Ezekiel 36:21 (LSB)

Passage

But I had concern for My holy name, which the house of Israel had profaned among the nations where they went.

Nearby Context

Ezekiel 36:19 Also I scattered them among the nations, and they were dispersed throughout the lands. According to their ways and their deeds I judged them.

Ezekiel 36:20 Then they came to the nations to which they came. And they profaned My holy name because it was said of them, ‘These are the people of Yahweh; yet they have come out of His land.’

Ezekiel 36:21 But I had concern for My holy name, which the house of Israel had profaned among the nations where they went.

Ezekiel 36:22 “Therefore say to the house of Israel, ‘Thus says Lord Yahweh, “It is not for your sake, O house of Israel, that I am about to act, but for My holy name, which you have profaned among the nations, to which you have come.

Ezekiel 36:23 I will prove the holiness of My great name which has been profaned among the nations, which you have profaned in their midst. Then the nations will know that I am Yahweh,” declares Lord Yahweh, “when I prove Myself holy among you in their sight.

Study Lenses

The verse centers on "concern", "holy", "name", "house", "israel", "profaned", "nations", and "where". It is saying that the verse draws attention to "concern" and "holy", so its meaning should be read from those terms before moving to application.

The nearby context moves from verse 20's "Then they came to the nations to..." into verse 22's "Therefore say to the house of Israel...", so "concern" and "holy" belong inside that flow. In Ezekiel context, the local focus is covenant, worship, and faithfulness.

A plain takeaway is to answer the verse's own emphasis on "concern" and "holy" with trust shaped by these words, not by a vague optimism outside the passage.