And I will make a covenant of peace with them;This phrase refers to God's promise of a new covenant with His people, symbolizing reconciliation and restoration. The concept of a "covenant of peace" is significant in biblical theology, often associated with the Messianic age. It echoes the promises found in
Isaiah 54:10 and
Jeremiah 31:31-34, where God speaks of a new covenant characterized by peace and internal transformation. Historically, covenants were binding agreements, and this divine covenant signifies God's commitment to His people, ensuring their security and well-being.
it will be an everlasting covenant.
The term "everlasting" emphasizes the perpetual nature of this covenant, contrasting with the temporary and conditional covenants of the past. This everlasting covenant is fulfilled in the New Testament through Jesus Christ, whose sacrifice established a permanent relationship between God and humanity (Hebrews 13:20). The idea of an everlasting covenant also connects to the Abrahamic covenant (Genesis 17:7), highlighting continuity in God's redemptive plan.
I will establish them and multiply them,
This promise of establishment and multiplication recalls the blessings given to the patriarchs, such as Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob (Genesis 12:2, 26:4, 28:14). It signifies not only physical growth and prosperity but also spiritual flourishing. In the context of Ezekiel, it reassures the exiled Israelites of their future restoration and growth as a nation. This multiplication is both a literal promise of increased numbers and a metaphor for spiritual expansion and influence.
and I will set My sanctuary among them forever.
The sanctuary represents God's presence among His people, a central theme in the Old Testament. This promise points to the ultimate fulfillment in the New Jerusalem, where God's presence will dwell with humanity eternally (Revelation 21:3). In Ezekiel's context, it anticipates the rebuilding of the temple, symbolizing God's return to His people. Theologically, it foreshadows the incarnation of Christ, who is the true temple (John 2:19-21), and the indwelling of the Holy Spirit in believers, making them a living sanctuary (1 Corinthians 3:16).
Persons / Places / Events
1.
EzekielA prophet during the Babylonian exile, Ezekiel is the mouthpiece of God, delivering messages of both judgment and hope to the Israelites.
2.
IsraelitesThe primary audience of Ezekiel's prophecy, they are in exile in Babylon, longing for restoration and a return to their homeland.
3.
BabylonThe place of exile for the Israelites, representing both physical and spiritual captivity.
4.
Covenant of PeaceA divine promise from God to His people, signifying restoration, blessing, and a future hope.
5.
God's SanctuarySymbolizes God's presence among His people, indicating a restored relationship and divine favor.
Teaching Points
Understanding the Covenant of PeaceThe "covenant of peace" is a divine promise that transcends temporary circumstances, offering eternal hope and restoration.
The Everlasting Nature of God's PromisesGod's promises are not bound by time; they are everlasting, providing assurance and stability to believers.
The Significance of God's PresenceGod's sanctuary among His people signifies His desire for a close, personal relationship with them, offering guidance, protection, and blessing.
Multiplication and EstablishmentGod's promise to "multiply" and "establish" His people speaks to His intention to bless them abundantly and secure their future.
Application in Modern LifeBelievers today can find comfort in God's unchanging promises, trusting in His presence and provision in their lives.
Bible Study Questions and Answers
1.What is the meaning of Ezekiel 37:26?
2.How does Ezekiel 37:26 illustrate God's promise of an "everlasting covenant"?
3.In what ways can we experience God's "peace" in our daily lives?
4.How does Ezekiel 37:26 connect to the New Covenant in Hebrews 8:10?
5.What steps can we take to ensure God's "sanctuary" is within us today?
6.How can we apply the promise of God's "dwelling place" in our communities?
7.How does Ezekiel 37:26 relate to God's covenant with Israel?
8.What is the significance of "peace" in Ezekiel 37:26?
9.How does Ezekiel 37:26 connect to the prophecy of the Messiah?
10.What are the top 10 Lessons from Ezekiel 37?
11.How can Ezekiel 37:25–28’s everlasting covenant and sanctuary be understood when there seems to be no clear historical or present-day fulfillment matching this depiction?
12.Ezekiel 42:4 describes specific architectural details for temple chambers—why is there no clear archaeological evidence supporting this exact design?
13.How do we interpret the phrase “the Israel of God” (Galatians 6:16) without contradicting Old Testament references to Israel’s unique covenant?
14.Why has Jerusalem suffered such great devastation and sorrow?What Does Ezekiel 37:26 Mean
And I will make a covenant of peace with them• The promise comes from the Lord who cannot lie, assuring a comprehensive shalom—wholeness that reaches spiritual, national, and relational dimensions (Isaiah 54:10;Ezekiel 34:25).
• This covenant centers on Messiah Jesus, the “Prince of Peace” (Isaiah 9:6–7;Ephesians 2:14–16), through whom reconciliation is provided.
• It is directed first to Israel, guaranteeing her future restoration (Jeremiah 31:31–34;Romans 11:25–27), yet it also overflows to all who are grafted in by faith (Galatians 3:29).
It will be an everlasting covenant• Unlike human treaties that expire, this divine agreement is “everlasting,” echoing God’s earlier pledges to Abraham (Genesis 17:7), David (2 Samuel 7:16), and the exiles (Jeremiah 32:40).
• Its permanence rests on God’s character, not Israel’s performance (Psalm 89:34).
• The New Covenant ratified by Christ’s blood (Hebrews 13:20) secures eternal forgiveness and unbroken fellowship.
I will establish them and multiply them• “Establish” speaks of firm rooting in the land promised to the patriarchs (Ezekiel 36:10–11;Amos 9:15).
• “Multiply” recalls God’s original mandate and Abrahamic blessing (Genesis 12:2;Hosea 2:23).
• These words look ahead to a literal, population-rich Israel in Messiah’s kingdom, yet illustrate God’s heart to grow His people everywhere (Acts 2:47).
And I will set My sanctuary among them forever• God pledges a permanent dwelling: first envisioned in Ezekiel’s temple vision (Ezekiel 40–48) and ultimately fulfilled when “the dwelling place of God is with men” (Revelation 21:3).
• His presence brings unparalleled security and worship (Ezekiel 37:27;Psalm 46:4–5).
• The indwelling Spirit now offers a foretaste (1 Corinthians 3:16), but the promise looks to a literal sanctuary in the millennial reign and then the eternal state.
summaryEzekiel 37:26 unfolds a fourfold pledge from God: a peace-granting covenant, everlasting in scope; a firmly planted and greatly multiplied people; and God’s own sanctuary set among them for all time. Each element points to the faithfulness of the Lord revealed in Jesus Christ and assures believers that every promise—national to Israel and spiritual to the church—will be kept exactly as spoken.
(26)
Multiply them.--In accordance with what has gone before, comes this promise of the great increase of the spiritual Israel. Even John the Baptist had said, "God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham"; but our Lord more emphatically taught that the true children of Abraham were those who followed Him (
John 8:39, &c.); while His Apostle St. Paul explains repeatedly, and at length, that Abraham was the father of all those who walk in his faith, whether they be of the circumcision or the uncircumcision (
Romans 4:12, &c.); and again, "that they which are of faith, the same are the children of Abraham" (
Galatians 3:7). Thus was fulfilled the promise that he should be "the father of many nations" (
Genesis 17:5, interpreted in
Romans 4:17), and in the same way also was to be fulfilled the present promise of the multiplication of the seed of Israel.
Verses 26, 27. - With the people thus gathered (ver. 21), united (ver. 22), purified (ver. 23), and established under the rule of Messiah (ver. 25), Jehovah makes a
covenant of peace (see on Ezekiel 34:25; and comp.
Psalm 89:3), further characterized as
an everlasting covenant; or,
covenant of eternity (see on Ezekiel 16:60; and comp.
Genesis 17:7;
Isaiah 55:3;
Jeremiah 32:40); which guarantees the continuance between him and them of undying friendship, conjoined with the bestowment on his part and the enjoyment on theirs of the highest social and religious blessings. First, national existence and secure possession of the soil.
I will place (literally,
give)
them, either to their land, as in
Ezekiel 17:22 (Smend), or to be a nation (Keil), or perhaps both (Kliefoth). Next, steady increase of population -
I will multiply them (comp.
Ezekiel 36:37;
Leviticus 26:9). Thirdly, perpetual residence of Jehovah amongst them, I will set (or,
give)
my sanctuary (
mikdashi, conveying the idea of sanctity)
in the midst of them for evermore (scrap.
Leviticus 26:11);
my tabernacle (
mishkani,
the idea being that of residence or dwelling)
also shall be with them; or,
over them - the figure being derived from the elevated site of the temple, which overhung the city (
Psalm 69:29), and intended to suggest the idea of Jehovah's protecting grace. That this promise was in part implemented by the erection of the second temple in the days of Zerubbabel may be conceded, and also that Ezekiel himself may have looked forward to a literal restoration of the sanctuary; but its highest realization must be sought for, first in the Incarnation (
John 1:14), next in God's inhabitation of the Church through the Spirit (
2 Corinthians 6:16), and finally in his tabernacling with redeemed men in the heavenly Jerusalem (
Revelation 21:3, 22). The last blessing specified is the intimate communion of God with his people, and of them with him -
Yea, I will be their God, and they shall be my people. This, which formed the kernel of the old covenant with Israel (
Leviticus 26:12), became the essence of the new covenant with the Israel of the restoration (
Ezekiel 11:20;
Ezekiel 36:28;
Jeremiah 30:22;
Jeremiah 31:33;
Jeremiah 32:38;
Zechariah 8:8;
Zechariah 13:9), but only attained to complete realization in the relation of Christian believers to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ (
2 Corinthians 6:16).
Parallel Commentaries ...
Hebrew
And I will makeוְכָרַתִּ֤י(wə·ḵā·rat·tî)Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - first person common singular
Strong's 3772:To cut, to destroy, consume, to covenanta covenantבְּרִ֣ית(bə·rîṯ)Noun - feminine singular construct
Strong's 1285:A covenantof peaceשָׁל֔וֹם(šā·lō·wm)Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 7965:Safe, well, happy, friendly, welfare, health, prosperity, peacewith them;לָהֶם֙(lā·hem)Preposition | third person masculine plural
Strong's Hebrewit will beיִהְיֶ֣ה(yih·yeh)Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 1961:To fall out, come to pass, become, bean everlastingעוֹלָ֖ם(‘ō·w·lām)Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 5769:Concealed, eternity, frequentatively, alwayscovenant.בְּרִ֥ית(bə·rîṯ)Noun - feminine singular construct
Strong's 1285:A covenantI will establishוּנְתַתִּים֙(ū·nə·ṯat·tîm)Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - first person common singular | third person masculine plural
Strong's 5414:To give, put, setand multiplyוְהִרְבֵּיתִ֣י(wə·hir·bê·ṯî)Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Conjunctive perfect - first person common singular
Strong's 7235:To be or become much, many or greatthem,אוֹתָ֔ם(’ō·w·ṯām)Direct object marker | third person masculine plural
Strong's 853:Untranslatable mark of the accusative caseand I will setוְנָתַתִּ֧י(wə·nā·ṯat·tî)Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - first person common singular
Strong's 5414:To give, put, setMy sanctuaryמִקְדָּשִׁ֛י(miq·dā·šî)Noun - masculine singular construct | first person common singular
Strong's 4720:A consecrated thing, place, a palace, sanctuary, asylumamong themבְּתוֹכָ֖ם(bə·ṯō·w·ḵām)Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine plural
Strong's 8432:A bisection, the centreforever.לְעוֹלָֽם׃(lə·‘ō·w·lām)Preposition-l | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 5769:Concealed, eternity, frequentatively, always
Links
Ezekiel 37:26 NIVEzekiel 37:26 NLTEzekiel 37:26 ESVEzekiel 37:26 NASBEzekiel 37:26 KJV
Ezekiel 37:26 BibleApps.comEzekiel 37:26 Biblia ParalelaEzekiel 37:26 Chinese BibleEzekiel 37:26 French BibleEzekiel 37:26 Catholic Bible
OT Prophets: Ezekiel 37:26 Moreover I will make a covenant (Ezek. Eze Ezk) 
