Bible Strands
Ezekiel 36:23
I will show the holiness of My great name, which has been profaned among the nations—the name you have profaned among them. Then the nations will know that I am the LORD, declares the Lord GOD, when I show My holiness in you before their eyes.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — The Lord GOD speaks to the house of Israel through Ezekiel during a prophecy of restoration following their exile. He delivers this declaration immediately after stating that His forthcoming actions will be motivated by His own holy name rather than Israel's merit.
The words — The Hebrew verb קִדַּשְׁתִּי (ki.dash.Ti) literally means "I will show holy" or "I will make holy," contrasted with חִלַּלְתֶּם (chi.lal.Tem), meaning "you have profaned." These terms establish the verse's core contrast between Israel's past dishonor and God's future vindication.
The thread — This pattern of God vindicating His name before the nations runs through Ezekiel 20:41, where gathering the scattered people precedes divine acceptance, and Isaiah 5:16, which ties God's holiness directly to His righteous acts. Psalm 46:10 addresses the people with "Be still and know that I am God," then states God will be exalted among the nations without commanding the nations themselves to recognize His status.
Why it lands — The text requires readers to acknowledge that divine action is driven by God's reputation rather than human worthiness. It demands that readers accept God's public vindication before the nations as the definitive proof of His identity.
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
And I will sanctify my great name, which was profaned among the heathen, which ye have profaned in the midst of them; and the heathen shall know that I am the Lord, saith the Lord God, when I shall be sanctified in you before their eyes.
Cross-references
- Ezekiel 20:41 When I bring you from the peoples and gather you from the lands to which you have been scattered, I will accept you as a pleasing aroma. And I will show My holiness through you in the sight of the nations.
- Psalms 46:10 “Be still and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted over the earth.”
- Isaiah 5:16 But the LORD of Hosts will be exalted by His justice, and the holy God will show Himself holy in righteousness.
- Ezekiel 39:7 So I will make My holy name known among My people Israel and will no longer allow it to be profaned. Then the nations will know that I am the LORD, the Holy One in Israel.
- 1 Peter 2:9 But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God’s own possession, to proclaim the virtues of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light.
- Psalms 126:1 A song of ascents. When the LORD restored the captives of Zion, we were like dreamers.
- Ezekiel 39:28 Then they will know that I am the LORD their God, when I regather them to their own land, not leaving any of them behind after their exile among the nations.
- Ezekiel 28:22 And you are to declare that this is what the Lord GOD says: ‘Behold, I am against you, O Sidon, and I will be glorified within you. They will know that I am the LORD when I execute judgments against her and demonstrate My holiness through her.
- Ezekiel 38:22 I will execute judgment upon him with plague and bloodshed. I will pour out torrents of rain, hailstones, fire, and sulfur on him and on his troops and on the many nations with him.
- Daniel 2:47 The king said to Daniel, “Your God is truly the God of gods and Lord of kings, the Revealer of Mysteries, since you were able to reveal this mystery.”