What is the meaning of Ezekiel 39:28? Then they will know • “Then” reaches back to the defeat of Gog and the cleansing of the land in Ezekiel 38–39. After judgment falls on Israel’s enemies, a new awareness dawns on the nation. • Knowing God is more than mental assent; it is a heart-level recognition of His character and works (Ezekiel 36:23; Jeremiah 24:7). • The sequence is important: deliverance first, understanding second—just as at the Exodus (Exodus 14:30-31). that I am the LORD their God • “LORD” (YHWH) is God’s covenant name, and “their God” personalizes the relationship. The promise of Leviticus 26:12 and Jeremiah 31:33 comes into full bloom here. • This is a reversal of Israel’s earlier denial (Hosea 1:9). The covenant bond is reaffirmed publicly, fulfilling “you will be My people, and I will be your God” (Exodus 6:7; Revelation 21:3). • God’s reputation among the nations is also at stake (Ezekiel 36:22; Ezekiel 38:23); He stakes His name on Israel’s restoration. when I regather them to their own land • The regathering is God’s act, not merely a political movement. Deuteronomy 30:3-5 and Isaiah 11:11-12 anticipate the same divine initiative. • “Their own land” points to the literal territory promised to Abraham (Genesis 17:7-8). Ezekiel 37:21-22 ties the regathering to the unification of all Israel under one King. • This homecoming signals the end of wrath and the beginning of national blessing (Jeremiah 32:37-41). not leaving any of them behind • The promise is comprehensive—every covenant Jew is accounted for. Amos 9:9 echoes this: “Not a kernel will fall to the ground.” • It mirrors the shepherd imagery of Ezekiel 34:11-16: God searches for every sheep. • Total inclusion showcases God’s faithfulness; none are lost in the shuffle of history (John 6:39 applied spiritually, but illustrating the same certainty). after their exile among the nations • Exile was the covenant curse for sustained disobedience (Leviticus 26:33; Deuteronomy 28:64). Ezekiel lived among those exiles and foretold both judgment and hope. • History has validated the dispersion—from Babylon to the worldwide diaspora—yet God’s plan never stalled (Jeremiah 29:14). • The phrase underscores that restoration follows discipline; grace has the last word (Hosea 3:4-5; Ezekiel 37:12-14). summary Ezekiel 39:28 assures Israel—and every reader—that God’s judgments are purposeful and His promises unbreakable. After global exile, God Himself will bring His people back to the land He swore to their fathers, missing not a single soul. In that day Israel will experientially know that the LORD is their personal, covenant-keeping God, and the nations will witness His holiness displayed through them. |
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