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But I had concern for My holy name, which the house of Israel had profaned among the nations to which they had gone.
Ezekiel 36:21 · Berean Standard Bible
Parallel translations
  • WEB But I had respect for my holy name, which the house of Israel had profaned among the nations, where they went.
  • KJV But I had pity for mine holy name, which the house of Israel had profaned among the heathen, whither they went.
  • NKJV But I had concern for My holy name, which the house of Israel had profaned among the nations wherever they went.
  • NASB But I had concern for My holy name, which the house of Israel had profaned among the nations where they went.
  • NLT Then I was concerned for my holy name, on which my people brought shame among the nations.

Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org

Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

Quick answer

God acted out of regard for His holy name, which Israel had profaned among the nations. His own glory, not Israel's merit, motivates His mercy.

Overview

Despite Israel's failure, God 'had respect' for His holy name. The honor of His name becomes the foundation for redemption. This God-centered motive runs through Scripture and culminates in the gospel, where God saves sinners to the praise of His glorious grace.

Cross-references & the web

Cross-references · 7

  • Isa 48:9For the sake of My name I will delay My wrath; for the sake of My praise I will restrain it, so that you will not be cut off.
  • Ps 74:18Remember how the enemy has mocked You, O LORD, how a foolish people has spurned Your name.
  • Ezek 20:9But I acted for the sake of My name, that it should not be profaned in the eyes of the nations among whom they were living, in whose sight I had revealed Myself to Israel by bringing them out of the land of Egypt.
  • Deut 32:26–27I would have said that I would cut them to pieces and blot out their memory from mankind,
  • Ezek 20:22But I withheld My hand and acted for the sake of My name, so that it would not be profaned in the eyes of the nations in whose sight I had brought them out.
  • Ezek 20:14But I acted for the sake of My name, so that it would not be profaned in the eyes of the nations in whose sight I had brought them out.
  • Isa 37:35‘I will defend this city and save it for My own sake and for the sake of My servant David.’”

Themes, concepts, people & topics

Topics (1)

Resources, by level

Commentaries & study tools

  • VideoBibleProject — Ezekiel videosBibleProject · Lay · Free · evangelical

    Free animated overview and word-study videos for this book.

  • VideoWatch teaching on Ezekiel 36:21YouTube · Lay · Free

    Sermons and teaching on this passage from across YouTube.

  • CommentaryEnduring Word — verse-by-verseDavid Guzik · Lay · Free · evangelical

    Clear, readable, conservative exposition — the best free place to start on any passage.

  • CommentaryClassic commentaries for this verseBibleHub (20+ works) · Pastoral · Free

    Matthew Henry, Barnes, Gill, the Pulpit Commentary, Ellicott, Cambridge, and more — stacked on one page for this exact verse.

  • CommentaryMatthew Henry on EzekielMatthew Henry · Pastoral · Free · evangelical

    The beloved Puritan exposition of this whole book — warm, devotional, and verse by verse (free, CCEL).

  • ReferenceInterlinear, lexicon & Strong'sBlue Letter Bible · Seminary · Free

    Hebrew/Greek interlinear, word definitions, and cross-references for this verse.

Christ at the center

The promise of one Shepherd-King David, a new heart and new Spirit, and the river of life flowing from the temple all stream toward Christ, the good Shepherd who gives the Spirit.

How Ezekiel 36:21 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.

Original language

Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Hebrew word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.