Eze 11:19-20, Zep 3:9 | JFB | STEP | 19. I will give them-- lest they should claim to themselves the praise given them in , God declares it is to be the free gift of His Spirit. one heart-- not singleness, that is, uprightness, but oneness of heart in all, unanimously seeking Him in contrast to their state at that time, when only single scattered individuals sought God ( ; ) [Hengstenberg]. Or, "content with one God," not distracted with "the many detestable things" ( ; ; ) [Calvin]. new spirit-- ( ; ). Realized fully in the "new creature" of the New Testament ( ); having new motives, new rules, new aims. stony heart-- like "adamant" ( ); the natural heart of every man. heart of flesh-- impressible to what is good, tender.

‏ Ezekiel 11:19-20

19. I will give them--lest they should claim to themselves the praise given them in Eze 11:18, God declares it is to be the free gift of His Spirit.

one heart--not singleness, that is, uprightness, but oneness of heart in all, unanimously seeking Him in contrast to their state at that time, when only single scattered individuals sought God (Jr 32:39; Zep 3:9) [Hengstenberg]. Or, "content with one God," not distracted with "the many detestable things" (Eze 11:18; 1Ki 18:21; Ho 10:2) [Calvin].

new spirit--(Psa 51:10; Jr 31:33). Realized fully in the "new creature" of the New Testament (2Co 5:17); having new motives, new rules, new aims.

stony heart--like "adamant" (Zec 7:12); the natural heart of every man.

heart of flesh--impressible to what is good, tender.

20. walk in my statutes--Regeneration shows itself by its fruits (Ga 5:22, 25).

they ... my people, ... I ... their God--(Eze 14:11; 36:28; 37:27; Jr 24:7). In its fullest sense still future (Zec 13:9).

‏ Zephaniah 3:9

9. For--The blessed things promised in this and Zep 3:10 are the immediate results of the punishment inflicted on the nations, mentioned in Zep 3:8 (compare Zep 3:19).

turn to the people a pure language--that is, changing their impure language I will give to them again a pure language (literally, "lip"). Compare for this Hebrew idiom, 1Sa 10:9, Margin. The confusion of languages was of the penalty sin, probably idolatry at Babel (Ge 11:1-6, Margin, where also "lip" expresses language, and perhaps also religion; Zep 3:4, "a tower whose top may reach unto heaven," or rather, points to heaven, namely, dedicated to the heavens idolized, or Bel); certainly, of rebellion against God's will. An earnest of the removal of this penalty was the gift of tongues on Pentecost (Ac 2:6-13). The full restoration of the earth's unity of language and of worship is yet future, and is connected with the restoration of the Jews, to be followed by the conversion of the world. Compare Is 19:18; Zec 14:9; Ro 15:6, "with one mind and one mouth glorify God." The Gentiles' lips have been rendered impure through being the instruments of calling on idols and dishonoring God (compare Psa 16:4; Ho 2:17). Whether Hebrew shall be the one universal language or not, the God of the Hebrews shall be the one only object of worship. Until the Holy Ghost purify the lips, we cannot rightly call upon God (Is 6:5-7).

serve him with one consent--literally, "shoulder" or "back"; metaphor from a yoke, or burden, borne between two (Nu 13:23); helping one another with conjoint effort. If one of the two bearers of a burden, laid on both conjointly, give way, the burden must fall to the earth [Calvin]. Christ's rule is called a burden (Mt 11:30; Ac 15:28; Re 2:24; compare 2Co 6:14 for the same image).