Ezekiel 25 10

Ezekiel 25:10 kjv

Unto the men of the east with the Ammonites, and will give them in possession, that the Ammonites may not be remembered among the nations.

Ezekiel 25:10 nkjv

To the men of the East I will give it as a possession, together with the Ammonites, that the Ammonites may not be remembered among the nations.

Ezekiel 25:10 niv

I will give Moab along with the Ammonites to the people of the East as a possession, so that the Ammonites will not be remembered among the nations;

Ezekiel 25:10 esv

I will give it along with the Ammonites to the people of the East as a possession, that the Ammonites may be remembered no more among the nations,

Ezekiel 25:10 nlt

And I will hand Moab over to nomads from the eastern deserts, just as I handed over Ammon. Yes, the Ammonites will no longer be counted among the nations.

Ezekiel 25 verses

Ezekiel 25 10 Meaning

Ezekiel 25:10 pronounces a severe divine judgment against the land of Moab and the nation of Ammon. The verse states that the land of Moab, specifically its frontier cities mentioned in the preceding verse, will be given as a possession to the nomadic "people of the East." Simultaneously, or as part of this sweeping judgment, the Ammonites will face the complete cessation of their national identity, destined "to be remembered no more among the nations." This signifies not merely physical defeat but a total erasure of their distinct political and cultural presence on the world stage, a profound form of national annihilation decreed by God.

Ezekiel 25 10 Context

Ezekiel chapter 25 marks the beginning of a significant section in the book (chapters 25-32) that contains divine oracles against foreign nations surrounding Judah. These prophecies are distinct from those directed at Israel, serving to underscore God's universal sovereignty and justice. He is not merely the God of Israel but the Lord of all nations, holding them accountable for their actions. The primary reason for the judgment on these nations (Ammon, Moab, Edom, Philistia, Tyre, Sidon, and Egypt) is their malicious joy and contempt directed at Judah and Jerusalem during their downfall at the hands of Babylon.

Specifically, Ezekiel 25 addresses four of these nations: Ammon (vv. 1-7), Moab (vv. 8-11), Edom (vv. 12-14), and Philistia (vv. 15-17). Verse 10, therefore, forms part of the judgment against Moab. Verses 8 and 9 describe Moab's arrogant claim that Judah was no different from other nations and how Moab's prominent cities would be laid bare. Verse 10 builds on this by declaring what would happen to the exposed land of Moab. Historically, both Moab and Ammon, located in Transjordan, had a long-standing history of antagonism towards Israel, rooted in their shared origins (descendants of Lot, Gen 19) yet characterized by animosity, idolatry, and often collaborating with Israel's enemies or exploiting their misfortunes. The "people of the East" refers to nomadic Arab tribes (e.g., Bedouins) who typically inhabited the deserts to the east of settled lands and were known for their incursions and destabilizing influence, often following the wake of larger empires like Babylon.

Ezekiel 25 10 Word analysis

• וְנָתַתִּ֤יהָ (və-nā-ṯat-tî-hā) – "I will give it"

  • Word-level: The prefix 'וְ' (ve) means 'and/but/so', connecting this consequence to the preceding verses. 'נָתַתִּיהָ' is derived from the root נָתַן (natan), meaning "to give, place, set." The 'תִּיהָ' suffix indicates a perfect tense, first person common singular, showing God as the active giver/doer, and 'הָ' as the feminine singular suffix "it," referring back to the "flank of Moab" and its cities mentioned in Eze 25:9.
  • Significance: This emphasizes divine agency. God is not merely allowing this to happen; He is actively orchestrating and decreeing this transfer of possession, exercising His sovereign control over all lands and nations. This underscores His ultimate authority over human history.

• לִבְנֵי־קֶ֣דֶם (liv-nê-qe-ḏem) – "to the people of the East"

  • Word-level: 'לְ' (lǝ) means "to/for." 'בְּנֵי' (b'nei) means "sons of" or "people of." 'קֶ֣דֶם' (qej-dem) refers to "the front, the east, antiquity." Together, it commonly designates tribes or peoples originating from the eastern desert regions, specifically nomadic groups.
  • Significance: These "People of the East" were historically a common term for various semi-nomadic desert tribes (e.g., Midianites, Amalekites, Arabians). Their presence indicates a takeover by less settled, often plundering, peoples, suggesting disorder, desolation, and the end of structured statehood. They served as an instrument of divine judgment, embodying the chaos that would overcome Moab.

• לְמוֹרָשָׁה (lə-mō-rā-šāh) – "as a possession"

  • Word-level: 'לְ' (lǝ) means "as/for." 'מוֹרָשָׁה' (morasha) derives from the root יָרַשׁ (yarash), meaning "to inherit, take possession of, dispossess." It implies permanent tenure, a right of inheritance or established ownership.
  • Significance: This is not a temporary raid or a passing conquest but a permanent transfer of ownership and control. The land of Moab is not merely sacked; it is given over to be inhabited and held by these foreign peoples, meaning the complete dispossession of the Moabites from their ancestral lands.

• עִם־בְּנֵי֙ עַמּ֣וֹן (ʻim-b'nê ʻam-mōn) – "together with the Ammonites"

  • Word-level: 'עִם' (im) means "with, together with, along with." 'בְּנֵי֙ עַמּ֣וֹן' (b'nei Ammon) literally means "sons of Ammon," referring to the nation of Ammon.
  • Significance: This phrase ties the fate of Moab to Ammon. While the "it" (Moab's land) is given to the people of the East, the "together with the Ammonites" likely extends the scope of the subsequent phrase "that the Ammonites may be remembered no more" to include both nations, or at least shows Ammon suffering a similar, concurrent fate. This means both peoples, long-standing adversaries of Israel, faced divine judgment, experiencing the loss of land, identity, and national memory. Some interpret this to mean that the "people of the East" would take both Moabite and Ammonite territory. The common understanding leans toward them sharing a fate of national erasure.

• לְבִלְתִּ֥י תִזָּכֵ֛ר בְּנֵֽי־עַמּ֥וֹן בַּגּוֹיִֽם (lə-vil-tî ṯiz-zā-ḵêr b'nê-ʻam-mōn ba-go-yim) – "that the Ammonites may be remembered no more among the nations"

  • Word-level: 'לְבִלְתִּ֥י' (l'vilti) is a negative infinitive construct, meaning "in order not to be, so that not." 'תִזָּכֵ֛ר' (tizzakhêr) is a nipal imperfect (passive voice), meaning "be remembered." 'בְּנֵֽי־עַמּ֥וֹן' refers to the Ammonites. 'בַּגּוֹיִֽם' (ba-goyim) means "among the nations/gentiles."
  • Significance: This is the most profound part of the judgment. "To be remembered no more" signifies a total annihilation of their distinct national identity, political presence, and cultural memory. It's a far greater judgment than simply military defeat or economic ruin. In the ancient Near East, national memory and legacy were paramount. To be forgotten "among the nations" means their cessation as a recognizable, independent entity on the world stage, an end to their very "name" as a people group that carries weight in history and prophecy. While individual Ammonites may have survived, the Ammonite nation ceased to exist as a distinct, influential entity.

Ezekiel 25 10 Bonus section

The historical fulfillment of this prophecy is a key aspect of its significance. Following the Babylonian exile, various nomadic Arab tribes, indeed "people of the East," gradually moved into the Transjordan region, displacing or assimilating the remaining populations of Moab and Ammon. While there might have been individuals from these groups who survived, their distinct national entities and cultures effectively vanished over time. Unlike the Jewish people, who, despite diaspora and persecution, have maintained a distinct national and religious identity for millennia, Ammon and Moab disappeared as independent entities. This stands as a powerful testament to the accuracy of biblical prophecy and God's sovereign control over history and the destiny of nations. This prophecy not only details judgment but implicitly upholds the enduring nature of Israel's covenant, even as their adversaries are consumed.

Ezekiel 25 10 Commentary

Ezekiel 25:10 serves as a powerful declaration of God's unyielding justice against those who despise His chosen people and revel in their misfortunes. The verse delivers a dual blow to Moab and Ammon, two nations consistently hostile towards Israel. The "people of the East," a generic term for aggressive nomadic desert tribes, are not random invaders but God's divinely appointed instrument of judgment. They are granted permanent possession of Moab's strategic frontier cities, signaling the utter collapse of Moabite statehood. Critically, this verse extends the pronouncement to the Ammonites, declaring that they, too, will suffer the ultimate fate of national identity loss – to "be remembered no more among the nations." This means more than simple conquest; it is a prophetic decree for the complete obliteration of their distinct cultural and political identity, erasing their place on the world stage as a unique and independent people. This severe judgment underscores God's sovereignty over all nations, His commitment to vindicating His people, and the grave consequences for those who defiantly mock His plan and providence. Historically, both Ammon and Moab eventually faded from historical record as distinct political entities, becoming subsumed into larger empires and populations, thus fulfilling this divine word.