Ezekiel 36

You, son of man, prophesy to the mountains of Israel, and say, “You mountains of Israel, hear the LORD’s word.

The Lord GOD says: ‘Because the enemy has said against you, “Aha!” and, “The ancient high places are ours in possession!”’

therefore prophesy, and say, ‘The Lord GOD says: “Because, even because they have made you desolate, and swallowed you up on every side, that you might be a possession to the residue of the nations, and you are taken up in the lips of talkers, and the evil report of the people;”

therefore, you mountains of Israel, hear the word of the Lord GOD: The Lord GOD says to the mountains and to the hills, to the watercourses and to the valleys, to the desolate wastes and to the cities that are forsaken, which have become a prey and derision to the residue of the nations that are all around;

therefore the Lord GOD says: “Surely in the fire of my jealousy I have spoken against the residue of the nations, and against all Edom, that have appointed my land to themselves for a possession with the joy of all their heart, with despite of soul, to cast it out for a prey.”’

Therefore prophesy concerning the land of Israel, and tell the mountains, the hills, the watercourses and the valleys, ‘The Lord GOD says: “Behold, I have spoken in my jealousy and in my wrath, because you have borne the shame of the nations.”

Therefore the Lord GOD says: “I have sworn, ‘Surely the nations that are around you will bear their shame.’

“‘“But you, mountains of Israel, you shall shoot out your branches and yield your fruit to my people Israel; for they are at hand to come.

For, behold, I am for you, and I will come to you, and you will be tilled and sown.

I will multiply men on you, all the house of Israel, even all of it. The cities will be inhabited and the waste places will be built.

I will multiply man and animal on you. They will increase and be fruitful. I will cause you to be inhabited as you were before, and you will do better than at your beginnings. Then you will know that I am the LORD.

Yes, I will cause men to walk on you, even my people Israel. They will possess you, and you will be their inheritance, and you will never again bereave them of their children.”

“‘The Lord GOD says: “Because they say to you, ‘You are a devourer of men, and have been a bereaver of your nation;’

therefore you shall devour men no more, and not bereave your nation any more,” says the Lord GOD.

“I won’t let you hear the shame of the nations any more. You won’t bear the reproach of the peoples any more, and you won’t cause your nation to stumble any more,” says the Lord GOD.’”

Moreover the LORD’s word came to me, saying,

“Son of man, when the house of Israel lived in their own land, they defiled it by their ways and by their deeds. Their way before me was as the uncleanness of a woman in her impurity.

Therefore I poured out my wrath on them for the blood which they had poured out on the land, and because they had defiled it with their idols.

I scattered them among the nations, and they were dispersed through the countries. I judged them according to their way and according to their deeds.

When they came to the nations where they went, they profaned my holy name, in that men said of them, ‘These are the LORD’s people, and have left his land.’

But I had respect for my holy name, which the house of Israel had profaned among the nations where they went.

“Therefore tell the house of Israel, ‘The Lord GOD says: “I don’t do this for your sake, house of Israel, but for my holy name, which you have profaned among the nations where you went.

I will sanctify my great name, which has been profaned among the nations, which you have profaned among them. Then the nations will know that I am the LORD,” says the Lord GOD, “when I am proven holy in you before their eyes.

“‘“For I will take you from among the nations and gather you out of all the countries, and will bring you into your own land.

I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean. I will cleanse you from all your filthiness and from all your idols.

I will also give you a new heart, and I will put a new spirit within you. I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you a heart of flesh.

I will put my Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes. You will keep my ordinances and do them.

You will dwell in the land that I gave to your fathers. You will be my people, and I will be your God.

I will save you from all your uncleanness. I will call for the grain and will multiply it, and lay no famine on you.

I will multiply the fruit of the tree and the increase of the field, that you may receive no more the reproach of famine among the nations.

“‘“Then you will remember your evil ways, and your deeds that were not good; and you will loathe yourselves in your own sight for your iniquities and for your abominations.

I don’t do this for your sake,” says the Lord GOD. “Let it be known to you. Be ashamed and confounded for your ways, house of Israel.”

“‘The Lord GOD says: “In the day that I cleanse you from all your iniquities, I will cause the cities to be inhabited and the waste places will be built.

The land that was desolate will be tilled instead of being a desolation in the sight of all who passed by.

They will say, ‘This land that was desolate has become like the garden of Eden. The waste, desolate, and ruined cities are fortified and inhabited.’

Then the nations that are left around you will know that I, the LORD, have built the ruined places and planted that which was desolate. I, the LORD, have spoken it, and I will do it.”

“‘The Lord GOD says: “For this, moreover, I will be inquired of by the house of Israel, to do it for them: I will increase them with men like a flock.

As the flock for sacrifice, as the flock of Jerusalem in her appointed feasts, so the waste cities will be filled with flocks of men. Then they will know that I am the LORD.’”

Chapter overviewAI-generated

Overview. This chapter presents a twofold message from the Lord: first, a promise of restoration to the land of Israel, personified as mountains and valleys that will once again flourish; second, a profound spiritual renewal for the people, rooted not in their merit but in God’s commitment to His holy name. The passage moves from judgment on the nations and Edom to the reclamation and repopulation of the land, culminating in an inner transformation wrought by God’s Spirit.

Flow.

The Lord commands Ezekiel to prophesy to the mountains of Israel, assuring them that despite desolation and scorn, they will be restored.
God declares His jealousy toward the nations who gloated over Israel’s ruin, swearing that they will bear shame while Israel is revived.
The focus shifts to the people: their defilement led to exile and profanation of God’s name, but God will act not for their sake but for the sake of His name.
The chapter climaxes with the promise of spiritual renewal—cleansing, a new heart, the indwelling Spirit, and the fulfillment of the covenant: “You will be my people, and I will be your God.”

Connections. Following chapter 35, where God pronounces judgment on Edom for seizing Israel’s land with malicious joy, chapter 36 responds with hope: the land once defiled and divided will be restored. This reversal is not due to Israel’s righteousness but divine faithfulness, a theme that chapter 37 takes up in the vision of the valley of dry bones, where life is given to what was dead. The physical restoration in this chapter sets the stage for the spiritual resurrection that only God can accomplish.

What it teaches. The chapter reveals that God’s saving acts are grounded in His covenant faithfulness and the sanctification of His name (WCF 7.3). The people’s restoration—both to land and to holiness—is entirely His work: He cleanses, renews the heart, and pours out His Spirit so that obedience follows (WCF 13.1, WCF 15.6). The promise of a new heart and His Spirit within His people prefigures the new covenant (HC LD 33), where external judgment gives way to internal transformation, ensuring that they walk in His statutes (; cf. WCF 18.1).

Apply. The land’s renewal and the gift of a new heart are signs that God’s presence restores what sin had shattered, beginning with His own name and extending to His people’s life and land.

AI-generated. Not a substitute for Scripture, your pastor, or the confessions.