Ezekiel 36:9 kjv
For, behold, I am for you, and I will turn unto you, and ye shall be tilled and sown:
Ezekiel 36:9 nkjv
For indeed I am for you, and I will turn to you, and you shall be tilled and sown.
Ezekiel 36:9 niv
I am concerned for you and will look on you with favor; you will be plowed and sown,
Ezekiel 36:9 esv
For behold, I am for you, and I will turn to you, and you shall be tilled and sown.
Ezekiel 36:9 nlt
See, I care about you, and I will pay attention to you. Your ground will be plowed and your crops planted.
Ezekiel 36 9 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Ezekiel 36:35 | ...it has become like a garden of Eden... | Fulfills the prophetic description |
| Genesis 2:8 | Now the Lord God had planted a garden in the east, in Eden... | Origin of the "Garden of Eden" concept |
| Genesis 13:10 | ...well watered everywhere—before the Lord destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah—like the garden of the Lord... | Symbol of pristine fertility and divine favor |
| Jeremiah 31:12 | They shall come and sing for joy on the height of Zion... | Links Zion's restoration to joy and abundance |
| Isaiah 51:3 | The Lord will surely comfort Zion; he will comfort all her ruins... | Confirms comfort and rebuilding for Zion/land |
| Isaiah 58:11 | And the Lord will guide you continually and satisfy your desire... | Assurance of God's guidance and provision |
| Joel 2:22 | Do not fear, you animals of the field, for the pastures of the wilder... | Predicts restoration of pastures and abundance |
| Amos 9:13 | “Behold, the days are coming,” declares the Lord, “when the reaper... | Prophecy of agricultural blessing and fruitfulness |
| Micah 4:4 | Each of them will sit under his vine and under his fig tree... | Imagery of peace and prosperity in restored land |
| Psalms 107:34-36 | He turns rivers into a desert... then settles the fatherless there... | God's power to transform desolation into fertility |
| Leviticus 26:3-6 | "If you walk in my statutes and observe my commandments... | Conditional promises of blessing for obedience |
| Deuteronomy 28:3-6 | Blessed shall you be in the city, and blessed shall you be in the field. | Promises of agricultural and communal blessings |
| Joshua 1:8 | ...this Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth... | Emphasizes the importance of God's word for success |
| Matthew 6:33 | But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all... | Principle of seeking God's kingdom for provision |
| John 10:10 | ...I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly. | Jesus' purpose for abundant life |
| Romans 11:15 | For if their rejection was the reconciliation of the world, what... | New Testament perspective on Israel's restoration |
| 2 Corinthians 3:3 | And you show that you are a letter from Christ delivered by us... | Believers as living epistles, reflecting God's work |
| Revelation 21:4 | He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more... | Ultimate renewal and absence of sorrow/death |
| Isaiah 35:1-2 | The wilderness and the desert shall be glad; the desert shall rejoice... | Similar prophetic imagery of wilderness transformed |
| Jeremiah 32:42 | For thus says the Lord: Just as I have brought to this people all... | God's faithfulness to bring good as He brought disaster |
| Ezekiel 34:25-26 | I will make with them a covenant of peace... They shall be a blessing... | Promise of peace and fruitfulness after shepherding |
| Zechariah 8:12 | For there will be the seed of peace. The vine will yield its fruit... | Messianic era prophecies of agricultural prosperity |
Ezekiel 36 verses
Ezekiel 36 9 Meaning
Verse 9 of Ezekiel chapter 36 declares a divine promise concerning the land of Israel. It speaks of the infertility and desolate state of the land becoming like the Garden of Eden, a place of abundant fertility and life. This transformation signifies a restoration from judgment to blessing, a profound re-creation in miniature.
Ezekiel 36 9 Context
Ezekiel chapter 36 deals with the prophecy of the restoration of Israel. After vividly describing the desolation of the land due to its people’s sin and exile (chapters 33-35), God declares His intention to act for His own name's sake and sanctify His people. This verse is part of that grand announcement of future restoration, specifically focusing on the physical renewal of the land. The preceding verses speak of God scattering the nations who defiled His land and replacing them with His own people, the returned exiles. This verse, therefore, announces a radical transformation of the land's condition, moving it from barrenness to lush fertility.
Ezekiel 36 9 Word Analysis
- וְהָיָה (v'hāyāh): "And it shall be." Connects this promise to what preceded, indicating a continuation of God’s plan.
- כְּגַן־עֵדֶן (kə-gan-ʿēden): "like the garden of Eden."
- כְּ (kə): "like," "as." Introduces a simile, comparing the restored land to the epitome of fertile paradise.
- גַן (gan): "garden."
- עֵדֶן (ʿēden): "Eden." Literally "pleasure" or "delight." Eden represents the initial perfect state of creation, characterized by abundance and unhindered divine presence. Its reoccurrence here signifies a return to pristine conditions and blessing.
- וְאֶרֶץ (wə-ʾereṣ): "and the land." Refers to the specific territory of Israel, emphasizing its physical dimension.
- שְׁמָמָה (shə-mā-māh): "desolate," "wasteland," "ruined." Describes the current state of the land due to God's judgment.
- וּשְׁמָמָה (ū-shmə-māh): "and desolate." Reinforces the idea of emptiness and ruin.
- וְנָשַׁמָּה (wə-nā-shā-mah): "and ruined." A verb form emphasizing the state of ruin. The repetition underscores the totality of the land's destruction as a result of sin.
- וּבְצוּרָה (ū-və-tṣu-rāh): "and fortified." The structure implies the land will not remain in its fortified, desolate state. Alternatively, some translations suggest "and rebuilt," which would imply a defensive aspect, but the preceding and subsequent terms point to fertility. The stronger contextual interpretation is against its former state of being fortified in ruin or destruction.
Words-group Analysis:
- The pairing of "desolate" and "ruined" (שְׁמָמָה וּשְׁמָמָה וּבְצוּרָה) creates a powerful image of utter destruction and emptiness, emphasizing the severity of the past judgment upon the land. The land that was once promised to be a land flowing with milk and honey had become a symbol of divine wrath.
- The juxtaposition of this description with "like the garden of Eden" (כְּגַן־עֵדֶן) highlights the miraculous and absolute nature of God's restorative power. It's not just a return to a previous state, but a surpassing of it in terms of a paradisiacal fullness.
Ezekiel 36 9 Bonus Section
The concept of "Eden" carries profound theological weight. It represents God’s ideal for humanity and His creation. The restoration of the land to an "Eden-like" state points towards the ultimate hope of redemption found in Christ, who brings forth new life and a renewed creation. The initial creation in Eden was marred by sin, but God's plan through Christ reverses this, leading to a "new heaven and a new earth" which can be seen as the ultimate fulfillment of this Edenic imagery. This prophecy echoes the divine power demonstrated at creation and foreshadows the resurrection power of Christ.
Ezekiel 36 9 Commentary
This verse is a potent declaration of God's sovereign ability to reverse catastrophic destruction and bring about abundant restoration. The comparison to the Garden of Eden signifies more than just agricultural fertility; it implies a renewal of life, beauty, and a blessed habitation. This was a prophecy given during the exilic period, a message of hope to a people dwelling in the ruins of their homeland, promising that God’s judgment was not final but preparatory for an even greater blessing. The transformation is not earned by human effort but is an act of God's faithfulness for His own glory and the sanctification of His name among the nations. It speaks to the promise of a future where the land, and by extension the people dwelling in it, would again reflect divine presence and blessing.