Lexical Summary hallezu: Praise Original Word: הַלֵּזוּ Strong's Exhaustive Concordance this Another form of hallazeh; that -- this. see HEBREW hallazeh NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originthe same as hallazeh, q.v. Brown-Driver-Briggs הַלֵּ֫זוּ Ezekiel 36:35(feminine) הָאָרֶץ הַלֵּ֫זוּ. Topical Lexicon Definition and Function הַלֵּזוּ serves as an emphatic demonstrative, pointing with vivid immediacy to something present or presently perceived. Instead of a detached “that,” it conveys “this right here,” strengthening the certainty and visibility of what is indicated. Biblical Occurrence Ezekiel 36:35 is the sole canonical use: “And they will say, ‘This land that was desolate has become like the Garden of Eden; and the cities that were desolate, ruined, and destroyed are now fortified and inhabited.’” (Ezekiel 36:35) Historical Background Ezekiel ministered to the Judean exiles in Babylon around 593–571 BC. Chapter 36 answers the despair of a displaced nation by promising a divine reversal of fortune: instead of shame and barrenness, the land—and by extension the people—will experience restoration. The demonstrative הַלֵּזוּ highlights the startling contrast between past devastation and future glory, underscoring the credibility of God’s pledge at the very moment it is witnessed. Theological Significance 1. Divine Faithfulness: The demonstrative situates restoration in real, observable history. God’s promises are not abstract; they are verifiable. Prophetic and Messianic Dimensions The passage belongs to a larger block (Ezekiel 34–39) that many understand as foreshadowing the Messianic age. The tangible “this land” prefigures the Messianic kingdom in which the curse on the ground is rolled back (Romans 8:19–21). In premillennial readings, Ezekiel 36:35 previews the millennial restoration of Israel. In amillennial perspectives, it embodies the inaugurated new-creation reality realized through Christ and awaiting consummation. Practical Ministry Applications • Encouragement for Restoration Ministries: Whether reclaiming derelict neighborhoods or rebuilding broken lives, the emphatic “this” assures believers that present ruins can become present gardens. Related Themes Demonstratives often punctuate divine acts: “this day” (Exodus 14:13), “this stone” (Joshua 24:27). They transform memory into testimony by fixing attention on concrete fulfillment. Summary הַלֵּזוּ in Ezekiel 36:35 trains the reader’s eye on a specific, observable work of God that turns desolation into Edenic beauty. Its lone appearance is a masterstroke of prophetic rhetoric, making the promise of restoration tangible, verifying God’s covenant faithfulness, and inviting every generation to expect—and recognize—His transformative grace in their own “this” moment. Forms and Transliterations הַלֵּ֙זוּ֙ הלזו hal·lê·zū halLezu hallêzūLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Ezekiel 36:35 HEB: וְאָמְר֗וּ הָאָ֤רֶץ הַלֵּ֙זוּ֙ הַנְּשַׁמָּ֔ה הָיְתָ֖ה KJV: And they shall say, This land INT: will say land This desolate has become 1 Occurrence |
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