Bible Strands
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!
Berean Standard Bible
Follow its threads on the canvas →
Study note
Setting — The Lord GOD addresses the house of Israel, declaring that His forthcoming actions of cleansing and rebuilding will not be motivated by their merit. This declaration occurs between the call to loathe past iniquities and the promise to physically restore ruined cities.
The words — The phrase לְמַעַןְכֶם (le.ma.'an./Khem) translates to "for your sake," directly negated by לֹא (lo') meaning "not." The verb עֹשֶׂה ('o.Seh) conveys "about to act," emphasizing God's imminent and unilateral initiative.
The thread — This denial of human merit echoes Deuteronomy 9:5, where possession of the land is attributed to God's faithfulness rather than Israel's righteousness. The same declaration appears verbatim in Ezekiel 36:22, while Titus 3:3 parallels the recognition of prior foolishness and bondage to desires.
Why it lands — The text demands that Israel acknowledge their shame and disgrace for their own conduct before receiving unmerited restoration. It requires readers to separate divine grace from human achievement and to accept correction without presuming entitlement.
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
Not for your sakes do I this, saith the Lord God, be it known unto you: be ashamed and confounded for your own ways, O house of Israel.
Cross-references
- 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.
- 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.
- Titus 3:3 For at one time we too were foolish, disobedient, misled, and enslaved to all sorts of desires and pleasures—living in malice and envy, being hated and hating one another.
- 2 Timothy 1:9 He has saved us and called us to a holy calling, not because of our works, but by His own purpose and by the grace He granted us in Christ Jesus before time began.
- Ezra 9:6 and said: “O my God, I am ashamed and embarrassed to lift up my face to You, my God, because our iniquities are higher than our heads, and our guilt has reached the heavens.
- Ezekiel 16:63 so that when I make atonement for all you have done, you will remember and be ashamed and never again open your mouth because of your disgrace, declares the Lord GOD.”
- Daniel 9:18 Incline Your ear, O my God, and hear; open Your eyes and see the desolation of the city that bears Your name. For we are not presenting our petitions before You because of our righteous acts, but because of Your great compassion.
- Romans 6:21 What fruit did you reap at that time from the things of which you are now ashamed? The outcome of those things is death.
- 1 Peter 4:2 Consequently, he does not live out his remaining time on earth for human passions, but for the will of God.