New International Version
Ezekiel 11:16
16“Therefore say: ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: Although I sent them far away among the nations and scattered them among the countries, yet for a little while I have been a sanctuary for them in the countries where they have gone.’
Ezekiel 11:16 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)Therefore say, Thus saith the Lord God; Although I have cast them far off among the heathen, and although I have scattered them among the countries, yet will I be to them as a little sanctuary in the countries where they shall come.
- English Standard Version (ESV)Therefore say, 'Thus says the Lord God: Though I removed them far off among the nations, and though I scattered them among the countries, yet I have been a sanctuary to them for a while in the countries where they have gone.'
- New King James Version (NKJV)Therefore say, ‘Thus says the Lord God: “Although I have cast them far off among the Gentiles, and although I have scattered them among the countries, yet I shall be a little sanctuary for them in the countries where they have gone.” ’
- New Living Translation (NLT)“Therefore, tell the exiles, ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: Although I have scattered you in the countries of the world, I will be a sanctuary to you during your time in exile.
Context of Ezekiel 11:16
14The word of the Lord came to me: 15“Son of man, the people of Jerusalem have said of your fellow exiles and all the other Israelites, ‘They are far away from the Lord; this land was given to us as our possession.’ “Therefore say: ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: Although I sent them far away among the nations and scattered them among the countries, yet for a little while I have been a sanctuary for them in the countries where they have gone.’ 17“Therefore say: ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: I will gather you from the nations and bring you back from the countries where you have been scattered, and I will give you back the land of Israel again.’ 18“They will return to it and remove all its vile images and detestable idols.
Read all of Ezekiel 11Ezekiel 11:16 word by word
לָכֵ֣ן אֱמֹ֗ר כֹּֽה־אָמַר֮ אֲדֹנָ֣י יְהוִה֒ כִּ֤י הִרְחַקְתִּים֙ בַּגּוֹיִ֔ם וְכִ֥י הֲפִֽיצוֹתִ֖ים בָּאֲרָצ֑וֹת וָאֱהִ֤י לָהֶם֙ לְמִקְדָּ֣שׁ מְעַ֔ט בָּאֲרָצ֖וֹת אֲשֶׁר־בָּ֥אוּ שָֽׁם׃ סRead the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- Therefore sayאָמַר'âmar · to sayH559
- the Lordאֲדֹנָי'ădônây · LordH136
- Godיְהֹוִהyehôvih · YHWH/GodH3069
- Although I have cast them far offרָחַקrâchaq · to removeH7368
- among the heathenגּוֹיgôy gôy · nationH1471
- and although I have scatteredפּוּץpûts · to scatterH6327
- them among the countriesאֶ֫רֶץ'erets · land: country/planetH776
- yet will I be to them as a littleמְעַטme‛aţ me‛âţ · littleH4592
- sanctuaryמִקְדָּשׁmiqdâsh miqqedâsh · sanctuaryH4720
- where they shall comeבּוֹאbô' · to come (in): comeH935
Cross-references for Ezekiel 11:16
- Leviticus 26:44Yet in spite of this, when they are in the land of their enemies, I will not reject them or abhor them so as to destroy them completely, breaking my covenant with them. I am the Lord their God.
- Deuteronomy 30:3then the Lord your God will restore your fortunes and have compassion on you and gather you again from all the nations where he scattered you.
- 2 Kings 24:12Jehoiachin king of Judah, his mother, his attendants, his nobles and his officials all surrendered to him. In the eighth year of the reign of the king of Babylon, he took Jehoiachin prisoner.
- Psalms 44:11You gave us up to be devoured like sheep and have scattered us among the nations.
- Jeremiah 24:5“This is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: ‘Like these good figs, I regard as good the exiles from Judah, whom I sent away from this place to the land of the Babylonians.
- Jeremiah 30:11I am with you and will save you,’ declares the Lord. ‘Though I completely destroy all the nations among which I scatter you, I will not completely destroy you. I will discipline you but only in due measure; I will not let you go entirely unpunished.’
- Jeremiah 31:10“Hear the word of the Lord, you nations; proclaim it in distant coastlands: ‘He who scattered Israel will gather them and will watch over his flock like a shepherd.’
- Psalms 31:20In the shelter of your presence you hide them from all human intrigues; you keep them safe in your dwelling from accusing tongues.
- Psalms 90:1Lord, you have been our dwelling place throughout all generations.
- Psalms 91:1Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.
- Proverbs 18:10The name of the Lord is a fortified tower; the righteous run to it and are safe.
- Isaiah 4:5Then the Lord will create over all of Mount Zion and over those who assemble there a cloud of smoke by day and a glow of flaming fire by night; over everything the glory will be a canopy.
- Isaiah 8:14He will be a holy place; for both Israel and Judah he will be a stone that causes people to stumble and a rock that makes them fall. And for the people of Jerusalem he will be a trap and a snare.
- Jeremiah 26:7The priests, the prophets and all the people heard Jeremiah speak these words in the house of the Lord.
- Jeremiah 42:11Do not be afraid of the king of Babylon, whom you now fear. Do not be afraid of him, declares the Lord, for I am with you and will save you and deliver you from his hands.
Commentaries on Ezekiel 11:16
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 16Yet will I be to them as a little sanctuary - Though thus exiled from their own land, yet not forgotten by their God. While in their captivity, I will dispense many blessings to them; and I will restore them to their own land, Ezekiel 11:17, from which they shall put away all idolatry, Ezekiel 11:18.Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 16As a little sanctuary - Rather, I will be to them for a little while a sanctuary. The blessing was provisional, they were to look forward to a blessing more complete. For a little while they were to be satisfied with God‘s special presence in a foreign land, but they were to look forward to a renewal of His presence in the restored temple of Jerusalem. “sanctuary” means here strictly the holy place, the tabernacle of the Most High: Yahweh will Himself be…Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 14-21Verses 14-21 The pious captives in Babylon were insulted by the Jews who continued in Jerusalem; but God made gracious promises to them. It is promised, that God will give them one heart; a heart firmly fixed for God, and not wavering. All who are made holy have a new spirit, a new temper and dispositions; they act from new principles, walk by new rules, and aim at new ends. A new name, or a new face, will not serve without a new spirit. If any man be in…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 15-16Those who stayed in the land thought the exiles were far from the Lord, with no one to protect their family land. Normally, relatives (literally men of your redemption) would have redeemed Ezekiel’s family property if he faced debt or trouble. Since the exiles left as family groups, no one remained in Judah to guard their inherited properties. this land has been given to us as a possession: Those who stayed thought the exiles were under God's judgment and…Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1616. Although--anticipating the objection of the priests at Jerusalem, that the exiles were "cast far off." Though this be so, and they are far from the outer temple at Jerusalem, I will be their asylum or sanctuary instead (Psa 90:1; 91:9; Is 8:14). My shrine is the humble heart: a preparation for gospel catholicity when the local and material temple should give place to the spiritual (Is 57:15; 66:1; Mal 1:11; Joh 4:21-24; Ac 7:48, 49). The trying…Read the comment
Topics related to Ezekiel 11:16
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Ezekiel 11
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
- Tyndale Open Study Notes
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
- Rashi on Tanakh
- Calvin’s Commentaries
- 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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