Ezekiel 36 4

Ezekiel 36:4 kjv

Therefore, ye mountains of Israel, hear the word of the Lord GOD; Thus saith the Lord GOD to the mountains, and to the hills, to the rivers, and to the valleys, to the desolate wastes, and to the cities that are forsaken, which became a prey and derision to the residue of the heathen that are round about;

Ezekiel 36:4 nkjv

therefore, O mountains of Israel, hear the word of the Lord GOD! Thus says the Lord GOD to the mountains, the hills, the rivers, the valleys, the desolate wastes, and the cities that have been forsaken, which became plunder and mockery to the rest of the nations all around?

Ezekiel 36:4 niv

therefore, mountains of Israel, hear the word of the Sovereign LORD: This is what the Sovereign LORD says to the mountains and hills, to the ravines and valleys, to the desolate ruins and the deserted towns that have been plundered and ridiculed by the rest of the nations around you?

Ezekiel 36:4 esv

therefore, O mountains of Israel, hear the word of the Lord GOD: Thus says the Lord GOD to the mountains and the hills, the ravines and the valleys, the desolate wastes and the deserted cities, which have become a prey and derision to the rest of the nations all around,

Ezekiel 36:4 nlt

Therefore, O mountains of Israel, hear the word of the Sovereign LORD. He speaks to the hills and mountains, ravines and valleys, and to ruined wastes and long-deserted cities that have been destroyed and mocked by the surrounding nations.

Ezekiel 36 verses

Ezekiel 36 4 meaning

Ezekiel 36:4 declares a divine message directed at the physical land of Israel, specifically its mountains, hills, ravines, valleys, desolate wastes, and abandoned cities. This solemn pronouncement, delivered by the Lord God, acknowledges the land's current state of devastation – it has been plundered and has become an object of scorn and mockery to the surrounding nations. It sets the stage for God's impending actions of restoration and vindication, emphasizing the profound depth of its desolation as a precursor to a magnificent reversal.

Ezekiel 36 4 Context

Ezekiel 36:4 is part of a major prophecy of Israel's restoration, delivered during the Babylonian exile. The preceding chapter, Ezekiel 35, condemns Mount Seir (Edom) for its continuous animosity toward Israel, rejoicing in its desolation. Chapter 36 pivots from condemnation of an enemy to consolation for Israel, specifically addressing the land itself. Verses 1-3 describe how the surrounding nations scoffed at Israel's land, claiming it as their own and desecrating it. Verse 4 directly continues this discourse by commanding the physical features of the land to listen to God's word. This chapter, and this verse within it, offers a profound shift from judgment and lament to a vibrant promise of national, spiritual, and physical renewal for the scattered Israelites and their desolated homeland, emphasizing that God acts for the sake of His holy name.

Ezekiel 36 4 Word analysis

• Therefore (לָכֵן, lachen):

  • Significance: Connects the upcoming prophecy of restoration with the previous judgment (against Edom) and the surrounding nations' gloating. It signifies that because of what has transpired (the profaning of God's name through Israel's desolation), God will now act.
  • Polemics: This "therefore" subtly critiques the assumption that Israel's desolation meant God's defeat; instead, it becomes the pivot for His renewed, powerful action.

• mountains (הָרֵי, harey):

  • Significance: Literally refers to the topographical features, but metonymically represents the entire land and its inhabitants. Mountains were significant landmarks and often sacred sites in the ancient Near East, sometimes associated with divine presence or power. Here, it denotes the foundational, prominent elements of the land.

• of Israel (יִשְׂרָאֵל, Yisrael):

  • Significance: Reinforces the specific, chosen identity of the land and people. It underscores that despite their exile, the land still belongs to God's covenant people.

• hear (שִׁמְעוּ, shim'u):

  • Significance: An imperative command, indicating a formal, solemn address. Personifies the land as capable of receiving a divine message, highlighting the cosmic reach of God's word. It also subtly prepares the exiled people to listen, as the land hears on their behalf.

• the word (דְּבַר, devar):

  • Significance: Refers to a divine, authoritative utterance. It is the active, powerful voice of God, carrying intent and performative power to fulfill what it declares.

• of the Lord God (אֲדֹנָי יְהוִה, Adonai YHVH):

  • Significance: A profoundly authoritative title. "Adonai" means "Lord" (my Lord), replacing the sacred tetragrammaton "YHVH," here rendered as "God." It emphasizes God's supreme authority, sovereignty, and covenant faithfulness, especially pertinent given the land's devastated state. It's a declaration from the ultimate authority.

• Thus says (כֹּה אָמַר, koh amar):

  • Significance: A standard prophetic formula introducing a direct divine message. It confirms the authenticity and immutability of the word about to be delivered.

• the Lord God (אֲדֹנָי יְהוִה, Adonai YHVH):

  • Significance: Repetition underscores the divine speaker's unwavering authority and intention, solidifying the message's origin and power.

• to the mountains, to the hills, to the ravines, to the valleys (לֶהָרִים וְלַגְּבָעוֹת לָאֲפִיקִים וְלַגֵּאָיוֹת, l'harim v'la'g'va'ot la'afiqim v'la'g'eayot):

  • Significance: This comprehensive listing highlights the totality of the land. It emphasizes that no part of the land, from the highest peaks to the deepest depressions, is beyond God's notice or outside the scope of His restoration. It reflects the completeness of the prior devastation but also foretells the completeness of future renewal.
  • Original Context: Ancient near-eastern thought often saw mountains as symbolic, even mythical, abodes of gods. Here, Yahweh's word reaches every geographical feature, demonstrating His unparalleled, pervasive dominion over all creation.

• to the desolate wastes (וְלַחֳרָבוֹת הַנִּשָּׁמוֹת, v'la'choravot hanishamot):

  • Significance: Directly refers to the abandoned, uninhabited areas, consequence of judgment and exile. This term emphasizes the sheer destruction and emptiness of the land, affirming the reality of their suffering and the divine punishment that led to it.

• and to the cities that are forsaken (וְלֶעָרִים הַנֶּעֱזָבוֹת, v'la'arim ha'ne'ezavot):

  • Significance: The abandoned cities are potent symbols of the nation's fall. Cities were centers of life, commerce, and culture. Their desertion signifies a complete collapse of civilization and communal life.

• which became plunder (אֲשֶׁר הָיוּ לְבַז, asher hayu l'vaz):

  • Significance: Refers to the confiscation of property and wealth by invading forces. It explicitly details the outcome of military defeat and foreign conquest, underscoring the humiliation and loss endured by Israel.

• and mockery (וּלְקָלָם, ul'qalam):

  • Significance: Emphasizes the derision, shame, and public disgrace Israel experienced. Their suffering was not just physical and material but deeply affected their honor and reputation, particularly concerning their God's apparent inability to protect them. This challenges God's reputation in the eyes of the nations.
  • Polemics: This "mockery" is precisely what God addresses in the ensuing prophecy of restoration. He will act to remove this shame and vindicate His name, proving He is not a defeated deity.

• to the rest of the nations all around (לִשְׁאֵרִית הַגּוֹיִם אֲשֶׁר מִסָּבִיב, li'she'erit ha'goyim asher misaviv):

  • Significance: Identifies the antagonists – the remaining nations bordering Israel, who rejoiced in her downfall and intensified her humiliation. This contextualizes the insult and sets up the need for a divine response that not only restores Israel but also demonstrates God's sovereignty over all nations.

Ezekiel 36 4 Bonus section

The addressing of the "mountains of Israel" is a unique prophetic motif found several times in Ezekiel (Eze 6:3, Eze 33:28). It underscores the deep spiritual connection between the covenant people and their land. For the exiles hearing this message in Babylon, the vivid depiction of their ravaged homeland hearing God's word would have instilled a profound sense of hope. It implied that despite their physical separation and the land's current state, it remained Yahweh's chosen territory and was still under His ultimate care and purview. This prophetic act foreshadows the renewal of the earth itself, as mentioned in the New Testament (Rom 8:19-21), demonstrating God's sovereign intent not just for humanity but for all creation.

Ezekiel 36 4 Commentary

Ezekiel 36:4 acts as a solemn and inclusive address, not to the exiled people directly, but to the very land they yearned for and had left desolate. This personification is highly significant: it means God's word is so potent that even inanimate geographic features are commanded to listen. The meticulous listing of every topographical element – mountains, hills, ravines, valleys, wastes, and abandoned cities – serves to emphasize the utter totality of Israel's devastation, a direct result of their idolatry and unfaithfulness. The land has been systematically plundered and, crucially, subjected to "mockery" by the surrounding nations. This mockery was not merely against Israel, but indirectly against Yahweh, whose name was profaned by the apparent failure of His people and the abandonment of His land. This verse sets the stage for the powerful counter-narrative of restoration. God is not speaking to blame the land, but to announce His redemptive intentions for the land, as a necessary precursor to the restoration of His people and the vindication of His holy name before these same mocking nations. The magnitude of the desolation described here directly correlates with the magnificence of the restoration to follow, a restoration motivated by God's character and commitment, not Israel's merit.