God's dwelling place will be with the people, he will be their God, and they will be his people—the ancient covenantal formula invoked at the moment of restoration, representing the renewal of the fundamental relationship ruptured by exile. This formula, 'I will be their God and they will be my people,' recurs throughout biblical covenant literature and represents the essence of the covenantal relationship; restoration means the renewal of this basic mutual commitment. The promise of divine indwelling recalls the Shekinah presence that had withdrawn in Ezekiel's vision of the temple's glory departing; restoration includes the return of divine presence. The reciprocal structure of the formula ('I will be... they will be...') emphasizes the mutual binding nature of covenant; both parties commit themselves in the renewed relationship. This verse represents the spiritual climax of the restoration promise.

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