Ezekiel 36:26
What does Ezekiel 36:26 mean?
A plain-English look at Ezekiel 36:26 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What Ezekiel 36:26 means
Ezekiel 36:26 promises a profound spiritual transformation. God pledges to replace a heart of stone, symbolizing stubbornness, rebellion, and insensitivity to divine will, with a heart of flesh, representing responsiveness, obedience, and spiritual vitality. This new heart is accompanied by a new spirit, indicating an internal regeneration that empowers individuals to live according to God's ways. The imagery emphasizes an internal, supernatural work of God, moving beyond mere outward compliance to an inward desire for righteousness. It underscores that true change originates not from human effort but from divine intervention, enabling a renewed relationship with God and a life of obedience.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you; and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you a heart of flesh.
KJV
King James Version · 1611A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you; and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you a heart of flesh.
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949And I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you: I will take away the heart of stone from your flesh, and give you a heart of flesh.
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862And I have given to you a new heart, And a new spirit I give in your midst, And I have turned aside the heart of stone out of your flesh, And I have given to you a heart of flesh.
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752And I will give you a new heart, and put a new spirit within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and will give you a heart of flesh.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890And I will give you a new heart, and I will put a new spirit within you; and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you a heart of flesh.
Context
Ezekiel 36 is part of a larger prophecy concerning Israel's restoration. This specific chapter focuses on God's intention to cleanse, restore, and re-gather His people, not because of their merit, but for the sake of His holy name. Prior to verse 26, God addresses Israel's past defilement and promises to vindicate His name among the nations by bringing them back to their land. Following this verse, God continues to detail the blessings of this renewal, including making the land fertile again and increasing their population. Thus, verse 26 serves as the spiritual lynchpin, explaining the internal transformation that underpins the external, physical restoration of Israel.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- Galatians 6:15
For neither is circumcision anything, nor uncircumcision, but a new creature.
- Ephesians 2:10
For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God afore prepared that we should walk in them.
- Revelation 21:5
And he that sitteth on the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he saith, Write: for these words are faithful and true.
- 2 Corinthians 3:18
But we all, with unveiled face beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are transformed into the same image from glory to glory, even as from the Lord the Spirit.
- Matthew 13:5
and others fell upon the rocky places, where they had not much earth: and straightway they sprang up, because they had no deepness of earth:
- Mark 4:16
And these in like manner are they that are sown upon the rocky places, who, when they have heard the word, straightway receive it with joy;
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