Ezekiel 25:2 kjv
Son of man, set thy face against the Ammonites, and prophesy against them;
Ezekiel 25:2 nkjv
"Son of man, set your face against the Ammonites, and prophesy against them.
Ezekiel 25:2 niv
"Son of man, set your face against the Ammonites and prophesy against them.
Ezekiel 25:2 esv
"Son of man, set your face toward the Ammonites and prophesy against them.
Ezekiel 25:2 nlt
"Son of man, turn and face the land of Ammon and prophesy against its people.
Ezekiel 25 2 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Ezekiel 25:1 | "The word of the LORD came to me:" | Direct Command |
| Ezekiel 25:3 | "and say to the Ammonites, ‘Hear the word of the Sovereign LORD! This is what the Sovereign LORD says:’" | Specific Audience |
| Jeremiah 9:25-26 | "‘The days are coming,’ declares the LORD, ‘when I will punish all who are circumcised but uncircumcised in spirit—" | Judgment on Nations |
| Isaiah 11:14 | "They will swoop down on the neck of the Philistines in the west, and together they will plunder the people of the east." | Enmity with Neighbors |
| Zephaniah 2:8-10 | "‘I have heard the insults of Moab and the war cries of the Ammonites. They have mocked and terrified my people," | Moab and Ammon Denounced |
| Jeremiah 49:1 | "Concerning the Ammonites: This is what the LORD says: ‘Has Israel no sons, or has he no heir? Then why has Malcam taken possession of Gad, and his people settled in its towns?’" | Ammon's historical claim |
| Psalm 83:6-8 | "Edom and the Ishmaelites, Moab and the Hagrites, Gebal and Ammon and Amalek, Philistia, with the people of Tyre;" | Nations against Israel |
| Romans 2:29 | "No, a person is a Jew who is one inwardly; and circumcision is a matter of the heart, by the Spirit, not by written code." | Inner vs. Outer Rituals |
| 1 Corinthians 7:19 | "Circumcision is nothing and uncircumcision is nothing, but keeping the commandments of God is what matters." | Spiritual Condition |
| Romans 9:25-26 | "as he says in Hosea: “I will call them ‘my people’ who are not my people; and I will call them ‘my beloved’ who are not my beloved." | God's Sovereign Choice |
| 1 Corinthians 6:11 | "And that is what some of you were. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God." | Transformation |
| Galatians 6:15 | "Neither circumcision nor uncircumcision means anything; what counts is the new creation." | New Creation in Christ |
| Ephesians 2:11-13 | "Therefore, remember that formerly you who are Gentiles by birth and called ‘uncircumcised’ by those who call themselves ‘circumcised’—" | Gentile Identity |
| Revelation 21:1-4 | "Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the old heaven and the old earth had passed away..." | Ultimate Renewal |
| Ezekiel 11:14-20 | "The word of the LORD came to me: ‘Son of man, your brothers—even your brothers, your relatives and the whole house of Israel—are the ones of whom the people of Jerusalem say, ‘The LORD has driven them far from us; now the LORD has given this land to us as a possession.’" | Internal Strife and Exile |
| Isaiah 34:1-17 | A prophecy against Edom, showing judgment for its violence against Israel. | Judgment on Neighbors |
| Jeremiah 48:1-47 | A prophecy against Moab, detailing its pride and impending destruction. | Judgment on Neighbors |
| Lamentations 2:14 | "The visions your prophets had were false and worthless; they did not expose your sin to ward off your captivity." | False Prophets |
| 2 Kings 23:11-12 | Describes Josiah removing cultic practices associated with foreign nations from Jerusalem. | Purity of Worship |
| Hosea 4:13-14 | Condemns practices and spiritual adultery with foreign influences. | Spiritual Idolatry |
Ezekiel 25 verses
Ezekiel 25 2 Meaning
This verse marks the beginning of a series of judgments pronounced against various surrounding nations that had shown animosity towards Israel. Ezekiel, acting as God's prophet, is directed to face toward the Ammonites, conveying a divine message of condemnation. The "face" implies a direct and intentional address, indicating the seriousness and focus of God's judgment.
Ezekiel 25 2 Context
Ezekiel chapter 25 begins a series of oracles directed at the nations surrounding Israel: Ammon, Moab, Edom, and Philistia. These nations had a history of hostility and acted with malice against God's people, especially during and after the Babylonian conquest of Jerusalem. Ezekiel 25:1-7 specifically addresses the Ammonites, who rejoiced and took advantage of Judah's distress. The verse establishes the prophet's mission to deliver a judgment oracle against them. This passage fits within the broader theme of God's vindication of Israel and His judgment on those who oppose His covenant people, highlighting that His wrath extends to those who mistreat His chosen.
Ezekiel 25 2 Word Analysis
- "And" (וְ) (wə): A conjunctive particle, often indicating sequence or continuation, here linking the divine instruction to the subsequent prophetic action.
- "thou" (אַתָּה): Second person masculine singular pronoun, referring directly to the prophet Ezekiel, emphasizing his personal commission.
- "set" (שׂוּמ) (śûm): Root verb meaning to set, place, appoint, or cause. Here, it signifies the deliberate positioning of Ezekiel's attention and prophetic gaze.
- "thy" (פָּנִים) (pānîm): Literally "face(s)". In usage, it can refer to the direction of one's attention or focus, indicating intent. The plural form is common for "face."
- "toward" (אֶל) (’el): A preposition indicating direction towards a person or place.
- "the" (ה) (hă): The definite article.
- "children" (בְּנֵי) (bənê): Son, children. Here it refers to the descendants of Ammon, indicating the nation.
- "of" (בֵּית) (bêṯ): House. Used here in construct with "Ammon" to signify "house of Ammon" or "people of Ammon."
- "Ammon" (עַמּוֹן) (ʿammôn): The name of the Ammonite people, descendants of Lot (Gen 19:38).
- "and" (וְ) (wə): Conjunction.
- "set" (שׂוּמ) (śûm): Again, to set or place.
- "thy" (פָּנִים) (pānîm): "Face(s)", directing focus.
- "against" (עַל) (ʿal): A versatile preposition meaning on, upon, against, concerning. Here it indicates opposition or hostile intent.
- "their" (וְ) (wə): Conjunction connecting the second action to the first.
- "land" (אֶרֶץ) (’ereṣ): Land, earth, ground. Refers to the territory inhabited by the Ammonites.
Words/Groups Analysis:
- "Set thy face toward the children of Ammon": This phrase, appearing twice, emphasizes the specific and targeted nature of the divine judgment. It is not a general denunciation but a focused pronouncement against this particular nation. The repetition underscores the prophet's duty to direct his message precisely.
- "Set thy face against their land": This adds a layer of severity. It implies not just speaking to the Ammonites but bringing God's judgment to bear upon their very existence and territory, indicating their downfall and devastation.
Ezekiel 25 2 Bonus Section
The Ammonites were frequently depicted in the Old Testament as antagonists to Israel, stemming from their origin as descendants of Lot, separated from Israel by animosity and conquest (see Genesis 19, Numbers 20:14-21, Deuteronomy 2:19-21, Judges 3:12-30). Their jubilant reaction to Jerusalem's fall demonstrated a lack of brotherly love and adherence to treaty obligations that they should have honored as fellow descendants of Abrahamic peoples (though by a different lineage from Lot). This particular sin of gloating over another's downfall is seen as particularly egregious in biblical ethics and draws a swift response from a God who defends the oppressed and justly punishes the oppressors. The chapter as a whole sets the stage for Ezekiel's ministry of pronouncing divine judgment upon Israel's enemies, thereby vindicating God’s sovereignty and justice.
Ezekiel 25 2 Commentary
The prophet Ezekiel is given a direct commission from the Lord to direct his gaze and his prophetic pronouncements toward the Ammonite nation. This act of "setting his face" signifies a deliberate and focused impartation of God's word of judgment. The Ammonites are targeted due to their uncharitable rejoicing and likely complicity in Israel's suffering during the Babylonian exile, a time when they allegedly took advantage of Judah's weakness. The directive to "set thy face against their land" indicates that the judgment will be comprehensive, impacting not only the people but their entire territory. This mirrors similar oracles against neighboring nations in this chapter, painting a picture of a God who holds accountable those who oppose His will and harm His people. The New Testament echoes this principle by affirming that God is just and will judge all sin, and that righteousness comes through faith, not simply outward affiliation or prosperity at another's expense.