Ezekiel 36:34 kjv
And the desolate land shall be tilled, whereas it lay desolate in the sight of all that passed by.
Ezekiel 36:34 nkjv
The desolate land shall be tilled instead of lying desolate in the sight of all who pass by.
Ezekiel 36:34 niv
The desolate land will be cultivated instead of lying desolate in the sight of all who pass through it.
Ezekiel 36:34 esv
And the land that was desolate shall be tilled, instead of being the desolation that it was in the sight of all who passed by.
Ezekiel 36:34 nlt
The fields that used to lie empty and desolate in plain view of everyone will again be farmed.
Ezekiel 36 34 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Ezekiel 36:35 | "They will say, 'This land that was formerly desolate has become like the garden of Eden..." | Direct continuation of the prophecy |
| Jeremiah 31:4 | "Again I will build you, and you shall be rebuilt, O virgin Israel! Again you shall adorn yourself with tambourines..." | Prophecy of Israel’s restoration |
| Isaiah 51:3 | "The Lord will surely comfort Zion and will comfort all her waste places. He will make her wilderness like Eden..." | Isaiah parallels the Eden imagery |
| Isaiah 58:12 | "And your ancient ruins shall be rebuilt; you shall raise up the foundations of many generations..." | Theme of rebuilding ancient ruins |
| Psalm 107:35-41 | "He turns a wilderness into a pool of water, and a dry land into springs of water. And there he settles the hungry..." | God’s restorative power shown |
| Matthew 19:28 | "Jesus said to them, 'Truly, I say to you, in the new world, when the Son of Man sits on his glorious throne, you too will sit on twelve thrones..." | New creation and restoration |
| Revelation 21:1-4 | "Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and first earth had passed away..." | Ultimate restoration and perfection |
| Revelation 22:1-2 | "Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, bright as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb, through the middle of the street..." | Edenic imagery in the New Jerusalem |
| 2 Corinthians 5:17 | "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come." | Spiritual newness through Christ |
| Romans 8:19-22 | "For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God... that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to corruption..." | Creation’s longing for redemption |
| John 1:16 | "For from his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace." | Abundant grace and blessing |
| Zechariah 8:3-5 | "Thus says the Lord: I will return to Zion and will dwell in the midst of Jerusalem, and Jerusalem shall be called the City of Truth..." | God dwelling among His people |
| Isaiah 61:4 | "They shall build up the old ruins; they shall raise up former devastation; they shall repair the ruined cities, devastated for generation after generation." | Specific prophecy of rebuilding |
| Jeremiah 29:11 | "'For I know the plans I have for you,' declares the Lord, 'plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.'" | God's good plans for His people |
| Deuteronomy 30:3 | "then the Lord your God will restore your fortunes and have compassion on you, and he will again gather you from all the peoples..." | Conditional promise of restoration |
| Leviticus 26:13 | "I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, that you should not be their slaves. And I broke the bars of your yoke and made you walk erect." | God as Liberator and Restorer |
| Joel 2:21-22 | "Fear not, O land; rejoice and be glad, for the Lord has done great things! Fear not, you beasts of the field..." | God’s work bringing rejoicing |
| Micah 4:4 | "but they shall sit every man under his vine and under his fig tree, and no one shall make them afraid..." | Peace and security in restored land |
| Amos 9:11-12 | "‘In that day I will raise up the tent of David that is fallen... that they may possess the remnant of Edom and all the nations who are called by my name,’ declares the Lord..." | Davidic kingdom and Gentile inclusion |
| Song of Solomon 4:12 | "You are a garden locked, my sister, my bride, a garden locked and a sealed spring." | Garden as a symbol of exclusivity/beauty |
Ezekiel 36 verses
Ezekiel 36 34 Meaning
The land, once desolate and ruined, will become like the Garden of Eden. It will be inhabited, farmed, and productive. Nations that witness this transformation will know that the Lord has rebuilt the ruined places and restored what was devastated.
Ezekiel 36 34 Context
This verse is part of a larger prophecy concerning the restoration of Israel. Ezekiel has been detailing God’s judgment upon the people and the land for their unfaithfulness. Following the description of judgment, God shifts to a message of hope and renewal. Chapter 36 begins with God purifying His name among the nations because of Israel’s actions. The people of Israel had become a reproach. God then promises to restore the land, which had been laid waste, making it fruitful and populated once more. He declares He will cleanse them, give them a new spirit, and cause them to walk in His statutes. The immediate context leads to this specific verse which highlights the dramatic transformation of the land and the recognition of God’s power by surrounding nations. This restoration is a fulfillment of earlier covenant promises and foreshadows an even greater spiritual restoration.
Ezekiel 36 34 Word Analysis
- And (וְ / wə): A conjunctive particle, linking this clause to the preceding statement about God’s actions in rebuilding and restoring. It signifies sequence and addition.
- it (הוּא / hū’): Refers to the land.
- was (הָיְתָה / hāyəṯâ): Past tense verb, indicating the prior state of the land.
- desolate (שְׁמָמָה / šəmāmâ): Means "desolation," "wasteland," or "barrenness." It vividly describes the land's condition after the conquest and exile, void of inhabitants and cultivation.
- and (וְ / wə): Again, a conjunction linking the previous state to the following state.
- became (הָיְתָה / hāyəṯâ): The same verb as "was," used here to mark the transition into a new state, implying a divine action that causes this change.
- like (כְּ / kə): A preposition indicating resemblance or comparison.
- a garden (גַּן / gan): Represents beauty, fertility, abundance, and pleasantness. It’s a place of delight and life.
- of (or linking toEden)
- Eden (עֵדֶן / ʿēḏen): Specifically references the Garden of Eden, the place of primordial paradise and God’s initial dwelling with humanity in perfection. It symbolizes ultimate beauty and blessing.
- and (וְ / wə): Connects the description of the land to the reaction of the nations.
- ruined places (חָרְבֹת / ḥāroḇōṯ): Plural of ḥarābâ, meaning "ruins," "desolations," or "devastations." It signifies shattered cities, broken walls, and places utterly destroyed.
- and (וְ / wə): Continues the narrative.
- was rebuilt (נִבְנְתָה / nibneṯâ): Passive verb (Niphal stem of bānâ, "to build"). It signifies that the rebuilding is accomplished by an external agent, implicitly God Himself.
- and (וְ / wə): Links the rebuilding to the statement about God’s actions being known.
- and (וְ / wə): Further links the events to the divine recognition.
- nations (גּוֹיִם / gôyim): Refers to the Gentile nations surrounding Israel, and by extension, the wider world.
- who (אֲשֶׁר / ’ăšer): Relative pronoun.
- see (רָאוּ / rā’û): Past tense verb, indicating the act of witnessing the transformation.
- will know (יֵדְעוּ / yēḏəʿû): Future tense verb, meaning "to know," "to recognize," or "to understand." It speaks of the resultant knowledge gained through observation.
- that (כִּי / kî): Introduces the cause or basis of their knowledge.
- I (אֲנִי / ’anî): God, the speaker.
- the Lord (יהוה / YHWH): The personal name of God, emphasizing His covenant faithfulness and power.
- have rebuilt (בָּנִיתִי / bānîṯî): Perfect tense verb, stating a completed action from God's perspective.
- the ruined places (חָרְבוֹת / ḥāroḇōṯ): Plural, referring to the desolate sites.
- and (וְ / wə): Continues the statement about God’s actions.
- have restored (נָטַעְתִּי / nāṭaʿṯî): Perfect tense verb, meaning "to plant." In this context, it carries the sense of establishing, causing to flourish, or making productive again, like planting a garden. It conveys a deeper sense of implantation and revival than merely rebuilding.
Words-Group Analysis:
- "desolate... became like a garden of Eden": This phrase captures the profound transformation from utter destruction to unparalleled beauty and fruitfulness, directly referencing the pre-fall paradise.
- "ruined places... was rebuilt": This highlights the restoration of physical structures and places that had been devastated, emphasizing God's power to overcome ruin.
- "nations... will know that I the Lord have rebuilt...": This links the physical restoration directly to God’s active hand and His covenant faithfulness, leading to the nations’ recognition of His divine identity and power.
Ezekiel 36 34 Bonus Section
This prophecy has multiple layers of fulfillment. Primarily, it points to the post-exilic return of the Jewish people to the land of Judah and the rebuilding of Jerusalem and the temple. However, the imagery of the Garden of Eden and the pervasive transformation goes beyond a mere historical return. Many theologians and scholars view this verse as also pointing towards the Messianic era and the New Covenant, where Christ brings about a spiritual restoration and rebirth for His people, transforming them into "new creations" and leading them into a spiritual paradise (heaven, and eventually the new earth). The imagery of planting ("nôṭaʿti" - I have planted) strongly suggests a purposeful establishment and nurturing of life by God, mirroring His initial planting of humanity in Eden and His future planting of righteousness and peace.
Ezekiel 36 34 Commentary
Ezekiel 36:34 is a pivotal verse announcing a future, dramatic restoration of the land of Israel. The land, which had been described as a desolate wasteland due to sin, is promised to be transformed into a place as beautiful and fruitful as the Garden of Eden. This isn't just about rebuilding structures; it's about recreating an environment of divine presence and flourishing. The nations witnessing this event will be undeniable witnesses to God's sovereign power and faithfulness. They will recognize that it is the Lord, not any human effort or pagan deity, who has accomplished this remarkable feat. This restoration is deeply tied to God’s covenant promises and serves as a powerful testament to His character, demonstrating His ability to bring life out of death, order out of chaos, and beauty out of ruin. It speaks of both a literal physical renewal and a symbolic spiritual re-establishment, anticipating the ultimate renewal described in the New Testament.