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 |
|---|---|---|
| Ezek 2:1 | Son of man, stand upon thy feet... | Common title for Ezekiel emphasizing his humanity as God's messenger. |
| Ezek 6:2 | Son of man, set thy face toward the mountains of Israel, and prophesy against them, | Similar command to set face, indicating judgment, here against Israel. |
| Ezek 21:2 | Son of man, set thy face toward Jerusalem...and prophesy against the land of Israel, | Directs judgment to Jerusalem, using the same "set face against" idiom. |
| Dan 7:13 | one like the Son of man came with the clouds of heaven... | Messianic title for Christ in the New Testament, used by Jesus Himself. |
| Matt 8:20 | The Son of man hath not where to lay his head. | Jesus' use of the title "Son of Man" highlighting His human experience. |
| Jer 49:1-6 | Concerning the Ammonites, thus says the LORD: Has Israel no sons? Has she no heir?... | Jeremiah's extensive oracle of judgment against Ammon. |
| Amos 1:13-15 | For three transgressions of the Ammonites...because they ripped open the pregnant women of Gilead... | Amos's prophecy of judgment against Ammon for their atrocities. |
| Zeph 2:8-11 | I have heard the taunts of Moab and the revilings of the Ammonites, how they have taunted my people and made boasts... | Zephaniah's prophecy condemning Ammon (and Moab) for mocking Israel. |
| Jdg 11:4-33 | The children of Ammon made war against Israel... | Account of Ammonite conflict with Israel during the Judges period. |
| 1 Sam 11:1-11 | Then Nahash the Ammonite came up... Saul gathered the people... and defeated the Ammonites. | Saul's early victory over the Ammonites, rescuing Jabesh-gilead. |
| 2 Sam 10:1-19 | after this it happened that the king of the Ammonites died... David sent to comfort him. But the princes of the Ammonites... | David's conflict with the Ammonites due to their insult and war. |
| Neh 4:7-8 | When Sanballat, Tobiah, the Arabs, the Ammonites, and the Ashdodites heard that the walls of Jerusalem were being repaired... | Ammonite opposition during the rebuilding of Jerusalem's walls post-exile. |
| Gen 19:38 | And the younger also bore a son, and called his name Ben-Ammi: the same is the father of the children of Ammon unto this day. | The historical origin of the Ammonites through Lot's younger daughter. |
| Deut 23:3 | An Ammonite or Moabite shall not enter into the assembly of the Lord... | Legislative restriction against Ammonites due to their ancient hostility. |
| Isa 13:1 | The burden against Babylon which Isaiah the son of Amoz saw. | Example of oracles against foreign nations in other prophetic books. |
| Jer 46:1 | The word of the LORD which came to Jeremiah the prophet against the nations; | Introduction to Jeremiah's collection of prophecies against nations. |
| Obad 10-14 | For the violence against your brother Jacob, shame shall cover you... | Prophecy against Edom for their violence and gloating over Jacob/Israel. |
| Ps 137:7 | Remember, O LORD, the children of Edom in the day of Jerusalem; who said, Rase it, rase it... | Call for remembrance against Edom for rejoicing in Jerusalem's fall. |
| Lam 2:15-16 | All that pass by clap their hands at thee; they hiss and wag their head at the daughter of Jerusalem... | Description of the mockery and contempt directed at fallen Jerusalem. |
| Ezek 35:10 | Because thou hast said, These two nations and these two countries shall be mine, and we will possess them... | Judgment against Mount Seir (Edom) for desiring Judah's land after its fall. |
| Pro 24:17-18 | Rejoice not when thine enemy falleth, and let not thine heart be glad when he stumbleth: Lest the LORD see it, and it displease him... | General wisdom teaching against rejoicing over an enemy's misfortune, implying divine displeasure. |
| Rom 12:15 | Rejoice with them that do rejoice, and weep with them that weep. | New Testament teaching on empathy and solidarity, contrasting with malicious joy. |
| Psa 22:28 | For the kingdom is the LORD'S: and he is the governor among the nations. | Affirmation of God's universal reign and sovereignty over all peoples. |
| Dan 4:17 | The most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will... | Declaration of God's absolute control over earthly kingdoms and rulers. |
Ezekiel 25 verses
Ezekiel 25 2 Meaning
Ezekiel 25:2 delivers a direct divine command to the prophet Ezekiel. He is instructed to resolutely face the Ammonites and deliver a message of prophecy specifically aimed against them. This declaration marks the beginning of a series of oracles against surrounding nations, affirming God's universal sovereignty and His forthcoming judgment upon those who oppose His people.
Ezekiel 25 2 Context
Ezekiel, exiled in Babylon, primarily delivers prophecies of judgment and hope to the people of Judah. Chapters 25-32 represent a significant shift, containing prophecies against seven foreign nations: Ammon, Moab, Edom, Philistia (Ch. 25), Tyre, Sidon (Ch. 26-28), and Egypt (Ch. 29-32). This section, common in prophetic literature, demonstrates God's universal sovereignty, reminding both His people and the nations that He is God over all.
Chapter 25 specifically addresses Judah's immediate neighbors to the east and west. The prophecy against the Ammonites is given approximately a year after Jerusalem's fall (around 587 BC), oracles delivered during this time often point to the precise reasons for God's judgment against these nations. As revealed in the subsequent verses of chapter 25, Ammon’s sin was not merely opposition, but specifically their gloating, mocking, and malicious rejoicing over Judah’s suffering, Jerusalem's destruction, and the desecration of God’s temple. Historically, the Ammonites, descended from Lot (Gen 19:38), were long-standing adversaries of Israel, engaging in various territorial conflicts and wars from the time of the Judges to the monarchy and even into the post-exilic period. This oracle, therefore, serves as a divine reassurance to the despondent exiles that God sees the transgressions of their enemies and will administer justice accordingly, upholding His ultimate power and faithfulness to His covenant.
Ezekiel 25 2 Word analysis
Son of man (בֶּן־אָדָם, ben-adam): This common title, used over ninety times in Ezekiel, emphasizes the prophet's humanity and his role as an earthly representative commissioned by God. It highlights the vast qualitative difference between the finite messenger and the infinite Sender of the message, making the divine word even more profound when delivered through such a vessel.
set thy face against (שִׂים פָּנֶיךָ אֶל, sim paneykha el): This idiomatic phrase denotes a firm, deliberate, and often confrontational or judgmental posture. It signifies focused determination and resolute purpose. It is a posture of imminent action, often leading to severe consequences, emphasizing that the prophet is not merely observing but actively embodying God's decision.
the Ammonites (בְּנֵי עַמּוֹן, b'ney Ammon, literally "sons of Ammon"): Refers to the people of Ammon, descendants of Ben-Ammi, son of Lot (Gen 19:38). They were an ancient kingdom situated east of the Jordan River. Historically, they were perpetual adversaries of Israel, notorious for their cruelty, idolatry (worshipping Milcom/Molech), and exploitation of Israel's weaknesses.
and prophesy against them (וְהִנָּבֵא עֲלֵיהֶם, v'hinnaveh aleyhem): A direct and imperative command for Ezekiel to deliver God's revealed message, specifically a declaration of judgment. This underscores that the prophet acts as a conduit for God’s will, pronouncing a future event or divine intention, which in this context is certainly calamitous for Ammon.
"Son of man, set thy face against...": This opening clause establishes divine authorization for the prophetic action. It positions Ezekiel as God's chosen human instrument, commanded to take a firm and unequivocal stance against a specific enemy nation, signaling an impending, significant pronouncement of judgment.
"...the Ammonites, and prophesy against them": This specifies both the target and the nature of the communication. The Ammonites, long-standing adversaries and observers of Judah's calamity, are explicitly singled out. Ezekiel is to voice God's definitive judgment, ensuring the message reaches both the target nation (though likely not directly in person) and, more immediately, the exiled Israelites who are waiting for vindication.
Ezekiel 25 2 Bonus section
The structure of Ezekiel's "oracles against foreign nations" in chapters 25-32 serves critical theological purposes for its initial audience—the Judean exiles. By depicting Yahweh as the sovereign ruler of not only Israel but also the powerful surrounding nations, the book combats any notion that Judah's defeat meant the weakness or defeat of their God. This section reassures the demoralized exiles that justice will prevail for those who reveled in Judah's misery. Furthermore, it subtly highlights Israel's unique status by contrast; even while suffering divine discipline, their enemies would receive divine wrath for their hubris and cruelty. The prophecy also acts as an extension of God’s holiness and justice to the entire world, not just a localized people, affirming that a covenant with Yahweh implies a moral accountability that extends even to those outside the immediate covenant community, especially when their actions directly impinge on God’s purposes for Israel.
Ezekiel 25 2 Commentary
Ezekiel 25:2 introduces God’s stern condemnation of the Ammonites, framing it as a direct divine command to the prophet. The title "Son of man" continually reinforces Ezekiel's role as a human messenger. The imperative "set thy face against" denotes an unyielding, determined posture of judgment, not a mere passing observation. This resolute stance by Ezekiel mirrors God's own unwavering decision to hold the Ammonites accountable. Their inclusion among the nations to be judged immediately following Judah's devastation confirms Yahweh’s universal sovereignty; He remains God of all nations, not just Israel. While historically inimical, the subsequent verses clarify that Ammon’s particular offense lay in their malicious rejoicing over Judah's downfall and the desecration of the temple. This passage profoundly reassured the exiled Israelites that even in their desolation, God was fully aware of their enemies' cruelty and would mete out justice, upholding His covenant and demonstrating His absolute righteousness.