Ezekiel 36 36

Ezekiel 36:36 kjv

Then the heathen that are left round about you shall know that I the LORD build the ruined places, and plant that that was desolate: I the LORD have spoken it, and I will do it.

Ezekiel 36:36 nkjv

Then the nations which are left all around you shall know that I, the LORD, have rebuilt the ruined places and planted what was desolate. I, the LORD, have spoken it, and I will do it."

Ezekiel 36:36 niv

Then the nations around you that remain will know that I the LORD have rebuilt what was destroyed and have replanted what was desolate. I the LORD have spoken, and I will do it.'

Ezekiel 36:36 esv

Then the nations that are left all around you shall know that I am the LORD; I have rebuilt the ruined places and replanted that which was desolate. I am the LORD; I have spoken, and I will do it.

Ezekiel 36:36 nlt

Then the surrounding nations that survive will know that I, the LORD, have rebuilt the ruins and replanted the wasteland. For I, the LORD, have spoken, and I will do what I say.

Ezekiel 36 verses

Ezekiel 36 36 meaning

Ezekiel 36:36 proclaims that God's forthcoming, miraculous restoration of the desolate land and scattered people of Israel will serve as a undeniable testimony to the surrounding nations. They will observe this rebuilding and replanting, leading them to experientially "know" that it is the Lord Yahweh who is sovereignly acting. The verse culminates in God's emphatic declaration of His faithfulness: He has spoken this promise, and He will indeed bring it to fruition. This divine act of restoration, driven by God's commitment to His name and word, demonstrates His power, truthfulness, and unique ability to reverse desolation.

Ezekiel 36 36 Context

Ezekiel chapter 36 delivers a powerful message of hope and restoration for Israel, coming after chapters detailing judgment and desolation. The historical context is the Babylonian exile, where the people of Judah are dispersed and their land lies waste, a mockery in the eyes of the surrounding pagan nations. These nations have gloated over Israel's downfall and encroached upon their territory, believing their gods had defeated Israel's God.

This chapter primarily outlines God's response to this desolation and disgrace. It's not simply for Israel's sake, but for "my holy name's sake" (Ezek 36:22), which has been profaned among the nations due to Israel's unfaithfulness and subsequent exile. God promises to cleanse Israel, give them a new heart and a new spirit, gather them from exile, and resettle them in their own land (Ezek 36:24-28). He will bless the land with abundant fruitfulness and increase, making it "like the Garden of Eden" (Ezek 36:35). Ezekiel 36:36 is the conclusion of this extensive prophecy of renewal. It underscores the ultimate purpose and impact of this restoration: that the watching nations will be forced to acknowledge the sovereign power and unwavering faithfulness of the Lord, who reverses desolation and fulfills His word. It serves as God's powerful answer to the scorn of the world, demonstrating that His plans cannot be thwarted and His covenant promises endure.

Ezekiel 36 36 Word analysis

• Then (וְיָדְעוּ, wəyādʿû): Though the Hebrew word wəyādʿû starts with 'and they will know', in English translations 'Then' often captures the temporal and consequential flow. It indicates that the nations' knowing is a result, following the preceding actions of restoration described in verses 24-35. It marks a shift from Israel's internal transformation and land's fertility to its external impact.
• the nations (הַגּוֹיִם, ha-gōyim): Refers specifically to the Gentile, non-Israelite peoples surrounding the land of Israel. These were the very nations that observed Israel's destruction, rejoiced in her downfall, and in some cases, actively participated in her subjugation and profaned God's name through Israel's state (Ezek 36:2).
• which are left round about you (הַנּוֹתָרִים סְבִיבֽוֹתֵיכֶם, ha-nôtārim səḇîḇōṯêḵem): Emphasizes those who have been persistent observers and perhaps scoffers during Israel's decline. They have witnessed the desolation first-hand, making their future acknowledgment of God's work all the more significant.
• shall know (יֵדְעוּ, yēdĕʿū): This is more than mere intellectual assent. In Hebrew thought, yada' often implies experiential knowledge, a deep, intimate understanding and recognition gained through observation and event. The nations will experience and thus fully recognize the power and faithfulness of the God of Israel.
• that I the LORD (כִּי אֲנִי יְהוָה, kî ʾăni Yahweh): This is a recurring phrase in Ezekiel, emphasizing God's self-revelation. "I the LORD" (Yahweh Ani) asserts divine identity and sovereign power. The covenant name Yahweh (LORD) signifies His unchanging character and covenant faithfulness, contrasting Him with the impotent deities of the pagan nations.
• have built up (בָּנִיתִי, bānîtî): From the verb banah (to build). Implies substantial, lasting construction and restoration from ruins. This imagery includes the rebuilding of physical cities and infrastructure, but also metaphorically refers to the spiritual and social reconstruction of the nation.
• the ruined places (הַנֶּהֱרָסוֹת, ha-neherāsôt): From haras (to break down, demolish). Refers to the physical ruins of cities, homes, and fortifications left desolate after the invasions and exile. Symbolically, it points to the broken state of the nation.
• and planted (נָטַעְתִּי, nāṭaʿtî): From the verb nata (to plant). This agricultural imagery speaks of cultivation, bringing life and fruitfulness back to barren ground. It suggests establishment, growth, and the reversal of a cursed, unfruitful condition.
• that which was desolate (הַנְּשַׁמָּה, ha-nešammâ): From šamem (to be desolate, laid waste). Refers to the barren, unproductive, and uninhabited state of the land due to war and neglect, a direct consequence of covenant judgment.
• I the LORD (אֲנִי יְהוָה, ʾăni Yahweh): Another emphatic reiteration of divine authorship and authority, mirroring the earlier occurrence for emphasis on God's sovereignty.
• have spoken (דִּבַּרְתִּי, dibbartî): From dabar (to speak). Highlights the divine origin of the prophecy; these are not human ideas but God's proclaimed word and intention. It undergirds the certainty of the promise.
• and will perform it (וַעֲשִׂיתִי, wəʿāśîṯî): From ʿaśa (to do, make, accomplish). This phrase powerfully declares God's commitment to actualize His spoken word. It signifies not just intention, but concrete action and certain fulfillment. This combination ("spoken and will perform") is a definitive statement of God's absolute faithfulness and reliability.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• "Then the nations which are left round about you shall know that I the LORD": This phrase identifies the audience and the core theological lesson. God's mighty acts are designed not only for the benefit of His people but also for the universal acknowledgment of His unique divine identity. The goyim will gain an experiential, undeniable knowledge of Yahweh, distinct from the abstract or false knowledge they held before.
• "have built up the ruined places and planted that which was desolate": This couplet uses two potent verbs of reversal and restoration, "built up" and "planted," and applies them to two complementary descriptions of devastation, "ruined places" and "that which was desolate." It emphasizes the comprehensive and total reversal of judgment through divine intervention, covering both the urban landscape and agricultural fertility.
• "I the LORD have spoken and will perform it": This final statement serves as God's personal, immutable guarantee. It powerfully establishes His character as utterly trustworthy. His word is not idle talk; it carries within itself the power and the commitment to bring about its own fulfillment. This phrase reiterates the "I am Yahweh" theme, associating His identity with His unwavering fidelity to His declared purposes.

Ezekiel 36 36 Bonus section

• The theme of "knowing the Lord" (often "they/you shall know that I am the LORD") is a distinctive signature of the book of Ezekiel, appearing over 70 times. In this verse, the "nations" knowing Yahweh connects directly to this recurring theological motif, emphasizing the evangelistic outcome of God's work in Israel.
• The rebuilding and replanting imagery evokes the original creation and the Garden of Eden motif (as referenced in Ezek 36:35), suggesting a return to a paradisiacal state. This underscores God's power to not only restore but also recreate and elevate beyond the previous state.
• This verse contains both the idea of physical rebuilding (ruined cities) and agricultural prosperity (planted land), showing God's holistic approach to restoration for His people.
• The phrase "I the LORD have spoken and will perform it" is a testament to God's impeccable integrity and trustworthiness. It is a direct fulfillment of Jeremiah 1:12 ("I am watching over my word to perform it") and sets a pattern for understanding all divine prophecies. This establishes the very foundation of hope in God's promises throughout Scripture.
• This future restoration also carries eschatological weight, hinting at a day when the truth of God will be undeniably visible to all, anticipating New Testament fulfillment in Christ and the establishment of His eternal kingdom where Gentiles are also brought in to "know" God.

Ezekiel 36 36 Commentary

Ezekiel 36:36 stands as a profound summary and climax to God's magnificent promises of restoration for Israel. It underscores that God's grand project of revitalizing His people and their land from desolation serves a dual purpose: the immediate blessing of Israel and, crucially, the public revelation of His glory to the surrounding Gentile nations. Having witnessed Israel's suffering and disgrace, the goyim (nations) will now be compelled to acknowledge the power and faithfulness of the one true God, Yahweh. This recognition will not be an intellectual exercise but an experiential "knowing" brought about by the undeniable reality of a rebuilt, replanted, and flourishing Israel.

This verse contains a direct theological polemic against the idolatrous beliefs of the surrounding nations. Their gods were limited, their lands often mirroring the desolation, but Yahweh alone possesses the sovereignty to speak a word of judgment and a word of restoration, carrying both to completion. The repetition of "I the LORD" affirms His singular identity and power. The promise that He "will perform it" solidifies His unswerving commitment, setting Him apart from any earthly power or deity. It reveals that the ultimate goal of history, including periods of judgment and restoration, is the exaltation of God's holy name among all peoples, a foundational theme woven throughout prophetic literature. It signifies that God's plan extends beyond a chosen few; it has cosmic implications for all humanity, manifesting His sovereignty for universal acknowledgment.