Eze 34:25-31 | NETfull | STEP | “‘I will make a covenant of peace with them and will rid the land of wild beasts, so that they can live securely in the wilderness and even sleep in the woods.

Ezekiel 34:25-31

25 “‘I will make a covenant of peace with them and will rid the land of wild beasts, so that they can live securely ^{▼▼ The phrase “live securely” occurs in Ezek 28:26; 38:8, 11, 14; 39:26 as an expression of freedom from fear. It is a promised blessing resulting from obedience (see Lev 26:5–6).} in the wilderness and even sleep in the woods. ^{▼▼ The woods were typically considered to be places of danger (Ps 104:20–21; Jer 5:6).} 26 I will turn them and the regions around my hill into a blessing. I will make showers come down in their season; they will be showers that bring blessing. ^{▼▼ Heb “showers of blessing.” Abundant rain, which in turn produces fruit and crops (v. 27), is a covenantal blessing for obedience (Lev 26:4).} 27 The trees of the field will yield their fruit and the earth will yield its crops. They will live securely on their land; they will know that I am the Lord, when I break the bars of their yoke and rescue them from the hand of those who enslaved them. 28 They will no longer be prey for the nations and the wild beasts will not devour them. They will live securely and no one will make them afraid. 29 I will prepare for them a healthy ^{▼▼ The MT reads לְשֵׁם (l^eshem, “for a name”), meaning perhaps a renowned planting (place). The translation takes this to be a metathesis of שָׁלֹם (shalom) as was read by the LXX.} planting. They will no longer be victims ^{▼▼ Heb “those gathered” for famine.} of famine in the land and will no longer bear the insults of the nations. 30 Then they will know that I, the Lord their God, am with them, ^{▼▼ A promise given to Abraham (Gen 15:7) and his descendants (Gen 15:8; Exod 6:7).} and that they are my people, the house of Israel, declares the sovereign Lord. ^{▼▼ The blessings described in vv. 25–30 are those promised for obedience in Lev 26:4–13.} 31 And you, my sheep, the sheep of my pasture, are my people, ^{▼▼ Heb, “the sheep of my pasture, you are human.” See 36:37–38 for a similar expression. The possessive pronoun “my” is supplied in the translation to balance “I am your God” in the next clause.} and I am your God, declares the sovereign Lord.’”