A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh.
One of the Old Testament's clearest promises of new covenant regeneration: 'A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh.' The 'new heart' (leb chadash, לֵב חָדָשׁ) represents transformed affections, desires, and will. The 'new spirit' (ruach chadashah, רוּחַ חֲדָשָׁה) connects to verse 27's gift of God's Spirit, enabling obedience. The contrast between 'stony heart' (leb ha-eben, לֵב הָאֶבֶן) and 'heart of flesh' (leb basar, לֵב בָּשָׂר) depicts transformation from dead, unresponsive hardness to living, responsive sensitivity. God performs this heart transplant—it's not human self-improvement but divine re-creation. This promise finds New Testament fulfillment in regeneration (John 3:3-8, Titus 3:5), the Spirit's indwelling (Romans 8:9-11), and new covenant realities (2 Corinthians 3:3-6, Hebrews 8:10-12).
Historical Context
This promise addressed Israel's fundamental problem: not merely external captivity but internal corruption—hearts unwilling and unable to obey God's law. The law had shown what God required but couldn't produce obedience (Romans 8:3). Ezekiel's earlier prophecy (11:19) introduced this theme; here it's fully developed. The promise comes after cataloging Israel's persistent rebellion (36:16-21), showing grace triumphs where law failed. God promises to do what commands could not accomplish—transform hearts from within. This anticipated Jeremiah's new covenant prophecy (31:31-34) of God's law written on hearts. Historical return from exile in 538 BC partially fulfilled this, but complete fulfillment awaited Pentecost (Acts 2) and Christian conversion through the Spirit.
Questions for Reflection
How have you experienced God's transforming work replacing your stony, resistant heart with a responsive, living heart?
What does it mean that regeneration is God's work ('I will give') rather than human achievement?
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Analysis & Commentary
One of the Old Testament's clearest promises of new covenant regeneration: 'A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh.' The 'new heart' (leb chadash, לֵב חָדָשׁ) represents transformed affections, desires, and will. The 'new spirit' (ruach chadashah, רוּחַ חֲדָשָׁה) connects to verse 27's gift of God's Spirit, enabling obedience. The contrast between 'stony heart' (leb ha-eben, לֵב הָאֶבֶן) and 'heart of flesh' (leb basar, לֵב בָּשָׂר) depicts transformation from dead, unresponsive hardness to living, responsive sensitivity. God performs this heart transplant—it's not human self-improvement but divine re-creation. This promise finds New Testament fulfillment in regeneration (John 3:3-8, Titus 3:5), the Spirit's indwelling (Romans 8:9-11), and new covenant realities (2 Corinthians 3:3-6, Hebrews 8:10-12).