Ezekiel 35:4 kjv
I will lay thy cities waste, and thou shalt be desolate, and thou shalt know that I am the LORD.
Ezekiel 35:4 nkjv
I shall lay your cities waste, And you shall be desolate. Then you shall know that I am the LORD.
Ezekiel 35:4 niv
I will turn your towns into ruins and you will be desolate. Then you will know that I am the LORD.
Ezekiel 35:4 esv
I will lay your cities waste, and you shall become a desolation, and you shall know that I am the LORD.
Ezekiel 35:4 nlt
I will demolish your cities
and make you desolate.
Then you will know that I am the LORD.
Ezekiel 35 4 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Ezekiel 35:4 | "I will lay your cities waste, and you shall be desolate..." | Ezek 6:14 (similar judgment) |
| Genesis 27:41 | "...Because of the curse you have uttered against me. Now, my son, kill me!" | Gen 27:41 (Edom's animosity) |
| Psalm 137:7 | "Remember, O LORD, against the children of Edom the day of Jerusalem..." | Psa 137:7 (divine retribution) |
| Isaiah 34:5 | "For my sword has drunk its fill in the heavens..." | Isa 34:5 (God's judgment) |
| Jeremiah 49:13 | "For I have sworn by myself, declares the LORD, that Bozrah shall... | Jer 49:13 (judgment on Edom) |
| Amos 1:11 | "Thus says the LORD: ‘For three transgressions of Edom, and for four... | Amos 1:11 (judgment on Edom) |
| Obadiah 1:10 | "You have seen what happened to your brother Jacob on that day, and you... | Obad 1:10 (basis of judgment) |
| Obadiah 1:15 | "For the day of the LORD is near upon all the nations. As you have done... | Obad 1:15 (imminent judgment) |
| Psalm 92:9 | "For behold, your enemies, O LORD, for behold, your enemies shall perish..." | Psa 92:9 (God's enemies) |
| Hebrews 10:30 | "For we know him who said, 'Vengeance is mine; I will repay.'" | Heb 10:30 (God's vengeance) |
| Romans 12:19 | "Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God..." | Rom 12:19 (God's justice) |
| Ezekiel 25:12 | "Thus says the Lord GOD: ‘Because Edom acted vengefully against... | Ezek 25:12 (Edom's actions) |
| Ezekiel 25:17 | "...and I will execute judgments upon Edom and know that I am the LORD." | Ezek 25:17 (God's justice) |
| Leviticus 26:33 | "I will shatter you among the nations and scatter you among the countries..." | Lev 26:33 (divine scattering) |
| Deuteronomy 28:64 | "The LORD will scatter you among all peoples, from one end of the earth to the other..." | Deut 28:64 (divine scattering) |
| Isaiah 11:14 | "But they shall flutter down on the wings toward the Philistines on the west..." | Isa 11:14 (conquest) |
| Jeremiah 17:4 | "You shall cease from your heritage that I gave to you, and I will make... | Jer 17:4 (loss of inheritance) |
| Zephaniah 2:9 | "As I live, declares the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, surely Moab... | Zeph 2:9 (judgment on Moab/Edom) |
| Jude 1:15 | "...to execute judgment on all, and to convict all the ungodly of all their ungodly deeds..." | Jude 1:15 (final judgment) |
| Revelation 18:5 | "for her sins are heaped high into heaven, and God has remembered her iniquities." | Rev 18:5 (divine reckoning) |
| Psalm 83:17 | "May they be shamed and dismayed forever! May they perish in shame," | Psa 83:17 (prayer against enemies) |
| 2 Samuel 8:13 | "And David won for himself renown when he returned from striking down eighteen thousand..." | 2 Sam 8:13 (David's victory) |
Ezekiel 35 verses
Ezekiel 35 4 Meaning
God will personally take His vengeance upon Mount Seir for the actions of Edom against Israel. This divine retribution will leave the mountain desolate and its inhabitants slain, serving as a clear demonstration of God's judgment against those who act with malice toward His people.
Ezekiel 35 4 Context
This verse is part of a series of oracles against the surrounding nations in Ezekiel. Specifically, chapter 35 addresses Edom, the descendants of Esau, brother of Jacob (Israel). Edom's long-standing animosity towards Israel, particularly their opportunistic actions during Judah's Babylonian exile, is the backdrop. Ezekiel, speaking on God's behalf, declares a specific judgment upon Edom's mountainous region of Seir, emphasizing its desolation and the utter ruin of its inhabitants due to their hateful actions against God's chosen people.
Ezekiel 35 4 Word Analysis
- I (אֲנִי - 'anî): Emphasizes God's direct involvement in the judgment, not an intermediary. It highlights the personal nature of God's justice.
- will lay (אשים - 'ēśîm): Future tense, signifying a definite and impending action by God. It speaks of deposition and placing something into a state of ruin.
- your cities (עריך - 'āreykā): Refers specifically to the fortified places and settlements of Edom. The plural indicates multiple locations that will be affected.
- waste (חרב - ḥoreḇ): Connotes desolation, emptiness, and ruin. The root suggests drought and barrenness, signifying a complete destruction making the area uninhabitable.
- and you (ונְתַתָּ - wəṉiṯṯā): The continuation of the sentence, linking the fate of the cities directly to the people.
- shall be desolate (שָמָּה - šəmmâ): Reinforces the idea of emptiness and devastation. It means to be astonished or appallingly empty, emphasizing the shocking nature of the destruction.
- and shall know (וידעתם - wəḏa‘tēm): Knowledge here signifies experiential understanding. The survivors (if any) or the nations around would come to know God through His decisive actions.
- that I (כי־אני - kî-'anî): "Because I." This connects the judgment directly to God's identity and power.
- am the LORD (יהוה - YHWH): The personal name of God, emphasizing His covenant relationship and sovereign authority.
Ezekiel 35 4 Bonus Section
The mountainous terrain of Seir made Edom strategically strong, often associated with rock fortresses and difficult access. God's judgment, however, signifies an overcoming of these natural defenses. The prophecy echoes the historical enmity between Jacob and Esau, which began with sibling rivalry and escalated into national antagonism. The phrase "you shall be desolate" conveys not just abandonment but a state of utter shock and emptiness, a visual and experiential understanding of divine judgment for hostile nations. The pronouncement reflects a broader pattern in biblical prophecy where territorial desolation symbolizes divine punishment for wickedness.
Ezekiel 35 4 Commentary
This verse is a stark pronouncement of divine retribution. God declares He will personally bring Edom's cities to ruin, making them utterly desolate. This is not merely physical destruction but also a spiritual consequence, intended to reveal God's power and justice. The desolation will be so complete that it will serve as a testament to God's hand in their downfall. The Edomites' persistent malice against Israel, particularly during their distress, marked them for this judgment. This exemplifies the principle that God's people are protected, and those who afflict them face severe consequences from God Himself. It underscores that God's justice is inevitable for those who oppose His will and harm His chosen.