Ezekiel 36
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Commentaries
Excerpts gathered from published commentaries to ground the reading.
Prophesy unto the mountains of Israel - This is a part of the preceding prophecy though it chiefly concerns the Jews. In it they are encouraged to expect a glorious restoration, and that none of the evil wishes of their adversaries should take place against them.
Open source ↗ISRAEL AVENGED OF HER FOES, AND RESTORED, FIRST TO INWARD HOLINESS, THEN TO OUTWARD PROSPERITY. (Eze. 36:1-38) mountains of Israel--in contrast to "Mount Seir" of the previous prophecy. They are here personified; Israel's elevation is moral, not merely physical, as Edom's. Her hills are "the everlasting hills" of Jacob's prophecy (Gen 49:26). "The enemy" (Edom, the singled-out representative of all God's foes), with a shout of exultation, "Aha!" had claimed, as the nearest kinsman of Israel (the brother of their father Esau), his vacated inheritance; as much as to say, the so-called "everlasting" inheritance of Israel and of the "hills," which typified the unmoved perpetuity of it (Psa 125:1-2), has come to an end, in spite of the promise of God, and has become "ours" (compare Deu 32:13; Deu 33:15).
Open source ↗Also, thou son of man, prophesy unto the mountains of Israel,.... The land of Judah, which was very mountainous, at least one part of it, called the hill country, Luk 1:39 and now the country being cleared of men through the captivity, and other desolating judgments, there were none but bare mountains to speak unto: or, "prophesy concerning the mountains of Israel" (d); the inhabitants of them, or those that should be restored to them, concerning their future happiness and comfort: some render it, "against the mountains of Israel" (e); but the later prophecies of them are in their favour, and not against them: and say, ye mountains of Israel, hear the word of the Lord; concerning the destruction of their enemies, and concerning the temporal blessings that should be bestowed on them. (d) "de montibus Israelis", Junius & Tremellius, Polanus. (e) "Contra montes Israelis", Vatablus.
Open source ↗The prophet had been ordered to set his face towards the mountains of Israel and prophesy against them, Eze 6:2. Then God was coming forth to contend with his people; but now that God is returning in mercy to them he must speak good words and comfortable words to these mountains, Eze 36:1 and again Eze 36:4. You mountains of Israel, hear the word of the Lord; and what he says to them he says to the hills, to the rivers, to the valleys, to the desolate wastes in the country, and to the cities that are forsaken, Eze 36:4. and again Eze 36:6. The people were gone, some one way and some another; nothing remained there to be spoken to but the places, the mountains and valleys; these the Chaldeans could not carry away with them. The earth abides for ever. Now, to show the mercy God had in reserve for the people, he is to speak of him as having a dormant kindness for the place, which, if the Lord had been pleased for ever to abandon, he would not have called upon to hear the word of the Lord, nor would he as at this time have shown it such things as these. Here is, I. The compassionate notice God takes of the present deplorable condition of the land of Israel. It has become both a prey and a derision to the heathen that are round about, Eze 36:4. 1. It has become a prey to them; and they are all enriched with the plunder of it. When the Chaldeans had conquered them all their neighbours flew to the spoil as to a shipwreck, every one thinking all his own that he could lay his hands on (Eze 36:3): They have made you desolate, and swallowed you up on every side, that you might be a possession to the heathen, to the residue of them, even such as had themselves narrowly escaped the like desolation. No one thought it any crime to strip an Israelite. Turba Romae sequitur fortunam ut s…
Open source ↗36:1-15 The destruction of Edom (ch 35) would prepare the way for the restoration of the mountains of Israel, reversing the devastation threatened in ch 6.
Open source ↗Original language
The Hebrew and Greek words behind this passage, with Strong's numbers — from openscriptures (CC BY-SA).
בֵּן (bên, H1121) — a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative… אָדָם (ʼâdâm, H120) — ruddy i.e. a human being (an individual or the species, mankind, etc.) נָבָא (nâbâʼ, H5012) — to prophesy, i.e. speak (or sing) by inspiration (in prediction or simple discourse) הַר (har, H2022) — a mountain or range of hills (sometimes used figuratively) יִשְׂרָאֵל (Yisrâʼêl, H3478) — Jisrael, a symbolical name of Jacob; also (typically) of his posterity אָמַר (ʼâmar, H559) — to say (used with great latitude) שָׁמַע (shâmaʻ, H8085) — to hear intelligently (often with implication of attention, obedience, etc.; causatively,… דָּבָר (dâbâr, H1697) — a word; by implication, a matter (as spoken of) or thing; adverbially, a cause יְהֹוָה (Yᵉhôvâh, H3068) — Jehovah, Jewish national name of God
Open source ↗אָמַר (ʼâmar, H559) — to say (used with great latitude) אֲדֹנָי (ʼĂdônây, H136) — the Lord (used as a proper name of God only) יְהֹוִה (Yᵉhôvih, H3069) — {YHWH} אֹיֵב (ʼôyêb, H341) — hating; an adversary הֶאָח (heʼâch, H1889) — aha! עוֹלָם (ʻôwlâm, H5769) — properly, concealed, i.e. the vanishing point; generally, time out of mind (past or… בָּמָה (bâmâh, H1116) — an elevation מוֹרָשָׁה (môwrâshâh, H4181) — a possession
Open source ↗נָבָא (nâbâʼ, H5012) — to prophesy, i.e. speak (or sing) by inspiration (in prediction or simple discourse) אָמַר (ʼâmar, H559) — to say (used with great latitude) אֲדֹנָי (ʼĂdônây, H136) — the Lord (used as a proper name of God only) יְהֹוִה (Yᵉhôvih, H3069) — {YHWH} שָׁמֵם (shâmêm, H8074) — to stun (or intransitively, grow numb), i.e. devastate or (figuratively) stupefy (both… שָׁאַף (shâʼaph, H7602) — to inhale eagerly; figuratively, to cover; by implication, to be angry; also to hasten סָבִיב (çâbîyb, H5439) — (as noun) a circle, neighbour, or environs; but chiefly (as adverb, with or without… מוֹרָשָׁה (môwrâshâh, H4181) — a possession שְׁאֵרִית (shᵉʼêrîyth, H7611) — a remainder or residual (surviving, final) portion גּוֹי (gôwy, H1471) — a foreign nation; hence, a Gentile; also (figuratively) a troop of animals, or a flight… עָלָה (ʻâlâh, H5927) — to ascend, intransitively (be high) or actively (mount); used in a great variety of… שָׂפָה (sâphâh, H8193) — the lip (as a natural boundary); by implication, language; by analogy, a margin (of a… לָשׁוֹן (lâshôwn, H3956) — the tongue (of man or animals), used literally (as the instrument of licking, eating, or… דִּבָּה (dibbâh, H1681) — slander
Open source ↗הַר (har, H2022) — a mountain or range of hills (sometimes used figuratively) יִשְׂרָאֵל (Yisrâʼêl, H3478) — Jisrael, a symbolical name of Jacob; also (typically) of his posterity שָׁמַע (shâmaʻ, H8085) — to hear intelligently (often with implication of attention, obedience, etc.; causatively,… דָּבָר (dâbâr, H1697) — a word; by implication, a matter (as spoken of) or thing; adverbially, a cause אֲדֹנָי (ʼĂdônây, H136) — the Lord (used as a proper name of God only) יְהֹוִה (Yᵉhôvih, H3069) — {YHWH} אָמַר (ʼâmar, H559) — to say (used with great latitude) גִּבְעָה (gibʻâh, H1389) — a hillock אָפִיק (ʼâphîyq, H650) — properly, containing, i.e. a tube; also a bed or valley of astream; also a strong thing… גַּיְא (gayʼ, H1516) — a gorge (from its lofty sides; hence, narrow, but not a gully or winter-torrent) שָׁמֵם (shâmêm, H8074) — to stun (or intransitively, grow numb), i.e. devastate or (figuratively) stupefy (both… חׇרְבָּה (chorbâh, H2723) — properly, drought, i.e. (by implication) a desolation עִיר (ʻîyr, H5892) — a city (a place guarded by waking or a watch) in the widest sense (even of a mere… עָזַב (ʻâzab, H5800) — to loosen, i.e. relinquish, permit, etc.
Open source ↗אָמַר (ʼâmar, H559) — to say (used with great latitude) אֲדֹנָי (ʼĂdônây, H136) — the Lord (used as a proper name of God only) יְהֹוִה (Yᵉhôvih, H3069) — {YHWH} אֵשׁ (ʼêsh, H784) — fire (literally or figuratively) קִנְאָה (qinʼâh, H7068) — jealousy or envy דָבַר (dâbar, H1696) — perhaps properly, to arrange; but used figuratively (of words), to speak; rarely (in a… שְׁאֵרִית (shᵉʼêrîyth, H7611) — a remainder or residual (surviving, final) portion גּוֹי (gôwy, H1471) — a foreign nation; hence, a Gentile; also (figuratively) a troop of animals, or a flight… אֱדֹם (ʼĔdôm, H123) — Edom, the elder twin-brother of Jacob; hence the region (Idumaea) occupied by him נָתַן (nâthan, H5414) — to give, used with greatest latitude of application (put, make, etc.) אֶרֶץ (ʼerets, H776) — the earth (at large, or partitively a land) מוֹרָשָׁה (môwrâshâh, H4181) — a possession שִׂמְחָה (simchâh, H8057) — blithesomeness or glee, (religious or festival) לֵבָב (lêbâb, H3824) — the heart (as the most interior organ);
Open source ↗נָבָא (nâbâʼ, H5012) — to prophesy, i.e. speak (or sing) by inspiration (in prediction or simple discourse) אֲדָמָה (ʼădâmâh, H127) — soil (from its general redness) יִשְׂרָאֵל (Yisrâʼêl, H3478) — Jisrael, a symbolical name of Jacob; also (typically) of his posterity אָמַר (ʼâmar, H559) — to say (used with great latitude) הַר (har, H2022) — a mountain or range of hills (sometimes used figuratively) גִּבְעָה (gibʻâh, H1389) — a hillock אָפִיק (ʼâphîyq, H650) — properly, containing, i.e. a tube; also a bed or valley of astream; also a strong thing… גַּיְא (gayʼ, H1516) — a gorge (from its lofty sides; hence, narrow, but not a gully or winter-torrent) אֲדֹנָי (ʼĂdônây, H136) — the Lord (used as a proper name of God only) יְהֹוִה (Yᵉhôvih, H3069) — {YHWH} דָבַר (dâbar, H1696) — perhaps properly, to arrange; but used figuratively (of words), to speak; rarely (in a… קִנְאָה (qinʼâh, H7068) — jealousy or envy חֵמָה (chêmâh, H2534) — heat; figuratively, anger, poison (from its fever) נָשָׂא (nâsâʼ, H5375) — to lift, in a great variety of applications, literal and figurative, absolute and relative
Open source ↗אָמַר (ʼâmar, H559) — to say (used with great latitude) אֲדֹנָי (ʼĂdônây, H136) — the Lord (used as a proper name of God only) יְהֹוִה (Yᵉhôvih, H3069) — {YHWH} נָשָׂא (nâsâʼ, H5375) — to lift, in a great variety of applications, literal and figurative, absolute and relative יָד (yâd, H3027) — a hand (the open one (indicating power, means, direction, etc.), גּוֹי (gôwy, H1471) — a foreign nation; hence, a Gentile; also (figuratively) a troop of animals, or a flight… סָבִיב (çâbîyb, H5439) — (as noun) a circle, neighbour, or environs; but chiefly (as adverb, with or without… כְּלִמָּה (kᵉlimmâh, H3639) — disgrace
Open source ↗הַר (har, H2022) — a mountain or range of hills (sometimes used figuratively) יִשְׂרָאֵל (Yisrâʼêl, H3478) — Jisrael, a symbolical name of Jacob; also (typically) of his posterity נָתַן (nâthan, H5414) — to give, used with greatest latitude of application (put, make, etc.) עָנָף (ʻânâph, H6057) — a twig (as covering the limbs) נָשָׂא (nâsâʼ, H5375) — to lift, in a great variety of applications, literal and figurative, absolute and relative פְּרִי (pᵉrîy, H6529) — fruit (literally or figuratively) עַם (ʻam, H5971) — a people (as a congregated unit); specifically, a tribe (as those of Israel); hence… קָרַב (qârab, H7126) — to approach (causatively, bring near) for whatever purpose בּוֹא (bôwʼ, H935) — to go or come (in a wide variety of applications)
Open source ↗פָּנָה (pânâh, H6437) — to turn; by implication, to face, i.e. appear, look, etc. עָבַד (ʻâbad, H5647) — to work (in any sense); by implication, to serve, till, (causatively) enslave, etc. זָרַע (zâraʻ, H2232) — to sow; figuratively, to disseminate, plant, fructify
Open source ↗רָבָה (râbâh, H7235) — to increase (in whatever respect) אָדָם (ʼâdâm, H120) — ruddy i.e. a human being (an individual or the species, mankind, etc.) בַּיִת (bayith, H1004) — a house (in the greatest variation of applications, especially family, etc.) יִשְׂרָאֵל (Yisrâʼêl, H3478) — Jisrael, a symbolical name of Jacob; also (typically) of his posterity עִיר (ʻîyr, H5892) — a city (a place guarded by waking or a watch) in the widest sense (even of a mere… יָשַׁב (yâshab, H3427) — properly, to sit down (specifically as judge. in ambush, in quiet); by implication, to… חׇרְבָּה (chorbâh, H2723) — properly, drought, i.e. (by implication) a desolation בָּנָה (bânâh, H1129) — to build (literally and figuratively)
Open source ↗רָבָה (râbâh, H7235) — to increase (in whatever respect) אָדָם (ʼâdâm, H120) — ruddy i.e. a human being (an individual or the species, mankind, etc.) בְּהֵמָה (bᵉhêmâh, H929) — properly, a dumb beast; especially any large quadruped or animal (often collective) פָּרָה (pârâh, H6509) — to bear fruit (literally or figuratively) יָשַׁב (yâshab, H3427) — properly, to sit down (specifically as judge. in ambush, in quiet); by implication, to… קַדְמָה (qadmâh, H6927) — priority (in time); also used adverbially (before) טוֹב (ṭôwb, H2895) — to be (transitively, do or make) good (or well) in the widest sense רִאשָׁה (riʼshâh, H7221) — a beginning יָדַע (yâdaʻ, H3045) — to know (properly, to ascertain by seeing); used in a great variety of senses,… יְהֹוָה (Yᵉhôvâh, H3068) — Jehovah, Jewish national name of God
Open source ↗אָדָם (ʼâdâm, H120) — ruddy i.e. a human being (an individual or the species, mankind, etc.) יָלַךְ (yâlak, H3212) — to walk (literally or figuratively); causatively, to carry (in various senses) עַם (ʻam, H5971) — a people (as a congregated unit); specifically, a tribe (as those of Israel); hence… יִשְׂרָאֵל (Yisrâʼêl, H3478) — Jisrael, a symbolical name of Jacob; also (typically) of his posterity יָרַשׁ (yârash, H3423) — to occupy (by driving out previous tenants, and possessing in their place); by… נַחֲלָה (nachălâh, H5159) — properly, something inherited, i.e. (abstractly) occupancy, or (concretely) an heirloom;… יָסַף (yâçaph, H3254) — to add or augment (often adverbial, to continue to do a thing) שָׁכֹל (shâkôl, H7921) — properly, to miscarry, i.e. suffer abortion; by analogy, to bereave (literally or…
Open source ↗אָמַר (ʼâmar, H559) — to say (used with great latitude) אֲדֹנָי (ʼĂdônây, H136) — the Lord (used as a proper name of God only) יְהֹוִה (Yᵉhôvih, H3069) — {YHWH} אָכַל (ʼâkal, H398) — to eat (literally or figuratively) אָדָם (ʼâdâm, H120) — ruddy i.e. a human being (an individual or the species, mankind, etc.) שָׁכֹל (shâkôl, H7921) — properly, to miscarry, i.e. suffer abortion; by analogy, to bereave (literally or… גּוֹי (gôwy, H1471) — a foreign nation; hence, a Gentile; also (figuratively) a troop of animals, or a flight…
Open source ↗אָכַל (ʼâkal, H398) — to eat (literally or figuratively) אָדָם (ʼâdâm, H120) — ruddy i.e. a human being (an individual or the species, mankind, etc.) שָׁכֹל (shâkôl, H7921) — properly, to miscarry, i.e. suffer abortion; by analogy, to bereave (literally or… כָּשַׁל (kâshal, H3782) — to totter or waver (through weakness of the legs, especially the ankle); by implication,… גּוֹי (gôwy, H1471) — a foreign nation; hence, a Gentile; also (figuratively) a troop of animals, or a flight… נְאֻם (nᵉʼum, H5002) — an oracle אֲדֹנָי (ʼĂdônây, H136) — the Lord (used as a proper name of God only) יְהֹוִה (Yᵉhôvih, H3069) — {YHWH}
Open source ↗Cross-references
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O land, land, land, hear the word of the LORD!
I will make them one nation in the land, on the mountains of Israel, and one king will rule over all of them. Then they will no longer be two nations and will never again be divided into two kingdoms.
I will feed them in good pasture, and the lofty mountains of Israel will be their grazing land. There they will lie down in a good grazing land; they will feed in rich pasture on the mountains of Israel.
And He said to me, “Prophesy concerning these bones and tell them, ‘Dry bones, hear the word of the LORD!
But you, O mountains of Israel, will produce branches and bear fruit for My people Israel, for they will soon come home.
I will make the land a desolate waste, and the pride of her strength will come to an end. The mountains of Israel will become desolate, so that no one will pass through.
Say to the forest of the Negev: Hear the word of the LORD! This is what the Lord GOD says: I am about to ignite in you a fire, and it will devour all your trees, both green and dry. The blazing flame will not be quenched, and by it every face from south to north will be scorched.
therefore, O mountains of Israel, hear the word of the Lord GOD. This is what the Lord GOD says to the mountains and hills, to the ravines and valleys, to the desolate ruins and abandoned cities, which have become a spoil and a mockery to the rest of the nations around you.