Tim Maas Supporter Retired Quality Assurance Specialist with the U.S. Army

This verse reminds me of Ephesians 2:8-9, which tells us that even the faith in Christ that saves us is not of our own doing, but is a gift from God. (It has to be that way, since all humans are sinful by nature, and incapable of coming to God by their own will.)

In the same way, God was also promising through Ezekiel to turn the Israelites back to Him from the idolatry and disobedience into which they had fallen, and to give them a new mindset (for which the "heart" is a metaphor) that would not be resistant to His guidance (as stone would repel attempts to penetrate it), but would instead be "flesh", and thus receptive to His commandments and laws.

January 24 2025 • 0 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report

Donna Williams Supporter

In this particular passage, the Lord is making a new covenant with the house of Israel by stating that He would give them a new heart and a new spirit.

God's purpose was that the children of Israel would follow Him by making them anew to walk in total submission and obedience to all of His commandments and statutes. 

In verse 27, it is evident that He would perform it by the power of the Holy Spirit in order for them to walk in all of His ways. There would be a joining of the two, the Spirit of God with the spirit of man.

It is the same for us today who are New Testament believers of God's grace. We have been empowered by the Holy Spirit to walk in obedience and to further the ministry of Jesus Christ in the earth. 

I believe that Ezekiel 36:26, is a foreshadow of the new covenant of grace, and that mankind would experience being born again. 

In John chapter 3, Jesus speaks about being born of water and of the Spirit which is the same as what the Holy Spirit revealed in Ezekiel chapters 11 and 36.

The new birth is the washing of regeneration (water or the washing of the Word) and the renewing (fire) of the Holy Spirit. See Titus 3:5

In Matthew 3:11, we see the water and the Holy Spirit. The word fire was added, however the fire is a part of the new birth, because it signifies purification or being refined by fire.

May I encourage you to read these verses that I have shared so that you will be enlightened by the Holy Spirit, and that He will lead you and guide you into all truth.

January 24 2025 • 0 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report

Jack Gutknecht Supporter Arizona Bible College & Dallas Seminary graduate, Pentair

Yes, I agree with Donna's answer. "Being born of water and of the Spirit" in the Bible, particularly in John 3:5, is directly linked to the imagery in Ezekiel chapters 11 and 36, where God speaks of cleansing and renewal through "water" symbolizing the Holy Spirit's work of spiritual transformation, essentially signifying a new birth or regeneration of the heart and spirit; meaning that just as water cleanses physically, the Holy Spirit cleanses one spiritually, creating a new life in God. 

While there isn't a direct, explicit connection between "being born of water and the Spirit" in John 3:5 and imagery in Ezekiel 11, the concept of cleansing and renewal through the Holy Spirit, represented by "water" in John, aligns with Ezekiel's theme of spiritual transformation, where God promises to "sprinkle clean water" upon his people, signifying a spiritual rebirth and cleansing from sin; thus, both passages speak to the idea of a spiritual renewal through divine action.

January 25 2025 • 0 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report

Leslie Coutinho Supporter

Ezekiel 36:26: A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh.

From the beginning of the creation, Noah and his sons overspread the earth and were all of one language after the floods. Lord came down to see what they did as nothing would restrain what they imagined doing. The Lord confounded their language and scattered them. (Gen 7:6/9:19/11:6-8) Lord appeared to Abram and he was told he would be the Father of many nations, and he shall be called Abraham. (Gen 17:1-6) When Abraham departed from his father’s house in Haran, his first son was Ishmael born to Hagar the Egyptian. He sent Hagar and the child Ishmael away, and they went into the wilderness of Beersheba, that is before Egypt, and towards Assyria. Ishmael then had a wife from Egypt and became the father of a great nation. (Gen 17:20/21:14,21/25:18) The Lord visited Sarah, Abraham's wife and she conceived and bore Isaac. (Gen 21:1-2) After Sarah died, Abraham took a wife named Keturah, who bore him sons and then were sent eastward to the east country. This land was the Arabian Peninsula of “Midian, Sheba, Dedan” named after Abraham's sons and grandsons. Moses fled from the face of Pharaoh and dwelt in this land of Midian and married the daughter of the priest in Midian. (Gen 25:1-6/Exo 2:15,21) 

The children of Israel dwelt in their land, then were scattered among the heathen and were dispersed through the countries when they profaned the Holy name of the Lord. (Eze 36:17-21) Just as all nations who scattered from the time of Abraham, the Lord shall bring a sword upon these nations of the land. There will come a time “Where there shall be enemies of high places set against these nations claiming the ancient high places are ours.” (Eze 36:2) "Behold, the Lord will be for you, and He will turn you to be tilled, and sown, for then they shall set a man on their coast to be their watchman. These watchmen, who see the the sword coming upon the land, shall blow the trumpets and warn the people." (Eze 33:1-6/36:9) Sheba and Dedan shall say, "Are thou come to take a spoil?" For the Lord shall rain against Gog and his bands overflowing with rain, hailstones, fire, and brimstone. (Eze 38:13,22) For there will be people who will be then taken up in the lips of talkers who will be infamy of the people. Those who hear the trumpet and take not the warning his blood shall be upon him, but he that taketh warning shall save his life. (Eze 33:1:7) 

Those who save their lives will remember the detestable things they have done and will be given a “new heart and a new spirit” that will lead them to walk in His ways and save them from all uncleanness. On the day of the second coming of the Lord, for His Holy Name's sake, they will all be gathered from all countries and will be brought into the land of their forefathers. (Eze 36:27-28,35,37) For His Name shall be sanctified before the eyes of the heathen. There shall be the two anointed ones that stand by the Lord of the whole earth who will be sent and shall prophesy a thousand two hundred and threescore days clothed in sackcloth. (Zec 4:14/Rev 11:3) And it shall come to pass that in all the land two parts therein shall be cut and die but the third shall be left, who will be brought through the fire, and he will refine them and give them a new heart. During that time all nations shall gather against Jerusalem to battle and shall ravish them, then shall the Lord go forth and fight against the nations as when he fought in the day of battle. (Zec 13:8-9/14:2-5)

Ezekiel 18:31: Cast away from you all your transgression, whereby ye have transgressed; and make you a new heart and a new spirit: for why will ye die, O house of Israel.

January 27 2025 • 0 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report

Jeffrey Johnson Supporter

In what way would God give them "a new heart" (Ezekiel 36:26)

I will also give you a new heart, and I will put a new spirit within you; I will take the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you a heart of flesh.

God cleansed them of religious uncleanness and put in them "a new spirit", enabling them to produce the fruit of his holy spirit.

Ezekiel's statement about God giving people "a new heart" describes a deep inner transformation rather than a physical change. In the passage, the "heart" represents the centre of a person's will, desires, and moral direction. Israel's problem was not simply behaviour; it was a stubborn inner condition that resisted God. The promise of a new heart addresses that root issue by describing a shift in a person's character.

A "new heart" means God would replace spiritual hardness with responsiveness. The "heart of stone" symbolises resistance, coldness, and unwillingness to follow God's ways. A "heart of flesh" symbolises sensitivity, openness, and the ability to respond to God's guidance. Humans do not achieve this change. God initiates it, shaping the inner life so obedience becomes a natural expression rather than a forced duty.

This transformation also involves renewed motives. Instead of acting out of fear, pressure, or external obligation, people would act from genuine desire. Their values, priorities, and moral instincts would align with what God considers good. The new heart reflects a shift from self‑centeredness to God‑centeredness, from rebellion to willingness, from apathy to engagement.

The promise includes restored relationship. A new heart enables people to relate to God with sincerity rather than hypocrisy. It allows trust to grow where distrust once lived. It creates space for gratitude, humility, and reverence. This relational renewal is essential because the entire covenant depends on a willing, faithful people, not merely a nation that follows rules.

A new heart also implies moral clarity. When God reshapes the inner life, people gain a clearer sense of right and wrong. Their conscience aligns with truth rather than being distorted by stubbornness or confusion. This clarity helps them make choices that reflect God's character in everyday life.

The promise further points to empowerment. A new heart is paired with God's Spirit, enabling people to live out their calling. The inner change is not left unsupported; God's help strengthens it. This means the transformation is sustainable, not temporary. It is a shift in direction that continues to grow.

Finally, the new heart signals hope. Israel's failures had led to exile and despair, but God's promise showed that renewal was possible. The people's future did not depend on their past failures but on God's ability to reshape them from within. This hope extends beyond national restoration to personal renewal, offering a vision of life marked by integrity, compassion, and faithfulness.

In Ezekiel's message, the new heart is God's way of creating a people who can genuinely walk in His ways, not through pressure but through transformed desire and renewed inner strength.

October 10 2026 • 0 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report

Daniel Veler Supporter

Your question: In what way would God give them "a new heart" (Ezekiel 36:26)?

Understand this crucial point: prophets revealed future events. Receiving a new heart was among them. This process would be facilitated by Jesus.

Here is the verse, “A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh. And I will put my spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and ye shall keep my judgments, and do them.”

The Lord was referring to the time of Jesus, when through him we would receive a new heart. 

What did the prophet say? “I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh. And I will put my spirit within you.“

Now, let’s delve into the process of this transformation. When you hear the gospel of Jesus Christ, the word enters your heart and pricks it. This means you gain understanding, and at that moment, you can be converted if you call upon the name of the Lord. An example of this is the event at Pentecost.

Acts 2:37: “Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do?”

Then Peter told them the following.

Verse 38: “Then Peter said unto them, 'Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.'"

It is through the Holy Spirit that your heart is changed, giving you a new heart, as the Lord said, “And cause you to walk in my statutes, and ye shall keep my judgments, and do them.”

It is through the Holy Spirit in you that shapes your new heart that you no longer walk after the flesh but walk with the fruits of the Holy Spirit.

October 12 2026 • 0 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report