Ezekiel 11 · Verse 16

Ezekiel 11:16

Therefore say, Thus saith the Lord God; Although I have cast them far off among the heathen, and although I have scattered them among the countries, yet will I be to them as a little sanctuary in the countries where they shall come.

Ezekiel 11:16, King James Version

Ezekiel 11:16 in other translations

BSB	Therefore declare that this is what the Lord GOD says: ‘Although I sent them far away among the nations and scattered them among the countries, yet for a little while I have been a sanctuary for them in the countries to which they have gone.’
WEB	“Therefore say, ‘The Lord GOD says: “Whereas I have removed them far off among the nations, and whereas I have scattered them among the countries, yet I will be to them a sanctuary for a little while in the countries where they have come.”’
ASV	Therefore say, Thus saith the Lord Jehovah: Whereas I have removed them far off among the nations, and whereas I have scattered them among the countries, yet will I be to them a sanctuary for a little while in the countries where they are come.
YLT	it is ours, the land hath been given for an inheritance; therefore say: Thus said the Lord Jehovah: Because I put them afar off among nations, And because I scattered them through lands, I also am to them for a little sanctuary, In lands whither they have gone in.
DARBY	Therefore say, Thus saith the Lord Jehovah: Although I have removed them far off among the nations, and although I have scattered them among the countries, yet will I be to them as a little sanctuary in the countries whither they are come.
BBE	For this reason say, This is what the Lord has said: Though I have had them moved far off among the nations, and though I have sent them wandering among the countries, still I have been a safe place for them for a little time in the countries where they have come.
Webster	Therefore say, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Although I have cast them far off among the heathen, and although I have scattered them among the countries, yet will I be to them as a little sanctuary in the countries where they shall come.

What does Ezekiel 11:16 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown

16. Although--anticipating the objection of the priests at Jerusalem, that the exiles were "cast far off." Though this be so, and they are far from the outer temple at Jerusalem, I will be their asylum or sanctuary instead (Psa 90:1; 91:9; Is 8:14). My shrine is the humble heart: a preparation for gospel catholicity when the local and material temple should give place to the spiritual (Is 57:15; 66:1; Mal 1:11; Joh 4:21-24; Ac 7:48, 49). The trying discipline of the exile was to chasten the outcasts so as to be meet recipients of God's grace, for which the carnal confidence of the priests disqualified them. The dispersion served the end of spiritualizing and enlarging the views even of the better Jews, so as to be able to worship God everywhere without a material temple; and, at the same time, it diffused some knowledge of God among the greatest Gentile nations, thus providing materials for the gathering in of the Christian Church among the Gentiles; so marvellously did God overrule a present evil for an ultimate good. Still more does all this hold good in the present much longer dispersion which is preparing for a more perfect and universal restoration (Is 2:2-4; Jr 3:16-18). Their long privation of the temple will prepare them for appreciating the more, but without Jewish narrowness, the temple that is to be (Eze 40:1-44:31). a little--rather, "for a little season"; No matter how long the captivity may be, the seventy years will be but as a little season, compared with their long subsequent settlement in their land. This holds true only partially in the case of the first restoration; but as in a few centuries they were dispersed again, the full and permanent restoration is yet future (Jr 24:6).

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary

Verse 16 Yet will I be to them as a little sanctuary - Though thus exiled from their own land, yet not forgotten by their God. While in their captivity, I will dispense many blessings to them; and I will restore them to their own land, Eze 11:17, from which they shall put away all idolatry, Eze 11:18.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Ezekiel 11:14-21

The pious captives in Babylon were insulted by the Jews who continued in Jerusalem; but God made gracious promises to them. It is promised, that God will give them one heart; a heart firmly fixed for God, and not wavering. All who are made holy have a new spirit, a new temper and dispositions; they act from new principles, walk by new rules, and aim at new ends. A new name, or a new face, will not serve without a…

Read the full comment on Ezekiel 11:14-21 →

Ezekiel 11:16 in the original Hebrew

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

לָכֵ֣ןla.Khen<to> thereforeH3651

אֱמֹ֗ר'e.MorsayH559

כֹּֽה\־koh-thusH3541

אָמַר֮'a.Marhe saysH559

אֲדֹנָ֣י'a.do.Nai[the] LordH136

יְהוִה֒Yah.wehYahwehH3069

כִּ֤יkithatH3588

הִרְחַקְתִּים֙hir.chak.TimI have removed far away themH7368

בַּגּוֹיִ֔םba.go.Yimamong the nationsH1471

וְכִ֥יve.Khiand thatH3588

הֲפִֽיצוֹתִ֖יםha.fi.tzo.TimI have scattered themH6327

בָּאֲרָצ֑וֹתba.'a.ra.Tzotamong the landsH776

וָאֱהִ֤יva.'e.Hiand I have becomeH1961

לָהֶם֙la.Hemfor them

לְמִקְדָּ֣שׁle.mik.Dash<into> a sanctuaryH4720

מְעַ֔טme.'Ata littleH4592

בָּאֲרָצ֖וֹתba.'a.ra.Tzotin the landsH776

אֲשֶׁר\־'a.Sher-whereH834

בָּ֥אוּBa.'uthey have goneH935

שָֽׁם\׃\ \סShamthereH8033

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for Ezekiel 11:16

Isaiah 8:14
And he shall be for a sanctuary; but for a stone of stumbling and for a rock of offence to both the houses of Israel, for a gin and for a snare to the inhabitants of Jerusalem.
Psalms 91:1
He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.
Psalms 90:1
A Prayer of Moses the man of God. Lord, thou hast been our dwelling place in all generations.
Deuteronomy 30:3-4
That then the Lord thy God will turn thy captivity, and have compassion upon thee, and will return and gather thee from all the nations, whither the Lord thy God hath scattered thee. If any of thine be driven out unto the outmost parts of heaven, from thence will the Lord thy God gather thee, and from thence will he fetch thee:
Psalms 31:20
Thou shalt hide them in the secret of thy presence from the pride of man: thou shalt keep them secretly in a pavilion from the strife of tongues.
Jeremiah 30:11
For I am with thee, saith the Lord, to save thee: though I make a full end of all nations whither I have scattered thee, yet will I not make a full end of thee: but I will correct thee in measure, and will not leave thee altogether unpunished.
Jeremiah 31:10
Hear the word of the Lord, O ye nations, and declare it in the isles afar off, and say, He that scattered Israel will gather him, and keep him, as a shepherd doth his flock.
Proverbs 18:10
The name of the Lord is a strong tower: the righteous runneth into it, and is safe.
Leviticus 26:44
And yet for all that, when they be in the land of their enemies, I will not cast them away, neither will I abhor them, to destroy them utterly, and to break my covenant with them: for I am the Lord their God.
Psalms 44:11
Thou hast given us like sheep appointed for meat; and hast scattered us among the heathen.
Jeremiah 42:11
Be not afraid of the king of Babylon, of whom ye are afraid; be not afraid of him, saith the Lord: for I am with you to save you, and to deliver you from his hand.
Jeremiah 26:7
So the priests and the prophets and all the people heard Jeremiah speaking these words in the house of the Lord.

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

Thus saith.
Le 26:44; De 30:3,4; 2Ki 24:12-16; Ps 44:11; Jer 24:5,6; 30:11
Jer 31:10
as a.
Ps 31:20; 90:1; 91:1,9-16; Pr 18:10; Isa 4:5; 8:14; Jer 26:7,11
Jer 42:11

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

Ezekiel 11:15
Son of man, thy brethren, even thy brethren, the men of thy kindred, and all the house of Israel wholly, are they unto whom the inhabitants of Jerusalem have said, Get you far from the Lord: unto us is this land given in possession.
Ezekiel 11:16
Therefore say, Thus saith the Lord God; Although I have cast them far off among the heathen, and although I have scattered them among the countries, yet will I be to them as a little sanctuary in the countries where they shall come.
Ezekiel 11:17
Therefore say, Thus saith the Lord God; I will even gather you from the people, and assemble you out of the countries where ye have been scattered, and I will give you the land of Israel.

Read all of Ezekiel 11

Ezekiel 11:16 in other languages

Spanish Reina-Valera 1909	Por tanto di: Así ha dicho el Señor Jehová: Aunque los he echado lejos entre las gentes, y los he esparcido por las tierras, con todo eso les seré por un pequeño santuario en las tierras á donde llegaren.
French Bible J.N. Darby 1885	C’est pourquoi dis: Ainsi dit le Seigneur, l’ Éternel: Bien que je les aie éloignés parmi les nations, et bien que je les aie dispersés par les pays, toutefois je leur serai comme un petit sanctuaire dans les pays où ils sont venus.
German Elberfelder 1871	Darum sprich: So spricht der Herr, Jehova: Obgleich ich sie unter die Nationen entfernt, und obgleich ich sie in die Länder zerstreut habe, so bin ich ihnen doch ein wenig zum Heiligtum geworden in den Ländern, wohin sie gekommen sind.
Latin Clementine Vulgate	Propterea hæc dicit Dominus Deus: Quia longe feci eos in gentibus, et quia dispersi eos in terris: ero eis in sanctificationem modicam in terris ad quas venerunt.