Ezekiel 39:27 kjv
When I have brought them again from the people, and gathered them out of their enemies' lands, and am sanctified in them in the sight of many nations;
Ezekiel 39:27 nkjv
When I have brought them back from the peoples and gathered them out of their enemies' lands, and I am hallowed in them in the sight of many nations,
Ezekiel 39:27 niv
When I have brought them back from the nations and have gathered them from the countries of their enemies, I will be proved holy through them in the sight of many nations.
Ezekiel 39:27 esv
when I have brought them back from the peoples and gathered them from their enemies' lands, and through them have vindicated my holiness in the sight of many nations.
Ezekiel 39:27 nlt
When I bring them home from the lands of their enemies, I will display my holiness among them for all the nations to see.
Ezekiel 39 verses
Meaning
Ezekiel 39:27 declares God's solemn promise to supernaturally gather His people, Israel, from their widespread dispersion among various nations and adversarial territories. The ultimate purpose of this dramatic restoration is for God Himself to publicly demonstrate and uphold His perfect holiness in the sight of all the world, thereby vindicating His character and power before a global audience.
Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Eze 36:24 | "For I will take you from the nations and gather you from all the countries and bring you into your own land." | God's promise to regather Israel to their land. |
| Eze 36:23 | "And I will vindicate the holiness of my great name, which has been profaned among the nations..." | God acts to vindicate His name, tied to Israel's restoration. |
| Isa 11:12 | "He will raise a signal for the nations and will assemble the banished of Israel, and gather the dispersed of Judah from the four corners of the earth." | Prophecy of the Messiah gathering scattered Israel. |
| Jer 23:3 | "Then I will gather the remnant of my flock out of all the countries where I have driven them, and I will bring them back to their fold..." | God's promise to gather the scattered flock. |
| Deut 30:3 | "...then the Lord your God will restore your fortunes and have compassion on you, and He will gather you again from all the peoples where the Lord your God has scattered you." | Promise of restoration after scattering. |
| Zec 10:8-9 | "I will whistle for them and gather them in, for I have redeemed them... I will scatter them among the peoples..." | God's initiative in both scattering and gathering. |
| Rom 11:26 | "And in this way all Israel will be saved, as it is written, 'The Deliverer will come from Zion, he will banish ungodliness from Jacob...' " | Future salvation and restoration of all Israel. |
| Isa 49:3 | "...You are My servant, Israel, in whom I will be glorified.”" | Israel's existence is for God's glory/vindication. |
| Isa 60:3 | "And nations shall come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your rising." | Nations witnessing God's work through restored Israel. |
| Eze 28:22 | "Behold, I am against you, O Sidon, and I will manifest my glory in your midst... Then they will know that I am the Lord..." | God manifests His glory/holiness through judgment/restoration. |
| Num 20:13 | "...These are the waters of Meribah, because the people of Israel quarreled with the Lord, and through them he showed his holiness." | God showing His holiness, often through events involving Israel. |
| Lev 10:3 | "This is what the Lord has said: ‘Among those who are near me I will be sanctified, and before all the people I will be glorified.’" | God's demand for holiness from those close to Him, observed publicly. |
| Psa 46:10 | "“Be still, and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!”" | God's universal exaltation and vindication. |
| Joel 3:20-21 | "But Judah shall be inhabited forever, and Jerusalem to all generations. I will avenge their blood..." | Permanent restoration and God's justice displayed. |
| Amos 9:14-15 | "I will restore the fortunes of my people Israel... I will plant them on their own land, and they shall never again be uprooted..." | Irreversible nature of the final restoration. |
| Jer 32:41 | "I will rejoice in doing them good, and I will plant them in this land in faithfulness with all my heart and all my soul." | God's joyful and wholehearted commitment to restoring Israel. |
| Eze 20:41 | "As a pleasing aroma I will accept you, when I bring you out from the peoples and gather you out of the countries where you have been scattered, and I will manifest My holiness among you in the sight of the nations." | Direct parallel phrasing, confirming the purpose of their return. |
| Luke 21:24 | "They will fall by the edge of the sword and be led captive among all nations, and Jerusalem will be trampled underfoot by the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled." | Anticipates a period of dispersion and later gathering. |
| Zeph 3:20 | "At that time I will bring you in, at the time when I gather you together; for I will make you a name and a praise among all the peoples of the earth..." | God makes Israel glorious, public demonstration of His power. |
| Matt 24:31 | "And He will send out His angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather His elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other." | Jesus' promise of final gathering, echoing Old Testament prophecies. |
Context
Ezekiel 39:27 concludes a major prophetic section (chapters 38-39) concerning the dramatic defeat of Gog and his allies, who attack a restored, peaceful Israel. This context emphasizes God's mighty intervention to protect His people, serving as a global witness to His sovereignty. Prior to this, Ezekiel 36 details God's promise to spiritually renew Israel, giving them a new heart and spirit, while chapters 37 and 38 elaborate on their physical re-gathering and then the Gog-Magog conflict. The verse stands as a summary statement, clarifying that God's actions in both restoring Israel and defeating their enemies are ultimately for the public vindication of His holy Name. It speaks to both historical returns from exile (like Babylon) and a climactic future regathering leading to Israel's national salvation and global recognition of God.
Word analysis
- When I have brought them back: Hebrew
Ha·shiy·bi(הֲשׁוּבִי), from the rootshuv(שוב), meaning to turn, return, restore, bring back. This emphasizes God's sovereign initiative in reversing Israel's fortunes and actively orchestrating their return, not merely their choice. It signifies a divine reversal of their scattered state, reflecting God's faithfulness despite Israel's disobedience. - from the peoples: Hebrew
min ha·'a·mim(מִן הָעַמִּים).Amim(עַמִּים) refers to various nations or ethnic groups. This highlights the global and widespread nature of Israel's dispersion across numerous foreign lands. - and have gathered them: Hebrew
u·qi·batz·ti(וְקִבַּצְתִּי), from the rootqabats(קָבַץ), meaning to collect, assemble, gather together. It reinforces the idea of God actively bringing dispersed elements into unity. This signifies a comprehensive re-assembly, often used in prophecies of national restoration. - from their enemies’ lands,: Hebrew
mei·'ar·tzot oy·be(מֵאַרְצוֹת אוֹיְבֵיהֶם).Oyvei(אוֹיְבֵי) means "enemies." This clarifies that their dispersion was often into hostile territories where they faced oppression, emphasizing the difficulty and divine power required for such a return. It signifies release from bondage and adversary control, indicating God's power over oppressive nations. - and through them: This phrase signifies Israel as the means or instrument through which God's holiness is demonstrated, even though God is the ultimate actor. It highlights God's intentional use of His covenant people to fulfill His redemptive purposes and reveal His glory.
- have vindicated my holiness: Hebrew
wĕniqḏaš·tî(וְנִקְדַּשְׁתִּי), from the rootqadash(קָדַשׁ), to be holy, set apart. The Niphal stem (niqdashti) implies a reflexive or passive meaning: "I will be sanctified," or "I will show myself holy," or "My holiness will be acknowledged/vindicated." After Israel’s apostasy caused His name to be profaned (Eze 36:20-23), God’s restoration proves His power, faithfulness, and utter distinctness, thereby clearing His name and affirming His character. It's not that God needs vindication, but that His actions remove any doubt from observers regarding His true nature. - in the sight of many nations.: Hebrew
le·'ei·ney go·yim rab·bim(לְעֵינֵי גּוֹיִם רַבִּים).Le'einameans "to the eyes of" or "in the sight of."Goyimare nations/Gentiles,rabbimmeans "many." This specifies the audience for this divine demonstration. The purpose of Israel's restoration is a global spectacle, publicly testifying to God's holiness and power. It counters any gentile perception that God was unable to protect His people or was not faithful to His promises. - "When I have brought them back from the peoples and have gathered them from their enemies’ lands": This phrase encapsulates God's sovereign and irresistible act of reversal and restoration for Israel. It underscores both the extensive dispersion ("from the peoples") and the hostile nature of their scattering ("from their enemies’ lands"), emphasizing the magnitude of God's redemptive power required to overcome these conditions. It's a dual action of gathering, promising comprehensive reunification from diverse and adverse contexts.
- "and through them have vindicated my holiness in the sight of many nations.": This second phrase clarifies the ultimate, theological purpose behind the physical regathering. It highlights that God's honor and character (His
holiness) are paramount. Israel's restoration is not solely for their own comfort but serves as a global, undeniable proof of God's power, faithfulness, and uniqueness. It implies God's great reputation, once seemingly compromised by Israel's exile, is gloriously restored through His redemptive acts on their behalf. The phrase signifies a dramatic public display, setting Him apart as the one true God for all the world to see.
Commentary
Ezekiel 39:27 serves as a powerful declaration of God's purpose behind the restoration of Israel. Following the climactic defeat of Gog, this verse brings focus to the spiritual implications of God's physical interventions. The scattering of Israel among the nations had seemingly discredited God's power and faithfulness in the eyes of the Gentiles, causing His name to be profaned. However, this verse states that God Himself will undertake the momentous task of regathering His people from their vast dispersion, specifically from the lands of their enemies. This comprehensive act of bringing them home will serve as a visible and undeniable testimony to the world. It is through this spectacular vindication and demonstration of His covenant faithfulness that God's perfect and separate holiness will be profoundly manifested and acknowledged by all nations. This divine intervention establishes God's glory and distinctness, affirming His identity as the sovereign Lord of all. The verse points to the profound theological truth that God acts ultimately for the sake of His own name and glory, showcasing His redemptive power through His covenant people, Israel, on a global stage.
Bonus section
This verse encapsulates a crucial theme throughout Ezekiel: the vindication of God's Name. God's holiness, His transcendent separateness and absolute perfection, is often at stake when His covenant people stray or suffer. The restoration and regathering of Israel are not simply acts of mercy but are fundamental to God's self-revelation to a world that has misinterpreted His sovereignty due to Israel's disobedience and subsequent dispersion. The defeat of Gog and Magog (Eze 38-39) acts as a magnificent prelude, showcasing God's protective power, directly setting the stage for the peaceful and permanent dwelling of Israel, which in turn leads to this grand vindication. This points to the final, end-time gathering of Israel before their full spiritual restoration, indicating a sequence where the physical precedes the ultimate spiritual and global impact.