Ezekiel 36:22

Therefore tell the house of Israel that this is what the Lord GOD says: It is not for your sake that I will act, O house of Israel, but for My holy name, which you profaned among the nations to which you went.

Berean Standard Bible

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Study note

Setting — The Lord GOD speaks through Ezekiel to the house of Israel during a prophetic declaration addressing their exile and the profanation of His name among the nations.

The words — The conjunction לָ/כֵ֞ן (la./Khen) translates literally as "therefore," marking the logical result of God's prior concern for His profaned name. The imperative אֱמֹ֣ר ('e.Mor) commands the prophet to deliver this specific declaration directly to the house of Israel.

The thread — The principle that God acts for the sake of His own name rather than human merit runs through Psalms 106:8 and Psalms 115:1, and is reiterated in Ezekiel 36:32.

Why it lands — The text requires the reader to acknowledge that divine action is grounded in the preservation of God's reputation, not in human worthiness, and to cease claiming credit for outcomes that originate in divine sovereignty.

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

King James Version

Therefore say unto the house of Israel, Thus saith the Lord God; I do not this for your sakes, O house of Israel, but for mine holy name’s sake, which ye have profaned among the heathen, whither ye went.

Cross-references

Psalms 106:8 Yet He saved them for the sake of His name, to make His power known.
Ezekiel 36:32 It is not for your sake that I will act, declares the Lord GOD—let it be known to you. Be ashamed and disgraced for your ways, O house of Israel!
Psalms 115:1 Not to us, O LORD, not to us, but to Your name be the glory, because of Your loving devotion, because of Your faithfulness.
Deuteronomy 7:7 The LORD did not set His affection on you and choose you because you were more numerous than the other peoples, for you were the fewest of all peoples.
Deuteronomy 9:5 It is not because of your righteousness or uprightness of heart that you are going in to possess their land, but it is because of their wickedness that the LORD your God is driving out these nations before you, to keep the promise He swore to your fathers, to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.