Charles Ellicott Commentary Ezekiel 36:20

"And when they came unto the nations, whither they went, they profaned my holy name; in that men said of them, These are the people of Jehovah, and are gone forth out of his land." — Ezekiel 36:20 (ASV)

When they said to them.—We are not to understand that the Israelites profaned God’s name among the Gentiles in the way spoken of in Romans 2:24, although this may also have happened; but they profaned it by the very fact of their captivity, the consequence of their former sins. The Gentiles regarded Jehovah as merely the national God of the Israelites and, seeing them dispersed, in distress, and in captivity, concluded that He was unable to protect them. Therefore, for the vindication of His name (Ezekiel 36:21–24), God would restore His people to their land.