“Son of man, the inhabitants of these waste places in the land of Israel keep saying, ‘Abraham was only one man, yet he got possession of the land; but we are many; the land is surely given us to possess.’
English Standard Version (ESV)
These survivors aren't just facing desolation; they're twisting God's promises, clinging to a distorted idea that Abraham's singular inheritance means their numerousness guarantees them the land. They focus on their quantity and Abraham's original promise, completely ignoring the covenant's conditions and their own present disobedience.
“Son of man, the inhabitants of these waste places in the land of Israel keep saying, ‘Abraham was only one man, yet he got possession of the land; but we are many; the land is surely given us to possess.’
English Standard Version (ESV)
Ezekiel is speaking to the remnant of Israelites who remained in the devastated land after Jerusalem's fall, clinging to false hope. These survivors, living amidst the ruins, argue that since Abraham alone was promised the land, they, as his numerous descendants, are surely meant to possess it and rebuild. They use their lineage as proof of divine favor, ignoring the devastating judgment that has already occurred and the conditions for God's blessing.
Many people today, like those in Ezekiel's time, claim a special status or blessing based on their heritage or group affiliation. But does that guarantee God's favor?
The people left in the "wastes" of Israel were a remnant, likely those who had hidden or fled and then returned, or were allowed to stay. They looked at their situation and thought their numbers meant God's promise of the land to Abraham still applied fully to them.
Their argument was simple: 'Abraham was just one man, and God promised him the land. We are many, his descendants, so surely the land is ours to keep!' They were clinging to a promise without considering the conditions attached.
This is a classic example of people misapplying God's promises by focusing on lineage or group identity instead of the relationship with God that the promises were built upon. They were trusting in an outward sign—their Abrahamic heritage—rather than an inward reality of faith and obedience.
These people believed they already possessed the land by right of Abraham's promise. But what did 'possession' truly mean, and were they actually living in it?
The inhabitants of the waste places were living in a land devastated by war. It was a place of ruin, emptied of its people and stripped of its bounty.
Yet, they argued, 'the land is surely given us to possess.' This reveals a critical disconnect. Abraham, too, was promised the land, but for much of his life, he lived in it as a sojourner, a 'stranger and pilgrim' (as Hebrews 11:13 puts it).
Their 'possession' was a fragile, unauthorized presence amidst destruction. They confused the promise of perpetual inheritance with immediate, unconditional ownership, ignoring the fact that obedience and faithfulness were always tied to enjoying the blessings of the land.
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Understand the original words
ben-adam · Hebrew Noun phrase
A title used frequently for Ezekiel, emphasizing his humanity in contrast to the majesty of God. It highlights the prophet's role as a representative of mankind before God and God's messenger to man.
Abraham · Hebrew Noun
The patriarch chosen by God to be the father of a great nation. In theology, he is the model of faith and the recipient of the covenant promises, including the land, which were based on God's grace and his obedience.
erets · Hebrew Noun
In biblical usage, this refers to the historical territory promised by God to Abraham and his descendants. It is a sign of God's covenantal blessing, conditional upon the nation's faithfulness to Him.
These verses reveal a dangerous spiritual blindness. Even amidst the desolation of their homeland and the stark reality of exile, a remnant clings to a distorted sense of entitlement based on their ancestry, completely ignoring the covenant's conditions of obedience and faithfulness.
c. 722 BC
Assyrian Conquest of Northern Kingdom
The Northern Kingdom of Israel falls to Assyria, leading to the exile of many of its people and the repopulation of the land with foreigners.
597 BC
First Babylonian Deportation
King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon deports a significant portion of Jerusalem's elite and skilled workers, including the prophet Ezekiel, to Babylon.
586 BC
Fall of Jerusalem and Destruction of Temple
Babylonian forces conquer Jerusalem, destroy Solomon's Temple, and deport most of the remaining population, leaving only the poorest.
c. 586 BC— this verse
Remnant Left in Devastated Land
A small group of impoverished Jews are left behind in Judah, living amongst the ruins and devastated landscape after the Babylonian conquest.
c. 585-582 BC
Assassination of Gedaliah
Gedaliah, the Babylonian-appointed governor, is murdered by Jewish dissidents, leading to a further wave of fear and ultimately a forced flight of many remaining Jews to Egypt.
This passage lays out God's initial promise to Abraham to make him into a great nation and give him the land, which is the very promise these inhabitants are misusing.
Matthew 3:9John the Baptist directly confronts a similar boastful reliance on Abrahamic descent without genuine repentance, highlighting the folly of thinking lineage alone guarantees God's favor.
Romans 4:13This passage clarifies that Abraham's inheritance of the land was through faith and righteousness, not just his status as patriarch, directly countering the flawed logic in Ezekiel.
Galatians 3:7Paul echoes the idea that true descendants of Abraham are those who have faith, not merely those who are biologically related, underscoring that these inhabitants' claim is based on a superficial understanding.
Jeremiah 7:4This prophetic warning shows a similar pattern of people relying on the 'temple of the Lord' as a guarantee of safety, without changing their ways, much like the inhabitants' misplaced trust in their claim to the land.
clarkeEzekiel 33:24: "Son of man, they that inhabit those wastes of the land of Israel speak, saying, Abraham was one, and he inherited the land: but we are many; the land is given us for inheritance."
Abraham was one - If he was called to inherit the land when he was alone, and had the whole to himself, why may we not expect to be established here, who are his posterity, and are many? They wished to remain in the land and be happy after the Chaldeans had carried the rest away captives.
pooleEzekiel 33:24: "Son of man, they that inhabit those wastes of the land of Israel speak, saying, Abraham was one, and he inherited the land: but we are many; the land is given us for inheritance."
They that inhabit; who were left behind, having either hid themselves, but now come out of their holes, or returned from neighbour countries, whither they fled, or permitted by the conqueror to stay and plant vineyards. Wastes; places once very fruitful and abounding with people, but now by the spoil o…
These survivors aren't just facing desolation; they're twisting God's promises, clinging to a distorted idea that Abraham's singular inheritance means their numerousness guarantees them the land. They focus on their quantity and Abraham's original promise, completely ignoring the covenant's conditions and their own present disobedience.
Ezekiel is speaking to the remnant of Israelites who remained in the devastated land after Jerusalem's fall, clinging to false hope. These survivors, living amidst the ruins, argue that since Abraham alone was promised the land, they, as his numerous descendants, are surely meant to possess it and rebuild. They use their lineage as proof of divine favor, ignoring the devastating judgment that has already occurred and the conditions for God's blessing.
Ezekiel is speaking to the remnant of Israelites who remained in the devastated land after Jerusalem's fall, clinging to false hope. These survivors, living amidst the ruins, argue that since Abraham alone was promised the land, they, as his numerous descendants, are surely meant to possess it and rebuild. They use their lineage as proof of divine favor, ignoring the devastating judgment that has already occurred and the conditions for God's blessing.
"“Son of man, the inhabitants of these waste places in the land of Israel keep saying, ‘Abraham was only one man, yet he got possession of the land; but we are many; the land is surely given us to possess.’" — These survivors aren't just facing desolation; they're twisting God's promises, clinging to a distorted idea that Abraham's singular inheritance means their numerousness guarantees them the land. The…
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Last reviewed October 2026