Ezekiel 11:17-20

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Ezekiel 11:14-21

Prophecy was designed to exalt every valley as well as to bring low every mountain and hill (Isa. 40:4), and prophets were to speak not only conviction to the presumptuous and secure, but comfort to the despised and desponding that trembled at God's word. The prophet Ezekiel, having in the former part of this chapter received instructions for the awakening of those that were at ease in Zion, is in these verses furnished with comfortable words for those that mourned in Babylon and by the rivers... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Ezekiel 11:17

Therefore thus saith the Lord God, I will even gather you from the people ,.... The Babylonians, Medes, and Persians, where they had been carried captive: and assemble you out of the countries where ye have been scattered ; that is, out of Chaldea and Media, out of which they should come in a body, and not singly, or in small numbers, as they did when Cyrus issued out his proclamation: and I will give you the land of Israel ; not only the Jews of the two tribes of Judah and Benjamin,... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Ezekiel 11:18

And they shall come thither ,.... That those of the captivity shall come to the land of Israel, they or their posterity: and they shall take away all the detestable things thereof ; the idols of the nations, that had been there introduced, detestable to God and all good men: and all the abominations thereof from thence ; idols, as before, even all of them, so that idolatry should be wholly rooted out; this had its accomplishment under Zerubbabel, Ezra, Haggai, &c.; when the... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Ezekiel 11:19

And I will give them one heart ,.... In opposition to a divided heart, Hosea 10:2 ; divided between the true God and idols, wavering and halting between two opinions, sometimes serving God, and sometimes Baal; a heart to pursue one way of worship, and to serve the Lord with one shoulder or consent, Jeremiah 32:40 ; a heart sincere to God and man, in opposition to a double or hypocritical one, Psalm 12:2 ; a heart single to the honour and glory of God, and firmly attached to his word... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Ezekiel 11:20

That they may walk in my statutes ,.... Have their conversation ordered according to the will and word of God; to which there is neither will nor power, till God gives a new heart and spirit, or works in them both to will and to do: and keep mine ordinances, and do them ; all things appertaining to religion and worship, both in public and private: and they shall be my people, and I will be their God ; it will appear by walking in the statutes of the Lord, and by keeping his... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Ezekiel 11:19

And I will give them one heart - A whole system of renewed affections. And I will put a new spirit within you - To direct and influence these new affections. And I will take the stony heart out of their flesh - That which would not receive the impressions of my Spirit. And will give them a heart of flesh - One that is capable of receiving and retaining these impressions. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Ezekiel 11:20

That they may walk in my statutes - The holiness of their lives shall prove the work of God upon their hearts. Then it shall appear that I am their God, because I have done such things in them and for them; and their holy conduct shall show that they are my people. See on Ezekiel 36:25 ; (note), etc. read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Ezekiel 11:17

Verse 17 Now God expresses the effect of his grace. In the last verse he had said that he would be a sanctuary. I have reminded you that these words ought not to be understood of a visible place in which God was worshipped, but of that hidden influence by which he cherishes his people. But if the exile had been perpetual, that promise might seem vain. Why then did God protect his people in exile, if he wished them to be consumed there? because otherwise his covenant would have been in vain.... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Ezekiel 11:18

Verse 18 Here he adds something more important — that when the Israelites had returned to their country they would be sincere worshippers of God, and not only offer sacrifices in the temple, but purge the land of all its pollutions. Here also the Prophet admonishes them how great and detestable was the impiety of the ten tribes, because they had contaminated the land with idols. He does not here allude to the idols of the Gentiles, but rather reproves the Israelites because they had... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Ezekiel 11:19

Verse 19 As God had already spoken concerning the piety of the Israelites, he shows that they could not forsake their sins until they were renewed, and so born again by his Spirit. Therefore he seemed in the last verse to praise the Israelites; but because men too eagerly claim as their own what has been given them from above, now God claims to himself glow of their virtues, of which he had formerly spoken. Their zeal in purging the land of all abominations was worthy of praise; hence the... read more

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