Ezekiel 11:16
in Ezekiel 11Therefore declare that this is what the Lord GOD 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 to which they have gone.’
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
Therefore say, Thus saith the Lord Jehovah: Whereas I have removed them far off among the nations, and whereas I have scattered them among the countries, yet will I be to them a sanctuary for a little while in the countries where they are come.
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.
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This verse in Ezekiel 11
Commentary
12 notes on this verseYet 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, Eze 11:17, from which they shall put away all idolatry, Eze 11:18.
This site's exposition
Then the word of the LORD came to me
on Ezekiel 11:14-16
The Lord answers, “for a little while I have been a sanctuary for them in the countries to which they have gone.” The Hebrew can mean a sanctuary in small measure or for a short time, and either way God is present to exiles without a temple.
This site's exposition
a sanctuary for them
The exiles had lost the temple. The LORD answers that He Himself has been their sanctuary for a little while in the lands of their exile. Albert Barnes preferred this reading to the older rendering, a little sanctuary, and saw a blessing that looked ahead to a fuller one.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers1 voice
(Verse 14 onwards) And the word of the Lord came to me, saying: Son of man, your brothers, your brothers: the men near you and all the house of Israel, all of whom the inhabitants of Jerusalem have said: Depart far from the Lord: to us the land has been given as possession. Therefore, thus says the Lord God: because I have removed them far off among the nations, and because I have scattered them among the lands, I will be a small sanctification for them in the lands which they have come to.
The Puritans and the Awakening4 voices
Scattered - Dispersed them in many countries which are under the king of Babylon: yet they are dear to me. A little sanctuary - A little one in opposition to that great temple at Jerusalem. To him they shall flee, and in him they shall be safe, as he was that took hold on the horns of the altar.
They shall there see God's power and his glory, as they used to see them in the sanctuary; they shall have the tokens of God's presence with them, and his grace in their hearts shall sanctify their prayers and praises, as well as ever the altar sanctified the gift, so that they shall please the Lord better than an ox or bullock.
His time to support his people's hopes is when their enemies are endeavouring to drive them to despair. That he will make up to them the want of the temple and the privileges of it (
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Therefore say, thus saith the Lord God,....
4 more voices on this verse
The Nineteenth Century4 voices
A commentator
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown1802–1910
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)
proposed
My shrine is the humble heart: a preparation for gospel catholicity when the local and material temple should give place to the spiritual (Isa 57:15; The trying discipline of the exile was to chasten the outcasts so as to be meet recipients of God's grace, for which the carnal confidence of the priests disqualified them.
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THE TEXT BEGINS WITH "therefore." There was a reason for God's speaking in this way. It is profitable to trace the why and the wherefore of the gracious words of the Lord. The way by which a promise comes usually shines with a trail of light. Upon reading the connection we observe that those who had been carried captive were insulted by those who tarried at Jerusalem. They spoke in a very cruel manner to those with whom they should have sympathized. How often do prosperous brothers look with scorn on the unfortunate!
THE TEXT BEGINS WITH "therefore." There was a reason for God's speaking in this way. It is profitable to trace the why and the wherefore of the gracious words of the Lord. The way by which a promise comes usually shines with a trail of light. Upon reading the connection we observe that those who had been carried captive were insulted by those who tarried at Jerusalem. They spoke in a very cruel manner to those with whom they should have sympathized. How often do prosperous brothers look with scorn on the unfortunate! Did not Job of old complain, "He that is ready to slip with his feet is as a lamp despised in the thought of him that is at ease"? The Lord hears the unkind speeches of the prosperous when they speak bitterly of those who are plunged in adversity. Read the context’"Son of man, thy brethren, even thy brethren, the men of thy kindred, and all the house of Israel wholly, are they unto whom the inhabitants of Jerusalem have said, Get you far from the Lord: unto us is this land given in possession." This unbrotherly language moved the Lord to send the prophet Ezekiel with good and profitable words to the children of the captivity. Many a time the cruel word of man has been the cause of a tender word from God. Because of the unkindness of these people, therefore God, in lovingkindness, addressed in words of tender grace those whom they despised. As, in our Saviour's days, the opposition of the Pharisees acted upon the Saviour like a steel to the flint, and fetched bright sparks of truth out of him, so the wickedness of man has often been the cause why the grace of God has been more fully revealed. This is some solace when under the severe chastisement of human tongues. Personally, I am glad of this comfort.
A commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
proposed
As 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 to the exiles in the place of the local sanctuary, in which the Jews of Jerusalem so much prided themselves (compare the margin reference). Here is the germ from which is developed Ezek. 40–48, the picture of the kingdom of God in its new form.
How the passage was read
What the Jewish commentators add
On the verses either side of this one
Your brethren, your brethren The exile of Samaria and the exile of Jeconiah.
This section is reception history: how the passage was read and kept in the Jewish tradition. Where a reading parts from an essential of the Christian faith, the section says so at that point.
Texts and citation data: Sefaria; each excerpt follows its version’s licence. 4 further sources are cited on this chapter that carry no English text this site may quote or only restate the verse.
The words behind it
20 Hebrew wordsEvery Hebrew word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.
| Hebrew | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| לָכֵ֣ן | lakhen | <to> therefore | H3651 → | 771 times |
| אֱמֹ֗ר | ʾemor | say | H559 → | 5305 times |
| כֹּֽה־ | koh- | thus | H3541 → | 577 times |
| אָמַר֮ | ʾamar | he says | H559 → | 5305 times |
| אֲדֹנָ֣י | ʾadonai | [the] Lord | H136 → | 440 times |
| יְהוִה֒ | yahweh | Yahweh | H3069 → | 306 times |
| כִּ֤י | ki | that | H3588 → | 4482 times |
| הִרְחַקְתִּים֙ | hirchaktim | I have removed far away them | H7368 → | 57 times |
| בַּגּוֹיִ֔ם | bagoyim | among the nations | H1471 → | 561 times |
| וְכִ֥י | vekhi | and that | H3588 → | 4482 times |
| הֲפִֽיצוֹתִ֖ים | hafitzotim | I have scattered them | H6327 → | 67 times |
| בָּאֲרָצ֑וֹת | baaratzot | among the lands | H776 → | 2504 times |
| וָאֱהִ֤י | vaehi | and I have become | H1961 → | 3559 times |
| לָהֶם֙ | lahem | for them | ||
| לְמִקְדָּ֣שׁ | lemikdash | <into> a sanctuary | H4720 → | 75 times |
| מְעַ֔ט | meat | a little | H4592 → | 101 times |
| בָּאֲרָצ֖וֹת | baaratzot | in the lands | H776 → | 2504 times |
| אֲשֶׁר־ | ʾasher- | where | H834 → | 5497 times |
| בָּ֥אוּ | bau | they have gone | H935 → | 2568 times |
| שָֽׁם׃ ס | sham | there | H8033 → | 834 times |
לָכֵ֣ן<to> therefore
lakhenH3651 →771 times
אֱמֹ֗רsay
ʾemorH559 →5305 times
כֹּֽה־thus
koh-H3541 →577 times
אָמַר֮he says
ʾamarH559 →5305 times
אֲדֹנָ֣י[the] Lord
ʾadonaiH136 →440 times
יְהוִה֒Yahweh
yahwehH3069 →306 times
כִּ֤יthat
kiH3588 →4482 times
הִרְחַקְתִּים֙I have removed far away them
hirchaktimH7368 →57 times
בַּגּוֹיִ֔םamong the nations
bagoyimH1471 →561 times
וְכִ֥יand that
vekhiH3588 →4482 times
הֲפִֽיצוֹתִ֖יםI have scattered them
hafitzotimH6327 →67 times
בָּאֲרָצ֑וֹתamong the lands
baaratzotH776 →2504 times
וָאֱהִ֤יand I have become
vaehiH1961 →3559 times
לָהֶם֙for them
lahem
לְמִקְדָּ֣שׁ<into> a sanctuary
lemikdashH4720 →75 times
מְעַ֔טa little
meatH4592 →101 times
בָּאֲרָצ֖וֹתin the lands
baaratzotH776 →2504 times
אֲשֶׁר־where
ʾasher-H834 →5497 times
בָּ֥אוּthey have gone
bauH935 →2568 times
שָֽׁם׃ סthere
shamH8033 →834 times
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
8 stopsEach card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.
Through
Psalms 31:20You hide them in the secret place of Your presence from the schemes of men. You conceal them in Your shelter from accusing tongues.
it leads to
- Psalms 27:5
For in the day of trouble He will hide me in His shelter; He will conceal me under the cover of His tent; He will set me high upon a rock.
- Psalms 32:7
You are my hiding place. You protect me from trouble; You surround me with songs of deliverance. Selah
- Psalms 91:1–4
He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will abide in the shadow of the Almighty.
- Job 5:21
You will be hidden from the scourge of the tongue, and will not fear havoc when it comes.
- Psalms 27:5
Through
Psalms 90:1Lord, You have been our dwelling place through all generations.
it leads to
- Deuteronomy 33:27
The eternal God is your dwelling place, and underneath are the everlasting arms. He drives out the enemy before you, giving the command, ‘Destroy him!’
- Psalms 71:3
Be my rock of refuge, where I can always go. Give the command to save me, for You are my rock and my fortress.
- 1 John 4:16
And we have come to know and believe the love that God has for us. God is love; whoever abides in love abides in God, and God in him.
- Deuteronomy 33:27
Through
Isaiah 8:14And He will be a sanctuary—but to both houses of Israel a stone of stumbling and a rock of offense, to the dwellers of Jerusalem a trap and a snare.
it leads to
- 1 Peter 2:8
and, “A stone of stumbling and a rock of offense.” They stumble because they disobey the word—and to this they were appointed.
- 1 Peter 2:8
Where this verse is studied
On this page
Studies5
About Ezekiel
This page draws on 10 works. Open the list of works
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); Charles Spurgeon, The Metropolitan Tabernacle Pulpit, Sermon No. 2001: “A Little Sanctuary” (lightly modernized text, CCEL edition); Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; Jerome, Commentary on Ezekiel; John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament; John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament (1748-1763); John Wesley, Explanatory Notes upon the Old Testament; Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible and Patrick Fairbairn, An Exposition of Ezekiel.