Keraia
Ezekiel 11

Ezekiel 11:16

A Promise of Restoration · Ezekiel 11:13–21
Read Ezekiel 11

Translations

Modern
Therefore declare that this is what the Lord GOD says: ‘Although I sent them far away among the nations and scattered them among the countries, yet for a little while I have been a sanctuary for them in the countries to which they have gone.’
Traditional
Therefore say, Thus saith the Lord God; Although I have cast them far off among the heathen, and although I have scattered them among the countries, yet will I be to them as a little sanctuary in the countries where they shall come.
Literal
Therefore say, thus says the Lord YHWH: ‘Although I have set them far away among the nations, and although I have scattered them among the lands, I have been for them for a little while a sanctuary in the lands to which they have gone there.’
Latin
Propterea hæc dicit Dominus Deus: Quia longe feci eos in gentibus, et quia dispersi eos in terris: ero eis in sanctificationem modicam in terris ad quas venerunt.

Original

Hebrew
English
Therefore declare that this is what the Lord GOD says: ‘Although I sent them far away among the nations and scattered them among the countries, yet for a little while I have been a sanctuary for them in the countries to which they have gone.’

Notes

Ezekiel 11:15–16

  • Those who stayed in the land thought the exiles were far from the Lord, with no one to protect their family land. Normally, relatives (literally men of your redemption) would have redeemed Ezekiel’s family property if he faced debt or trouble. Since the exiles left as family groups, no one remained in Judah to guard their inherited properties.

  • this land has been given to us as a possession: Those who stayed thought the exiles were under God's judgment and had lost their ancestral lands. The opposite was true. Israel's future was with the distant exiles, as the Lord went with them and would be a sanctuary during their exile (see Ezekiel 11:22–23).

Ezekiel 8:1–11:25

This section describes how the people defiled (made unclean by sin) the temple in Jerusalem (Ezekiel 8). Because of this sin, the Lord left the temple. After he left, the city and the temple were destroyed (9:1–11:13).

At first, this sounds like only bad news. But for those already living in exile, it was also good news. The Lord was not limited to the temple in Jerusalem. He would come to be with his people in exile.

By coming to dwell with them, the Lord showed that the exiles were not forgotten. They were the ones who carried hope for the future of God’s people.

Events

Parallels

Jeremiah 32:36–44

People

LORD: Names or title used to refer to God

Glossary

Ezekiel, Book of Haggai, Book of Priests and Levites

Topics

Afflictions and Adversities: Consolation In Backsliders: Backsliding of Israel Being a Sanctuary Sanctuary: Figurative