Ezekiel 25 15

Ezekiel 25:15 kjv

Thus saith the Lord GOD; Because the Philistines have dealt by revenge, and have taken vengeance with a despiteful heart, to destroy it for the old hatred;

Ezekiel 25:15 nkjv

'Thus says the Lord GOD: "Because the Philistines dealt vengefully and took vengeance with a spiteful heart, to destroy because of the old hatred,"

Ezekiel 25:15 niv

"This is what the Sovereign LORD says: 'Because the Philistines acted in vengeance and took revenge with malice in their hearts, and with ancient hostility sought to destroy Judah,

Ezekiel 25:15 esv

"Thus says the Lord GOD: Because the Philistines acted revengefully and took vengeance with malice of soul to destroy in never-ending enmity,

Ezekiel 25:15 nlt

"This is what the Sovereign LORD says: The people of Philistia have acted against Judah out of bitter revenge and long-standing contempt.

Ezekiel 25 verses

Ezekiel 25 15 Meaning

Ezekiel 25:15 conveys God's divine judgment against the Philistines. The core meaning is that God, who is sovereign over all nations, will directly intervene and repay the Philistines for their actions. Their specific offense was not merely opportunistic harm but deeply ingrained vengeance, carried out with profound internal malice and contempt, aimed at destroying Israel based on a long-standing, generational hatred. This verse highlights that God meticulously observes the motives behind actions, and pure animosity will face His righteous retribution.

Ezekiel 25 15 Context

Ezekiel 25:15 is part of a series of oracles (Ezekiel 25-32) pronounced by God through the prophet Ezekiel against various surrounding nations (Ammon, Moab, Edom, Philistia, Tyre, Sidon, and Egypt). These prophecies follow chapters dealing with Israel's judgment and the impending destruction of Jerusalem. At the time of this prophecy (during the Babylonian exile, before Jerusalem's final fall in 586 BC, or shortly after), Judah was weak and devastated.

The historical context for the original audience, who were in exile, was crucial. Nations like the Philistines had long been adversaries of Israel. When Judah suffered under Babylon, these nations rejoiced, exploited Israel's weakness, and even encroached on their territory, often with malice. This chapter, therefore, serves a dual purpose: to assure the exiled Israelites that God remains sovereign over all nations and will not allow malicious acts against His people to go unpunished, and to demonstrate that He will hold other nations accountable for their actions, particularly for their animosity and cruelty. It counters the belief that these nations could act with impunity, especially when acting with contempt against God's chosen people.

Ezekiel 25 15 Word analysis

• Thus says the Lord God: (כֹּה אָמַר אֲדֹנָי יְהוִה, Koh amar Adonai YHWH). This is a solemn prophetic formula emphasizing divine origin and absolute authority. It establishes that the message is not Ezekiel's opinion but a direct, authoritative pronouncement from the covenant-keeping God.
• Because: (יַ֫עַן, yaʿan). This conjunction introduces the precise reason for the impending judgment. It signifies a clear cause-and-effect relationship: God's judgment is a direct response to the Philistines' specific actions and motives.
• the Philistines: (פְלִשְׁתִּים, Pəlištîm). A historical archenemy of Israel, a confederation of seafaring peoples settled in the southwestern coastal plain (e.g., Gaza, Ashkelon). Their animosity towards Israel was deeply ingrained from the Judges period onward.
• acted in revenge / took vengeance: (נָקַם נָקָמָה / וַיִּנָּקְמוּ נָקָם, naqam naqamah / wayyināqmu nāqam). This Hebrew idiom uses a cognate accusative (verb and related noun) "took a revenge revenge" and then reinforces it with another verb of vengeance. This double emphasis intensely highlights the deliberateness, strong desire, and comprehensive nature of their vengeful actions. It implies not just reacting, but proactively seeking and executing reprisal.
• with malice of soul: (בְּנֶפֶשׁ שָׁאטָה, bənefeš shā’aṭāh).
  • malice: (שָׁאטָה, shā’aṭāh). Often translated as "contempt," "disdain," "scorn," "spite." It denotes an attitude of intense hatred, belittling, and wicked delight in causing harm, rather than just anger or opportunism.
  • soul: (נֶפֶשׁ, nefeš). Refers to the whole being, inner self, or life-force. Thus, "malice of soul" signifies a hatred deeply rooted in their entire inner being, originating from their core identity, not superficial or momentary.
• to destroy: (לְהַשְׁמִיד, l'hashmid). This infinitive indicates the purpose and extent of their malicious vengeance: complete annihilation or utter ruin. It reveals the extremity of their hatred and intent.
• in ancient enmity: (אֵיבַת עוֹלָם, ’eivat ʿōlām).
  • ancient: (עוֹלָם, ʿōlām). Denotes a "perpetual," "long-standing," "everlasting" duration. This isn't a new conflict but a hostility that stretches back generations.
  • enmity: (אֵיבָה, ’eivah). Refers to a deep-seated, active, and fundamental hostility or antagonism. This term is used in Gen 3:15 for the core opposition between the serpent and humanity, signifying a profound, ingrained, and persistent hatred.

Ezekiel 25 15 Bonus section

The repeated term for "revenge" (naqam) coupled with "malice of soul" distinguishes the Philistine's sin from other nations condemned in Ezekiel 25. For Moab and Ammon, the sin was often described as rejoicing over Israel's downfall, but for Philistia, it goes deeper into the heart's contempt. This points to a deeper theological truth: God judges not just the act but the heart from which the act springs. This serves as a warning against deeply rooted, inherited animosities that fuel malicious actions. Furthermore, this prophecy implicitly vindicates God's justice to the exiled Jews. Though they were being punished for their own sins, the surrounding nations, who acted as cruel agents of the exile rather than compassionate neighbors, would also face accountability for their unchecked animosity and hubris. This demonstrates God's consistent moral standard for all peoples, regardless of their knowledge of His covenant law.

Ezekiel 25 15 Commentary

Ezekiel 25:15 unveils the gravity of God's assessment of national behaviors, especially when directed towards His covenant people. It is not merely that the Philistines inflicted harm upon Judah; rather, the precise and critical aspect for divine judgment was the nature and motive behind their actions. Their vengeance was executed with extreme deliberation and deep-seated, inherent malice, originating from the very core of their being. This was not a temporary opportunistic attack but the fruit of an "ancient enmity," a pervasive and continuous hostility dating back through generations. The double emphasis on "revenge" underscores its intensity, and "malice of soul" points to the corruption of their inner spirit. This passage stands as a divine assertion that God meticulously judges the heart and intentions, revealing that not all suffering or hardship inflicted upon His people is overlooked. Even when other nations are instruments of God's wrath, their underlying malicious motives incur their own righteous judgment, reinforcing God's ultimate sovereignty and justice over all creation.