And the land that was desolate shall be tilled, instead of being the desolation that it was in the sight of all who passed by.
English Standard Version (ESV)
This verse highlights a profound transformation: the land isn't just not desolate, it's actively tilled. This isn't passive recovery, but active cultivation, signifying a restored purpose and fruitfulness that everyone can now see.
And the land that was desolate shall be tilled, instead of being the desolation that it was in the sight of all who passed by.
English Standard Version (ESV)
God is speaking through Ezekiel to promise restoration to the exiled Israelites, declaring He will cleanse them and bring them back to their land. This promise of renewal extends to the very soil, which had become barren and a wasteland due to their sin and subsequent judgment. God's powerful work will transform the land from a desolate sight into a fertile, cultivated place, a stark contrast visible to all observers.
Ezekiel paints a vivid picture of a land scarred by abandonment. But this isn't just about dirt and dust; it's a powerful metaphor for God's people.
The prophet describes a land that was once vibrant but has become a wasteland, an eyesore to all who pass by. This desolation mirrors the state of Israel during their exile – disconnected from their land, their identity, and their God. However, God promises a radical restoration. The tilling of this barren land signifies not just agricultural recovery, but a spiritual rebirth for His people. It’s a sign that what was broken and forgotten will be made productive and purposeful once more under God's new covenant.
God’s restoration isn't just external; it reaches into the deepest parts of us. What does it mean for our 'fallow ground' to be plowed?
The 'desolate land' isn't only a geographical reality; it's also a spiritual one. When the land lay fallow and untended, it reflects the condition of unrepentant hearts, barren of spiritual life and oblivious to God. The promise of the land being 'tilled' points to God's work in cultivating a new heart within His people. This 'tilling' involves plowing up the hard soil of sin and indifference, preparing the heart to receive God’s grace and sow the seeds of righteousness. It’s about a profound internal transformation that makes us receptive to God’s Spirit and productive in His service.
This promise goes beyond a simple fix; it’s about God’s active, creative power bringing life where there was none.
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The restoration described in Ezekiel 36 is an act of God’s sovereign power and faithfulness. He declares, 'I will...' This isn't a passive hope; it's a divine promise of intervention. The land, which was a testament to abandonment in the eyes of all observers, will become a testament to God's life-giving power. This renewal signifies a new era, a reversal of judgment into blessing, driven by God's unshakeable purpose to make His land and His people fruitful and a beacon of His presence once more.
Understand the original words
shemamah · Hebrew Noun
A state of being laid waste, empty, or ruined. It often represents the visible consequence of divine judgment upon land or people due to persistent rebellion.
Ezekiel's prophecy envisions a future restoration far beyond a mere return from exile. It speaks of a spiritual and agricultural renewal so profound that the devastated land, once an object of pity and scorn to passersby, will become a vibrant testament to God's faithfulness.
597 BC
First Babylonian Deportation
King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon deports King Jehoiachin and many Jewish leaders and artisans to Babylon. This marks the beginning of the Jewish exile.
586 BC— this verse
Fall of Jerusalem and Second Deportation
Babylonian forces destroy Jerusalem and its Temple, and deport more of the population, including the prophet Ezekiel. The land is left devastated.
c. 586-538 BC
The Babylonian Exile
The majority of the Jewish people are living in exile in Babylon, experiencing hardship and longing for their homeland. The land of Judah is largely abandoned and neglected.
539 BC
Cyrus the Great Conquers Babylon
Cyrus, king of Persia, conquers Babylon, ending the Babylonian Empire. This shift in power opens the door for the return of the exiles.
538 BC
Edict of Cyrus and Return of Exiles
Cyrus issues a decree allowing the Jewish exiles to return to Judah and rebuild the Temple. This marks the beginning of the return and restoration period.
This passage speaks of restoring Jerusalem and its inhabitants, likening it to bringing health and healing, which parallels Ezekiel's vision of a land transformed from desolation to fruitfulness.
Isaiah 61:4Isaiah foretells that the people will rebuild the desolate places and restore ruins, directly echoing the theme of a land brought back to life and cultivation after destruction.
Leviticus 26:34-35This earlier passage describes the land enjoying its Sabbaths when desolate because the people were exiled, implying that its restoration and tilling is a sign of their return and God's favor.
Romans 8:19-22The Apostle Paul speaks of the creation groaning in eager expectation of its own liberation from decay, a concept that resonates with Ezekiel's prophecy of a land, a part of creation, being freed from its desolate state.
pooleEzekiel 36:34: "And the desolate land shall be tilled, whereas it lay desolate in the sight of all that passed by."
No text from Poole on this verse.
gillEzekiel 36:34: "And the desolate land shall be tilled, whereas it lay desolate in the sight of all that passed by."
And the desolate land shall be tilled,.... The land of Judea, which lay desolate during the captivity, and which now is under the dominion of the Turks, and in a ruinous state, shall be manured and cultivated, and become fruitful, as it formerly was: or the people of the Jews, who, in a spiritual sense, are like barren and uncultivated ground; these shall have the fallow ground of…
This verse highlights a profound transformation: the land isn't just not desolate, it's actively tilled. This isn't passive recovery, but active cultivation, signifying a restored purpose and fruitfulness that everyone can now see.
God is speaking through Ezekiel to promise restoration to the exiled Israelites, declaring He will cleanse them and bring them back to their land. This promise of renewal extends to the very soil, which had become barren and a wasteland due to their sin and subsequent judgment. God's powerful work will transform the land from a desolate sight into a fertile, cultivated place, a stark contrast visible to all observers.
God is speaking through Ezekiel to promise restoration to the exiled Israelites, declaring He will cleanse them and bring them back to their land. This promise of renewal extends to the very soil, which had become barren and a wasteland due to their sin and subsequent judgment. God's powerful work will transform the land from a desolate sight into a fertile, cultivated place, a stark contrast visible to all observers.
"And the land that was desolate shall be tilled, instead of being the desolation that it was in the sight of all who passed by." — This verse highlights a profound transformation: the land isn't just not desolate, it's actively tilled. This isn't passive recovery, but active cultivation, signifying a restored purpose and fru…
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Last reviewed October 2026