Ezekiel 39 13

Ezekiel 39:13 kjv

Yea, all the people of the land shall bury them; and it shall be to them a renown the day that I shall be glorified, saith the Lord GOD.

Ezekiel 39:13 nkjv

Indeed all the people of the land will be burying, and they will gain renown for it on the day that I am glorified," says the Lord GOD.

Ezekiel 39:13 niv

All the people of the land will bury them, and the day I display my glory will be a memorable day for them, declares the Sovereign LORD.

Ezekiel 39:13 esv

All the people of the land will bury them, and it will bring them renown on the day that I show my glory, declares the Lord GOD.

Ezekiel 39:13 nlt

Everyone in Israel will help, for it will be a glorious victory for Israel when I demonstrate my glory on that day, says the Sovereign LORD.

Ezekiel 39 verses

Ezekiel 39 13 meaning

Ezekiel 39:13 reveals that following the catastrophic defeat of Gog and his hordes, the entire populace of the land of Israel will undertake the massive task of burying the fallen invaders. This monumental effort, driven by the need to purify the defiled land, will paradoxically bring great honor and recognition to the people of Israel. Their diligent execution of this burdensome duty is divinely ordained and timed to coincide with the powerful manifestation of God’s glory, signifying His ultimate triumph and the vindication of His chosen people before all nations.

Ezekiel 39 13 Context

Ezekiel 39:13 is embedded within the detailed prophecy of God's climactic judgment upon Gog, an ultimate enemy representing all hostile nations. Chapters 38 and 39 describe an unprecedented invasion of the land of Israel by Gog and his massive coalition, which God supernaturally annihilates. The preceding verses (Ezek 39:11-12) speak of a specific burial ground ("Valley of Hamon-gog") and a massive, prolonged seven-month period dedicated to burying the dead, necessary to cleanse the land. For the original audience, exiles in Babylon, this prophecy offered immense hope of future vindication, return to the land, and restoration of God's dwelling among them. Culturally, the strict purity laws, particularly concerning contact with dead bodies and defilement of the land (e.g., Numbers 19; Deuteronomy 21:23), made the task of burial both physically demanding and religiously critical for restoring holiness to Israel's sacred land.

Ezekiel 39 13 Word analysis

• Indeed (hāyâ, הָיָה - lit. 'it shall be' or 'it will be'): An emphatic declaration, asserting the certainty and inevitability of the prophecy. It carries the weight of a divine decree that must come to pass.

• all the people (kol-ʿam haʾāreṣ, כָּל־עַם הָאָרֶץ): Refers collectively to the entire community of Israel residing in their land. This signifies a communal, nationwide undertaking, emphasizing the scale of the task and shared responsibility for the land's purity, rather than it being handled by a specialized group.

• of the land: Specifically Israel, the holy land, underscoring the spiritual and physical importance of its cleansing.

• will bury them (qōbrîm ʾôtām, קֹבְרִים אוֹתָם): The act of burial is crucial for both hygiene and religious purity. "Them" refers to the multitude of Gog's fallen soldiers. Proper burial prevents widespread defilement of the land, which, according to Mosaic law, would render it uninhabitable or subject to divine judgment.

• and it will bring them renown (wəhāyāh lāhem ləšēm, וְהָיָה לָהֶם לְשֵׁם):

  • it: Refers to the act of burying.
  • them: The people of Israel.
  • renown (šēm, שֵׁם): This significant Hebrew word means 'name,' 'reputation,' 'fame,' or 'memorial.' Here, the arduous, repulsive task of burial becomes a source of honor for Israel. This renown stems not from their own power, but from being God's agents in purifying the land and witnessing His spectacular judgment. Their participation confirms their status as a people devoted to God's holiness.

• on the day that I show my glory (bəyôm hikābədî, בְּיוֹם הִכָּבְדִּי):

  • day: Refers to a specific, decisive moment of divine intervention and revelation, not necessarily a 24-hour period.
  • I show my glory (hikābədî, הִכָּבְדִּי): This signifies God's self-revelation, a manifestation of His weighty presence, power, and sovereignty (kāḇôd). This glory is demonstrated through the judgment on Gog and the subsequent purification of the land, revealing God's righteousness to Israel and all nations. The burial and Israel's renown are directly tied to and understood in the context of this divine self-disclosure.

• declares the Lord GOD (nĕʾum ʾădonāy YHWH, נְאֻם אֲדֹנָי יְהוִה):

  • declares (nĕʾum, נְאֻם): A formulaic prophetic term asserting the divine origin and unquestionable authority of the preceding statement.
  • the Lord GOD (ʾădonāy YHWH, אֲדֹנָי יְהוִה): A composite divine title, emphasizing God's ultimate sovereignty ('Lord' - Adonai, master) and His covenant faithfulness ('GOD' - YHWH, the personal covenant name). This phrase underlines the certainty of the prophecy and God's absolute control.

• "all the people of the land will bury them": This phrase highlights a national commitment to ceremonial purity. It shows that even a defiling task becomes honorable when done in obedience to God and in response to His holy actions. The phrase subtly emphasizes Israel's return to covenant obedience and their role as a priestly nation, dedicated to maintaining the holiness of their land.

• "it will bring them renown on the day that I show my glory": This pairing links Israel's public honor directly to God's self-vindication. The renown Israel gains isn't for their martial prowess (God defeated Gog), but for their diligence in restoring holiness to the land, an act that points to God's holiness and faithfulness. It reverses the shame of their exile into future glory, directly stemming from God's display of power.

Ezekiel 39 13 Bonus section

The seemingly paradoxical idea that burying vast numbers of dead enemies could bring "renown" (שֵׁם, shem) is crucial. Shem can also imply a "memorial." So, in essence, the very act of burying God's enemies serves as a perpetual memorial to His triumph and power, a memorial established by the people of Israel themselves. This transforms a grim task into an act of worship and testimony to God's justice. The event of burial, despite its unsavory nature, becomes intrinsically linked to God's honor. It implies that in their restored state, Israel will find their true identity and renown not in worldly power, but in being God's agents for holiness, witnessing His ultimate glory. This prophecy was also a stark reminder to the exilic community of God's unbreakable commitment to their future, regardless of their present humiliation.

Ezekiel 39 13 Commentary

Ezekiel 39:13 profoundly illustrates God's meticulous care for the holiness of His land and His people, even in the aftermath of horrific judgment. The command for all the people to engage in the repulsive act of burying the immense number of enemy dead is not merely a practical sanitation measure; it is a sacred act of purification required by the Mosaic law to make the land habitable for God's holy presence once more. What might appear as a dreadful burden for Israel is miraculously transformed into a source of national renown. This honor stems not from Israel's military might, as God Himself annihilated Gog, but from their faithful obedience in executing the clean-up. This obedient action directly coincides with, and thus serves to highlight, God's grand unveiling of His own glory and sovereign power to both Israel and all the watching nations. Thus, the act of burial becomes a liturgical affirmation of God's victory, sanctification, and renewed covenant relationship with His restored people.