THEOSISJerome of Stridon
They will no longer fall victim to wicked nations, nor will they be consumed by the creatures of the earth, as we have previously stated. Instead, they will live in faith and without fear, as mentioned above.
Ezekiel 34:28Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers
And they shall be no more for a spoil to the nations, neither shall the beasts of the earth devour them: but they shall dwell securely without, any terror.
וְלֹא־יִהְי֨וּ ע֥וֹד בַּז֙ לַגּוֹיִ֔ם וְחַיַּ֥ת הָאָ֖רֶץ לֹ֣א תֹאכְלֵ֑ם וְיָשְׁב֥וּ לָבֶ֖טַח וְאֵ֥ין מַחֲרִֽיד׃
The Church Fathers on this verse
2 Church Fathers comment on this verse
Theodoret of Cyrus
The trees of the field will bear their fruit, and the earth will demonstrate its power. Even those who are of earthly nature, namely, those of Gentile descent, akin to wild trees, and the barren Jews, when they come to faith and receive this living water, will yield to Me the fruit of righteousness. They shall reside in their land with the expectation of peace. It is important to note that He did not say: with peace, but with the expectation of peace; for to those who place their faith in Him, the Lord declared: In the world you will experience trials, but take heart, I have triumphed over the world (John 16:33). The inspired Apostle also affirms, 'For we are saved by hope. But hope that is seen is not hope: for what a person sees, why would they hope for it?
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But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with perseverance (Rom. 8:24, 25); and similarly: not only this, but we ourselves, who possess the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we await the redemption of our bodies (Rom. 8:23). He continues with what is most beneficial. They will recognize that I am the Lord when I shatter the chains of their burdens; I will rescue them from their oppressors. The beasts of the earth will not ensnare them with their words, nor will the creatures of the earth bring them to captivity. I have previously mentioned that the prophecy is multifaceted: one aspect pertains to the Jews, while another applies to all people; for God liberated the Jews from Babylonian captivity and has freed us all from the torment of the devil. The chains of the burden signify the necessity of enslavement, with the tongues and beasts representing the brutal adversaries for the Jews and various demonic forces for us, which, like wild animals, prey upon humanity. Moreover, the unyielding weapon of hope in Him is revealed. They will dwell in hope and shall not be intimidated. For it is better to trust in the Lord than to put confidence in man (Psalm 117:8); he who holds this hope proclaims, 'All the nations surrounded me, but in the name of the Lord I will confront them' (Psalm 117:10).
Cross references
Passages read together with this verse.
- Jer 46:27And thou my servant Jacob, fear not and be not thou dismayed, O Israel: for behold I will save thee from afar off, and thy seed out of the land of thy captivity: and Jacob shall return and be at rest, and prosper: and there shall be none to terrify him.
- Jer 30:10Therefore fear thou not, my servant Jacob, saith the Lord, neither be dismayed, O Israel: for behold, I will save thee from a country afar off, and thy seed from the land of their captivity: and Jacob shall return, and be at rest, and abound with all good things, and there shall be none whom he may fear:
- Ezek 39:26And they shall bear their confusion, and all the transgressions wherewith they have transgressed against me, when they shall dwell in their land securely fearing no man:
- Ezek 34:8As I live, saith the Lord God, forasmuch as my flocks have been made a spoil, and my sheep are become a prey to all the beasts of the field, because there was no shepherd: for my shepherds did not seek after my flock, but the shepherds fed themselves, and fed not my flocks:
- Ezek 36:15Neither will I cause men to hear in thee the shame of the nations any more, nor shalt thou bear the reproach of the people, nor lose thy nation any more, saith the Lord God.
- Ezek 34:29And I will raise up for them a bud of renown: and they shall be no more consumed with famine in the land, neither shall they bear any more the reproach of the Gentiles.
- Ezek 36:4Therefore, ye mountains of Israel, hear the word of the Lord God: Thus saith the Lord God to the mountains, and to the hills, to the brooks, and to the valleys, and to desolate places, and ruinous walls, and to the cities that are forsaken, that are spoiled, and derided by the rest of the nations round about.
- Ezek 34:25And I will make a covenant of peace with them, and will cause the evil beasts to cease out of the land: and they that dwell in the wilderness shall sleep secure in the forests.