Ezekiel 36:1-15
The Lord speaks restoration to Israel's desolated mountains: the nations that mocked will bear their own reproach, but the land of Israel will be fruitful, rebuilt, inhabited, and secured for the Lord's people.
Scripture Text
36:1 You, son of man, prophesy to the mountains of Israel, and say, “You mountains of Israel, hear Yahweh’s word.
36:2 The Lord Yahweh says: ‘Because the enemy has said against You, “Aha!” and, “The ancient high places are ours in possession!” ’
36:3 Therefore prophesy, and say, ‘The Lord Yahweh 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;”
36:4 Therefore, You mountains of Israel, hear the word of the Lord Yahweh: The Lord Yahweh 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;
36:5 Therefore the Lord Yahweh 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.” ’
36:6 Therefore prophesy concerning the land of Israel, and tell the mountains, the hills, the watercourses and the valleys, ‘The Lord Yahweh says: “Behold, I have spoken in my jealousy and in my wrath, because You have borne the shame of the nations.”
36:7 Therefore the Lord Yahweh says: “I have sworn, ‘Surely the nations that are around You will bear their shame.’
36:8 “ ‘ “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.
36:9 For, behold, I am for You, and I will come to You, and You will be tilled and sown.
36:10 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.
36:11 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 Yahweh.
36:12 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.”
36:13 “ ‘The Lord Yahweh says: “Because they say to You, ‘You are a devourer of men, and have been a bereaver of Your nation;’
36:14 Therefore You shall devour men no more, and not bereave Your nation any more,” says the Lord Yahweh.
36:15 “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 Yahweh.’ ”
The Lord speaks restoration to Israel's desolated mountains: the nations that mocked will bear their own reproach, but the land of Israel will be fruitful, rebuilt, inhabited, and secured for the Lord's people.
The mountains of Israel will no longer be the nations' plunder and mockery, because the Lord's jealous zeal for His land and His people will turn desolation into fruitfulness, ridicule into vindication, and empty ruins into inhabited inheritance.
This passage presses God's people to see that desolation, reproach, and public shame are not beyond the Lord's restoring word. It also warns against the cruelty of mocking those under judgment or rebuilding after collapse. Pastoral use should hold together realism about sin and judgment with strong confidence in the Lord's power to rebuild, replant, and vindicate according to His purposes.
- The Mountains Addressed Against the Enemy's Taunt The Lord commands Ezekiel to prophesy to the mountains of Israel. The enemy has said 'Aha' and claimed the ancient heights as possession, and the surrounding nations have ravaged the land, making it the object of malicious talk and slander.
- The Whole Land Summoned to Hear the LORD's Answer The Lord addresses the mountains, hills, ravines, valleys, desolate ruins, and deserted towns. In jealous wrath He speaks against the nations and especially Edom, who took His land as possession with glee and malice. The nations that brought reproach on Israel will themselves bear reproach.
- Fruitfulness and Return Promised to the Mountains The Lord promises that the mountains of Israel will produce branches and fruit for His people because they will soon come home. He declares His favor toward the land, promising plowing, sowing, multiplied people and animals, rebuilt ruins, and prosperity greater than before.
- Inheritance Secured and Reproach Removed The Lord promises that His people Israel will walk upon and possess the land as inheritance. The land will no longer be accused of devouring people or bereaving the nation; it will no longer bear the nations' taunts or make the people fall.
Ezekiel 36:1-15 reveals the holy God who hears reproach, judges malicious contempt, and restores what human sin and enemy hostility have left desolate. The gospel shows the deepest ground of that hope in Christ, who bore reproach, was rejected outside the gate, rose as the firstfruits of new creation, and secures an inheritance that cannot perish. Believers therefore do not read restoration as human entitlement but as mercy flowing from God's zeal, fulfilled in Christ and awaiting the final renewal when creation itself is freed from bondage and God's people dwell securely with Him.