Ezekiel 36:22-23

Ezekiel 36:22-23

[22] Therefore say  unto the house  of Israel,  Thus saith  the Lord  GOD;  I do  not this for your sakes, O house  of Israel,  but for mine holy  name's  sake, which ye have profaned  among the heathen,  whither ye went.  [23] And I will sanctify  my great  name,  which was profaned  among the heathen,  which ye have profaned  in the midst  of them; and the heathen  shall know  that I am the LORD,  saith  the Lord  GOD,  when I shall be sanctified  in you before their eyes. 

What does Ezekiel 36:22-23 Mean?

Contextual Meaning

Ezekiel was to tell the Israelites that it was in spite of them that He would act for them; He would deliver them for the sake of His own reputation that they had profaned (cf. Ezekiel 20:39). He would vindicate His reputation as being a holy (unique) God when He proved Himself such in the sight of the nations (cf. Exodus 5:2; Exodus 9:16; Exodus 32:11-18; Leviticus 18:21; Leviticus 20:3; Leviticus 22:31-33; Numbers 14:13-19; Deuteronomy 29:1 to Deuteronomy 30:10).