I will make a covenant of peace with them. It shall be an everlasting covenant with them. And I will set them in their land and multiply them, and will set my sanctuary in their midst forevermore.
English Standard Version (ESV)
The promise of a "covenant of peace" here isn't just about the absence of conflict, but an active, unending connection established by God Himself. It points beyond mere political stability to a profound relationship where God's sacred presence dwells permanently within His people.
I will make a covenant of peace with them. It shall be an everlasting covenant with them. And I will set them in their land and multiply them, and will set my sanctuary in their midst forevermore.
English Standard Version (ESV)
Ezekiel has just described a miraculous vision of dry bones coming back to life, symbolizing God’s promise to restore the scattered people of Israel. This verse follows that powerful image, with God declaring He will not only bring them back together but will also establish an unbreakable covenant of peace with them, ensuring their secure future and the eternal presence of His sanctuary among them. It transitions from the vision of revival to the concrete reality of God’s lasting faithfulness and dwelling with His people.
We all crave peace – freedom from conflict, anxiety, and fear. But true, lasting peace often feels out of reach. What does it mean for God to make a 'covenant of peace'?
Ezekiel's prophecy paints a picture of God establishing a profound and enduring peace. This isn't just the absence of war, but a deep, holistic well-being.
More Than Just Quiet
This covenant of peace encompasses several dimensions:
This peace is rooted in God's faithfulness and is promised to be 'everlasting,' meaning it's not temporary or conditional like previous human attempts at peace-making. It's a gift secured through God's initiative.
Imagine the most sacred place imaginable. God promises to set His 'sanctuary' right in the middle of His people, forever. What does this intimate dwelling signify?
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The presence of God's sanctuary was a tangible symbol of His commitment to dwell with His people and their unique relationship with Him. Ezekiel's prophecy points to a future realization far grander than any earthly temple.
From Temple to Spirit
Understand the original words
berit · Hebrew Noun
A formal, solemn, and binding agreement or treaty between two parties, often involving promises, conditions, and signs; in Scripture, it primarily refers to God's gracious commitment to His people.
shalom · Hebrew Noun
A state of wholeness, well-being, health, and prosperity, rooted in a right relationship with God; it transcends the mere absence of conflict.
olam · Hebrew Adjective/Noun
Pertaining to time that is unbounded, enduring, or continuing throughout all future ages; often used to describe the eternal nature of God's promises and kingdom.
miqdash · Hebrew Noun
A holy, set-apart place where God manifests His presence; it serves as the intersection between heaven and earth where God meets His people.
This prophecy comes during the devastating Babylonian exile, a time when Jerusalem and its Temple lay in ruins. Ezekiel's words offer profound hope, not just for a physical return and rebuilding, but for an everlasting covenant of peace and God's enduring presence, pointing towards a spiritual fulfillment in Christ and His Church.
c. 605 BC
First Deportation to Babylon
King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon invades Judah, deporting some of the nobility, including the prophet Daniel, to Babylon.
597 BC
Second Deportation to Babylon
Following a rebellion, Nebuchadnezzar deports King Jehoiachin and a larger portion of Jerusalem's elite and skilled workers, including the prophet Ezekiel, to Babylon.
586 BC— this verse
Fall of Jerusalem and Temple Destruction
The Babylonians destroy Jerusalem and its magnificent temple, ending the southern kingdom of Judah and scattering its people.
c. 570 BC
Ezekiel's Vision of Restoration
While in exile, Ezekiel receives a series of visions from God, including the vision of the valley of dry bones and promises of future restoration and a new covenant.
539 BC
Persian Conquest of Babylon
Cyrus the Great of Persia conquers Babylon, setting the stage for the return of Jewish exiles to their homeland.
516 BC
Dedication of the Second Temple
Under the leadership of Zerubbabel, the Jewish exiles complete and dedicate the Second Temple in Jerusalem, a partial fulfillment of prophetic promises.
This passage echoes Ezekiel's promise of an everlasting covenant, emphasizing God's commitment to His people's well-being and His desire to dwell among them, making their hearts devoted to Him.
Isaiah 55:3This verse speaks of God making an 'everlasting covenant' with David, a concept that parallels Ezekiel's promise of an enduring covenant of peace and God's perpetual presence.
2 Corinthians 6:16The Apostle Paul directly quotes Leviticus (and by extension, these promises in Ezekiel) to explain how believers are now the dwelling place of God, fulfilling the promise of God's sanctuary being in their midst.
John 1:14This verse highlights the ultimate fulfillment of God's sanctuary dwelling among His people when 'the Word became flesh and dwelt among us,' referring to Jesus Christ.
Ezekiel 34:25This earlier chapter in Ezekiel already introduced the idea of a 'covenant of peace' that would protect God's flock from harm, setting the stage for the more complete promise in chapter 37.
clarkeEzekiel 37:26: "Moreover I will make a covenant of peace with them; it shall be an everlasting covenant with them: and I will place them, and multiply them, and will set my sanctuary in the midst of them for evermore."
Covenant of peace - See this explained Ezekiel 34:25 (note).
jfbEzekiel 37:26: "Moreover I will make a covenant of peace with them; it shall be an everlasting covenant with them: and I will place them, and multiply them, and will set my sanctuary in the midst of them for evermore."
- covenant of peace—better than the old legal covenant, because an unchangeable covenant of grace (Eze 34:25; Isa 55:3; Jer 32:40).I will place them—set them in an established position; no longer unsettled as heretofore.my sanctuary—the temple of God; spiritual in the heart of…
The promise of a "covenant of peace" here isn't just about the absence of conflict, but an active, unending connection established by God Himself. It points beyond mere political stability to a profound relationship where God's sacred presence dwells permanently within His people.
Ezekiel has just described a miraculous vision of dry bones coming back to life, symbolizing God’s promise to restore the scattered people of Israel. This verse follows that powerful image, with God declaring He will not only bring them back together but will also establish an unbreakable covenant of peace with them, ensuring their secure future and the eternal presence of His sanctuary among them. It transitions from the vision of revival to the concrete reality of God’s lasting faithfulness and dwelling with His people.
Ezekiel has just described a miraculous vision of dry bones coming back to life, symbolizing God’s promise to restore the scattered people of Israel. This verse follows that powerful image, with God declaring He will not only bring them back together but will also establish an unbreakable covenant of peace with them, ensuring their secure future and the eternal presence of His sanctuary among them. It transitions from the vision of revival to the concrete reality of God’s lasting faithfulness and dwelling with His people.
"I will make a covenant of peace with them. It shall be an everlasting covenant with them. And I will set them in their land and multiply them, and will set my sanctuary in their midst forevermore." — The promise of a "covenant of peace" here isn't just about the absence of conflict, but an active, unending connection established by God Himself. It points beyond mere political stability to a profo…
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Last reviewed October 2026