Ezekiel 35
A plain-spoken deep dive on the whole chapter. Read the chapter →
Commentaries
Excerpts gathered from published commentaries to ground the reading.
The prophet having formerly predicted the ruin of Edom, the same with Seir, (Eze 25:12), now resumes and pursues the subject at greater length, intimating, as did also Isaiah, (Isa 21:11, Isa 21:12), that though other nations should recover their liberty after the fall of the Babylonian monarchy, the Edomites should continue in bondage for their very despiteful behavior towards the children of Israel in the day of their calamity, Eze 35:1-15.
Open source ↗JUDGMENT ON EDOM. (Eze 35:1-15) Mount Seir--that is, Idumea (Gen 36:9). Singled out as badly pre-eminent in its bitterness against God's people, to represent all their enemies everywhere and in all ages. So in Isa 34:5; Isa 63:1-4, Edom, the region of the greatest enmity towards God's people, is the ideal scene of the final judgments of all God's foes. "Seir" means "shaggy," alluding to its rugged hills and forests.
Open source ↗Moreover the word of the Lord came unto me,.... After the prophecy concerning the shepherds of Israel, and the goats of the flock, and of their oppressions of the sheep and lambs, the weak of the flock; and concerning the Messiah, and the blessings of grace promised the church in the latter day; came another concerning the destruction of her enemies, under the name of Seir or Edom: saying: as follows:
Open source ↗The Devastation of Edom Eze 35:1. And the word of Jehovah came to me, saying, Eze 35:2. Son of man, set thy face against Mount Seir, and prophesy against it, Eze 35:3. And say to it, Thus saith the Lord Jehovah, Behold, I will deal with thee, Mount Seir, and will stretch out my hand against thee, and make thee waste and devastation. Eze 35:4. Thy cities will I make into ruins, and thou wilt become a waste, and shalt know that I am Jehovah. Eze 35:5. Because thou cherishest eternal enmity, and gavest up the sons of Israel to the sword at the time of their distress, at the time of the final transgression, Eze 35:6. Therefore, as truly as I live, is the saying of the Lord Jehovah, I will make thee blood, and blood shall pursue thee; since thou hast not hated blood, therefore blood shall pursue thee. Eze 35:7. I will make Mount Seir devastation and waste, and cut off therefrom him that goeth away and him that returneth, Eze 35:8. And fill his mountains with his slain; upon thy hills, and in thy valleys, and in all thy low places, those pierced with the sword shall fall. Eze 35:9. I will make thee eternal wastes, and thy cities shall not be inhabited; and ye shall know that I am Jehovah. Eze 35:10. Because thou sayest, The two nations and the two lands they shall be mine, and we will take possession of it, when Jehovah was there; Eze 35:11. Therefore, as truly as I live, is the saying of the Lord Jehovah, I will do according to thy wrath and thine envy, as thou hast done because of thy hatred, and will make myself known among them, as I shall judge thee. Eze 35:12. And thou shalt know that I, Jehovah, have heard all thy reproaches which thou hast uttered against the mountains of Israel, saying, "they are laid waste, they are given to us for food." Eze 35:13. Ye have magnifie…
Open source ↗Mount Seir was mentioned as partner with Moab in one of the threatenings we had before (Eze 25:8); but here it is convicted and condemned by itself, and has woes of its own. The prophet must boldly set his face against Edom, and prophesy particularly against it; for the God of Israel has said, O Mount Seir! I am against thee. Note, Those that have God against them have the word of God against them, and the face of his ministers, nor dare they prophesy any good to them, but evil. The prophet must tell the Edomites that God has a controversy with them, and let them know, I. What is the cause and ground of that controversy, Eze 35:5. God espouses his people's cause, and will plead it, takes what is done against them as done against himself, and will reckon for it; and it is upon their account that God now contends with the Edomites. 1. Because of the enmity they had against the people of God, that was rooted in the heart. "Thou hast had a perpetual hatred to them, to the very name of an Israelite." The Edomites kept up an hereditary malice against Israel, the same that Esau bore to Jacob, because he got the birth-right and the blessing. Esau had been reconciled to Jacob, had embraced and kissed him (Gen. 33), and we do not find that ever he quarrelled with him again. But the posterity of Esau would never be reconciled to the seed of Jacob, but hated them with a perpetual hatred. Note, Children will be more apt to imitate the vices than the virtues of their parents, and to tread in the steps of their sin than in the steps of their repentance. Parents should therefore be careful not to set their children any bad example, for though, through the grace of God, they may return, and prevent the mischief of what they have done amiss to themselves, they may not be able to obviate…
Open source ↗35:1-15 This oracle is addressed to Edom, Israel’s neighbor to the southeast, here identified by its central mountain, Mount Seir. Edom was emblematic of all Israel’s enemies (e.g., in their rejoicing at Israel’s fall, 36:2; see also 25:12-14). The demise of Judah at the hands of the Babylonians might have given Edom room to thrive, but the Lord declared that this prosperity would be short-lived.
Open source ↗Original language
The Hebrew and Greek words behind this passage, with Strong's numbers — from openscriptures (CC BY-SA).
דָּבָר (dâbâr, H1697) — a word; by implication, a matter (as spoken of) or thing; adverbially, a cause יְהֹוָה (Yᵉhôvâh, H3068) — Jehovah, Jewish national name of God אָמַר (ʼâmar, H559) — to say (used with great latitude)
Open source ↗בֵּן (bên, H1121) — a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative… אָדָם (ʼâdâm, H120) — ruddy i.e. a human being (an individual or the species, mankind, etc.) שׂוּם (sûwm, H7760) — to put (used in a great variety of applications, literal, figurative, inferentially, and… פָּנִים (pânîym, H6440) — the face (as the part that turns); used in a great variety of applications (literally and… הַר (har, H2022) — a mountain or range of hills (sometimes used figuratively) שֵׂעִיר (Sêʻîyr, H8165) — Seir, a mountain of Idumaea and its aboriginal occupants, also one in Palestine נָבָא (nâbâʼ, H5012) — to prophesy, i.e. speak (or sing) by inspiration (in prediction or simple discourse)
Open source ↗אָמַר (ʼâmar, H559) — to say (used with great latitude) אֲדֹנָי (ʼĂdônây, H136) — the Lord (used as a proper name of God only) יְהֹוִה (Yᵉhôvih, H3069) — {YHWH} הַר (har, H2022) — a mountain or range of hills (sometimes used figuratively) שֵׂעִיר (Sêʻîyr, H8165) — Seir, a mountain of Idumaea and its aboriginal occupants, also one in Palestine נָטָה (nâṭâh, H5186) — to stretch or spread out; by implication, to bend away (including moral deflection); used… יָד (yâd, H3027) — a hand (the open one (indicating power, means, direction, etc.), נָתַן (nâthan, H5414) — to give, used with greatest latitude of application (put, make, etc.) מְשַׁמָּה (mᵉshammâh, H4923) — a waste or amazement שְׁמָמָה (shᵉmâmâh, H8077) — devastation; figuratively, astonishment
Open source ↗שׂוּם (sûwm, H7760) — to put (used in a great variety of applications, literal, figurative, inferentially, and… עִיר (ʻîyr, H5892) — a city (a place guarded by waking or a watch) in the widest sense (even of a mere… חׇרְבָּה (chorbâh, H2723) — properly, drought, i.e. (by implication) a desolation שְׁמָמָה (shᵉmâmâh, H8077) — devastation; figuratively, astonishment יָדַע (yâdaʻ, H3045) — to know (properly, to ascertain by seeing); used in a great variety of senses,… יְהֹוָה (Yᵉhôvâh, H3068) — Jehovah, Jewish national name of God
Open source ↗עוֹלָם (ʻôwlâm, H5769) — properly, concealed, i.e. the vanishing point; generally, time out of mind (past or… אֵיבָה (ʼêybâh, H342) — hostility נָגַר (nâgar, H5064) — to flow; figuratively, to stretch out; causatively, to pour out or down; figuratively, to… בֵּן (bên, H1121) — a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative… יִשְׂרָאֵל (Yisrâʼêl, H3478) — Jisrael, a symbolical name of Jacob; also (typically) of his posterity יָד (yâd, H3027) — a hand (the open one (indicating power, means, direction, etc.), חֶרֶב (chereb, H2719) — drought; also a cutting instrument (from its destructive effect), as a knife, sword, or… עֵת (ʻêth, H6256) — time, especially (adverb with preposition) now, when, etc. אֵיד (ʼêyd, H343) — oppression; by implication misfortune, ruin עָוֺן (ʻâvôn, H5771) — perversity, i.e. (moral) evil קֵץ (qêts, H7093) — an extremity; adverbially (with prepositional prefix) after
Open source ↗חַי (chay, H2416) — alive; hence, raw (flesh); fresh (plant, water, year), strong; also (as noun, especially… נְאֻם (nᵉʼum, H5002) — an oracle אֲדֹנָי (ʼĂdônây, H136) — the Lord (used as a proper name of God only) יְהֹוִה (Yᵉhôvih, H3069) — {YHWH} עָשָׂה (ʻâsâh, H6213) — to do or make, in the broadest sense and widest application דָּם (dâm, H1818) — blood (as that which when shed causes death) of man or an animal; by analogy, the juice… רָדַף (râdaph, H7291) — to run after (usually with hostile intent; figuratively (of time) gone by) אִם (ʼim, H518) — used very widely as demonstrative, lo!; interrogative, whether?; or conditional, if,… שָׂנֵא (sânêʼ, H8130) — to hate (personally)
Open source ↗נָתַן (nâthan, H5414) — to give, used with greatest latitude of application (put, make, etc.) הַר (har, H2022) — a mountain or range of hills (sometimes used figuratively) שֵׂעִיר (Sêʻîyr, H8165) — Seir, a mountain of Idumaea and its aboriginal occupants, also one in Palestine שְׁמָמָה (shᵉmâmâh, H8077) — devastation; figuratively, astonishment כָּרַת (kârath, H3772) — to cut (off, down or asunder); by implication, to destroy or consume; specifically, to… עָבַר (ʻâbar, H5674) — to cross over; used very widely of any transition (literal or figurative; transitive,… שׁוּב (shûwb, H7725) — to turn back (hence, away) transitively or intransitively, literally or figuratively (not…
Open source ↗מָלֵא (mâlêʼ, H4390) — to fill or (intransitively) be full of, in a wide application (literally and figuratively) הַר (har, H2022) — a mountain or range of hills (sometimes used figuratively) חָלָל (châlâl, H2491) — pierced (especially to death); figuratively, polluted גִּבְעָה (gibʻâh, H1389) — a hillock גַּיְא (gayʼ, H1516) — a gorge (from its lofty sides; hence, narrow, but not a gully or winter-torrent) אָפִיק (ʼâphîyq, H650) — properly, containing, i.e. a tube; also a bed or valley of astream; also a strong thing… נָפַל (nâphal, H5307) — to fall, in a great variety of applications (intransitive or causative, literal or… חֶרֶב (chereb, H2719) — drought; also a cutting instrument (from its destructive effect), as a knife, sword, or…
Open source ↗נָתַן (nâthan, H5414) — to give, used with greatest latitude of application (put, make, etc.) עוֹלָם (ʻôwlâm, H5769) — properly, concealed, i.e. the vanishing point; generally, time out of mind (past or… שְׁמָמָה (shᵉmâmâh, H8077) — devastation; figuratively, astonishment עִיר (ʻîyr, H5892) — a city (a place guarded by waking or a watch) in the widest sense (even of a mere… שׁוּב (shûwb, H7725) — to turn back (hence, away) transitively or intransitively, literally or figuratively (not… יָשַׁב (yâshab, H3427) — properly, to sit down (specifically as judge. in ambush, in quiet); by implication, to… יָדַע (yâdaʻ, H3045) — to know (properly, to ascertain by seeing); used in a great variety of senses,… יְהֹוָה (Yᵉhôvâh, H3068) — Jehovah, Jewish national name of God
Open source ↗אָמַר (ʼâmar, H559) — to say (used with great latitude) שְׁנַיִם (shᵉnayim, H8147) — two; also (as ordinal) twofold גּוֹי (gôwy, H1471) — a foreign nation; hence, a Gentile; also (figuratively) a troop of animals, or a flight… אֶרֶץ (ʼerets, H776) — the earth (at large, or partitively a land) יָרַשׁ (yârash, H3423) — to occupy (by driving out previous tenants, and possessing in their place); by… יְהֹוָה (Yᵉhôvâh, H3068) — Jehovah, Jewish national name of God
Open source ↗חַי (chay, H2416) — alive; hence, raw (flesh); fresh (plant, water, year), strong; also (as noun, especially… נְאֻם (nᵉʼum, H5002) — an oracle אֲדֹנָי (ʼĂdônây, H136) — the Lord (used as a proper name of God only) יְהֹוִה (Yᵉhôvih, H3069) — {YHWH} עָשָׂה (ʻâsâh, H6213) — to do or make, in the broadest sense and widest application אַף (ʼaph, H639) — properly, the nose or nostril; hence, the face, and occasionally a person; also (from the… קִנְאָה (qinʼâh, H7068) — jealousy or envy שִׂנְאָה (sinʼâh, H8135) — hate יָדַע (yâdaʻ, H3045) — to know (properly, to ascertain by seeing); used in a great variety of senses,… שָׁפַט (shâphaṭ, H8199) — to judge, i.e. pronounce sentence (for or against); by implication, to vindicate or…
Open source ↗יָדַע (yâdaʻ, H3045) — to know (properly, to ascertain by seeing); used in a great variety of senses,… יְהֹוָה (Yᵉhôvâh, H3068) — Jehovah, Jewish national name of God שָׁמַע (shâmaʻ, H8085) — to hear intelligently (often with implication of attention, obedience, etc.; causatively,… נְאָצָה (nᵉʼâtsâh, H5007) — scorn אָמַר (ʼâmar, H559) — to say (used with great latitude) הַר (har, H2022) — a mountain or range of hills (sometimes used figuratively) יִשְׂרָאֵל (Yisrâʼêl, H3478) — Jisrael, a symbolical name of Jacob; also (typically) of his posterity שָׁמֵם (shâmêm, H8074) — to stun (or intransitively, grow numb), i.e. devastate or (figuratively) stupefy (both… שְׁמָמָה (shᵉmâmâh, H8077) — devastation; figuratively, astonishment נָתַן (nâthan, H5414) — to give, used with greatest latitude of application (put, make, etc.) אׇכְלָה (ʼoklâh, H402) — food
Open source ↗פֶּה (peh, H6310) — the mouth (as the means of blowing), whether literal or figurative (particularly speech);… גָּדַל (gâdal, H1431) — to be (causatively make) large (in various senses, as in body, mind, estate or honor,… עָתַר (ʻâthar, H6280) — to be (causatively, make) abundant דָּבָר (dâbâr, H1697) — a word; by implication, a matter (as spoken of) or thing; adverbially, a cause שָׁמַע (shâmaʻ, H8085) — to hear intelligently (often with implication of attention, obedience, etc.; causatively,…
Open source ↗אָמַר (ʼâmar, H559) — to say (used with great latitude) אֲדֹנָי (ʼĂdônây, H136) — the Lord (used as a proper name of God only) יְהֹוִה (Yᵉhôvih, H3069) — {YHWH} אֶרֶץ (ʼerets, H776) — the earth (at large, or partitively a land) שָׂמַח (sâmach, H8055) — probably to brighten up, i.e. (figuratively) be (causatively, make) blithe or gleesome עָשָׂה (ʻâsâh, H6213) — to do or make, in the broadest sense and widest application שְׁמָמָה (shᵉmâmâh, H8077) — devastation; figuratively, astonishment
Open source ↗Cross-references
Other passages the community most often connects to this one. Tap to read.
Then the word of the LORD came to me, saying,
Then the word of the LORD came to me, saying,
And the word of the LORD came to me, saying,
For no such prophecy was ever brought forth by the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.