And I will multiply upon you man and beast; and they shall increase and bring fruit: and I will settle you after your old estates, and will do better unto you than at your beginnings: and ye shall know that I am the LORD.

EZEKIEL 36:11KJV
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Ezekiel 36:11 (KJV)

What does Ezekiel 36:11 mean?

Ezekiel 36:11 promises that God will restore the people of Israel, making them numerous and prosperous again, even more so than before their troubles. God says He will repopulate the land with people and animals, bring fruitfulness, and settle the people securely, so they will recognize Him as the LORD.

In this verse, God is speaking through the prophet Ezekiel to the Israelites, who have experienced exile and devastation. The message is one of hope and renewal: God will not only return them to their land but will bless them beyond their former state. The verse assures the people that their relationship with God will be restored and deepened as a result of His actions.

The Hebrew behind Ezekiel 36:11

  • "Multiply" (רָבָה, ravah): This word means to increase greatly. Here, it emphasizes not just a return to normal, but a significant growth in both people and livestock, highlighting abundance.
  • "Settle" (יָשַׁב, yashav): This means to dwell or inhabit. God promises to give the people a stable, lasting home, not just a temporary return.
  • "Estates" (קֶדֶם, qedem): Often refers to "former times" or "ancient possessions." The promise is to restore the people to their ancestral lands and privileges, connecting them to their history.
  • "Better" (טוֹב, tov): This word means "good" or "better." God’s restoration is not just a return to the past, but an improvement—He will do even more for them than before.
  • "Know" (יָדַע, yada): This means to know deeply or recognize. The result of God’s blessing will be a renewed awareness and acknowledgment of Him as the LORD (יְהוָה, YHWH).

Why Ezekiel 36:11 matters

  • Ezekiel 36:11 clarifies that God’s restoration is not just about physical return, but about abundance, security, and a renewed relationship with Him.
  • The verse shows that God’s promises look forward, offering hope that surpasses even the best memories of the past.
  • This promise is part of a larger section where God reassures Israel that their future is not defined by past failures, but by His faithfulness and generosity.

Where else these words appear

“estates” Hebrew H6927 · used in 4 verses

  • Psalms 129:6 Let them be as the grass upon the housetops, which withereth afore it groweth up:
  • Isaiah 23:7 Is this your joyous city, whose antiquity is of ancient days? her own feet shall carry her afar off to sojourn.
  • Ezekiel 16:55 When thy sisters, Sodom and her daughters, shall return to their former estate, and Samaria and her daughters shall return to their former estate, then thou and thy daughters shall return to your former estate.

“fruit” Hebrew H6509 · used in 28 verses

  • Genesis 1:22 And God blessed them, saying, Be fruitful, and multiply, and fill the waters in the seas, and let fowl multiply in the earth.
  • Genesis 35:11 And God said unto him, I am God Almighty: be fruitful and multiply; a nation and a company of nations shall be of thee, and kings shall come out of thy loins;
  • Psalms 105:24 And he increased his people greatly; and made them stronger than their enemies.

“better” Hebrew H2895 · used in 33 verses

  • Numbers 10:29 And Moses said unto Hobab, the son of Raguel the Midianite, Moses' father in law, We are journeying unto the place of which the LORD said, I will give it you: come thou with us, and we will do thee good: for the LORD hath spoken good concerning Israel.
  • 1 Samuel 20:12 And Jonathan said unto David, O LORD God of Israel, when I have sounded my father about to morrow any time, or the third day, and, behold, if there be good toward David, and I then send not unto thee, and shew it thee;
  • Esther 7:3 Then Esther the queen answered and said, If I have found favour in thy sight, O king, and if it please the king, let my life be given me at my petition, and my people at my request: