Ezekiel 36:15

Ezekiel 36:15, in plain English

God will silence the nations' mocking forever, Israel will no longer carry shame before the world, and the land will stop being the cause of Israel's stumbling—because God Himself has spoken it.

Why it's here

The exiles have endured years of taunts and shame. Every time someone mentioned Israel, it was with mockery. God is saying: that era ends. I'm putting a stop to it.

Who's speaking

God declaring a complete reversal of Israel's status through Ezekiel.

Where it sits in the story

This closes the first section of the prophecy. Israel's shame, mocking, and spiritual failure—all of it—will be overturned. What follows will explain why this is possible.

The scholarly reading

God assures Israel that mocking from the nations will cease, removing the shame that has afflicted both land and people.

Language and setting

The Hebrew verb שָׁמַע (shama, 'hear') in the negative—'will not allow...to be heard'—emphasizes the silencing of hostile rhetoric. The 'reproach of the peoples' (Hebrew: כְלִמַּת הַגּוֹיִם) constitutes what contemporary scholars call 'discursive power'—the enemy's ability to define Israel's identity through mocking speech. The final clause, 'you will no longer...cause your nation to stumble,' suggests that national shame had become spiritually corrosive, undermining faith itself. Removing reproach restores not only dignity but spiritual integrity.

Voice

God, sealing the restoration oracle with an absolute negation of the enemies' ability to harm through rhetoric.

Significance

The oracle concludes its first movement (verses 1-15) by integrating all promises: enemy judgment, land restoration, population return, and cessation of shame—creating a comprehensive reversal of exile's humiliation.

13For this is what the Lord GOD says: Because people say to you, ‘You devour men and deprive your nation of its children,’

14therefore you will no longer devour men or deprive your nation of its children, declares the Lord GOD.

15I will no longer allow the taunts of the nations to be heard against you, and you will no longer endure the reproach of the peoples or cause your nation to stumble, declares the Lord GOD.”

16Again the word of the LORD came to me, saying,

17“Son of man, when the people of Israel lived in their land, they defiled it by their own ways and deeds. Their behavior before Me was like the uncleanness of a woman’s impurity.

Read all of Ezekiel 36 — I will sprinkle clean water on you. I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you. Not for your sake — for the sake of my holy name.