Ezekiel 34:24
And I the LORD will be their God, and my servant David a prince among them; I the LORD have spoken it.
Original Language Analysis
יְהוָ֖ה
And I the LORD
H3068
יְהוָ֖ה
And I the LORD
Strong's:
H3068
Word #:
2 of 12
(the) self-existent or eternal; jeho-vah, jewish national name of god
אֶהְיֶ֤ה
H1961
אֶהְיֶ֤ה
Strong's:
H1961
Word #:
3 of 12
to exist, i.e., be or become, come to pass (always emphatic, and not a mere copula or auxiliary)
לֵֽאלֹהִ֔ים
will be their God
H430
לֵֽאלֹהִ֔ים
will be their God
Strong's:
H430
Word #:
5 of 12
gods in the ordinary sense; but specifically used (in the plural thus, especially with the article) of the supreme god; occasionally applied by way of
נָשִׂ֣יא
a prince
H5387
נָשִׂ֣יא
a prince
Strong's:
H5387
Word #:
8 of 12
properly, an exalted one, i.e., a king or sheik; also a rising mist
Cross References
Jeremiah 31:33But this shall be the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel; After those days, saith the LORD, I will put my law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and will be their God, and they shall be my people.Ezekiel 36:28And ye shall dwell in the land that I gave to your fathers; and ye shall be my people, and I will be your God.Revelation 21:3And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God.Ezekiel 37:27My tabernacle also shall be with them: yea, I will be their God, and they shall be my people.Matthew 28:18And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.Ezekiel 37:23Neither shall they defile themselves any more with their idols, nor with their detestable things, nor with any of their transgressions: but I will save them out of all their dwellingplaces, wherein they have sinned, and will cleanse them: so shall they be my people, and I will be their God.
Historical Context
The exile (586 BC) threatened the covenant relationship—had God divorced Israel? This promise assures continued covenant despite judgment. The return from exile partially fulfilled it, but complete fulfillment came through Christ establishing the New Covenant. The church—Jew and Gentile united in Christ—experiences "I will be their God" through adoption and the Spirit's indwelling. The promise spans Old and New Testaments, demonstrating covenant continuity. What God spoke to exiles He fulfills in the church.
Questions for Reflection
- How does the covenant formula "I will be their God" shape your understanding of salvation's goal?
- What does God's guarantee "I have spoken it" teach about the certainty of His promises?
Related Resources
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Analysis & Commentary
"And I the LORD will be their God, and my servant David a prince among them; I the LORD have spoken it." This covenant formula—"I will be their God"—establishes relationship as restoration's goal. The Messiah ("my servant David") serves as "prince," mediating between God and people. This foreshadows Christ's mediatorial role—fully God yet representing humanity. The concluding "I the LORD have spoken it" guarantees fulfillment. God's oath secures the promise regardless of human unfaithfulness. Reformed covenant theology emphasizes God's initiative and faithfulness: He establishes, maintains, and fulfills the covenant through sovereign grace.