Therefore prophesy and say, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Because they have made you desolate, and swallowed you up on every side, that ye might be a possession unto the residue of the heathen, and ye are taken up in the lips of talkers, and are an infamy of the people:

EZEKIEL 36:3KJV
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Ezekiel 36:3 (KJV)

What does Ezekiel 36:3 mean?

Ezekiel 36:3 describes how the land of Israel has been made empty and ruined by its enemies, who have taken it over and spoken badly about it, turning it into a place of shame among other nations. God tells Ezekiel to speak out against those who have done this, explaining that Israel has become a target for gossip and scorn.

In this verse, God is speaking through the prophet Ezekiel to the land of Israel, addressing the suffering and humiliation it has experienced because of foreign nations. The context is that Israel’s land has been invaded and its people scattered, and now other nations are treating it as their own property and talking about it with contempt. This sets up God’s response to the situation in the verses that follow.

The Hebrew behind Ezekiel 36:3

  • "Desolate" (שָׁמֵם, shamem): This word means to be laid waste or ruined. It highlights the severe devastation that has come upon the land, not just a temporary setback but a deep, lasting emptiness.
  • "Possession" (מוֹרָשָׁה, morashah): This word means something inherited or taken over. Here, it shows that the nations have treated Israel’s land as if it now belongs to them, not just as conquerors but as new owners.
  • "Infamy" (דִּבָּה, dibbah): This word means a bad reputation or slander. The verse points out that Israel has become known among the nations for negative reasons, not just for its defeat but as a subject of ongoing disgrace.
  • "Lips of talkers" (שְׂפַת לָשׁוֹן, sefat lashon): This phrase refers to people who gossip or speak maliciously. It underlines that Israel’s troubles are not just physical but also about how others talk about and view the nation.

Why Ezekiel 36:3 matters

  • This verse clarifies that Israel’s suffering is not just about military defeat but also about the deep humiliation and loss of reputation among other nations.
  • It shows that God is aware of both the physical and emotional pain experienced by the land and its people, setting the stage for His promise to restore them.
  • Ezekiel 36:3 connects to the larger message of hope in the chapter, where God promises to reverse this shame and bring renewal, making the land fruitful and respected once again.

Where else these words appear

“possession” Hebrew H4181 · used in 9 verses

  • Exodus 6:8 And I will bring you in unto the land, concerning the which I did swear to give it to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob; and I will give it you for an heritage: I am the LORD.
  • Ezekiel 11:15 Son of man, thy brethren, even thy brethren, the men of thy kindred, and all the house of Israel wholly, are they unto whom the inhabitants of Jerusalem have said, Get you far from the LORD: unto us is this land given in possession.
  • Ezekiel 33:24 Son of man, they that inhabit those wastes of the land of Israel speak, saying, Abraham was one, and he inherited the land: but we are many; the land is given us for inheritance.

“infamy” Hebrew H1681 · used in 9 verses

  • Genesis 37:2 These are the generations of Jacob. Joseph, being seventeen years old, was feeding the flock with his brethren; and the lad was with the sons of Bilhah, and with the sons of Zilpah, his father's wives: and Joseph brought unto his father their evil report.
  • Numbers 14:36 And the men, which Moses sent to search the land, who returned, and made all the congregation to murmur against him, by bringing up a slander upon the land,
  • Proverbs 10:18 He that hideth hatred with lying lips, and he that uttereth a slander, is a fool.

“up” Hebrew H7602 · used in 14 verses

  • Job 5:5 Whose harvest the hungry eateth up, and taketh it even out of the thorns, and the robber swalloweth up their substance.
  • Psalms 56:2 Mine enemies would daily swallow me up: for they be many that fight against me, O thou most High.
  • Isaiah 42:14 I have long time holden my peace; I have been still, and refrained myself: now will I cry like a travailing woman; I will destroy and devour at once.

“residue” Hebrew H7611 · used in 66 verses

  • Genesis 45:7 And God sent me before you to preserve you a posterity in the earth, and to save your lives by a great deliverance.
  • Jeremiah 15:9 She that hath borne seven languisheth: she hath given up the ghost; her sun is gone down while it was yet day: she hath been ashamed and confounded: and the residue of them will I deliver to the sword before their enemies, saith the LORD.
  • Ezekiel 9:8 And it came to pass, while they were slaying them, and I was left, that I fell upon my face, and cried, and said, Ah Lord GOD! wilt thou destroy all the residue of Israel in thy pouring out of thy fury upon Jerusalem?