Ezekiel 35 15

Ezekiel 35:15 kjv

As thou didst rejoice at the inheritance of the house of Israel, because it was desolate, so will I do unto thee: thou shalt be desolate, O mount Seir, and all Idumea, even all of it: and they shall know that I am the LORD.

Ezekiel 35:15 nkjv

As you rejoiced because the inheritance of the house of Israel was desolate, so I will do to you; you shall be desolate, O Mount Seir, as well as all of Edom?all of it! Then they shall know that I am the LORD." '

Ezekiel 35:15 niv

Because you rejoiced when the inheritance of Israel became desolate, that is how I will treat you. You will be desolate, Mount Seir, you and all of Edom. Then they will know that I am the LORD.'?"

Ezekiel 35:15 esv

As you rejoiced over the inheritance of the house of Israel, because it was desolate, so I will deal with you; you shall be desolate, Mount Seir, and all Edom, all of it. Then they will know that I am the LORD.

Ezekiel 35:15 nlt

You rejoiced at the desolation of Israel's territory. Now I will rejoice at yours! You will be wiped out, you people of Mount Seir and all who live in Edom! Then you will know that I am the LORD.

Ezekiel 35 verses

Ezekiel 35 15 meaning

This verse declares God's reciprocal judgment upon Mount Seir, also known as Edom, because they rejoiced over the desolation of the land inherited by the house of Israel. Just as Edom delighted in Israel's suffering and ruin, God vows to inflict the very same desolation upon Edom. The purpose of this devastating judgment is for all of Idumea to definitively know and acknowledge the sovereignty and justice of the LORD.

Ezekiel 35 15 Context

Ezekiel chapter 35, along with chapters 25-32, falls within a larger section of the book dedicated to prophecies against foreign nations. Specifically, chapter 35 pronounces an oracle of judgment against Mount Seir, which represents the nation of Edom. This oracle serves as a stark contrast to the promises of restoration for Israel found in chapter 36, thereby highlighting God's faithfulness to His covenant people and His severe justice against those who oppose them.

Historically, Edom (descendants of Esau) maintained a centuries-long antagonism towards Israel (descendants of Jacob). This animosity escalated into malicious actions when Babylon besieged and destroyed Jerusalem. Rather than offering aid or sympathy, Edom actively participated in the plundering and occupied portions of Judah's land, celebrating its downfall. This verse pinpoints their specific sin: a malicious delight in Israel's "inheritance" (their divinely-given land) being desolate. God's response is an explicit "lex talionis" (law of retaliation), where their punishment mirrors their transgression, resulting in the utter desolation of their own historically secure, mountainous territory. The declaration is a theological affirmation that God, Yahweh, controls the destinies of nations and executes perfect justice.

Ezekiel 35 15 Word analysis

• As thou didst rejoice:
  • "As": Indicates comparison and proportional retribution.
  • "thou didst rejoice": Hebrew "שְׂמַחְתָּ" (śəmaḥtā). This is an active and past perfect verb, signifying a deep, settled, and completed act of malicious joy or glee, not mere observation. It implies a jubilant satisfaction derived from another's misfortune, revealing an underlying hatred and lack of compassion.
• at the inheritance:
  • "at": Preposition indicating the object of their joy.
  • "the inheritance": Hebrew "בְּנַחֲלַת" (bənaḥălat). Refers to the land that God had promised and given to Israel. This land was not just property but a divine trust, an eternal gift from God. Rejoicing at its desolation was, therefore, an affront not only to Israel but also to God's covenant and promises.
• of the house of Israel: This designates the entire nation and people, emphasizing that their malicious joy was directed at God's chosen community.
• because it was desolate:
  • "because": The direct cause of their rejoicing.
  • "it was desolate": Hebrew "בְּהָשָׁמָּה" (bəhāšāmmāh). Signifies a state of ruin, waste, and emptiness. This confirms their joy stemmed specifically from Israel's utter ruin and the disruption of its life and land, particularly after the Babylonian invasion.
• so will I do unto thee:
  • "so": The direct parallel, enforcing the principle of retributive justice.
  • "will I do": Hebrew "אֶעֱשֶׂה־לָּךְ" (ʾeʿeśeh-lāḵ). God personally declares and actively carries out the action, emphasizing His direct involvement and authority in judgment.
  • "unto thee": Directed at Mount Seir/Edom.
• thou shalt be desolate:
  • "thou shalt be desolate": Hebrew "שַׁמָּה תִּהְיֶה" (šammāh tiheyê). This is an emphatic repetition of the state of desolation, ensuring Edom will experience precisely what it rejoiced over. It highlights the completeness and certainty of their own ruin.
• O mount Seir:
  • "O mount Seir": The primary ancient designation for Edom's territory, its heartland, personifying the entire nation and its rugged, high terrain. It was historically a symbol of Edom's strength and perceived security.
• and all Idumea, even all of it:
  • "and all Idumea": A later Hellenistic designation for Edom, used interchangeably, to ensure comprehensive understanding and emphasize that no part of the Edomite territory or people would escape.
  • "even all of it": A highly emphatic redundancy to leave no doubt that the desolation would be total, absolute, and universal across their land.
• and they shall know that I am the LORD: Hebrew "וְיָדְעוּ כִּי־אֲנִי יְהוָה" (wəyāḏəʿû kî-ʾănî Yahweh). This is a quintessential "recognition formula" in Ezekiel. It expresses the ultimate purpose of God's judgments and actions: to reveal His true identity, sovereignty, justice, and faithfulness, not only to His own people but to all nations, forcing an undeniable acknowledgment of Yahweh as the one true God.

Ezekiel 35 15 Bonus section

• Ancient Rivalry: The animosity between Edom and Israel has deep roots stretching back to the conflict between Esau and Jacob (Gen 25, 27). This familial strife escalated into a perpetual national hatred, demonstrating how deep-seated resentment can lead to destructive joy in an enemy's suffering.
• Geographical Security vs. Divine Power: Edom's strength was often tied to its formidable mountainous terrain in Mount Seir, featuring strategic passes and defensible strongholds. Obadiah 1:3 highlights their pride in these natural defenses. Yet, this verse, echoing others, proclaims that even these seemingly impenetrable defenses cannot withstand God's decreed desolation, emphasizing divine power over human pride and natural fortifications.
• The Weight of "Inheritance": The term "inheritance" for Israel's land carried profound theological meaning. It wasn't just territory; it was the promised land, a symbol of God's covenant with Abraham. Rejoicing at its desolation was a scorn not just of a nation's loss, but of God's sacred pledge and presence.
• Ethical Principle: Beyond the historical context, this verse articulates a crucial ethical and spiritual principle: taking delight in the misfortune of others, especially when they are suffering, is deeply offensive to God. It highlights the absence of compassion and a perversion of justice in the heart.

Ezekiel 35 15 Commentary

Ezekiel 35:15 encapsulates God's precise and proportional justice. Edom's sin was not merely observing Israel's downfall, but actively reveling in it, celebrating the desolation of God's own covenant inheritance. This malicious joy against Israel was, at its heart, a defiance of God's sovereign choices and an attempt to profit from the suffering of His chosen people. Consequently, God's judgment directly mirrors Edom's transgression. Just as Israel's land lay waste, Edom's historically proud and seemingly impregnable mountainous territory, encompassing all of Idumea, will be reduced to utter desolation. The repeated emphasis on "all of it" underscores the finality and completeness of this judgment. This act of divine retribution serves a higher theological purpose: it forces both Edom and any other observing nations to "know that I am the LORD." God's judgment is not random vengeance, but a deliberate revelation of His holy character, demonstrating His justice against those who act with malicious contempt towards His people, and affirming His undeniable sovereignty over all human history. This stands as a powerful testimony to God's vigilance over His promises and His steadfast opposition to cruelty and malevolence.