Ezekiel 36:4

Israel and the nations

² Thus saith the Lord GOD; Because the enemy hath said against you, Aha, even the ancient high places are ours in possession:

³ Therefore prophesy and say, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Because they have made you desolate, and swallowed you up on every side, that ye might be a possession unto the residue of the heathen, and ye are taken up in the lips of talkers, and are an infamy of the people:

Therefore, ye mountains of Israel, hear the word of the Lord GOD; Thus saith the Lord GOD to the mountains, and to the hills, to the rivers, and to the valleys, to the desolate wastes, and to the cities that are forsaken, which became a prey and derision to the residue of the heathen that are round about;

⁵ Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD; Surely in the fire of my jealousy have I spoken against the residue of the heathen, and against all Idumea, which have appointed my land into their possession with the joy of all their heart, with despiteful minds, to cast it out for a prey.

⁶ Prophesy therefore concerning the land of Israel, and say unto the mountains, and to the hills, to the rivers, and to the valleys, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I have spoken in my jealousy and in my fury, because ye have borne the shame of the heathen:

This was said to Israel at a particular time, so it is wise to read it together with the surrounding text. Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.

Compare

BSB: therefore, O mountains of Israel, hear the word of the Lord GOD. This is what the Lord GOD says to the mountains and hills, to the ravines and valleys, to the desolate ruins and abandoned cities, which have become a spoil and a mockery to the rest of the nations around you.
KJV: Therefore, ye mountains of Israel, hear the word of the Lord GOD; Thus saith the Lord GOD to the mountains, and to the hills, to the rivers, and to the valleys, to the desolate wastes, and to the cities that are forsaken, which became a prey and derision to the residue of the heathen that are round about;
WEB: therefore, you mountains of Israel, hear the word of the Lord GOD: The Lord GOD says to the mountains and to the hills, to the watercourses and to the valleys, to the desolate wastes and to the cities that are forsaken, which have become a prey and derision to the residue of the nations that are all around;
ASV: therefore, ye mountains of Israel, hear the word of the Lord Jehovah: Thus saith the Lord Jehovah to the mountains and to the hills, to the watercourses and to the valleys, to the desolate wastes and to the cities that are forsaken, which are become a prey and derision to the residue of the nations that are round about;
DARBY: therefore, ye mountains of Israel, hear the word of the Lord Jehovah. Thus saith the Lord Jehovah to the mountains and to the hills, to the water-courses and to the valleys, to the desolate wastes and to the cities that are forsaken, which are become a prey and a derision to the remnant of the nations that are round about,
BLB: therefore, O mountains of Israel, hear the word of the Lord YHWH, thus says the Lord YHWH to the mountains, and to the hills, to the rivers, and to the valleys, and to the desolate ruins, and to the abandoned cities that became as plunder and as derision to the rest of the nations that [are] all around,

ÅB: derfor, dere Israels fjell, hør Herrens, Israels Guds ord! Så sier Herren, Israels Gud, til fjellene og haugene, til bekkene og dalene og til de øde grushauger og de forlatte byer, som er blitt til rov og til spott for de andre folk, som bor rundt omkring,
OTB: Derfor, Israels fjell, hør Herrens Guds ord: Så sier Herren Gud til fjellene og høydene, til ravinene og dalene, til de øde ruinene og de forlatte byene som har blitt plyndret og hånet av nasjonene rundt dere—
B1930: derfor, I Israels fjell, hør Herrens, Israels Guds ord! Så sier Herren, Israels Gud, til fjellene og haugene, til bekkene og dalene og til de øde grushauger og de forlatte byer, som er blitt til rov og til spott for de andre folk, som bor rundt omkring,

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

Deuteronomy 11:11
But the land, whither ye go to possess it, is a land of hills and valleys, and drinketh water of the rain of heaven:
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Ezekiel 34:28
And they shall no more be a prey to the heathen, neither shall the beast of the land devour them; but they shall dwell safely, and none shall make them afraid.
Read in context
Ezekiel 36:1
Also, thou son of man, prophesy unto the mountains of Israel, and say, Ye mountains of Israel, hear the word of the LORD:
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Psalms 79:4
We are become a reproach to our neighbours, a scorn and derision to them that are round about us.
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Ezekiel 36:6
Prophesy therefore concerning the land of Israel, and say unto the mountains, and to the hills, to the rivers, and to the valleys, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I have spoken in my jealousy and in my fury, because ye have borne the shame of the heathen:
Read in context
Jeremiah 29:10
For thus saith the LORD, That after seventy years be accomplished at Babylon I will visit you, and perform my good word toward you, in causing you to return to this place.
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Isaiah 64:10–11
Thy holy cities are a wilderness, Zion is a wilderness, Jerusalem a desolation.
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2 Chronicles 36:17–21
Therefore he brought upon them the king of the Chaldees, who slew their young men with the sword in the house of their sanctuary, and had no compassion upon young man or maiden, old man, or him that stooped for age: he gave them all into his hand.
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