And they will say, ‘This land that was desolate has become like the garden of Eden, and the waste and desolate and ruined cities are now fortified and inhabited.’
English Standard Version (ESV)
It's easy to read this verse and just see a beautiful, restored landscape. But look closer: it's not just the land, but also the cities that are transformed from ruined wastelands into fortified, inhabited places. This isn't just about returning nature's beauty; it's about the return of security and active life to what was utterly broken.
And they will say, ‘This land that was desolate has become like the garden of Eden, and the waste and desolate and ruined cities are now fortified and inhabited.’
English Standard Version (ESV)
Ezekiel is prophesying a future restoration for the land of Israel after its devastating exile. God declares He will cleanse His people, give them a new heart and Spirit, and bring them back to their land, which will be more fruitful than ever. This leads to astonishment from surrounding nations and travelers who witness the dramatic transformation from desolation to vibrant life.
Imagine a land so broken, so utterly ruined, that it becomes a byword. Then, picture that same land bursting back to life, more beautiful and fruitful than anyone dreamed. This verse paints that picture.
Ezekiel 36:35 uses the imagery of the Garden of Eden to describe the dramatic restoration of the land of Israel. Eden wasn't just a garden; it was God's perfect dwelling place, a symbol of ultimate beauty, fertility, and peace.
Desolate cities don't just get rebuilt; they become 'fortified' and 'inhabited.' What does this transformation tell us about God's promise for His people?
The verse doesn't just speak of the land itself, but also of its cities, which had been left 'waste and desolate and ruined.' The promise is that these broken places will be transformed in two key ways:
Ask a follow-up
Who is speaking these words of wonder? And what does their testimony reveal about God's ultimate purpose?
The powerful declaration, 'And they will say...', is not just the prophet speaking; it's a prophecy of future observers testifying to God's incredible work. This points to a crucial aspect of the restoration:
Understand the original words
Eden · Hebrew Noun
The original paradise where God dwelt with humanity in perfect communion. In biblical prophecy, it serves as the archetype of future restoration, abundance, and the reversal of the curse.
Ezekiel's prophecy paints a picture of ultimate restoration after the devastating exile, transforming a land ruined by sin and conquest into a paradise, a promise that echoes throughout Israel's history and points to God's enduring faithfulness.
c. 722 BC
Assyrian Exile of Northern Kingdom
The Northern Kingdom of Israel (10 tribes) is conquered and exiled by the Assyrian Empire, marking a significant period of desolation for that part of the land.
597 BC
First Babylonian Deportation
Babylon under Nebuchadnezzar deports a portion of Judah's population, including important figures like Ezekiel himself and King Jehoiachin, after a revolt.
586 BC— this verse
Fall of Jerusalem and Second Deportation
Nebuchadnezzar destroys Jerusalem and its Temple, exiling the majority of the remaining population to Babylon. This event plunges the land into profound ruin and desolation.
c. 539 BC
Cyrus's Edict Allows Return
The Persian Empire, under Cyrus the Great, conquers Babylon and issues an edict allowing exiled peoples, including the Jews, to return to their homelands.
c. 516 BC
Second Temple Completed
The returned exiles, though facing hardship and a less glorious structure than Solomon's Temple, complete the rebuilding of the Jerusalem Temple, a sign of hope and restoration.
c. 458 BC - 432 BC
Ezra and Nehemiah's Reforms
The spiritual and civic restoration of Jerusalem continues under Ezra and Nehemiah, focusing on religious law and rebuilding the city walls, further preparing the land for future blessing.
This passage describes the original Garden of Eden, setting the benchmark for the lushness and divine favor that Ezekiel's prophecy promises will be restored to the land.
Isaiah 51:3Isaiah echoes this prophetic vision, stating that the Lord will make Zion's wilderness like Eden, directly linking the restoration of the land to a paradise-like state.
Jeremiah 31:23-24This prophecy foretells a future restoration for Israel where 'goodness' will be declared upon the land and its cities, reflecting the same theme of renewed habitation and prosperity.
Revelation 21:1-4This New Testament passage describes a new heaven and new earth where God dwells with humanity, a final, ultimate fulfillment of the Edenic restoration promised in Ezekiel, bringing perfect dwelling and no more sorrow.
clarkeEzekiel 36:35: "And they shall say, This land that was desolate is become like the garden of Eden; and the waste and desolate and ruined cities are become fenced, and are inhabited."
This land that was desolate by sin, is become like the garden of Eden by righteousness - Satan's blast is removed; God's blessing has taken place.
jfbEzekiel 36:35: "And they shall say, This land that was desolate is become like the garden of Eden; and the waste and desolate and ruined cities are become fenced, and are inhabited."
- they shall say—The heathen, who once made Israel's desolation a ground of reproach against the name of Jehovah Himself (Eze 36:20, 21); but now He so vindicates its sanctity (Eze 36:22, 23) that these same heathen are constrained to acknowledge Israel's more than renewed blessedness to be God's own work, and a…
It's easy to read this verse and just see a beautiful, restored landscape. But look closer: it's not just the land, but also the cities that are transformed from ruined wastelands into fortified, inhabited places. This isn't just about returning nature's beauty; it's about the return of security and active life to what was utterly broken.
Ezekiel is prophesying a future restoration for the land of Israel after its devastating exile. God declares He will cleanse His people, give them a new heart and Spirit, and bring them back to their land, which will be more fruitful than ever. This leads to astonishment from surrounding nations and travelers who witness the dramatic transformation from desolation to vibrant life.
Ezekiel is prophesying a future restoration for the land of Israel after its devastating exile. God declares He will cleanse His people, give them a new heart and Spirit, and bring them back to their land, which will be more fruitful than ever. This leads to astonishment from surrounding nations and travelers who witness the dramatic transformation from desolation to vibrant life.
"And they will say, ‘This land that was desolate has become like the garden of Eden, and the waste and desolate and ruined cities are now fortified and inhabited.’" — It's easy to read this verse and just see a beautiful, restored landscape. But look closer: it's not just the land, but also the cities that are transformed from ruined wastelands into fortified, i…
Get the original Greek and Hebrew, verse-by-verse context, and related passages inside the app.
Last reviewed October 2026