And I will sanctify my great name, which was profaned among the heathen, which ye have profaned in the midst of them; and the heathen shall know that I am the LORD, saith the Lord GOD, when I shall be sanctified in you before their eyes.
EZEKIEL 36:23KJVWhat does Ezekiel 36:23 mean?
Ezekiel 36:23 says that God will make His great name holy again, after it was dishonored among other nations, and that these nations will recognize Him as the LORD when He shows His holiness through His people. The verse shows God’s intention to restore His reputation, not just for Israel’s sake, but so that all nations will know who He truly is.
In this verse, God is speaking through the prophet Ezekiel to the people of Israel, who are in exile because they had dishonored God’s name by their actions. The situation is one where Israel’s failures have led other nations (called “the heathen” here) to disrespect God. God promises to act in a way that will show everyone, including these other nations, that He is truly the LORD.
The Hebrew behind Ezekiel 36:23
- “Sanctify” (קָדַשׁ, qadash): This word means to make holy or set apart. Here, it means God will show His unique, holy character to the world, correcting the disrespect shown to His name.
- “Profaned” (חָלַל, chalal): This word means to treat as common or dishonor. Israel’s actions had caused God’s name to be seen as ordinary or unworthy among other nations, which is a serious matter in the Hebrew Bible.
- “Heathen” (גּוֹי, goy): This word refers to the nations or peoples outside Israel. The focus is on how God’s reputation among all peoples is at stake.
- “LORD” (יְהוָה, YHWH): This is God’s personal name, often rendered as “the LORD.” The verse emphasizes that the nations will recognize the true God, not just a generic deity.
Why Ezekiel 36:23 matters
- Ezekiel 36:23 clarifies that God’s actions to restore Israel are not only for Israel’s benefit, but to show all nations His true character and holiness.
- The verse addresses a misunderstanding: Israel’s exile made it look like God was weak or unfaithful, but God promises to act so His name is honored again.
- This verse sets up the theme for the following verses, where God describes how He will renew and cleanse His people, showing that His reputation is tied to their restoration.