Ezekiel 37:26

Eze 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.

Ver. 26. Moreover, &c.] See Eze 34:25.

And it shall be an everlasting covenant with them.] With all the Israel of God.

And I will place them,] sc., In the Holy Land, saith Piscator; or else I understand not what this word "place them," or give them, meaneth.

And will set my sanctuary in the midst of them,] i.e., I will indwell in them, and walk in them, &c. {as 2Co 6:16} The Jews pray earnestly for the rebuilding of their material temple. Pray we as hard for the building up of the mystical temple.

John Trapp, A Commentary or Exposition upon All the Books of the Old and New Testament (1647–1656) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

Eze 37:26-28. I will make a covenant of peace with them — I will grant them the blessing of peace and prosperity. Or rather, the words are to be understood in a spiritual sense, that God will be reconciled to them through Christ, and admit them into that covenant of peace of which Christ is the Mediator, and therefore is called our peace, Eph 2:14; and then the following words, It shall be an everlasting covenant with them, may fitly be explained of the gospel, being such a covenant as shall never be abolished, or give way to any new dispensation. It is certain that the expression, a covenant of peace, could not at all agree with the ancient covenant, for when was there an age, half an age, twenty years peace in Israel? The whole history of the Jewish nation is nothing more than a recital of wars and continual divisions. And if we understand it of peace between God and his people, where shall we find this people faithfully attached to the Lord during one century only? We have only to open the books of the prophets, and the other sacred records, to remark their infidelities and perpetual rebellions against God. This expression, therefore, can only respect the new covenant, whereof Jesus Christ, the Prince of peace, is the mediator, and who gives us that true peace which surpasses all conceptions: see Calmet. And I will set my sanctuary in the midst of them — I will set up a spiritual, glorious temple and worship among them; for evermore — Never to be altered or abolished on earth, but to be consummated in heaven. My tabernacle also shall be with them — The tabernacle wherein I will show my presence among them, and my protection over them. God’s placing first his tabernacle, and then his temple among the Jews, was a pledge and token both of his presence and protection. And we may understand him as promising here new and more valuable tokens of his presence among them, by the graces of his Holy Spirit, and the efficacy of his word and ordinances, if not also some extraordinary appearances of the divine majesty. I will be their God, and they shall be my people — By my grace I will make them holy, as the people of a holy God; and I will make them happy, as the people of the ever-blessed God. And the heathen shall know that I do sanctify Israel — The conversion of the Jewish nation, and their being restored to a state of favour and acceptance with God, will be a work of providence, taken notice of by the heathen themselves, who shall join themselves to the Jews, as the church of God and temple of truth: see note on Eze 36:23.

Joseph Benson's Commentary on the Old and New Testaments (1811–1818) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

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 all true followers of Messiah (Co2 6:16); and, in some "literal" sense, in the restored Israel (Eze. 40:1-44:31).

Jamieson, Fausset & Brown — Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.

Verse 26. Covenant of peace] See this explained Eze 34:25.

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible (1810–1826) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.

(26) Multiply them.—In accordance with what has gone before, comes this promise of the great increase of the spiritual Israel. Even John the Baptist had said, “God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham”; but our Lord more emphatically taught that the true children of Abraham were those who followed Him (Joh_8:39, &c.); while His Apostle St. Paul explains repeatedly, and at length, that Abraham was the father of all those who walk in his faith, whether they be of the circumcision or the uncircumcision (Rom_4:12, &c.); and again, “that they which are of faith, the same are the children of Abraham” (Gal_3:7). Thus was fulfilled the promise that he should be “the father of many nations” (Gen_17:5, interpreted in Rom_4:17), and in the same way also was to be fulfilled the present promise of the multiplication of the seed of Israel.

A Bible Commentary for English Readers, edited by Charles John Ellicott (1878–1897) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

26. a covenant of peace] Cf. Eze_36:25; Isa_55:3; Jer_32:40.

my sanctuary] The name given by the prophet to the temple as the dwelling place of Jehovah (Eze_37:27) and specially sanctified or made holy by his presence.

The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges (gen. ed. J. J. S. Perowne; Cambridge University Press, 1878–1918) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

Moreover I will make a covenant of peace with them,.... So the covenant of grace is called, Isa 54:10, one principal article of which is peace and reconciliation made between God and his people by the blood of Christ, agreed on in that covenant, from whence it has its name: now here it signifies that this covenant should be made known to the converted Jews, and their interest in it; in virtue of which they shall see that peace is made for them by the blood of Christ; and shall have a true conscience peace in themselves, through that blood of the covenant being sprinkled on them; and be at peace with converted Gentiles, and even with their worst enemies, enjoying all kind of prosperity, temporal and spiritual:

it shall be an everlasting covenant with them; it shall not wax old, and vanish away, as the former covenant did; under which they were before the coming of Christ, which was exhibited in types and shadows, legal sacrifices and carnal ordinances; and besides, God will always have a covenant people among them from this time to the end of the world; so that a "loammi" shall no more be written upon them:

and I will place them, and multiply them; that is, place them in their own land, and increase their number there: or, "I will give them" (l); a place in their land, and every blessing temporal and spiritual: so the Targum,

"I will bless them, and multiply them:''

and will set my sanctuary in the midst of them for evermore; not any material temple, but his word and ordinances; in which he will grant his spiritual presence with them, and which shall continue to the end of the world.

(l) "dabo eos", Montanus, Piscator; "dabo ipsos", Cocceius, Starckius.

John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible (1746–1763) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.

Peace. Can this regard the synagogue? Not a century passed without some flagrant misconduct, or chastisement. But our Saviour is the mediator of peace, Philippians iv. 7. (Calmet)

George Leo Haydock (1774–1849), Haydock's Catholic Family Bible and Commentary, 1859 edition — public domain. Excludes Psalms (Douay-Rheims chapter numbering differs from Protestant) and Deuterocanonical books (Catholic canon only).

I will make; as it was my kindness to your fathers to give them, so shall it be to you to give you, my blessings on the sure and inviolable security of a covenant.

A covenant of peace; comprehending all blessings that may give a people content, and render them happy; peace with God in heaven? peace in your conscience with yourselves, with your brethren in the church, with the beasts of the field, and with your enemies, who shall for fear, though not of love, keep peace with you, while your ways please your God.

An everlasting covenant; the spiritual part is absolutely endless, the external part shall be for a long time, as it is always to be interpreted where temporals seem promised for ever.

My sanctuary; both temple and worship; not such as is typical of the Messiah to come, but such as may assert he is come, such as bring to the knowledge, love, and obedience of him. I will set up a spiritually glorious temple and worship amidst you. For evermore; never to be altered or abolished on earth, but to be consummated in heaven.

Matthew Poole's English Annotations on the Holy Bible (1683–1685) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.

Vers. 26, 27. With the people thus gathered (ver. 21), united (ver. 22), purified (ver. 23), and established under the rule of Messiah (ver. 25), Jehovah makes a covenant of peace, (see on Eze_34:25; and comp. Psa_89:3) further characterized as an everlasting covenant; or, covenant of eternity (see on Eze_16:60; and comp. Isa_55:3; Jer_32:40) which guarantees the continuance between him and them of undying friendship, conjoined with the bestowment on his part and the enjoyment on theirs of the highest social and religious blessings. First, national existence and secure possession of the soil. I will place (literally, give) them, either to their land, as in Eze_17:22 (Smend) or to be a nation (Keil), or perhaps both (Kliefoth). Next, steady increase of populationI will multiply them. (comp. Eze_36:37; Lev_26:9) Thirdly, perpetual residence of Jehovah amongst them, I will set (or, give) my sanctuary (mikdashi, conveying the idea of sanctity) in the midst of them for evermore; (Lev_26:11) my tabernacle (mishkani, the idea being that of residence or dwelling) also shall be with them; or, over them the figure being derived from the elevated site of the temple, whichoverhung the city, (Psa_69:29) and intended to suggest the idea of Jehovah"s protecting grace. That this promise was in part implemented by the erection of the second temple in the days of Zerubbabel may be conceded, and also that Ezekiel himself may have looked forward to a literal restoration of the sanctuary; but its highest realization must be sought for, first in the Incarnation, (Joh_1:14) next in God"s inhabitation of the Church through the Spirit, (2Co_6:16) and finally in his tabernacling with redeemed men in the heavenly Jerusalem. (Rev_21:3, Rev_21:22) The last blessing specified is the intimate communion of God with his people, and of them with him Yea, I will be their God, and they shall be my people. This, which formed the kernel of the old covenant with Israel, (Lev_26:12) became the essence of the new covenant with the Israel of the restoration (Eze_11:20 Eze_36:28; Jer_30:22 Jer_31:33 Jer_32:38; Zec_8:8 Zec_13:9) but only attained to complete realization in the relation of Christian believers to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. (2Co_6:16)

The Pulpit Commentary (1880–1919), ed. H.D.M. Spence-Jones & Joseph S. Exell — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

My sanctuary - I will set up a spiritual glorious temple, and worship among you. For evermore - Never to be altered or abolished on earth, but to be consummated in heaven.

John Wesley, Explanatory Notes Upon the Whole Bible (1754–1765) — public domain. Text via the GEBible commentary corpus.

General Information:

Yahweh is speaking about the people of Israel.

I will establish

"I will set up" or "I will create"

a covenant of peace

"a covenant that brings peace." See how you translated this in Ezekiel 34:25.

I will establish them

It was implied that Yahweh would establish them in the land of Israel. AT: "I will set them in the land of Israel" or "I will cause them to live securely in the land of Israel" (See: Assumed Knowledge and Implicit Information)

multiply them

"cause their people to increase in number"

my holy place

"my holy sanctuary" or "my holy temple"

in their midst

"among them"

My dwelling place

"The place where I live"

I will be their God, and they will be my people

See how you translated a similar phrase in Ezekiel 11:20.

translationWords

covenant

peace

eternity

holy place

people of God

set apart

unfoldingWord translationNotes — © Distant Shores Media and the Door43 World Missions Community, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Source: git.door43.org/Door43/en_tn.