Ezekiel 36:35-36
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It's not just that the land becomes beautiful and inhabited again; the surprising part is who will declare it. Those who once mocked Israel's ruin, and therefore God's power, will be silenced and compelled to witness this transformation, acknowledging it as God's undeniable work. This speaks to the ultimate vindication of God's name in the eyes of the whole world.
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.’ Then the nations that are left all around you shall know that I am the LORD; I have rebuilt the ruined places and replanted that which was desolate. I am the LORD; I have spoken, and I will do it.
English Standard Version (ESV)
This verse comes right after God promises to cleanse Israel, give them a new heart, and restore them to their land. It paints a picture of astonished onlookers – possibly former enemies or travelers – marveling at the radical transformation of a land once ravaged by war and abandonment. They will witness ruined cities rebuilt and fortified, and the desolate landscape blooming like the very Garden of Eden, all as a testament to God's powerful renewal.
Imagine the world’s most unlikely transformation. A land stripped bare, mocked by its enemies, suddenly bursts forth with life and beauty. This isn't just a nice story; it’s a divine statement.
A Witness to the Nations
The surrounding nations had used Israel’s destruction as proof that their God was weak or nonexistent. They saw the desolate land and the ruined cities as evidence of Jehovah's defeat.
But God promises a reversal so dramatic that these same onlookers will be stunned. They won't just see a rebuilt nation; they'll see God's own power and faithfulness vindicated. Their initial mockery will turn to awe, and they’ll be forced to acknowledge that this incredible restoration is none other than the work of the true God, leading them to glorify His name.
When the Bible compares a transformed land to the Garden of Eden, it’s not just talking about pretty scenery. What deeper reality is being painted here?
A Return to God's Intentions
The Garden of Eden wasn’t just a beautiful place; it was a place of perfect fellowship between God and humanity, and of life lived according to His design. When Ezekiel describes the restored land as like Eden, he’s pointing to a profound spiritual renewal.
This restoration signifies a land freed from sin's curse, experiencing God’s blessing and presence once more. The cities, once ruins, are now 'fenced' – fortified and safe – symbolizing a people protected and thriving under God's reign. It’s a picture of a redeemed community living in fruitful, secure relationship with their Creator, reflecting His original purpose for humanity.
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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.
YHWH · Hebrew Noun
The covenant name of God (YHWH), revealed to Moses, emphasizing His self-existence, eternal nature, and faithfulness to His covenant promises toward His people.
shemamah · Hebrew Adjective
Desolate, laid waste, or ruined; often refers to land or cities that have been devastated as a result of divine judgment for sin, yet awaiting restoration.
Ezekiel's prophecy points to a future, radical transformation of the land of Israel from utter desolation to a flourishing state, a stark contrast to the historical periods of conquest, exile, and gradual return that preceded and followed his ministry.
722 BC
Fall of Samaria and Northern Kingdom
The Assyrian Empire conquers the northern Kingdom of Israel, deporting a significant portion of its population and resettling the land with foreigners. This marks a major step in Israel's desolation.
586 BC
Fall of Jerusalem and Southern Kingdom
The Neo-Babylonian Empire destroys Jerusalem and its Temple, exiling most of the remaining Judeans. This leaves the land of Judah desolate and in ruins.
c. 538 BC
Edict of Cyrus and Return of Exiles
The Persian King Cyrus the Great allows the exiled Judeans to return to their homeland and rebuild the Temple. While a hopeful beginning, the land remains largely in ruins and sparsely populated for generations.
c. 571 BC— this verse
Ezekiel's Vision of Restoration
Ezekiel receives prophetic visions during the Babylonian exile, including detailed descriptions of a restored land and Temple, and the spiritual renewal of God's people.
4th - 1st century BC
Period of Second Temple Reconstruction
Following the exile, the Judeans gradually re-establish themselves in their land, rebuilding cities and communities. However, the land doesn't yet fully resemble the idealized 'garden of Eden' promised in Ezekiel's vision.
1st - 2nd century AD
Jesus' Ministry and Early Church
The land sees spiritual revival through Jesus' ministry and the spread of the early church, fulfilling aspects of the spiritual restoration promised by Ezekiel.
This passage echoes Ezekiel's vision, promising that Zion will be transformed from a desolate wilderness into a garden like Eden, mirroring the idea of renewal and fertility for the land.
Joel 2:3This passage presents the converse of Ezekiel 36:35, describing the land as a 'garden of Eden' before a destructive force, highlighting the contrast between devastation and flourishing that Ezekiel's prophecy foretells.
Revelation 21:4This New Testament passage describes a future state where God dwells with humanity, wiping away every tear and eliminating death, pain, and sorrow, resonating with the ultimate fulfillment of a restored and perfect dwelling place envisioned in Ezekiel.
Genesis 2:8This foundational passage introduces the Garden of Eden as God's initial perfect creation, serving as the ultimate ideal against which Ezekiel's prophecy of a restored land is measured, emphasizing the return to a state of divine blessing and beauty.
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 not just that the land becomes beautiful and inhabited again; the surprising part is who will declare it. Those who once mocked Israel's ruin, and therefore God's power, will be silenced and compelled to witness this transformation, acknowledging it as God's undeniable work. This speaks to the ultimate vindication of God's name in the eyes of the whole world.
This verse comes right after God promises to cleanse Israel, give them a new heart, and restore them to their land. It paints a picture of astonished onlookers – possibly former enemies or travelers – marveling at the radical transformation of a land once ravaged by war and abandonment. They will witness ruined cities rebuilt and fortified, and the desolate landscape blooming like the very Garden of Eden, all as a testament to God's powerful renewal.
This verse comes right after God promises to cleanse Israel, give them a new heart, and restore them to their land. It paints a picture of astonished onlookers – possibly former enemies or travelers – marveling at the radical transformation of a land once ravaged by war and abandonment. They will witness ruined cities rebuilt and fortified, and the desolate landscape blooming like the very Garden of Eden, all as a testament to God's powerful renewal.
"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.’ Then the nations that are left all around you shall know that I am the LORD;…" — It's not just that the land becomes beautiful and inhabited again; the surprising part is who will declare it. Those who once mocked Israel's ruin, and therefore God's power, will be silenced and c…
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Last reviewed October 2026
