Eze 36:26-27 | NETfull | STEP | I will give you a new heart, and I will put a new spirit within you. I will remove the heart of stone from your body and give you a heart of flesh.

Ezekiel 36:26-27

26 I will give you a new heart, and I will put a new spirit within you. I will remove the heart of stone ^{▼▼ That is, a heart which symbolizes a will that is stubborn and unresponsive (see 1 Sam 25:37). In Rabbinic literature a “stone” was associated with an evil inclination (b. Sukkah 52a).} from your body and give you a heart of flesh. ^{▼▼ That is, a heart which symbolizes a will that is responsive and obedient to God.} 27 I will put my Spirit within you; ^{▼▼ Or “in the midst of you.” The word “you” is plural.} I will take the initiative and you will obey my statutes ^{▼▼ Heb “and I will do that which in my statutes you will walk.” The awkward syntax (verb “to do, act” + accusative sign + relative clause + prepositional phrase + second person verb) is unique, though Eccl 3:14 contains a similar construction. In the last line of that verse we read that “God acts so that (relative pronoun) they fear before him.” However, unlike Ezek 36:27, the statement has no accusative sign before the relative pronoun.} and carefully observe my regulations. ^{▼▼ Heb “and my laws you will guard and you will do them.” Jer 31:31–34 is parallel to this passage.}