Ezekiel 36:15
And I will not let you hear anymore the reproach of the nations, and you shall no longer bear the disgrace of the peoples and no longer cause your nation to stumble, declares the Lord GOD.”
English Standard Version (ESV)
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What's easily missed here is that God isn't just promising to stop other nations from mocking Israel; He's also promising that Israel will no longer be the cause of their own downfall through their sin. This verse reveals that the ultimate restoration isn't just about external validation, but an internal transformation that prevents them from stumbling anymore.
This promise comes as a comforting conclusion to a section where God rebukes the nations for their pride and joy in Israel's downfall. Ezekiel had just been describing how the surrounding peoples mocked and disgraced Israel, even rejoicing over their conquered land and dispersed people. Now, God declares He will end this cycle of shame, promising a future where His people are no longer subjected to the contempt of the nations or cause others to stumble through their own disgrace.
Have you ever felt the sting of public shame? Like your failures or your people's struggles are on display for everyone to mock?
In Ezekiel 36:15, God addresses a deep wound: the 'reproach of the nations.'
What This Means:
God’s promise here is a profound reversal: He will silence these mocking voices and end the cycle of shame.
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Why would God intervene so powerfully to stop national shame? It's not just about Israel's reputation, but something far greater.
Ezekiel 36:15 is deeply connected to God’s own honor. The nations weren't just mocking Israel; they were implicitly mocking the God of Israel.
God’s Reputation at Stake:
The promise in Ezekiel 36:15 feels incredibly strong. Was it fully realized when the exiles returned to Jerusalem?
While the return from Babylonian exile was a significant fulfillment, the commentators highlight that Ezekiel 36:15 points to an even greater, future restoration.
Beyond the Return:
This verse assures us that God’s restorative work is ultimately complete and eternal in Christ.
Understand the original words
cherpah · Hebrew Noun
A feeling of shame, scorn, or insult cast upon someone, often used in the Old Testament to describe the public humiliation of Israel when they are defeated or judged by pagan nations.
kelimmah · Hebrew Noun
A condition of dishonor or shame; in a biblical context, it often refers to the loss of reputation or standing before God or others due to sin or judgment.
kashal · Hebrew Verb
An object or action that causes someone to fall into sin or judgment; metaphorically, it refers to that which obstructs a person's walk with God or results in spiritual failure.
This prophecy in Ezekiel was given during the height of the Babylonian exile, a period when the Jewish people faced intense shame and reproach from surrounding nations. The promise to end this disgrace pointed beyond the partial restoration under Cyrus to a future, complete redemption when God's honor would be fully vindicated through His people.
Late 8th century BC
Assyrian Deportations Begin
The Neo-Assyrian Empire begins large-scale deportations of conquered peoples, including Israelites from the northern kingdom of Israel. This practice served to break up nationalistic resistance and was a precursor to the devastating exiles to come.
605 BC
First Babylonian Deportation
Under Nebuchadnezzar II, Babylon deports a group of Judean exiles, including members of the royal family and educated elite, to Babylon. This event marks the beginning of the Babylonian exile and includes the prophet Daniel.
597 BC— this verse
Second Babylonian Deportation
Nebuchadnezzar II deports more Judeans, including the prophet Ezekiel and King Jehoiachin, after a rebellion. This event intensifies the sense of national disgrace and loss for the Judean people.
586 BC
Fall of Jerusalem and Temple
Babylon destroys Jerusalem and its sacred Temple, exiling the majority of the remaining population. This catastrophic event represents the lowest point of national shame and divine abandonment for the Israelites.
c. 539 BC
Persian Conquest of Babylon
Cyrus the Great conquers the Babylonian Empire, paving the way for the eventual return of the Jewish exiles to Jerusalem.
538 BC
Edict of Cyrus and Return
Cyrus issues a decree allowing the Jewish exiles to return to Jerusalem and rebuild their Temple. This marks the beginning of the restoration, though the full restoration of national honor and divine presence is still future.
This passage echoes Ezekiel's promise of restoration and deliverance from shame, assuring Jacob that he will be saved from afar and his descendants from the land of their captivity, mirroring the end of reproach for God's people.
Zephaniah 3:19This verse directly addresses the removal of shame and reproach that Zephaniah's generation faced, speaking of God's intervention to rescue those who are lame or driven away, which aligns with Ezekiel's prophecy of ending the nations' taunts.
Isaiah 54:4This passage from Isaiah speaks to a future restoration where Israel will not be put to shame, directly echoing Ezekiel's promise that the reproach of the nations will cease and they will no longer bear disgrace.
Ezekiel 36:22-23These verses immediately following Ezekiel 36:15 explain the *reason* for ending the reproach: God's own name has been profaned among the nations, and He will act to sanctify His name by restoring and vindicating His people.
barnesEzekiel 36:15: "Neither will I cause men to hear in thee the shame of the heathen any more, neither shalt thou bear the reproach of the people any more, neither shalt thou cause thy nations to fall any more, saith the Lord GOD."
Hear in thee the shame of the pagan - Hear the pagan putting thee to shame by their contemptuous words. The reproach of the people - "Thy people" (thy rightful possessors) shall have no cause to reproach thee for want of fertility. Were the blessings promised here merel…
pulpitEzekiel 36:15: "Neither will I cause men to hear in thee the shame of the heathen any more, neither shalt thou bear the reproach of the people any more, neither shalt thou cause thy nations to fall any more, saith the Lord GOD."
Verse 15. - Neither will I cause men to hear in thee - let thee hear, proclaim against thee (Revised Version); or literally, cause to be heard against thee - the shame of the heathen any more; i.e. the contemptuous speech uttered against thee by the heathen, equivalent…
What's easily missed here is that God isn't just promising to stop other nations from mocking Israel; He's also promising that Israel will no longer be the cause of their own downfall through their sin. This verse reveals that the ultimate restoration isn't just about external validation, but an internal transformation that prevents them from stumbling anymore.
This promise comes as a comforting conclusion to a section where God rebukes the nations for their pride and joy in Israel's downfall. Ezekiel had just been describing how the surrounding peoples mocked and disgraced Israel, even rejoicing over their conquered land and dispersed people. Now, God declares He will end this cycle of shame, promising a future where His people are no longer subjected to the contempt of the nations or cause others to stumble through their own disgrace.
This promise comes as a comforting conclusion to a section where God rebukes the nations for their pride and joy in Israel's downfall. Ezekiel had just been describing how the surrounding peoples mocked and disgraced Israel, even rejoicing over their conquered land and dispersed people. Now, God declares He will end this cycle of shame, promising a future where His people are no longer subjected to the contempt of the nations or cause others to stumble through their own disgrace.
"And I will not let you hear anymore the reproach of the nations, and you shall no longer bear the disgrace of the peoples and no longer cause your nation to stumble, declares the Lord GOD.”" — What's easily missed here is that God isn't just promising to stop other nations from mocking Israel; He's also promising that Israel will no longer be the cause of their own downfall through the…
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