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Ezekiel 36

Ezekiel 36:17

A New Heart and a New Spirit · Ezekiel 36:16–38
Read Ezekiel 36

Translations

Modern
“Son of man, when the people of Israel lived in their land, they defiled it by their own ways and deeds. Their behavior before Me was like the uncleanness of a woman’s impurity.
Traditional
Son of man, when the house of Israel dwelt in their own land, they defiled it by their own way and by their doings: their way was before me as the uncleanness of a removed woman.
Literal
“Son of man, the house of Israel were dwelling in their own land, and they defiled it by their ways and by their deeds; like the uncleanness of a woman’s impurity was their way before My face.
Latin
Fili hominis, domus Israël habitaverunt in humo sua, et polluerunt eam in viis suis et in studiis suis: juxta immunditiam menstruatæ facta est via eorum coram me.

Original

Hebrew
English
“Son of man, when the people of Israel lived in their land, they defiled it by their own ways and deeds. Their behavior before Me was like the uncleanness of a woman’s impurity.

Notes

Ezekiel 36:17

  • Covenant curses came to Israel because the people defiled their land through sinful behavior.

  • A menstrual cloth became polluted by contact with a woman's monthly blood flow. This natural process was not sinful, but it made people ceremonially unclean. Any loss of bodily fluids, like blood, sweat (see study note on Ezekiel 44:17–19), or semen, also caused ceremonial uncleanness (see Leviticus 15).

Ezekiel 36:16–38

  • Ezekiel reminded the people of their guilt and their need for God to change their hearts. In the future, God would cleanse his people.

  • In the Old Testament, objects and people are divided into "clean" and "unclean," "sacred" and "profane" categories (see “Clean, Unclean, and Holy” Theme Note).

    God made Israel clean, but the Gentile nations remained unclean. Israel became unclean due to bloodshed and idolatry, which defiled the land. Because they acted like unclean nations, it was fitting for Israel to be scattered among them as punishment. In the future, God would make them clean so he could dwell among them again. Other nations, seeing his holiness in his people, would know he is the Holy One.

    In the New Testament, God’s redemption through Christ redefines the lines between clean and unclean (see Acts 10:15). The Gentiles are no longer outside of God’s grace. They, too, can receive the Holy Spirit and become clean. Jews and Gentiles together now form the one people of God in Christ.

    Those in Christ Jesus are not only clean but also holy because of his priesthood. Therefore, they can come boldly into God’s presence and experience his grace (Hebrews 12:18–29).

Theme notes and profiles

Sin Enters the World

Events

Parallels

Romans 8:9–11 Galatians 5:16–26

People

Israel: Patriarch, son of Isaac, father of twelve tribes

Glossary

Ezekiel (Person) Ezekiel, Book of

Topics

Menstruation: Figurative Prophecies Concerning Israel: Prophecies Concerning of Blessing and Restoration Sin: The Israelites