Neither will I cause men to hear in thee the shame of the heathen any more, neither shalt thou bear the reproach of the people any more, neither shalt thou cause thy nations to fall any more, saith the Lord GOD.

EZEKIEL 36:15KJV
Know the Bible

Ezekiel 36:15 (KJV)

What does Ezekiel 36:15 mean?

Ezekiel 36:15 promises that the people of Israel will no longer suffer the shame, insults, or downfall they experienced among other nations. God declares that Israel will be freed from the disgrace and humiliation that came from being scorned and defeated by surrounding peoples.

In this verse, God is speaking through the prophet Ezekiel to the people of Israel, who have been scattered and humiliated because of their past unfaithfulness. The verse comes in a section where God is promising to restore Israel, both physically and spiritually. The focus here is on ending the cycle of national shame and restoring Israel’s dignity among the nations.

The Hebrew behind Ezekiel 36:15

  • "Shame" (חֶרְפָּה, kherpah): This word means disgrace or humiliation. Its use here highlights how deeply Israel’s reputation had suffered among other nations.
  • "Heathen" and "nations" (גּוֹי, goy): This word refers to non-Israelite peoples or nations. The repetition emphasizes that Israel’s troubles came from being looked down upon by outsiders.
  • "Reproach" (חֶרְפָּה, kherpah): This is the same word as "shame," reinforcing the idea of public disgrace.
  • "Fall" (כָּשַׁל, kashal): This word means to stumble or collapse. God promises that Israel will not cause its people to stumble or fall into ruin again.

Why Ezekiel 36:15 matters

  • This verse clarifies that God’s restoration is not just about physical return to the land, but also about restoring Israel’s honor and reputation among other nations.
  • The verse emphasizes that the cycle of shame and defeat is being decisively broken by God’s action, not by Israel’s own efforts.
  • Ezekiel 36:15 connects to the larger theme in this chapter of God acting for the sake of His name, showing that Israel’s restoration is meant to display God’s faithfulness and power to the world.

Where else these words appear

“shame” Hebrew H3639 · used in 29 verses

  • Job 20:3 I have heard the check of my reproach, and the spirit of my understanding causeth me to answer.
  • Isaiah 30:3 Therefore shall the strength of Pharaoh be your shame, and the trust in the shadow of Egypt your confusion.
  • Ezekiel 16:63 That thou mayest remember, and be confounded, and never open thy mouth any more because of thy shame, when I am pacified toward thee for all that thou hast done, saith the Lord GOD.

“fall” Hebrew H3782 · used in 59 verses

  • Leviticus 26:37 And they shall fall one upon another, as it were before a sword, when none pursueth: and ye shall have no power to stand before your enemies.
  • Isaiah 3:8 For Jerusalem is ruined, and Judah is fallen: because their tongue and their doings are against the LORD, to provoke the eyes of his glory.
  • Jeremiah 46:16 He made many to fall, yea, one fell upon another: and they said, Arise, and let us go again to our own people, and to the land of our nativity, from the oppressing sword.

“reproach” Hebrew H2781 · used in 72 verses

  • Genesis 30:23 And she conceived, and bare a son; and said, God hath taken away my reproach:
  • Psalms 71:13 Let them be confounded and consumed that are adversaries to my soul; let them be covered with reproach and dishonour that seek my hurt.
  • Jeremiah 31:19 Surely after that I was turned, I repented; and after that I was instructed, I smote upon my thigh: I was ashamed, yea, even confounded, because I did bear the reproach of my youth.