Ezekiel 11:20

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

Translations

Modern
…so that they may follow My statutes, keep My ordinances, and practice them. Then they will be My people, and I will be their God.
Traditional
That they may walk in my statutes, and keep mine ordinances, and do them: and they shall be my people, and I will be their God.
Literal
…so that they may walk in My statutes and they may keep My ordinances and may do them; and they will be unto Me for a people, and I will be unto them God.
Latin
…ut in præceptis meis ambulent, et judicia mea custodiant, faciantque ea, et sint mihi in populum, et ego sim eis in Deum.

Original

Hebrew
English
…so that they may follow My statutes, keep My ordinances, and practice them. Then they will be My people, and I will be their God.

Notes

Their transformed hearts and spirits would allow the Lord's people to follow his rules. This would achieve the covenant's goal: people living with God among them. The new heart and spirit promised to God's people have become real (Hebrews 8:8–13). Through the Spirit's outpouring at Pentecost, God's people have become a new creation (2 Corinthians 5:17).

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

Glossary

Ezekiel, Book of Haggai, Book of New Covenant People of God

Topics

Backsliders: Backsliding of Israel Heart: Known to God New Creation in Christ Regeneration: General Scriptures Concerning Repentance: Unclassified Scriptures Relating To