Ezekiel 36:12
I will let people walk on you, even my people Israel. And they shall possess you, and you shall be their inheritance, and you shall no longer bereave them of children.
English Standard Version (ESV)
This page isn't yet indexed by search engines.
The verse promises that the land, once barren and potentially dangerous, will now be a secure home for God's people. It flips the narrative from loss and emptiness to abundance and belonging, so much so that the land itself will cease to be the cause of their sorrow and instead become their cherished inheritance.
Following a powerful vision of God's judgment on the nations surrounding Israel and a promise of renewal for the mountains of Israel, this verse transitions to describe the land's future inhabitants. It emphasizes that instead of desolation and wild beasts, the land will be settled and cherished by God's own people, Israel, who will reclaim it as their permanent inheritance and no longer suffer the loss of loved ones.
Imagine returning to a place you once called home, only to find it utterly ruined and deserted. That was the reality for Israel's land before God's promise.
This verse paints a powerful picture of restoration. Before, wild beasts roamed the desolate mountains of Israel. But God declares a dramatic reversal: 'I will cause men to walk upon you.' This isn't just about people passing through; it signifies a return to normalcy, habitation, and peaceful occupation.
The End of Desolation
The deepest grief can be the loss of children, leaving a family line and a future cut short. God promises to end this sorrow for His people.
The phrase 'bereave them of children' (or 'bereave them of men' in some translations) points to a profound loss. In the context of ancient Israel, this meant not only a lack of offspring but also the tragic death of its people, leaving families broken and communities diminished.
From Grief to Gratitude
Understand the original words
nachalah · Hebrew Noun
A legal and relational status denoting ownership or occupation of land given by God, often emphasizing that the land belongs to God and is held by His people as a sacred trust.
shakal · Hebrew Verb
To cause to be childless or to experience the loss of offspring, often used in judgment contexts to signify the removal of a future and the cessation of covenant blessing.
The promise in Ezekiel 36:12 speaks directly to the devastating aftermath of Jerusalem's destruction and the Babylonian exile, assuring a future where the land, once ravaged and empty, will be restored to God's people as their secure inheritance.
Late 8th Century BC
Assyrian Conquest of Northern Kingdom
The Assyrian Empire conquers the northern Kingdom of Israel, exiling many of its inhabitants and repopulating the land with foreigners. This marks a significant loss of land and sovereignty for the Israelites.
597 BC
First Babylonian Deportation
The Babylonian Empire, under Nebuchadnezzar II, besieges Jerusalem and deports thousands of Judeans, including royalty and skilled workers, to Babylon. This is the first major blow to the southern Kingdom of Judah.
586 BC— this verse
Fall of Jerusalem and Temple Destruction
Nebuchadnezzar II completely destroys Jerusalem and its Temple, exiling the majority of the remaining population to Babylon. The land is left largely desolate and vulnerable.
c. 571 BC
Ezekiel's Prophecies Conclude
Ezekiel delivers his final recorded prophecy, offering messages of hope and restoration to the exiles in Babylon. This period marks a turning point from judgment to future promise.
This passage outlines God's blessings for obedience, including dwelling securely in the land and experiencing abundant life, mirroring Ezekiel's promise of the land becoming an inheritance and no longer causing loss of life.
Jeremiah 15:7This verse speaks of God 'bereaving' by destruction, a concept directly alluded to in Ezekiel 36:12 where the land will cease to be the cause of such loss for Israel.
Isaiah 60:15-16Isaiah foretells a time when nations will serve Israel and the land will be an eternal dwelling place, echoing Ezekiel's vision of Israel possessing the land as their inheritance and the end of its 'bereaving' power.
Deuteronomy 30:1-10This passage describes a future restoration where Israel, after being scattered, will return to the land, possess it, and experience renewed blessing and multiplication, aligning with Ezekiel's prophecy of possession and an end to loss.
cambridgeEzekiel 36:12: "Yea, I will cause men to walk upon you, even my people Israel; and they shall possess thee, and thou shalt be their inheritance, and thou shalt no more henceforth bereave them of men."
12 . bereave them of men ] Properly the term means to bereave of children, here it is used generally, to bereave the people, i.e. destroy its members, Jeremiah 15:7 .
gillEzekiel 36:12: "Yea, I will cause men to walk upon you, even my people Israel; and they shall possess thee, and thou shalt be their inheritance, and thou shalt no more henceforth bereave them of men."
Yea, I will cause men to walk upon you,.... And not beasts, as during the captivity; and that without fear of wild beasts, or any enemy; and not as travellers upon them, but as inhabitants of them; who shall walk to and fro upon them, as the owners of them, and doing their proper business there: e…
The verse promises that the land, once barren and potentially dangerous, will now be a secure home for God's people. It flips the narrative from loss and emptiness to abundance and belonging, so much so that the land itself will cease to be the cause of their sorrow and instead become their cherished inheritance.
Following a powerful vision of God's judgment on the nations surrounding Israel and a promise of renewal for the mountains of Israel, this verse transitions to describe the land's future inhabitants. It emphasizes that instead of desolation and wild beasts, the land will be settled and cherished by God's own people, Israel, who will reclaim it as their permanent inheritance and no longer suffer the loss of loved ones.
Following a powerful vision of God's judgment on the nations surrounding Israel and a promise of renewal for the mountains of Israel, this verse transitions to describe the land's future inhabitants. It emphasizes that instead of desolation and wild beasts, the land will be settled and cherished by God's own people, Israel, who will reclaim it as their permanent inheritance and no longer suffer the loss of loved ones.
Get the original Greek and Hebrew, verse-by-verse context, and related passages inside the app.
Ask a follow-up
Ask Sola things like:
Live chat about Ezekiel 36:12 is available in the Sola app.
539 BC
Cyrus the Great Captures Babylon
The Persian Empire, led by Cyrus the Great, conquers Babylon. This event opens the door for the exiled peoples, including the Judeans, to return to their homelands.
516 BC
Second Temple Completed
Following the return from exile, the Jewish people complete the rebuilding of the Temple in Jerusalem under Persian rule. This signifies a partial restoration of their religious and national life.
"I will let people walk on you, even my people Israel. And they shall possess you, and you shall be their inheritance, and you shall no longer bereave them of children." — The verse promises that the land, once barren and potentially dangerous, will now be a secure home for God's people. It flips the narrative from loss and emptiness to abundance and belonging, so much…
