Ezekiel 25 14

Ezekiel 25:14 kjv

And I will lay my vengeance upon Edom by the hand of my people Israel: and they shall do in Edom according to mine anger and according to my fury; and they shall know my vengeance, saith the Lord GOD.

Ezekiel 25:14 nkjv

I will lay My vengeance on Edom by the hand of My people Israel, that they may do in Edom according to My anger and according to My fury; and they shall know My vengeance," says the Lord GOD.

Ezekiel 25:14 niv

I will take vengeance on Edom by the hand of my people Israel, and they will deal with Edom in accordance with my anger and my wrath; they will know my vengeance, declares the Sovereign LORD.'?"

Ezekiel 25:14 esv

And I will lay my vengeance upon Edom by the hand of my people Israel, and they shall do in Edom according to my anger and according to my wrath, and they shall know my vengeance, declares the Lord GOD.

Ezekiel 25:14 nlt

I will accomplish this by the hand of my people of Israel. They will carry out my vengeance with anger, and Edom will know that this vengeance is from me. I, the Sovereign LORD, have spoken!

Ezekiel 25 verses

Ezekiel 25 14 Meaning

This verse from Ezekiel speaks of God's judgment upon Edom. The phrase "vengeance of vengeance" or "vengeance of the vengeance" (Hebrew: נְקָמָה נְקָמָה, neqamah neqamah) emphasizes the thoroughness and severity of God's retribution. God is acting to vindicate Himself and to settle scores due to Edom's perpetual hostility towards His people, Israel.

Ezekiel 25 14 Context

This verse is part of a larger section in Ezekiel (chapters 25-32) where the prophet pronounces judgment on various surrounding nations for their actions against Israel during and after the Babylonian exile. Edom, the descendants of Esau, had a long history of enmity with Israel, going back to the conflict between Jacob and Esau themselves. In particular, Edom rejoiced over Judah's downfall when Jerusalem was captured and even assisted the Babylonians in their siege and plunder of the city. God's judgment on Edom in this passage is described as complete and retributive, stemming from their inherent hatred and opportunistic cruelty towards His people.

Ezekiel 25 14 Word Analysis

• And: (Hebrew: וְ, wə) A conjunction linking clauses, indicating continuation or sequence.
• I: (Hebrew: אֲנִי, ʾanī) First-person singular pronoun, indicating God speaking.
• will lay: (Hebrew: שַׂמְתִּי, śamtî) Perfect tense verb, from śam (to put, set, lay, place). It indicates a completed action from God's perspective in initiating His judgment.
• my: Possessive pronoun.
• hand: (Hebrew: יָדִי, yāḏî) The hand signifies God's power, authority, and active intervention.
• upon: Preposition.
• you: Second-person masculine singular pronoun, referring to Edom.
• and: Conjunction.
• I: First-person singular pronoun.
• will make: (Hebrew: שַׂמְתִּי, śamtî) Same verb as "will lay," indicating God's active work of destruction.
• you: Second-person masculine singular pronoun, referring to Edom.
• a: Article.
• desolation: (Hebrew: שָׁמָה, šāmâ) Desolation, waste, emptiness.
• and: Conjunction.
• your: Possessive pronoun.
• cities: (Hebrew: עָרַיִךְ, ʿārayiḵ) Plural noun for cities.
• shall be: (Hebrew: הָיָה, hāyâ) Verb "to be."
• a: Article.
• desolation: (Hebrew: שָׁמָה, šāmâ) Repeated for emphasis.
• and: Conjunction.
• you: Second-person masculine singular pronoun.
• shall know: (Hebrew: תֵּדְעוּ, tēḏəʿû) Future tense verb, from yāḏaʿ (to know). This knowledge is experiential, born of judgment.
• that: Conjunction.
• I: First-person singular pronoun.
• am: Implied verb "to be."
• the: Definite article.
• LORD: (Hebrew: יְהוָה, YHWH) The covenant name of God, emphasizing His covenant relationship with Israel and His faithfulness to enact judgment.

Group of words analysis:

• "vengeance of vengeance": (Hebrew: נְקָמָה נְקָמָה, neqamah neqamah) The repetition emphasizes the totality and intensity of God's retaliatory justice against Edom's persistent sin and enmity. It's not a casual or partial response, but a full, measured retribution.
• "lay my hand upon you" and "make your cities a desolation": These phrases vividly describe God's active and destructive power. His "hand" represents His direct action, and "desolation" signifies utter ruin and emptiness, a complete reversal of the ordered cities.
• "you shall know that I am the LORD": This is a recurring theme in Ezekiel. Through His judgments, the nations, and specifically Edom in this instance, would come to recognize the supreme power and sovereignty of the God of Israel.

Ezekiel 25 14 Bonus Section

The prophetic pronouncement against Edom here is so severe that it has been linked by scholars to the eventual historical destruction of the Edomite people or their assimilation into other nations over centuries, though the direct historical fulfillment of every detail of such prophetic judgments is a complex theological matter. The theme of God’s hand acting is a consistent motif showing His involvement in historical events to achieve His purposes, whether through salvation or judgment. The "knowing" of God through His judgment signifies an empirical recognition of His might and justice, often a last resort when His people or His name are affronted.

Ezekiel 25 14 Commentary

The verse paints a picture of God's determined action against Edom for their deep-seated animosity and their cruel delight in Israel's suffering. The repetition of "vengeance" highlights that God's judgment is a precise and complete response to Edom's consistent malice. God will directly intervene with His power, symbolized by His "hand," to bring about utter destruction upon Edom's cities, rendering them desolate. This devastating outcome is not merely punitive but demonstrative; through this act, Edom (and indeed all nations who witness it) will come to an undeniable recognition of Yahweh's sovereign authority and His power to execute justice. This aligns with the broader prophetic message that God vindicates His name and His people through His judgments.