Ezekiel 37:23 kjv
Neither shall they defile themselves any more with their idols, nor with their detestable things, nor with any of their transgressions: but I will save them out of all their dwellingplaces, wherein they have sinned, and will cleanse them: so shall they be my people, and I will be their God.
Ezekiel 37:23 nkjv
They shall not defile themselves anymore with their idols, nor with their detestable things, nor with any of their transgressions; but I will deliver them from all their dwelling places in which they have sinned, and will cleanse them. Then they shall be My people, and I will be their God.
Ezekiel 37:23 niv
They will no longer defile themselves with their idols and vile images or with any of their offenses, for I will save them from all their sinful backsliding, and I will cleanse them. They will be my people, and I will be their God.
Ezekiel 37:23 esv
They shall not defile themselves anymore with their idols and their detestable things, or with any of their transgressions. But I will save them from all the backslidings in which they have sinned, and will cleanse them; and they shall be my people, and I will be their God.
Ezekiel 37:23 nlt
They will never again pollute themselves with their idols and vile images and rebellion, for I will save them from their sinful apostasy. I will cleanse them. Then they will truly be my people, and I will be their God.
Ezekiel 37 23 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Eze 36:25 | I will sprinkle clean water on you... cleanse you... | Cleansing from sin |
| Eze 37:24 | David My servant shall be king over them... | Future Davidic Ruler |
| Isa 43:25 | I, even I, am He who blots out your transgressions... | God as Forgiver |
| Jer 31:34 | For I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more. | Forgiveness and Remembrance |
| Mic 7:19 | He will turn again and have compassion on us... cast all our sins into the depths of the sea. | Divine Compassion and Pardon |
| Zech 13:1 | On that day a fountain shall be opened... for sin and for uncleanness. | Cleansing Fountain |
| Rom 11:26 | And so all Israel will be saved, as it is written... | Future Salvation of Israel |
| 2 Cor 6:16 | ...for you are the temple of the living God. As God has said: | Indwelling of God |
| Eph 2:21-22 | ...in whom the whole structure is joined together, and grows into a holy temple in the Lord. | Temple and Dwelling |
| Heb 8:10-12 | For this is the covenant... I will put My laws into their minds... | New Covenant Promises |
| 1 Pet 2:9-10 | But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood... once you were not a people, but now you are God's people. | God's People |
| Rev 21:3-4 | Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them... | God Dwells with Humanity |
| Jer 30:9 | But they shall serve the LORD their God and David their king... | David as King |
| Isa 11:1-10 | There shall come forth a shoot from the stump of Jesse... | Davidic King Foretold |
| John 10:28-29 | I give them eternal life, and they will never perish... | Eternal Security |
| Acts 1:6 | So when they had come together they asked him, "Lord, will you at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?" | Restoration of Israel |
| Rev 1:7 | Behold, he is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see him... | Second Coming |
| Luke 1:32-33 | He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. And the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over Jacob forever... | Davidic Throne |
| Eze 11:19-20 | I will give them one heart, and a new spirit I will put within them... | New Heart and Spirit |
| Zech 8:8 | I will bring them, and they shall dwell in the midst of Jerusalem. | Dwelling in Jerusalem |
Ezekiel 37 verses
Ezekiel 37 23 Meaning
This verse speaks of God's ultimate redemptive plan for His people, Israel. It highlights the cleansing from all transgressions and iniquities that will usher in a renewed relationship with God. The removal of all idols signifies a complete spiritual purification. This will lead to them becoming God's people again, dwelling permanently in the land of Israel, under the reign of David their king.
Ezekiel 37 23 Context
Chapter 37 of Ezekiel describes a vision of dry bones being revived, symbolizing the restoration of the house of Israel. Following the valley of dry bones vision, God explains its meaning: the bones represent the exiled Israelites. The chapter then foretells their future reunification as a nation, established by God's Spirit. This verse, the concluding statement of the chapter, solidifies the outcome of this promised restoration. It assures the exiles that God will remove their impurities and reaffirm their identity as His people, united under a perpetual Davidic ruler.
Ezekiel 37 23 Word Analysis
- And (וְ - vav): A conjunctive particle, connecting this verse to the preceding promises and setting forth a sequence of events or further implications of the vision.
- My servant (עַבְדִּי - ʿavdî): Refers to David, understood as the quintessential shepherd-king of Israel. This term carries the weight of loyal obedience and divine appointment.
- David (דָּוִד - Dāwîd): Refers specifically to King David. In this future context, it represents the Davidic dynasty and the promised eternal Davidic king.
- prince (נָשִׂיא - nāsîʾ): Literally means "leader," "chief," or "prince." Here it signifies royalty and leadership, specifically one who rules with God's authority.
- over them (לָהֶם - lāhem): Indicates the domain of David's rulership, encompassing the restored nation of Israel.
- all (כֹּל - kol): Emphasizes the totality of those over whom David will reign.
- they (הֵמָּה - hēmmâ): Pronoun referring to the revived people of Israel.
- shall dwell (יָשְׁבוּ - yāshbū): Indicates a settled, permanent dwelling, implying stability and security.
- there (שָׁם - sham): Refers to the land of Israel.
- and (וְ - vav): Connects the act of dwelling in the land with their relationship with David.
- I (אֲנִי - ʾanî): The emphatic first-person pronoun for God, underscoring His direct action.
- will cleanse (וְטִהַרְתִּי - wəṭiherṭî): The Piel infinitive construct of טִהַר (ṭiher), meaning "to cleanse," "purify." This denotes a thorough and complete purification.
- their (אוֹתָם - ʾōtām): Possessive pronoun referring back to the people of Israel.
- iniquity (עֲוֹן - ʿāwōn): Refers to perverseness, guilt, or wrongdoing.
- and (וְ - vav): Connects the cleansing from iniquity to the removal of transgression.
- their (אוֹתָם - ʾōtām): Possessive pronoun referring back to the people of Israel.
- transgression (פֶּשַׁע - pēshaʿ): Refers to rebellion, a violation of covenant, or open defiance.
- all (כֹּל - kol): Denotes the completeness of the forgiveness and cleansing from sin.
Words Group Analysis:The phrase "My servant David" signifies the appointed Messianic King from the lineage of David. "Will cleanse them from all their iniquity and all their transgression" conveys total remission of sin through divine intervention. The joining of "they shall dwell there" with "I will cleanse them" emphasizes that covenant faithfulness and righteous living are intrinsically linked to God's blessing of dwelling in the land.
Ezekiel 37 23 Bonus Section
The prophecy concerning "My servant David" being king is understood by many Christians as fulfilled in Jesus Christ, who is of the lineage of David and reigns as King of kings. The concept of cleansing from "all iniquity and all transgression" is seen as directly fulfilled through Christ's atoning sacrifice on the cross (1 John 1:9). The promise of dwelling in the land and God dwelling with them is also echoed in the New Testament's description of the new heaven and new earth, and believers being the dwelling place of the Holy Spirit (Rev 21:3, 1 Cor 6:19). The perpetuity of David's kingdom connects to the eternal nature of Christ's reign. This verse, therefore, serves as a foundational prophecy pointing to the salvific work of Christ and the ultimate establishment of God's eternal kingdom.
Ezekiel 37 23 Commentary
This verse culminates the prophecies of restoration in Ezekiel 37. It presents a multi-faceted future reality for Israel. First, there's a divinely appointed shepherd-king, David, symbolizing the Messianic lineage and reign. This Davidic ruler will govern them with justice and equity. Second, this restoration includes a comprehensive atonement, where all sin, iniquity, and transgression are purged. This signifies a permanent removal of guilt, not merely a temporary covering. Third, it assures them of dwelling permanently in their promised land. This dwelling is contingent on and enabled by God's purifying work, leading to a pure and obedient people, signifying the establishment of God's kingdom in its fullness on earth.