Ezekiel 36 6

Ezekiel 36:6 kjv

Prophesy therefore concerning the land of Israel, and say unto the mountains, and to the hills, to the rivers, and to the valleys, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I have spoken in my jealousy and in my fury, because ye have borne the shame of the heathen:

Ezekiel 36:6 nkjv

"Therefore prophesy concerning the land of Israel, and say to the mountains, the hills, the rivers, and the valleys, 'Thus says the Lord GOD: "Behold, I have spoken in My jealousy and My fury, because you have borne the shame of the nations."

Ezekiel 36:6 niv

Therefore prophesy concerning the land of Israel and say to the mountains and hills, to the ravines and valleys: 'This is what the Sovereign LORD says: I speak in my jealous wrath because you have suffered the scorn of the nations.

Ezekiel 36:6 esv

Therefore prophesy concerning the land of Israel, and say to the mountains and hills, to the ravines and valleys, Thus says the Lord GOD: Behold, I have spoken in my jealous wrath, because you have suffered the reproach of the nations.

Ezekiel 36:6 nlt

"Therefore, prophesy to the hills and mountains, the ravines and valleys of Israel. This is what the Sovereign LORD says: I am furious that you have suffered shame before the surrounding nations.

Ezekiel 36 verses

Ezekiel 36 6 Meaning

This verse describes God's intense anger and displeasure directed at Israel, specifically mentioning his jealousy over their actions, which provoked his wrath against them. The burning anger signifies a strong, active, and consuming displeasure that demands a response.

Ezekiel 36 6 Context

This verse is part of a larger prophecy addressed to the people of Israel who have been scattered among the nations due to their disobedience. Chapter 36 highlights God's judgment on the mountains of Israel, which had been defiled by idolatry and sin. The surrounding context in Ezekiel 36 emphasizes how the nations will recognize God's power and holiness through His actions toward Israel. The immediate preceding verses (Ezekiel 36:1-5) describe God's judgment on the mountains of Israel because of their profanation by surrounding nations and their own idolatrous practices. This verse explains the reason for God's judgment and the impending consequences. It sets the stage for God's subsequent promise of restoration.

Ezekiel 36 6 Word Analysis

• Therefore (וְלָכֵן - wə·lā·ḵēn): Conjunction indicating consequence or result, connecting God's oath to the preceding context of Israel's defilement.
• as I live (חַי־אָנִי - ḥay-’ā·nî): A solemn oath by God himself, asserting the certainty and absolute truth of His declaration. This phrase is used frequently by God in Ezekiel to emphasize the truthfulness and immutability of His words.
• declares (נְאֻם־ - nĕ’um): Speech, utterance, or oracle of the Lord, signifying divine pronouncement.
• the Lord GOD (אֲדֹנָי יְהוָה - ’ă·ḏō·nāy Yĕ·hô·wāh): The sovereign Lord, the covenant God, a combination of divine titles emphasizing God's absolute authority and His personal relationship with His people.
• surely (כִּי־־־אִם - kî···’im): Emphatic particle, affirming the truth of the statement that follows. It reinforces the certainty of God's response.
• because (כִּי־ - kî): Preposition introducing the cause or reason for God's declaration and intended action.
• you have defiled (חִלַּלְתֶּם - ḥil·lal·tēm): Past tense verb, meaning to profane, desecrate, or make common. It refers to Israel's act of rendering something holy as unholy through their actions.
• my holy name (אֶת־שְׁמִי הַקָּדוֹשׁ - ’eṯ-šə·mî· ṯə·qā·ḏō·š): My name, which is inherently holy. Israel's actions had brought shame and contempt upon God's name in the eyes of the nations.
• among (בְּתוֹךְ - bə·ṯō·ḵ): In the midst of, among. This indicates the location where the profanation occurred – within the nations.
• the nations (הַגּוֹיִם - haggō·yîm): The surrounding gentile peoples.
• in which (אֲשֶׁר־ - ’ă·šer): Relative pronoun referring back to the nations.
• you were profaned (חִלַּלְתֶּם־־בָּם - ḥil·lal·tēm···bām): Again, the verb "to defile" or "profane," showing that Israel was also defiled by or among these nations.
• Word-group analysis: The phrase "defiled my holy name" highlights that Israel's sin was not just an offense against God but also a public discredit to God's character and reputation among the nations. The repetition of "profaned" (twice) underscores the seriousness of their transgression and the interconnectedness of their actions and the resulting divine response.

Ezekiel 36 6 Bonus Section

The concept of God's "jealousy" in the Old Testament (Hebrew: qanâ - קָנָה) is vital. It describes God's fierce protective love for His people and His intolerance of anything that usurps the unique relationship He desires with them, particularly idolatry. This jealousy is often contrasted with the "jealousy" or "envy" of humans, which is rooted in insecurity or selfishness. Divine jealousy is a reflection of God's holiness and His commitment to His covenant promises. Ezekiel's emphasis here underscores that the scattering of Israel was not arbitrary but a divinely ordained consequence to demonstrate His holiness to the world, thereby ultimately paving the way for His restoration and renown.

Ezekiel 36 6 Commentary

This verse starkly portrays the divine reaction to Israel's profound spiritual and moral failures. God's jealousy is not a petty emotion but a righteous zeal for His own honor and the sanctity of His covenant. Israel had defiled God's name by their idolatrous practices and covenant unfaithfulness, bringing reproach upon Him in the sight of the surrounding nations. God's response is an oath, "as I live," emphasizing the certainty of His impending judgment. This judgment will be executed in His "fury," indicating the intense and consuming nature of His righteous anger. The verse serves as a crucial justification for the impending destruction and scattering of Israel. It clarifies that their punishment is a direct consequence of their actions and a measure taken to vindicate His own holiness.