The Departure of God's Glory and Promise of Restoration
Ezekiel 11:16-25
Eze.11.16 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- לכן: ADV
- אמר: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- כה: ADV
- אמר: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- אדני: NOUN,m,sg,abs,1,sg
- יהוה: NOUN,prop,m,sg,abs
- כי: CONJ
- הרחקתים: VERB,hiph,perf,1,sg
- בגוים: PREP+NOUN,m,pl,abs
- וכי: CONJ
- הפיצותים: VERB,hiph,perf,1,sg
- בארצות: PREP+NOUN,f,pl,abs
- ואהי: VERB,qal,impf,1,sg
- להם: PREP+PRON,3,m,pl
- למקדש: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,abs
- מעט: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- בארצות: PREP+NOUN,f,pl,abs
- אשר: PRON,rel
- באו: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,pl
- שם: ADV
Parallels
- Ezekiel 11:17 (structural): Immediate continuation: after saying he has been a 'little sanctuary' to exiles, God promises to gather them from the nations and restore them to the land—directly linked message of presence and future regathering.
- Ezekiel 37:27 (thematic): Speaks of God's abiding presence with Israel ('my dwelling place shall be with them'), echoing the theme that God is (and will be) a sanctuary for his scattered people.
- Leviticus 26:11-12 (verbal): Promise that God will 'set my dwelling among you' and walk among Israel—parallels the language and idea of God as a sanctuary/presence among his people.
- Deuteronomy 4:27-31 (thematic): Warns of scattering among the nations but holds out that when they seek the LORD in exile he will not abandon them—connects exile/scattering with God's continuing relationship and eventual restoration.
- Jeremiah 29:10-14 (thematic): God’s promise to bring the exiles back and to be found by them in the nations (and to restore them) parallels Ezekiel’s assurance that God remains a presence for those dispersed and will gather them.
Alternative generated candidates
- Therefore thus says the LORD GOD: Because I sent them far among the nations and scattered them among the lands, I have been to them a little sanctuary in the countries where they went.
- Therefore thus says the LORD GOD: Because I sent them far among the nations and scattered them through the lands, and I have been to them a little sanctuary in the countries where they came,
Eze.11.17 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- לכן: ADV
- אמר: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- כה: ADV
- אמר: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- אדני: NOUN,m,sg,abs,1,sg
- יהוה: NOUN,prop,m,sg,abs
- וקבצתי: VERB,qal,perf,1,_,sg
- אתכם: PRT+PRON,2,m,pl
- מן: PREP
- העמים: NOUN,m,pl,def
- ואספתי: VERB,qal,perf,1,_,sg
- אתכם: PRT+PRON,2,m,pl
- מן: PREP
- הארצות: NOUN,f,pl,def
- אשר: PRON,rel
- נפצותם: VERB,qal,perf,2,mp
- בהם: PREP+PRON,3,m,pl
- ונתתי: VERB,qal,perf,1,_,sg
- לכם: PREP,2,m,pl
- את: PRT,acc
- אדמת: NOUN,f,sg,cons
- ישראל: NOUN,m,sg,abs
Parallels
- Ezekiel 36:24 (verbal): Uses nearly identical language: God will take/gather Israel from the nations and bring them into the land of Israel — a repeated promise of restoration within Ezekiel.
- Ezekiel 37:21-22 (verbal): Repeats the promise to gather the people from the nations and bring them into their own land, adding the theme of uniting Israel into one nation under one king.
- Isaiah 11:12 (thematic): Speaks of gathering the dispersed of Israel from the four corners of the earth — a parallel theme of divine regathering of the exiles.
- Jeremiah 31:8-10 (verbal): God promises to bring Israel back from the nations and gather them from the ends of the earth into their own land, echoing the restoration language of Ezekiel 11:17.
- Amos 9:14-15 (thematic): Promises Israel will be brought back, rebuilt, and planted in their own land, so they will no longer be uprooted — a covenantal restoration theme similar to Ezekiel 11:17.
Alternative generated candidates
- Therefore thus says the LORD GOD: I will gather you from the nations and assemble you from the lands where you were scattered, and I will give you the land of Israel.
- Therefore thus says the LORD GOD: I will gather you from the nations and assemble you from the lands where you have been scattered, and I will give you the land of Israel.
Eze.11.18 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ובאו: VERB,qal,imp,2,mp
- שמה: ADV
- והסירו: VERB,qal,imp,2,pl
- את: PRT,acc
- כל: DET
- שקוציה: NOUN,f,pl,abs+PRON,3,f,sg
- ואת: CONJ
- כל: DET
- תועבותיה: NOUN,f,pl,abs+PRON,3,f,sg
- ממנה: PREP+PRON,3,f,sg
Parallels
- Ezekiel 36:25 (verbal): God promises to cleanse the people: "I will sprinkle clean water... and from all your idols will I cleanse you" — closely parallels removal of 'detestable things' and idols in Ezek. 11:18.
- Ezekiel 37:23 (verbal): Speaks of making Israel one nation and that they 'shall no more defile themselves with their idols, nor with their detestable things'—same language and theme of removing abominations.
- Deuteronomy 7:5 (thematic): The command to break down altars, smash pillars and cut down sacred poles—earlier legal instruction to remove foreign/abominable worship that underlies Ezekiel's promise to remove detestable things.
- 2 Kings 23:4-7 (structural): Account of King Josiah cleansing the temple and removing idolatrous objects and practices — a historical parallel of physically taking away abominations from the sanctuary/city.
- Isaiah 52:11 (thematic): Call to 'depart, depart... touch no unclean thing' when leaving exile — echoes the theme of separation from uncleanness/abominations as people return and are purified.
Alternative generated candidates
- When they come there, they shall remove from it all its detestable things and all its abominations.
- There you shall come, and you shall remove from it every detestable thing and every abomination.
Eze.11.19 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ונתתי: VERB,qal,perf,1,_,sg
- להם: PREP+PRON,3,m,pl
- לב: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- אחד: NUM,card,m,sg
- ורוח: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- חדשה: ADJ,f,sg,abs
- אתן: VERB,qal,impf,1,sg
- בקרבכם: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,const+PRON,2,pl,m
- והסרתי: VERB,qal,perf,1,m,sg
- לב: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- האבן: NOUN,f,sg,def
- מבשרם: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,abs+PRSFX,3,m,pl
- ונתתי: VERB,qal,perf,1,_,sg
- להם: PREP+PRON,3,m,pl
- לב: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- בשר: NOUN,m,sg,abs
Parallels
- Ezekiel 36:26 (verbal): Nearly identical promise within the same book: God will give a new heart and spirit, remove the heart of stone and give a heart of flesh.
- Psalm 51:10 (verbal): David's prayer—'Create in me a clean heart... and renew a right spirit within me'—echoes the language and theme of inner renewal and a renewed spirit.
- Jeremiah 31:33 (thematic): Promises covenantal renewal with God's law written on the heart; shares the theme of internal transformation rather than external change.
- Hebrews 8:10 (quotation): New Testament citation of Jeremiah 31:33 (the law written on hearts) applying the inner-covenant motif that parallels Ezekiel's promise of a new heart and spirit.
- 2 Corinthians 3:3 (thematic): Describes God's work as written 'not with ink but with the Spirit' on hearts, emphasizing inward spiritual transformation in continuity with Ezekiel's vision.
Alternative generated candidates
- I will give them one heart, and I will put a new spirit within you; I will remove the heart of stone from their flesh and give them a heart of flesh.
- And I will give you one heart, and I will put a new spirit within you; I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh.
Eze.11.20 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- למען: PREP
- בחקתי: PREP+NOUN,f,sg,abs,1cs
- ילכו: VERB,qal,impf,3,m,pl
- ואת: CONJ
- משפטי: NOUN,m,sg,abs,1cs
- ישמרו: VERB,qal,impf,3,m,pl
- ועשו: VERB,qal,impv,2,pl
- אתם: PRON,2,m,pl
- והיו: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,pl
- לי: PREP+PRON,1,sg
- לעם: PREP
- ואני: PRON,1,sg
- אהיה: VERB,qal,impf,1,_,sg
- להם: PREP+PRON,3,m,pl
- לאלהים: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,abs
Parallels
- Leviticus 26:12 (verbal): Promises covenant presence and relationship language similar to Ezek.11:20 — 'I will walk among you, and I will be your God, and ye shall be my people,' linking divine presence with obedience.
- Ezekiel 36:28 (verbal): Repeats the exact formula 'and they shall be my people, and I will be their God' in the prophet's restoration oracle, reinforcing the same covenantal outcome tied to repentance and obedience.
- Ezekiel 37:27 (thematic): In the vision of restoration the text links God's abiding presence ('my habitation also shall be with them') with the covenantal clause 'I will be their God, and they shall be my people,' echoing Ezek.11:20's promise.
- Jeremiah 31:33 (thematic): Promises a new covenant where God's law is internalized ('I will put my law in their inward parts...'), followed by the pledge 'I will be their God, and they shall be my people,' connecting inward obedience with the divine relationship.
- Exodus 6:7 (allusion): Early covenant promise: 'I will take you to me for a people, and I will be to you a God,' which serves as a foundational proclamation of the God–people relationship echoed in Ezek.11:20.
Alternative generated candidates
- So that they may walk in my statutes and keep my judgments and do them; they shall be my people, and I will be their God.
- That you may walk in my statutes and keep my ordinances and do them; then you shall be my people, and I will be your God.
Eze.11.21 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ואל: CONJ+PREP
- לב: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- שקוציהם: NOUN,m,pl,cons+3mp
- ותועבותיהם: CONJ+NOUN,f,pl,abs,3mp
- לבם: NOUN,m,sg,poss
- הלך: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- דרכם: NOUN,f,sg,abs+3,m,pl
- בראשם: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,suf3mp
- נתתי: VERB,qal,perf,1,_,sg
- נאם: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- אדני: NOUN,m,sg,abs,1,sg
- יהוה: NOUN,prop,m,sg,abs
Parallels
- Ezekiel 11:19-20 (structural): Immediate context: promise to give a new heart and spirit so they may know the LORD — verse 21 follows by declaring their past abominations will rest on them and they will know the LORD.
- Ezekiel 16:43-50 (thematic): God confronts Israel's prostitution/abominations and announces judgment so that their shameful deeds become the cause of their downfall (the theme of abominations bringing ruin).
- Psalm 7:16 (verbal): Uses similar imagery of a person's wickedness returning on his own head (‘his mischief shall return upon his own head’), echoing the idea of retributive return of abominations upon the doer.
- Proverbs 26:27 (thematic): Proverbial expression of poetic retribution — those who set traps for others fall into them themselves, paralleling the motif that evil deeds rebound on the perpetrator.
- Hosea 8:7 (thematic): States the principle of sowing and reaping (‘they sow the wind and reap the whirlwind’), a prophetic summary of consequences for covenant unfaithfulness like the abominations Ezekiel condemns.
Alternative generated candidates
- But their hearts went after their detestable things and their abominations; I will bring their way upon their heads, declares the LORD GOD.
- And I will put away from them the stain of their detestable things and their abominations; their wandering after those things I will no longer remember—declares the LORD GOD.
Eze.11.22 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- וישאו: VERB,qal,impf,3,m,pl
- הכרובים: NOUN,m,pl,def
- את: PRT,acc
- כנפיהם: NOUN,m,pl,suff
- והאופנים: CONJ+NOUN,m,pl,def
- לעמתם: PREP+PRON,3,m,pl
- וכבוד: CONJ+NOUN,m,sg,abs
- אלהי: NOUN,m,sg,cons
- ישראל: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- עליהם: PREP,3,m,pl
- מלמעלה: ADV
Parallels
- Ezekiel 10:18-19 (verbal): Near-duplicate wording: the cherubim lift their wings, the wheels are beside them, and the glory of the LORD is above them as it departs the temple.
- Ezekiel 1:19-28 (verbal): Earlier vision using the same imagery of living creatures, wheels accompanying them, and the divine glory above — foundational language for Ezekiel's visions.
- Ezekiel 11:23 (structural): Immediate continuation: the Spirit lifts Ezekiel and the glory of the LORD rises from the city and stands on the east mountain, showing the movement and new location of the glory.
- Ezekiel 43:1-5 (thematic): Later vision of the glory of the LORD returning to the temple; thematically contrasts with Ezekiel's account of the glory departing in chapters 10–11.
- Isaiah 6:1-4 (thematic): Prophetic throne-room vision featuring heavenly attendants around God and the overwhelming presence/glory of the Lord — similar cultic-cosmic throne imagery.
Alternative generated candidates
- The cherubim lifted up their wings, and the wheels beside them; and the glory of the God of Israel was above them.
- Then the cherubim lifted up their wings, and the wheels beside them; and the glory of the God of Israel was above them.
Eze.11.23 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ויעל: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- כבוד: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- יהוה: NOUN,prop,m,sg,abs
- מעל: PREP
- תוך: PREP
- העיר: NOUN,f,sg,def
- ויעמד: VERB,qal,wayyiqtol,3,m,sg
- על: PREP
- ההר: NOUN,m,sg,def
- אשר: PRON,rel
- מקדם: PREP
- לעיר: PREP+NOUN,f,sg,abs
Parallels
- Ezekiel 10:18-19 (verbal): Explicitly describes the glory of the LORD departing from the house/threshold and standing over the cherubim—very similar language and movement as in 11:23.
- Ezekiel 10:22-23 (structural): Cherubim lift up and move to the east gate with the glory above them—parallels the eastward relocation of God's glory in 11:23.
- Ezekiel 11:22 (verbal): The immediate context: the cherubim lift their wings and the glory is above them; 11:23 continues this motion as the glory rises and stands on the mountain east of the city.
- Ezekiel 43:1-5 (thematic): A later vision where the glory of the God of Israel comes from the east to the temple—serves as a theological reversal or fulfillment of the earlier departure in 11:23.
- 1 Kings 8:10-11 (thematic): Solomon's account of the glory filling the temple contrasts with Ezekiel’s motif of the divine glory departing the temple/city, highlighting presence versus withdrawal.
Alternative generated candidates
- The glory of the LORD went up from the midst of the city and stood on the mountain east of the city.
- And the glory of the LORD rose up from the midst of the city and stood upon the mountain east of the city.
Eze.11.24 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ורוח: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- נשאתני: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- ותביאני: CONJ+VERB,hip,impf,3,f,sg+OBJ,1,sg
- כשדימה: CONJ+VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- אל: NEG
- הגולה: NOUN,f,sg,def
- במראה: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,abs
- ברוח: PREP+NOUN,f,sg,abs
- אלהים: NOUN,m,pl,abs
- ויעל: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- מעלי: PREP+PRON,3,m,sg
- המראה: NOUN,m,sg,def
- אשר: PRON,rel
- ראיתי: VERB,qal,perf,1,_,sg
Parallels
- Ezekiel 3:12-14 (verbal): Same language and motif: the Spirit 'took/lifted' the prophet and bore him off—both passages describe the Spirit transporting Ezekiel in vision.
- Ezekiel 37:1 (thematic): Another Ezekiel scene where 'the hand/Spirit of the Lord' carries the prophet into a vivid vision (the valley of dry bones); shares the theme of Spirit-transport into revelation.
- Acts 8:39 (verbal): New Testament parallel: 'the Spirit of the Lord caught away Philip'—an almost identical verbal motif of the Spirit suddenly carrying someone away after a visionary/missionary encounter.
- Revelation 4:2 (structural): John 'was in the Spirit' and immediately transported into a heavenly vision; mirrors the structural motif of being transported by the Spirit into a visionary scene.
Alternative generated candidates
- The Spirit lifted me up and brought me in a vision by the Spirit of God to the exiles; and the vision that I had seen departed from me.
- The Spirit lifted me up and brought me in a vision to the exiles; by the Spirit of God he brought me there, and the vision that I had seen departed from me.
Eze.11.25 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ואדבר: VERB,qal,impf,1,_,sg
- אל: NEG
- הגולה: NOUN,f,sg,def
- את: PRT,acc
- כל: DET
- דברי: NOUN,m,pl,abs+PRON,1,c,sg
- יהוה: NOUN,prop,m,sg,abs
- אשר: PRON,rel
- הראני: VERB,hiph,perf,3,m,sg
Parallels
- Ezekiel 3:10-11 (verbal): God commissions the prophet to 'receive' and then 'speak' His words to Israel—language and prophetic task (receive/declare God's revelations) parallel the declaration to speak to the exiles all that the LORD has shown.
- Ezekiel 11:17 (structural): Same chapter promise: God will gather the dispersed and bring them back—contextually linked to addressing the exiles and conveying the divine revelation of restoration.
- Jeremiah 29:4-7 (thematic): A direct address from the LORD to the Judean exiles in Babylon with instructions and promises—parallels Ezekiel’s role of delivering God's words to the captives.
- Deuteronomy 18:18 (allusion): God's promise to raise up a prophet who will 'speak to them all that I shall command' parallels the motif of a divinely sent spokesman charged to communicate God's revelations to the people.
Alternative generated candidates
- I spoke to the exiles all the words of the LORD that he had shown me.
- And I spoke to the exiles all the words of the LORD which he had shown me.
Therefore say, Thus says the Lord GOD: Though I have removed them far among the nations and scattered them through the countries, yet I have been for them a little sanctuary in the lands where they have gone.
Therefore say, Thus says the Lord GOD: I will gather you from the nations and assemble you from the countries where you have been scattered, and I will give you the land of Israel.
When they come there, they shall remove from it all its detestable things and all its abominations. And I will give them one heart, and put a new spirit within them; I will remove the heart of stone from their flesh and give them a heart of flesh.
That they may walk in my statutes and keep my ordinances and do them; and they shall be my people, and I will be their God. But as for those whose hearts follow their detestable things and abominations, let their ways return upon their own heads, declares the Lord GOD.
Then the cherubim lifted up their wings, and the wheels beside them; and the glory of the God of Israel was above them on high.
The glory of the LORD went up from the midst of the city and stood upon the mountain that is east of the city.
The Spirit lifted me up and brought me in vision by the Spirit of God to the exiles in Babylonia; and the vision that I had seen left me.
I spoke to the exiles all the words of the LORD that he had shown me.