Ezekiel 25 13

Ezekiel 25:13 kjv

Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD; I will also stretch out mine hand upon Edom, and will cut off man and beast from it; and I will make it desolate from Teman; and they of Dedan shall fall by the sword.

Ezekiel 25:13 nkjv

therefore thus says the Lord GOD: "I will also stretch out My hand against Edom, cut off man and beast from it, and make it desolate from Teman; Dedan shall fall by the sword.

Ezekiel 25:13 niv

therefore this is what the Sovereign LORD says: I will stretch out my hand against Edom and kill both man and beast. I will lay it waste, and from Teman to Dedan they will fall by the sword.

Ezekiel 25:13 esv

therefore thus says the Lord GOD, I will stretch out my hand against Edom and cut off from it man and beast. And I will make it desolate; from Teman even to Dedan they shall fall by the sword.

Ezekiel 25:13 nlt

Therefore, says the Sovereign LORD, I will raise my fist of judgment against Edom. I will wipe out its people and animals with the sword. I will make a wasteland of everything from Teman to Dedan.

Ezekiel 25 verses

Ezekiel 25 13 Meaning

Ezekiel 25:13 pronounces God's unwavering judgment against Edom. Due to their relentless hostility towards Israel and their cruel glee at Judah's downfall, God declares His direct intervention. He will stretch out His hand, signifying active and powerful destruction, to eliminate all human and animal life from their land. This desolation will extend from the prominent city of Teman, representing the heart of Edom, and will specifically target the inhabitants of Dedan with military defeat, highlighting the comprehensive reach of this divine retribution.

Ezekiel 25 13 Context

Ezekiel chapter 25 marks a turning point in the prophet's book. After years of prophecies focusing on Judah's impending destruction and the reasons for it, this chapter begins a series of oracles (chapters 25-32) directed against the surrounding Gentile nations. This shift provides solace and vindication for the exiled Israelites, assuring them that God remains sovereign over all nations and that their oppressors will also face judgment for their transgressions, particularly for their mistreatment of God's chosen people. Historically, Edom, situated south-east of Judah, were descendants of Esau, Jacob's brother, making their enmity a long-standing familial betrayal. They capitalized on Jerusalem's fall to Babylon in 586 BC, looting the city, ambushing fleeing Judeans, and openly celebrating their rival's demise, acts explicitly condemned in Scripture (Obadiah). This verse specifically targets Edom for this malicious rejoicing and participation in Judah's distress.

Ezekiel 25 13 Word analysis

• Therefore (לָכֵן - lâkên): A conjunctive adverb signifying a direct consequence or conclusion based on previous actions (Edom's malice mentioned in Eze 25:12). It introduces a divine judgment as an unavoidable outcome.

• thus saith (כֹּה אָמַר - kōh ’āmar): A formulaic prophetic phrase affirming the absolute divine origin and authority of the message, establishing it as God's infallible and binding word.

• the Lord GOD (אֲדֹנָי יְהוִה - Adonai YHWH): Adonai ("my Lord"), indicating supreme mastership, combined with YHWH (the covenant name, often rendered "GOD" or "LORD"), emphasizes both His absolute sovereignty and His faithfulness as the covenant-keeping God.

• I will also stretch out (וְנָטִיתִי - v'naṭiytī): Refers to God's direct and forceful action. The verb naṭah (נטה) implies an extending or inclining, often used for powerful divine intervention, here specifically in judgment, showcasing His active involvement.

• mine hand (יָדִי - yādī): The hand is a potent biblical metaphor for power, action, and authority. God's hand stretched out signifies direct, irresistible, and sovereign judgment, a consistent motif of His might (e.g., Exod 7:5 for judgment, or saving acts).

• upon Edom (עַל־אֱדוֹם - ‘al-’Ědōm): Clearly identifies the specific target of the judgment. Edom, deriving from ’ādôm (red), was Israel's historical and consistent antagonist, symbolizing entrenched opposition to God's people.

• and will cut off (וְהִכְרַתִּי - v'hikraṭ'tī): From the strong verb karath (כרת), meaning "to cut, to cut off, to destroy." This implies complete extermination and severing, often used in contexts of covenant breaking or absolute desolation.

• man and beast (אָדָם וּבְהֵמָה - ’ādām ūv'hēmāh): A comprehensive merism indicating utter desolation and the destruction of all life. This mirrors ancient near-eastern curses and divine judgments that leave a land utterly barren, emphasizing completeness.

• from it (מִמֶּנָּה - mimménāh): Specifies that the destruction applies to the entirety of Edom's territory, leaving nothing untouched.

• and I will make it desolate (וּנְתַתִּיהָ שִׁמָּמָה - ūnéṯaṭtîhā shîmāmāh): The word shîmāmāh (שִׁמָמָה) denotes ruin, devastation, utter waste. God is the active agent in bringing this state about, emphasizing divine justice and purpose.

• from Teman (מִתֵּימָן - mittêmān): Teman was a prominent Edomite city and region, renowned for its wisdom (Jer 49:7, Job 2:11). Mentioning it specifies the extensive scope of the judgment, including its intellectual and strategic heart.

• and they of Dedan (וְדְדָן - v'Dedān): Dedan was an important trading city, often associated with Arabian peoples (Eze 27:20; 38:13). Its inclusion indicates the widespread impact of the judgment, affecting Edom's economic network and associated peoples, confirming comprehensive ruin.

• shall fall by the sword (בַּחֶרֶב יִפּוֹלוּ - baḥerev yippōlû): Implies violent military conquest and execution. The ḥerev (sword) is a primary instrument of divine wrath and retribution in ancient warfare, signifying brutal and decisive defeat.

• "thus saith the Lord GOD": This solemn introductory phrase establishes the indisputable authority and divine origin of the entire prophecy, asserting that these are not mere human predictions but unalterable pronouncements from the ultimate sovereign.

• "I will also stretch out mine hand upon Edom": The "also" underscores that this judgment on Edom is in response to Edom's specific sins against Judah (Eze 25:12). God's hand here represents His personal, direct, and unhindered intervention in their affairs, not allowing their treachery to go unaddressed.

• "and will cut off man and beast from it; and I will make it desolate": This combined phrasing denotes the ultimate completeness and severity of the judgment. It's an undoing of their society and natural world, rendering the land uninhabitable and unproductive. This isn't just military defeat but an ecological and societal erasure.

• "from Teman; and they of Dedan shall fall by the sword": These geographical markers define the literal and strategic breadth of the judgment. Teman points to the complete devastation of Edom's internal, well-known, and established heartland, while the reference to Dedan signifies that their allies or outer regions, integral to their commerce and influence, will likewise experience a violent military demise.

Ezekiel 25 13 Bonus section

The prophecy against Edom in Ezekiel and elsewhere in Scripture holds particular theological weight due to Edom's shared ancestry with Israel (descendants of Esau and Jacob, respectively). This brotherhood, however, was repeatedly marked by intense rivalry and ultimately by Edom's consistent animosity. Their specific sin of rejoicing at Jerusalem's destruction and actively participating in its demise intensified the divine condemnation, demonstrating a profound spiritual failing of empathy and kinship. Edom's ultimate desolation, historically fulfilled through various invasions and eventual absorption by other peoples, stands as a powerful testament to the accuracy of Ezekiel's prophecy, confirming God's infallible foresight and ultimate control over the course of human history. The "wisdom" for which Teman was famous could not save Edom from the Lord's decree, reinforcing the biblical truth that human ingenuity is ultimately futile against divine justice.

Ezekiel 25 13 Commentary

Ezekiel 25:13 starkly reveals God's righteous indignation against Edom, whose historical enmity toward Israel culminated in gleeful malice during Judah's devastation. This verse is a profound testament to divine justice, affirming that God neither overlooks nor tolerates cruelty, betrayal, and vindictive joy, especially against His chosen people. The powerful imagery of God "stretching out His hand" denotes an active, decisive, and inescapable judgment, underscoring that the sovereign Lord directly intervenes in the affairs of nations. The chilling phrase "cut off man and beast" signifies an utter, comprehensive desolation, indicating that the land itself will become a barren monument to Edom's deep-seated sin and its consequences. By specifically naming Teman, a center of Edomite wisdom, and Dedan, an important trading hub, the prophecy emphasizes the extensive and thorough nature of this judgment, impacting Edom's intellectual, political, and economic foundations. This judgment serves as a reminder that the Lord is sovereign over all nations and holds them accountable for their actions, particularly concerning their treatment of His covenant people.