Ezekiel 11:16

Therefore 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.’

Berean Standard Bible

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Study note

Setting — God speaks through Ezekiel to the Babylonian exiles, countering the Jerusalem residents who claim the exiles are cut off from divine favor and that the land belongs to those who remain.

The words — The phrase כִּי הִרְחַקְתִּי אֹתָם (ki hirchakti otam) translates literally as "because I removed them far away," identifying Yahweh as the agent of their dispersion rather than their abandonment.

The thread — The motif of divine presence amid geographic scattering appears in Deuteronomy 30:3 and Psalm 90:1, where God restores the displaced and functions as a generational dwelling place.

Why it lands — The text declares that God himself serves as a sanctuary for the exiles in their foreign lands, requiring readers to acknowledge his ongoing presence independent of the promised territory.

Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.

The Hebrew words

לָכֵ֣ןla./Khen<to>/ therefore אֱמֹ֗ר'e.Morsay כֹּֽה־koh-thus אָמַר֮'a.Marhe says אֲדֹנָ֣י'a.do.Nai[the] Lord יְהוִה֒Yah.wehYahweh כִּ֤יkithat הִרְחַקְתִּים֙hir.chak.Ti/mI have removed far away/ them בַּגּוֹיִ֔םba./go.Yimamong the/ nations וְכִ֥יve./Khiand/ that הֲפִֽיצוֹתִ֖יםha.fi.tzo.Ti/mI have scattered/ them בָּאֲרָצ֑וֹתba./'a.ra.Tzotamong the/ lands וָאֱהִ֤יva./'e.Hiand/ I have becomeלָהֶם֙la./Hemfor/ themלְמִקְדָּ֣שׁle./mik.Dash<into>/ a sanctuary מְעַ֔טme.'Ata little בָּאֲרָצ֖וֹתba./'a.ra.Tzotin the/ lands אֲשֶׁר־'a.Sher-where בָּ֥אוּBa.'uthey have gone שָֽׁם׃ סShamthere

King James Version

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.

Cross-references

Isaiah 8:14 And 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.
Deuteronomy 30:3 then He will restore you from captivity and have compassion on you and gather you from all the nations to which the LORD your God has scattered you.
Psalms 90:1 A prayer of Moses the man of God. Lord, You have been our dwelling place through all generations.
Psalms 91:1 He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will abide in the shadow of the Almighty.
Leviticus 26:44 Yet in spite of this, when they are in the land of their enemies, I will not reject or despise them so as to destroy them and break My covenant with them; for I am the LORD their God.
Psalms 31:20 You hide them in the secret place of Your presence from the schemes of men. You conceal them in Your shelter from accusing tongues.
Proverbs 18:10 The name of the LORD is a strong tower; the righteous run to it and are safe.
Jeremiah 30:11 For I am with you to save you, declares the LORD. Though I will completely destroy all the nations to which I have scattered you, I will not completely destroy you. Yet I will discipline you justly, and will by no means leave you unpunished.”
Jeremiah 31:10 Hear, O nations, the word of the LORD, and proclaim it in distant coastlands: “The One who scattered Israel will gather them and keep them as a shepherd keeps his flock.
Psalms 44:11 You have given us up as sheep to be devoured; You have scattered us among the nations.