country, in the cities of the lowland, and in the cities of the Negeb, for I will restore their fortunes, declares the LORD.’ | Promise of restoration contrasted |
| Joel 2:18-19 | Then the LORD became jealous for his land, and his people. He answered and said to his people, “Behold, I am sending to you grain, wine, and oil, and you will be satisfied. And I will no more make you a language of the nations, so that the nations should say, ‘Where is their God?’ ... | God’s response to humiliation |
| Mic 7:10 | Then my enemy will see it and shame will cover her who said to me, “Where is the LORD your God?” My eyes will look upon her; at that time she will be trampled underfoot like the mire of the streets. | Prophecy of enemy witnessing Israel's restoration |
| Matt 24:21 | For then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been from the beginning of the world until now, no, and never will be. | Period of great suffering |
| Rev 18:9 | And the kings of the earth, who committed sexual immorality and lived sensuously with her, will weep and beat their breasts over her when they see the smoke of her burning. | Judgment of oppressing nations |
| Ps 42:3 | My tears have been my food day and night, while they say to me continually, “Where is your God?” | Expressing the pain of being mocked |
| Isa 62:4 | You shall no more be called “Forsaken,” nor shall your land any more be called “Desolate,” but you shall be called my “Delight,” and your land “Married,” for the LORD delights in you, and your land shall be married. | God’s ultimate intention |
| Hosea 1:9 | Then God said, “Call his name No-ammi, for you are not my people, and I am not your God.” | Period of estrangement |
| Ezekiel 37:11 | Then he said to me, “Son of man, these bones are the whole house of Israel. Behold, they say, ‘Our bones are dried up, and our hope is lost; we are cut off for our parts.’” | Despair of the exiles |
| Isaiah 49:23 | Kings shall be your foster fathers, and their queens your nursing mothers. With bowed countenance toward the earth they shall bow down to you, and lick the dust from your feet. Then you shall know that I am the LORD; those who wait for me shall not be put to shame. | Restoration of nations’ service |
Ezekiel 36 verses
Ezekiel 36 3 Meaning
Ezekiel 36:3 states, "Therefore prophesy and say, ‘This is what the Sovereign LORD says: Because they have laid you waste and have devoured you on every side, so that you became an inheritance for the remaining nations, and an object of gossip and mockery to everyone,'" This verse declares that because Israel's enemies have desolated their land and scattered its people, the land has become a possession for other nations. This desolation and the subsequent shame are directly linked to Israel's sin and disobedience to God's covenant. The verse establishes the premise for God's subsequent declaration of restoration, highlighting the depth of their punishment as a consequence of their actions.
Ezekiel 36 3 Context
Ezekiel 36 is part of Ezekiel’s broader prophecy of restoration for Israel after their exile in Babylon. The preceding chapters detailed God’s judgment against Israel for their sin and the sins of surrounding nations. Chapter 36 specifically addresses the devastation of the land of Israel itself, particularly the mountains of Israel, which are portrayed as objects of derision and ruin. This verse serves as a foundational statement for God's subsequent declaration of judgment on those nations that profited from Israel's downfall and mockery. The historical context is crucial: the Babylonian conquest of Jerusalem and the exile represent the zenith of this desolation and national humiliation. The people of Israel, scattered and oppressed, would have keenly felt the taunts and witnessed their land being occupied by others. This verse vividly captures the dire state of the nation and its land during that period, setting the stage for the glorious promises of renewal that follow.
Ezekiel 36 3 Word Analysis
- Therefore (וְלָכֵן - we lakhen): Indicates a consequence or a result. It signifies that the following prophecy is a direct outcome of the situation described in the preceding verses or implied context.
- prophesy (נָבָא - navi): To speak forth or proclaim; to foretell; to utter under the impulse of divine inspiration. This verb is foundational to Ezekiel's role.
- and say (וְאָמַרְתָּ - we amarata): A command to speak or declare, emphasizing the direct communication of God’s message.
- Thus (כֹּה - koh): "So," "Thus," used to introduce direct speech or a statement of fact.
- says (אָמַר - amar): Present tense, indicating an ongoing or authoritative declaration by God.
- the Sovereign (אֲדֹנָי - Adonai): A divine title, signifying Lord, Master, or Owner, denoting God's supreme authority and dominion.
- LORD (יְהוָה - Yehovah): The personal covenant name of God, emphasizing His faithfulness and relationship with His people.
- Because (יַעַן - ya'an): A particle of causality, introducing the reason for God's word and subsequent actions.
- they have laid you waste (עַל־כֵּן הֵבִיאָה - al-ken hevi’ah): Literally, "for this reason they brought you to ruin." The root relates to bringing about desolation, emptiness, and ruin. This signifies extreme destruction.
- and have devoured you (וַאֲכָלוּךְ - wa’akholukhem): To eat, consume, devour. In this context, it implies exploitation, possession, and appropriation of the land and its resources.
- on every side (מִסָּבִיב - misabiv): From all directions, encompassing the entirety of the land and its people’s experience.
- so that (לְמַעַן - lema‘an): To the end that, in order that, indicating purpose or result.
- you became (הֱיִיתָ - hevi'ta): To be, become. Emphasizes the resultant state of the land.
- an inheritance (נַחֲלָה - nahalah): Property inherited from ancestors. Here, it signifies possession taken by force.
- for the remaining nations (לִשְׁאֵרִית - lish’erit): For the remnant or survivors of the surrounding peoples who then possessed it.
- and an object of gossip (וּלְמִשְׂחָק - w’limsachaq): A laughingstock, derision, mockery. It highlights the shame and ridicule Israel suffered.
- and mockery (וּלְבָאִיר - w’livar): Object of scorn, insult, or proverb. Amplifies the humiliation.
- to everyone (בְּעָצְמַת - b’atzmat): From among the peoples. Literally "in the greatness/strength of the nations."
Word Group Analysis
- Laid you waste and devoured you (עַל־כֵּן הֵבִיאָה ... וַאֲכָלוּךְ): This powerful combination describes total destruction and appropriation. It's not just being conquered but completely stripped bare and consumed by the enemy.
- Inheritance for the remaining nations (נַחֲלָה לִשְׁאֵרִית): This starkly contrasts the intended inheritance of Israel with its reality as a spoil for others, emphasizing the loss of God's covenant blessing and the shame of being disinherited by God's judgment.
- Object of gossip and mockery (לְמִשְׂחָק וּלְבָאִיר): These terms powerfully convey the deep shame and public humiliation experienced by Israel, where their very existence and God's supposed power were questioned by their enemies.
Ezekiel 36 3 Bonus Section
The imagery of the land being laid waste and consumed by foreign nations serves as a physical manifestation of Israel's spiritual brokenness and estrangement from God. The mocking and gossip highlight the enemy's pride and their blasphemous claims against God Himself when His people suffered. This prophecy in Ezekiel 36 serves as a critical turning point, moving from detailed accounts of judgment to the promise of comprehensive redemption and the re-establishment of God’s covenantal relationship with Israel, all to magnify His holy name among the nations. The verse anticipates future prophecies, including those in the New Testament, concerning God's ultimate redemption plan which encompasses both spiritual and national restoration.
Ezekiel 36 3 Commentary
This verse is a direct indictment of Israel’s enemies for their cruel actions following the nation's devastation. It establishes the moral grounds for God's impending intervention and restoration. The language of “laid waste” and “devoured” evokes images of extreme destruction and exploitation. The fact that Israel became an “inheritance” and an “object of gossip and mockery” highlights the profound shame and dishonor brought upon God’s people and, by extension, upon His name. This experience of humiliation serves as the specific catalyst for God's declaration that He will vindicate His own name and restore His people. The focus is on the consequence of sin, leading to desolation and disgrace, but more importantly, on God’s response to that very disgrace. He will turn their shame into glory.