God’s Word Translation
Ezekiel 36:38
38They will be like the sheep for sacrifices, like the sheep in Jerusalem during the appointed festivals. Their ruined cities will be filled with flocks of people. Then they will know that I am the Lord.”
Ezekiel 36:38 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)As the holy flock, as the flock of Jerusalem in her solemn feasts; so shall the waste cities be filled with flocks of men: and they shall know that I am the Lord.
- New International Version (NIV)as numerous as the flocks for offerings at Jerusalem during her appointed festivals. So will the ruined cities be filled with flocks of people. Then they will know that I am the Lord.”
- English Standard Version (ESV)Like the flock for sacrifices, like the flock at Jerusalem during her appointed feasts, so shall the waste cities be filled with flocks of people. Then they will know that I am the Lord."
- New King James Version (NKJV)Like a flock offered as holy sacrifices, like the flock at Jerusalem on its feast days, so shall the ruined cities be filled with flocks of men. Then they shall know that I am the Lord.” ’ ”
Context of Ezekiel 36:38
36The surrounding nations that are left will know that I, the Lord, have rebuilt the ruined places and planted crops in the land that was empty. I, the Lord, have spoken, and I will do it.’ 37“This is what the Almighty Lord says: I will also let the people of Israel ask me to make them as numerous as sheep. They will be like the sheep for sacrifices, like the sheep in Jerusalem during the appointed festivals. Their ruined cities will be filled with flocks of people. Then they will know that I am the Lord.”
Read all of Ezekiel 36Ezekiel 36:38 word by word
כְּצֹ֣אן קָֽדָשִׁ֗ים כְּצֹ֤אן יְרוּשָׁלִַ֙ם֙ בְּמ֣וֹעֲדֶ֔יהָ כֵּ֤ן תִּהְיֶ֙ינָה֙ הֶעָרִ֣ים הֶחֳרֵב֔וֹת מְלֵא֖וֹת צֹ֣אן אָדָ֑ם וְיָדְע֖וּ כִּֽי־אֲנִ֥י יְהוָֽה׃ סRead the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- As the holyקֹ֫דֶשׁqôdesh · holinessH6944
- flockצֹאןtsô'n tse'ôn · flockH6629
- of Jerusalemיְרוּשָׁלִַ֫ם, יְרוּשְׁלֵםyerûshâlaim yerûshâlayim · JerusalemH3389
- in her solemn feastsמוֹעֵדmô‛êd mô‛êd mô‛âdâh · meeting: festivalH4150
- so shall the wasteחָרֵבchârêb · desolateH2720
- citiesעִיר‛îyr ‛âr ‛âyar · cityH5892
- be filledמָלֵאmâlê' · fullH4392
- of menאָדָם'âdâm · manH120
- and they shall knowיָדַעyâda‛ · to knowH3045
- the Lordיְהֹוָהyehôvâh · LORDH3068
Cross-references for Ezekiel 36:38
- Exodus 23:17“These are the three times each year that all your men must come into the presence of the Master, the Lord.
- Exodus 34:23“Three times a year all your men must come into the presence of the Master, the Lord God of Israel.
- Deuteronomy 16:16Three times a year all your men must come into the presence of the Lord your God at the place he will choose: at the Festival of Unleavened Bread, the Festival of Weeks, and the Festival of Booths. But no one may come into the presence of the Lord without an offering.
- 2 Chronicles 7:8At that time Solomon and all Israel celebrated the Festival ⌞of Booths⌟. A very large crowd had come from ⌞the territory between⌟ the border of Hamath and the River of Egypt.
- 2 Chronicles 30:21So the Israelites in Jerusalem celebrated the Festival of Unleavened Bread for seven days with great joy. Each day the Levites and priests praised the Lord in song. They played the Lord’s instruments loudly.
- 2 Chronicles 35:7Josiah provided the people with 33,000 sheep and goats to be sacrificed as Passover offerings for all who were present. In addition, he provided 3,000 bulls. (These animals were the king’s property.)
- Zechariah 8:19This is what the Lord of Armies says: The fast in the fourth month, the fast in the fifth month, the fast in the seventh month, and the fast in the tenth month will become joyful and glad occasions as well as happy festivals for the nation of Judah. So love truth and peace.
- Acts 2:5Devout Jewish men from every nation were living in Jerusalem.
- Ezekiel 36:33“ ‘This is what the Almighty Lord says: On the day that I cleanse you from all your wickedness, I will cause your cities to be lived in again, and your ruins will be rebuilt.
- Ezekiel 34:31You, my sheep, are the sheep in my pasture. You are mortal, and I am your God, declares the Almighty Lord.’ ”
- Jeremiah 30:19The people who live there will sing songs of praise, and the sound of laughter will be heard from there. I’ll make them numerous, and their number won’t decrease. I’ll bring them honor, and they won’t be considered unimportant.
- Jeremiah 31:27“The days are coming,” declares the Lord, “when I will plant the nations of Israel and Judah with people and animals.
- John 10:16I also have other sheep that are not from this pen. I must lead them. They, too, will respond to my voice. So they will be one flock with one shepherd.
- Revelation 7:4I heard how many were sealed: 144,000. Those who were sealed were from every tribe of the people of Israel:
Commentaries on Ezekiel 36:38
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 38As the holy flock - The Church of Christ, without spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing. The flock of Jerusalem - The Jerusalem that is from above, the city of the living God, the place where his Majesty dwells. As they came in ancient times to the solemn national feasts so shall they come when they have fully returned unto the Lord, and received his salvation by Christ Jesus. I do not ask my reader's pardon for having considered this most beautiful chapter…Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 38As the holy flock - A reference to the flocks and herds brought up to Jerusalem to be consecrated and offered unto the Lord 2 Chronicles 35:7. Thus, the idea is brought out: (1) of the multiplication of the people, (2) of their dedication to the service of God.Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 25-38Verses 25-38 Water is an emblem of the cleansing our polluted souls from sin. But no water can do more than take away the filth of the flesh. Water seems in general the sacramental sign of the sanctifying influences of the Holy Ghost; yet this is always connected with the atoning blood of Christ. When the latter is applied by faith to the conscience, to cleanse it from evil works, the former is always applied to the powers of the soul, to purify it from…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 35-38The restored land would become like the garden of Eden, a symbol of fertility and fruitfulness. The original garden would be enhanced by restored cities, filled with people like Jerusalem's streets during festivals. The greatest blessing would be God's willingness to hear Israel's prayers again. He had once refused to listen to his rebellious people (Ezekiel 14:3; 20:3), but now the Lord would turn his face toward them and hear their cries. The proof of…Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 3838. As the holy flock--the great flock of choice animals for sacrifice, brought up to Jerusalem at the three great yearly festivals, the passover, pentecost, and feast of the tabernacles.Read the comment
Topics related to Ezekiel 36:38
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Ezekiel 36
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
- Tyndale Open Study Notes
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
- Rashi on Tanakh
- Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
- John Wesley’s Notes
- Darby Translation Notes
- Geneva Bible Translation Notes
- Kingcomments
- Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
- Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
- Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
- Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
- EGW Writings
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