Verse (Click for Chapter) New International Version They will say, “This land that was laid waste has become like the garden of Eden; the cities that were lying in ruins, desolate and destroyed, are now fortified and inhabited.” New Living Translation And when I bring you back, people will say, ‘This former wasteland is now like the Garden of Eden! The abandoned and ruined cities now have strong walls and are filled with people!’ English Standard Version And they will say, ‘This land that was desolate has become like the garden of Eden, and the waste and desolate and ruined cities are now fortified and inhabited.’ Berean Standard Bible Then they will say, ‘This land that was desolate has become like the garden of Eden. The cities that were once ruined, desolate, and destroyed are now fortified and inhabited.’ Berean Literal Bible And they will say, ‘This land that was desolate has become like the garden of Eden, and the ruined cities, desolate and overthrown, are fortified and they are inhabited.’ King James Bible And they shall say, This land that was desolate is become like the garden of Eden; and the waste and desolate and ruined cities are become fenced, and are inhabited. New King James Version So they will say, ‘This land that was desolate has become like the garden of Eden; and the wasted, desolate, and ruined cities are now fortified and inhabited.’ New American Standard Bible And they will say, ‘This desolated land has become like the Garden of Eden; and the waste, desolated and ruined cities are fortified and inhabited.’ NASB 1995 “They will say, ‘This desolate land has become like the garden of Eden; and the waste, desolate and ruined cities are fortified and inhabited.’ NASB 1977 “And they will say, ‘This desolate land has become like the garden of Eden; and the waste, desolate, and ruined cities are fortified and inhabited.’ Legacy Standard Bible And they will say, ‘This desolate land has become like the garden of Eden; and the waste, desolate, and ruined cities are fortified and inhabited.’ Amplified Bible Then they will say, ‘This land that was deserted and desolate has become like the garden of Eden; and the waste, desolate, and ruined cities are fortified and inhabited.’ Berean Annotated Bible Then they will say, ‘This land that was desolate has become like the garden of Eden (pleasure). The cities that were once ruined, desolate, and destroyed are now fortified and inhabited. Christian Standard Bible They will say, “This land that was desolate has become like the garden of Eden. The cities that were once ruined, desolate, and demolished are now fortified and inhabited.” Holman Christian Standard Bible Then they will say, ‘This land that was desolate has become like the garden of Eden. The cities that were once ruined, desolate, and destroyed are now fortified and inhabited.’ American Standard Version And they shall say, This land that was desolate is become like the garden of Eden; and the waste and desolate and ruined cities are fortified and inhabited. Contemporary English Version Instead, they will say that it looks as beautiful as the garden of Eden. They won't see towns lying in ruins, but they will see your strong cities filled with people. English Revised Version And they shall say, This land that was desolate is become like the garden of Eden; and the waste and desolate and ruined cities are fenced and inhabited. GOD'S WORD® Translation People will say, "This wasteland has become like the garden of Eden. The cities were destroyed. They were empty and ruined, but now they are fortified and have people living in them." Good News Translation Everyone will talk about how this land, which was once a wilderness, has become like the Garden of Eden, and how the cities which were torn down, looted, and left in ruins, are now inhabited and fortified. International Standard Version They will say, "This wasteland has become like the garden of Eden, and what used to be desolate ruins are now fortified and inhabited." NET Bible They will say, "This desolate land has become like the garden of Eden; the ruined, desolate, and destroyed cities are now fortified and inhabited." New Heart English Bible They shall say, "This land that was desolate has become like the garden of Eden; and the waste and desolate and ruined cities are fortified and inhabited." Webster's Bible Translation And they shall say, This land that was desolate is become like the garden of Eden; and the waste and desolate and ruined cities are become fortified, and are inhabited. Majority Text Translations Majority Standard BibleThen they will say, ‘This land that was desolate has become like the garden of Eden. The cities that were once ruined, desolate, and destroyed are now fortified and inhabited.’ World English Bible They will say, ‘This land that was desolate has become like the garden of Eden. The waste, desolate, and ruined cities are fortified and inhabited.’ Literal Translations Literal Standard VersionAnd they have said: This land, that was desolated, "" Has been as the Garden of Eden, "" And the cities—the dried up, "" And the desolated, and the broken down, "" [And the] fortified have remained. Berean Literal Bible And they will say, ‘This land that was desolate has become like the garden of Eden, and the ruined cities, desolate and overthrown, are fortified and they are inhabited.’ Young's Literal Translation And they have said: This land, that was desolated, Hath been as the garden of Eden, And the cities -- the wasted, And the desolated, and the broken down, Fenced places have remained. Smith's Literal Translation And they said: This land being desolate was as the garden of Eden: and the cities laid waste and desolated and destroyed, being fortified, were inhabited. Catholic Translations Douay-Rheims BibleThey shall say: This land that was untilled is become as a garden of pleasure: and the cities that were abandoned, and desolate, and destroyed, are peopled and fenced. Catholic Public Domain Version then they shall say: ‘This uncultivated land has become a garden of delight, and the cities, which were deserted and destitute and overturned, have been settled and fortified.’ New American Bible They will say, “This once-desolate land has become like the garden of Eden. The cities once ruined, laid waste and destroyed, are now resettled and fortified.” New Revised Standard Version And they will say, “This land that was desolate has become like the garden of Eden; and the waste and desolate and ruined towns are now inhabited and fortified.” Translations from Aramaic Lamsa BibleAnd they shall say, This land that was desolate is become like the garden of Eden; and the ruined and demolished cities are now become fenced, and are inhabited. Peshitta Holy Bible Translated And they shall say, ‘This desolate land has become like the Paradise of Eden, and the cities that were put to the sword and overthrown are strong fortress cities!’ OT Translations JPS Tanakh 1917And they shall say: This land that was desolate is become like the garden of Eden; and the waste and desolate and ruined cities are fortified and inhabited. Brenton Septuagint Translation And they shall say, That desolate land is become like a garden of delight; and the waste and desolate and ruined cities are inhabited. Additional Translations ... Audio Bible Context A New Heart and Spirit…34The desolate land will be cultivated instead of lying desolate in the sight of all who pass through. 35Then they will say, ‘This land that was desolate has become like the garden of Eden. The cities that were once ruined, desolate, and destroyed are now fortified and inhabited.’ 36Then the nations around you that remain will know that I, the LORD, have rebuilt what was destroyed, and I have replanted what was desolate. I, the LORD, have spoken, and I will do it.… Cross References Then they will say, Isaiah 25:9 And in that day it will be said, “Surely this is our God; we have waited for Him, and He has saved us. This is the LORD for whom we have waited. Let us rejoice and be glad in His salvation.” Psalm 126:2-3 Then our mouths were filled with laughter, our tongues with shouts of joy. Then it was said among the nations, “The LORD has done great things for them.” / The LORD has done great things for us; we are filled with joy. Isaiah 12:1 In that day you will say: “O LORD, I will praise You. Although You were angry with me, Your anger has turned away, and You have comforted me. ‘This land that was desolate Jeremiah 33:10-12 This is what the LORD says: In this place you say is a wasteland without man or beast, in the cities of Judah and in the streets of Jerusalem that are deserted—inhabited by neither man nor beast—there will be heard again / the sounds of joy and gladness, the voices of the bride and bridegroom, and the voices of those bringing thank offerings into the house of the LORD, saying: ‘Give thanks to the LORD of Hosts, for the LORD is good; His loving devotion endures forever.’ For I will restore the land from captivity as in former times, says the LORD. / This is what the LORD of Hosts says: In this desolate place, without man or beast, and in all its cities, there will once more be pastures for shepherds to rest their flocks. Isaiah 35:1-2 The wilderness and the dry land will be glad; the desert will rejoice and blossom like a rose. / It will bloom profusely and rejoice with joy and singing. The glory of Lebanon will be given to it, the splendor of Carmel and Sharon. They will see the glory of the LORD, the splendor of our God. Psalm 107:35 He turns a desert into pools of water and a dry land into flowing springs. has become like the garden of Eden. Ezekiel 28:13 You were in Eden, the garden of God. Every kind of precious stone adorned you: ruby, topaz, and diamond, beryl, onyx, and jasper, sapphire, turquoise, and emerald. Your mountings and settings were crafted in gold, prepared on the day of your creation. Isaiah 51:3 For the LORD will comfort Zion and will look with compassion on all her ruins; He will make her wilderness like Eden and her desert like the garden of the LORD. Joy and gladness will be found in her, thanksgiving and melodious song. Genesis 2:8-15 And the LORD God planted a garden in Eden, in the east, where He placed the man He had formed. / Out of the ground the LORD God gave growth to every tree that is pleasing to the eye and good for food. And in the middle of the garden were the tree of life and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. / Now a river flowed out of Eden to water the garden, and from there it branched into four headwaters: … The cities that were once ruined, desolate, and destroyed Isaiah 61:4 They will rebuild the ancient ruins; they will restore the places long devastated; they will renew the ruined cities, the desolations of many generations. Isaiah 44:26 who confirms the message of His servant and fulfills the counsel of His messengers, who says of Jerusalem, ‘She will be inhabited,’ and of the cities of Judah, ‘They will be rebuilt, and I will restore their ruins,’ Jeremiah 30:18 This is what the LORD says: “I will restore the fortunes of Jacob’s tents and have compassion on his dwellings. And the city will be rebuilt on her own ruins, and the palace will stand in its rightful place. are now fortified and inhabited.’ Isaiah 26:1 In that day this song will be sung in the land of Judah: We have a strong city; salvation is established as its walls and ramparts. Isaiah 60:18 No longer will violence be heard in your land, nor ruin or destruction within your borders. But you will name your walls Salvation and your gates Praise. Zechariah 2:4-5 and said to him, “Run and tell that young man: ‘Jerusalem will be a city without walls because of the multitude of men and livestock within it. / For I will be a wall of fire around it, declares the LORD, and I will be the glory within it.’” Joel 2:3 Before them a fire devours, and behind them a flame scorches. The land before them is like the Garden of Eden, but behind them, it is like a desert wasteland—surely nothing will escape them. Treasury of Scripture And they shall say, This land that was desolate is become like the garden of Eden; and the waste and desolate and ruined cities are become fenced, and are inhabited. they shall Psalm 58:11 So that a man shall say, Verily there is a reward for the righteous: verily he is a God that judgeth in the earth. Psalm 64:9 And all men shall fear, and shall declare the work of God; for they shall wisely consider of his doing. Psalm 126:2 Then was our mouth filled with laughter, and our tongue with singing: then said they among the heathen, The LORD hath done great things for them. like the Ezekiel 37:13 And ye shall know that I am the LORD, when I have opened your graves, O my people, and brought you up out of your graves, Genesis 2:8,9 And the LORD God planted a garden eastward in Eden; and there he put the man whom he had formed… Genesis 13:10 And Lot lifted up his eyes, and beheld all the plain of Jordan, that it was well watered every where, before the LORD destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah, even as the garden of the LORD, like the land of Egypt, as thou comest unto Zoar. Jump to Previous Broken Cities Desolate Desolated Destroyed Eden Fenced Fortified Garden Inhabited Laid Peopled Places Pulled Ruined Ruins Towns Unpeopled Walled Waste WastedJump to Next Broken Cities Desolate Desolated Destroyed Eden Fenced Fortified Garden Inhabited Laid Peopled Places Pulled Ruined Ruins Towns Unpeopled Walled Waste WastedEzekiel 36 1. The land of Israel is comforted, by destruction of the heathen, who spitefully used it8. and by the blessings of God promised unto it 16. Israel was rejected for their sin 21. and shall be restored without their desert 25. The blessings of Christ's kingdom Then they will say, This phrase indicates a future recognition and acknowledgment by observers. It suggests a transformation so significant that it prompts a verbal response. The context is a prophetic vision given to Ezekiel, where God promises restoration to the land of Israel. This acknowledgment by others highlights the public and undeniable nature of God's work. ‘This land that was desolate has become like the garden of Eden. The cities that were once ruined, desolate, and destroyed are now fortified and inhabited.’ Persons / Places / Events 1. EzekielA prophet of God who ministered to the Israelites during their Babylonian exile. He conveyed messages of judgment and restoration. 2. Israel The nation to whom the prophecy is directed, experiencing desolation due to their disobedience but promised restoration. 3. Garden of Eden A symbol of perfection and divine blessing, representing the ideal state of creation before the fall. 4. Desolate Land Refers to the land of Israel, which had become barren and uninhabited due to the consequences of sin and exile. 5. Restoration The event prophesied by Ezekiel where God promises to renew the land and the people, making it fruitful and prosperous once again. Teaching Points God's Power to RestoreJust as God promises to transform the desolate land into a garden, He can restore our lives from brokenness to wholeness. Hope in Desolation Even in times of ruin and despair, God's promises offer hope and assurance of future restoration. Symbol of Eden The reference to the Garden of Eden serves as a reminder of God's original design for creation and His desire to bring us back to a state of harmony with Him. Faithfulness in Waiting The Israelites had to wait for God's timing for restoration, teaching us patience and trust in God's perfect plan. Community and Rebuilding The fortified and inhabited cities symbolize the importance of community and collective effort in rebuilding and restoration. Bible Study Questions and Answers 1. What is the meaning of Ezekiel 36:35?2. How does Ezekiel 36:35 illustrate God's power to restore desolate places today? 3. What does "like the garden of Eden" signify about God's restoration promise? 4. How can we apply Ezekiel 36:35 to personal spiritual renewal in our lives? 5. Which New Testament passages echo the restoration themes found in Ezekiel 36:35? 6. How can believers participate in God's work of restoration in their communities? 7. How does Ezekiel 36:35 relate to the restoration of Israel in modern times? 8. What historical evidence supports the transformation described in Ezekiel 36:35? 9. How does Ezekiel 36:35 challenge our understanding of divine intervention in history? 10. What are the top 10 Lessons from Ezekiel 36? 11. Why does Ezekiel 28 present Tyre's prince or king with traits that mirror those of Adam or Satan, yet no clear explanation is given for this blending of identities? 12. How could the promise of a renewed land in Ezekiel 36 realistically occur on such a large scale when historical and archaeological evidence seems sparse? 13. What does it mean to be outside of paradise? 14. How can Ezekiel 28:11-19 describe the ruler of Tyre as a supernatural being if historical evidence points to a human king? What Does Ezekiel 36:35 Mean This land that was desolate• Ezekiel is speaking of the physical territory of Israel, a land that had been stripped bare by judgment and exile (Ezekiel 6:14). • God’s description is literal: the soil lay untended, the fields uncultivated, and the hills silent—just as Jeremiah 33:10 portrays streets without people. • The desolation reminds us of earlier warnings in Leviticus 26:33–35, where abandonment of the covenant would leave the land in sabbath rest while the people were scattered. Has become like the garden of Eden • The promise is one of complete reversal: devastation exchanged for paradisiacal fruitfulness (Isaiah 51:3). • Genesis 2:8 sets the backdrop—the original garden was a place of intimate fellowship with God and overflowing provision. • Joel 2:3 contrasts a scorched earth “before” with Edenic beauty “behind,” echoing the same transformation Ezekiel records. • The imagery is not merely poetic; it affirms God’s intent to restore fertility, abundance, and blessing in the very soil of Israel (Amos 9:13). The cities that were once ruined, desolate, and destroyed • “Ruined” recalls prior prophecies of siege and collapse (Ezekiel 5:14). • “Desolate” points to empty streets and toppled walls (Isaiah 24:10). • “Destroyed” underscores God’s righteous judgment previously poured out (Ezekiel 33:28). • Together they paint a realistic picture of urban centers reduced to rubble, confirming the truthfulness of God’s earlier warnings (Lamentations 2:7). Are now fortified and inhabited • Restoration is just as concrete: walls rebuilt, homes occupied, life bustling again (Nehemiah 7:4). • Zechariah 8:4–5 envisions elderly men and playing children filling Jerusalem’s squares—evidence of safety and prosperity. • Amos 9:14–15 assures that God will “plant them on their own land, never again to be uprooted,” highlighting permanence. • Isaiah 58:12 speaks of ancient ruins raised up and paths restored, showing God’s comprehensive rebuilding plan. summary Ezekiel 36:35 promises a literal, observable reversal of Israel’s fortunes: barren ground becomes Eden-like, and shattered cities rise strong and vibrant. The verse showcases God’s faithfulness to restore what judgment once laid waste, confirming that every word He speaks—whether of discipline or deliverance—stands true. (35) Like the garden of Eden.--This may be meant merely to describe the exceeding excellence and prosperity of the land; but, in connection with what has been previously said, it seems rather to point forward to that state in which man shall again be entirely freed from sin, which has been the state for which the Church in all ages has been preparing.Verse 35. - This land that was desolate is become like the garden of Eden. (For the reverse picture, see Joel 2:3.) The thought of the first Paradise (Genesis 2:8), in the historicity of which clearly Ezekiel believed, was one on which his mind often dwelt (Ezekiel 28:13; Ezekiel 31:9) as an ideal of earthly beauty and fertility which should recur in the closing age of the world - a hope which appears to have been shared by Isaiah (Isaiah 51:3), and taken up by John (Revelation 2:7; Revelation 22:1-3). In the day when that hope should be realized for Israel, the waste, desolate, and ruined cities, on which the passers-by who visited Palestine gazed, should be fenced and inhabited; literally, inhabited as fortresses. The three predicates, "waste," "desolate," and" ruined," have been distinguished as signifying "stripped of its inhabitants," "untilled in its lands," and "broken down in its buildings;" in contrast with which, in the golden era of the future, the towns should be inhabited, the fields tilled, and the ruined fortresses built.Parallel Commentaries ... Hebrew Then they will say,וְאָמְר֗וּ (wə·’ā·mə·rū) Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person common plural Strong's 559: To utter, say “This הַלֵּ֙זוּ֙ (hal·lê·zū) Pronoun - feminine singular Strong's 1977: This land הָאָ֤רֶץ (hā·’ā·reṣ) Article | Noun - feminine singular Strong's 776: Earth, land that was desolate הַנְּשַׁמָּ֔ה (han·nə·šam·māh) Article | Verb - Nifal - Participle - feminine singular Strong's 8074: To stun, devastate, stupefy has become הָיְתָ֖ה (hā·yə·ṯāh) Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person feminine singular Strong's 1961: To fall out, come to pass, become, be like the garden כְּגַן־ (kə·ḡan-) Preposition-k | Noun - common singular construct Strong's 1588: An enclosure, garden of Eden. עֵ֑דֶן (‘ê·ḏen) Noun - proper - feminine singular Strong's 5731: Eden -- the garden home of Adam and Eve The cities וְהֶעָרִ֧ים (wə·he·‘ā·rîm) Conjunctive waw, Article | Noun - feminine plural Strong's 5892: Excitement that were once ruined, הֶחֳרֵב֛וֹת (he·ḥo·rê·ḇō·wṯ) Article | Adjective - feminine plural Strong's 2720: Parched, ruined desolate, וְהַֽנְשַׁמּ֥וֹת (wə·han·šam·mō·wṯ) Conjunctive waw, Article | Verb - Nifal - Participle - feminine plural Strong's 8074: To stun, devastate, stupefy and destroyed וְהַנֶּהֱרָס֖וֹת (wə·han·ne·hĕ·rā·sō·wṯ) Conjunctive waw, Article | Verb - Nifal - Participle - feminine plural Strong's 2040: To pull down, in pieces, break, & destroy are now fortified בְּצוּר֥וֹת (bə·ṣū·rō·wṯ) Adjective - feminine plural Strong's 1219: To cut off, make inaccessible, enclose and inhabited.” יָשָֽׁבוּ׃ (yā·šā·ḇū) Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person common plural Strong's 3427: To sit down, to dwell, to remain, to settle, to marry Links Ezekiel 36:35 NIVEzekiel 36:35 NLT Ezekiel 36:35 ESV Ezekiel 36:35 NASB Ezekiel 36:35 KJV Ezekiel 36:35 BibleApps.com Ezekiel 36:35 Biblia Paralela Ezekiel 36:35 Chinese Bible Ezekiel 36:35 French Bible Ezekiel 36:35 Catholic Bible OT Prophets: Ezekiel 36:35 They shall say This land that was (Ezek. Eze Ezk) |
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