It’s easy to focus on the freedom and fruitfulness, but notice how God links this future abundance to the people's knowledge of Him. The true breakthrough isn't just the breaking of chains or the yield of the land, but that experiencing God's deliverance will lead them to a profound, personal understanding of who Jehovah truly is.
And the trees of the field shall yield their fruit, and the earth shall yield its increase, and they shall be secure in their land. And they shall know that I am the LORD, when I break the bars of their yoke, and deliver them from the hand of those who enslaved them.
English Standard Version (ESV)
This verse arrives after God, through Ezekiel, has just condemned the unfaithful shepherds (leaders) of Israel and promised to appoint a new, true Shepherd in King David. It paints a picture of abundant peace and security that will come when God himself breaks the oppressive yoke imposed by foreign nations and liberates His people from their enslavers. This deliverance is presented not just as a political event, but as a divine act that will profoundly reveal God's power and faithfulness to them.
Ever felt like life's burdens are weighing you down, stealing your joy and productivity? This verse paints a picture of a radical turnaround.
Ezekiel prophesies a future where the land itself flourishes. 'The tree of the field shall yield her fruit, and the earth shall yield its increase.' This isn't just about crops; it's about a full, abundant life flowing from God's blessing. When God breaks the 'bands of their yoke' – the oppressive power of their captors – His people won't just be free; they'll be secure in their land, able to live and thrive without fear. It's a picture of liberation that restores not just freedom, but fruitfulness.
What does it mean to truly 'know' God? This verse suggests it's more than just intellectual assent; it's experiencing His power firsthand.
The ultimate purpose of this deliverance is relational. The text explicitly states, 'And they shall know that I am the LORD.' This knowing isn't just about recognizing God's name, but understanding His character and power through His actions. When God shatters the 'yoke' and pulls His people from the grip of those who 'served themselves of them' (who treated them like slaves), His identity as their powerful, covenant-keeping Lord is revealed. It’s in our deepest times of need and His most profound acts of rescue that our understanding of who God truly is becomes most real.
Understand the original words
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YHWH · Hebrew Noun
The covenant name of the one true God of Israel (Yahweh). It denotes His eternal, self-existent, and faithful nature, particularly in His relationship with His people.
motah · Hebrew Noun
A metaphorical instrument of servitude or oppression. Breaking the yoke signifies liberation from tyranny, sin, or foreign subjugation, restoring freedom to serve God.
natsal · Hebrew Verb
The act of rescuing or setting someone free from danger, oppression, or captivity. In Scripture, it is a primary work of God on behalf of His people.
abad · Hebrew Verb
The act of being under the power or control of another against one's will, often used to describe Israel’s suffering under pagan nations due to their disobedience.
This prophecy, delivered during the Babylonian exile, paints a vivid picture of future restoration. God promises not just a return to the land, but a complete breaking of oppressive yokes and a renewal of abundance, assuring His people that He alone is their true deliverer.
c. 722 BC
Fall of Samaria and Assyrian Exile
The Northern Kingdom of Israel falls to the Assyrian Empire, leading to the exile of its population and the scattering of the ten tribes. This event marks a significant loss of land and sovereignty for a part of God's people.
605 BC
First Deportation to Babylon
Under Nebuchadnezzar, the Babylonian Empire begins its campaigns against Judah. The first wave of exiles, including prominent figures and nobles, are taken to Babylon.
597 BC
Second Deportation to Babylon
Following a revolt, Jerusalem is besieged again, and King Jehoiachin along with thousands more Judeans, including the prophet Ezekiel, are exiled to Babylon.
586 BC— this verse
Destruction of Jerusalem and Temple
Nebuchadnezzar conquers Judah, destroys Jerusalem and its magnificent Temple, and exiles the majority of the remaining population to Babylon. This is a devastating low point for the people of God.
539 BC
Cyrus the Great's Conquest of Babylon
The Persian Empire under Cyrus conquers Babylon. This event paves the way for the eventual return of the Jewish exiles to their homeland.
538 BC
Edict of Cyrus Allowing Return
Cyrus issues a decree permitting the Jewish exiles to return to Judah and rebuild their Temple. This marks the beginning of the return from Babylonian captivity.
This passage describes the liberation and security God promises to His people after obedience, echoing the breaking of the 'yoke' and the assurance of safety found in Ezekiel 34:27.
Jeremiah 2:20Jeremiah speaks of Israel breaking its own yoke and serving foreign gods, contrasting with Ezekiel's prophecy of God breaking their oppressive yoke.
Isaiah 58:6This passage describes the 'kind of fast' God chooses: loosening the bonds of wickedness and letting the oppressed go free, a concept that parallels God's act of breaking the yoke in Ezekiel.
Psalm 67:6This Psalm speaks of the earth yielding its increase and God blessing His people, mirroring the agricultural abundance and security promised in Ezekiel 34:27.
Galatians 5:1Paul urges believers to stand firm in the liberty Christ has granted, reflecting the spiritual liberation from oppressive yokes that is a core theme in Ezekiel's prophecy.
pooleEzekiel 34:27: "And the tree of the field shall yield her fruit, and the earth shall yield her increase, and they shall be safe in their land, and shall know that I am the LORD, when I have broken the bands of their yoke, and delivered them out of the hand of those that served themselves of them."
The tree of the field; either those that are planted by man’s industry in the field, or those that grow wild in the field, and yield fruit, as the oak, pine, &c. The earth, tilled by man. Her increase…
jfbEzekiel 34:27: "And the tree of the field shall yield her fruit, and the earth shall yield her increase, and they shall be safe in their land, and shall know that I am the LORD, when I have broken the bands of their yoke, and delivered them out of the hand of those that served themselves of them."
- served themselves of them—availed themselves of their services, as if the Jews were their slaves (Jer 22:13; 25:14; compare Ge 15:13; Ex 1:14).
It’s easy to focus on the freedom and fruitfulness, but notice how God links this future abundance to the people's knowledge of Him. The true breakthrough isn't just the breaking of chains or the yield of the land, but that experiencing God's deliverance will lead them to a profound, personal understanding of who Jehovah truly is.
This verse arrives after God, through Ezekiel, has just condemned the unfaithful shepherds (leaders) of Israel and promised to appoint a new, true Shepherd in King David. It paints a picture of abundant peace and security that will come when God himself breaks the oppressive yoke imposed by foreign nations and liberates His people from their enslavers. This deliverance is presented not just as a political event, but as a divine act that will profoundly reveal God's power and faithfulness to them.
This verse arrives after God, through Ezekiel, has just condemned the unfaithful shepherds (leaders) of Israel and promised to appoint a new, true Shepherd in King David. It paints a picture of abundant peace and security that will come when God himself breaks the oppressive yoke imposed by foreign nations and liberates His people from their enslavers. This deliverance is presented not just as a political event, but as a divine act that will profoundly reveal God's power and faithfulness to them.
"And the trees of the field shall yield their fruit, and the earth shall yield its increase, and they shall be secure in their land. And they shall know that I am the LORD, when I break the bars of their yoke, and deliver them from the hand…" — It’s easy to focus on the freedom and fruitfulness, but notice how God links this future abundance to the people's knowledge of Him. The true breakthrough isn't just the breaking of chains or the y…
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Last reviewed October 2026
