What Does Ezekiel 36:7 Mean in the King James?
Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD; I have lifted up mine hand, Surely the heathen that are about you, they shall bear their shame.
The analysis reads the King James wording.
King James Version The King James Version, first published in 1611. Selah Verse shows the standard text.
THE KEY
The same Hebrew verb describes the LORD lifting his hand and the surrounding nations bearing shame, binding the declaration to its reversal.
THE MEANING
The LORD’s declaration stands over the people surrounding you; their nearness does not give them the final authority to define you. The verse names the reversal: they will bear their own shame. The word for the LORD’s raised hand is also the word for what they bear.
WHAT THIS UNDOES
The belief that the contempt of those around you can define you while their own shame goes unanswered.
THE ROOT
נָשָׂאתִי
nāśāʾtî
GROWS FROM
נשא
To lift, carry, or bear.
“lifted / bear” in this verse is nāśāʾtî. Hebrew uses נשא (nāśāʾ, “lift, carry, bear”) twice: the LORD lifts his hand, and the surrounding nations bear shame. English gives these actions separate verbs, while Hebrew makes the declaration and its consequence one continuous motion.
ALSO GROWS
nāśîʾ: Leader, prince; one elevated.
נָשִׂיא
This branch carries the root’s sense of being lifted up, echoing the raised hand that announces the reversal.
maśśāʾ: Burden; also an oracle or pronouncement.
מַשָּׂא
A burden is something borne. Here, the root’s weight-bearing sense makes shame something the surrounding nations themselves carry.
THE PATTERN
A divine declaration overturns who carries shame and who holds power.
For I lift up my hand to heaven, and say, I live for ever.Let them be ashamed and brought to confusion together that rejoice at mine hurt: let them be clothed with shame and dishonour that magnify themselves against me.He hath put down the mighty from their seats, and exalted them of low degree.THE THREAD
Thus saith the Lord GOD, Behold, I will lift up mine hand to the Gentiles, and set up my standard to the people: and they shall bring thy sons in their arms, and thy daughters shall be carried upon their shoulders.Isaiah uses the same root, נשא (nāśāʾ, “lift, carry, bear”), for the LORD lifting his hand and the daughters being carried home. In Ezekiel the nations bear their own shame; here, they carry the daughters toward home.
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