Note: Words are shown in their original Hebrew order, which differs from English translations. This reflects the emphasis and structure of Scripture as originally written. Click any word to see its full lexicon entry.
1Moreover, the word of the LORD came to me, saying,
3and declare that this is what the Lord GOD says: Behold, I am against you, O Mount Seir. I will stretch out My hand against you and make you a desolate waste.
5Because you harbored an ancient hatred and delivered the Israelites over to the sword in the time of their disaster at the final stage of their punishment,
6therefore as surely as I live, declares the Lord GOD, I will give you over to bloodshed and it will pursue you. Since you did not hate bloodshed, it will pursue you.
11therefore as surely as I live, declares the Lord GOD, I will treat you according to the anger and jealousy you showed in your hatred against them, and I will make Myself known among them when I judge you.
12Then you will know that I, the LORD, have heard every contemptuous word you uttered against the mountains of Israel when you said, ‘They are desolate; they are given to us to devour!’
15As you rejoiced when the inheritance of the house of Israel became desolate, so will I do to you. You will become a desolation, O Mount Seir, and so will all of Edom. Then they will know that I am the LORD.
Ezekiel 35 records a solemn prophecy against Mount Seir, the mountainous region of Edom, the ancient enemies of Israel. God pronounces judgment on Edom for their perpetual hatred toward Israel, their violence against God's people during their darkest hour, and their arrogant presumption in claiming Israel's land as their own. This passage emphasizes a crucial biblical principle: God sees all human actions, hears every word spoken against His people, and will ultimately vindicate His covenant people and judge those who oppose them with malice and pride.
The word of the Lord comes to Ezekiel with a clear command to prophesy against Mount Seir (v. 1–2). The prophet is told to "set thy face" against it—a posture of opposition and authority. God declares, "I am against thee" (v. 3), a statement of absolute divine opposition. The charge is specific and grave: Edom has harbored perpetual hatred toward Israel and shed the blood of God's people during Israel's time of calamity—namely, during the Babylonian siege of Jerusalem. What makes this sin particularly egregious is its timing: Edom attacked when Israel was weakest, taking advantage of their neighbor's fall rather than offering help or mercy.
Here we see that God remembers every act of cruelty. Edom's sin was not one of passion or momentary weakness, but of calculated, prolonged malice. The pastoral lesson is clear: our treatment of others, especially believers in difficulty, matters eternally to God. He takes note of those who kick the vulnerable and celebrates the downfall of others.
God's judgment is proportional and absolute. He declares, "Blood shall pursue thee" (v. 6)—a wordplay in the original language emphasizing that violence begets violence. Because Edom "hath not hated blood," meaning they embraced bloodshed eagerly, they will be pursued by it relentlessly. The description of devastation is vivid: cities laid waste, the land made perpetually desolate, mountains filled with slain (v. 7–8). Verse 9 states plainly that Edom "shall not return"—their restoration, unlike Israel's, is final. The repeated refrain, "ye shall know that I am the LORD," emphasizes that this judgment is not merely punishment but a demonstration of God's character and sovereignty.
This reminds us that God's judgment, though sometimes delayed, is never absent. He is not indifferent to human cruelty. The promise of ultimate accountability should comfort the afflicted and soberly warn the proud.
A second charge emerges: Edom declared that Israel's inherited land would become theirs (v. 10). This was not only covetousness but blasphemy, for it contradicted God's covenant promise. Verses 12–13 reveal that Edom had mocked Israel, saying the desolate mountains "are given us to consume." They spoke arrogantly against God Himself through their boasting against His land and people. The Lord assures Ezekiel, "I have heard all thy blasphemies...I have heard them" (v. 12–13).
This section teaches that God hears our words. Nothing escapes His attention—not our cruelty, our mockery, or our pride. Words matter eternally.
God declares that when the whole earth rejoices, He will make Edom desolate (v. 14). The reversal is perfect: "As thou didst rejoice at the inheritance of the house of Israel, because it was desolate, so will I do unto thee" (v. 15). Edom celebrated Israel's fall; they will experience their own irreversible fall. Mount Seir and all Idumea will know that the Lord is God.
Application for Today
Ezekiel 35 assures believers that God vindicates His people and judges their enemies. While we do not execute vengeance—that belongs to God alone—we can rest confidently that He witnesses every act of injustice. We must examine our own hearts: Do we harbor hatred? Do we celebrate others' falls or speak arrogantly against God's purposes? Let us instead cultivate mercy, guard our tongues, and trust God's perfect justice.
Study Notes — Ezekiel 35
5 sectionsEzekiel 35 records a solemn prophecy against Mount Seir, the mountainous region of Edom, the ancient enemies of Israel. God pronounces judgment on Edom for their perpetual hatred toward Israel, their violence against God's people during their darkest hour, and their arrogant presumption in claiming Israel's land as their own. This passage emphasizes a crucial biblical principle: God sees all human actions, hears every word spoken against His people, and will ultimately vindicate His covenant people and judge those who oppose them with malice and pride.
The word of the Lord comes to Ezekiel with a clear command to prophesy against Mount Seir (v. 1–2). The prophet is told to "set thy face" against it—a posture of opposition and authority. God declares, "I am against thee" (v. 3), a statement of absolute divine opposition. The charge is specific and grave: Edom has harbored perpetual hatred toward Israel and shed the blood of God's people during Israel's time of calamity—namely, during the Babylonian siege of Jerusalem. What makes this sin particularly egregious is its timing: Edom attacked when Israel was weakest, taking advantage of their neighbor's fall rather than offering help or mercy.
Here we see that God remembers every act of cruelty. Edom's sin was not one of passion or momentary weakness, but of calculated, prolonged malice. The pastoral lesson is clear: our treatment of others, especially believers in difficulty, matters eternally to God. He takes note of those who kick the vulnerable and celebrates the downfall of others.
God's judgment is proportional and absolute. He declares, "Blood shall pursue thee" (v. 6)—a wordplay in the original language emphasizing that violence begets violence. Because Edom "hath not hated blood," meaning they embraced bloodshed eagerly, they will be pursued by it relentlessly. The description of devastation is vivid: cities laid waste, the land made perpetually desolate, mountains filled with slain (v. 7–8). Verse 9 states plainly that Edom "shall not return"—their restoration, unlike Israel's, is final. The repeated refrain, "ye shall know that I am the LORD," emphasizes that this judgment is not merely punishment but a demonstration of God's character and sovereignty.
This reminds us that God's judgment, though sometimes delayed, is never absent. He is not indifferent to human cruelty. The promise of ultimate accountability should comfort the afflicted and soberly warn the proud.
A second charge emerges: Edom declared that Israel's inherited land would become theirs (v. 10). This was not only covetousness but blasphemy, for it contradicted God's covenant promise. Verses 12–13 reveal that Edom had mocked Israel, saying the desolate mountains "are given us to consume." They spoke arrogantly against God Himself through their boasting against His land and people. The Lord assures Ezekiel, "I have heard all thy blasphemies...I have heard them" (v. 12–13).
This section teaches that God hears our words. Nothing escapes His attention—not our cruelty, our mockery, or our pride. Words matter eternally.
God declares that when the whole earth rejoices, He will make Edom desolate (v. 14). The reversal is perfect: "As thou didst rejoice at the inheritance of the house of Israel, because it was desolate, so will I do unto thee" (v. 15). Edom celebrated Israel's fall; they will experience their own irreversible fall. Mount Seir and all Idumea will know that the Lord is God.
Ezekiel 35 assures believers that God vindicates His people and judges their enemies. While we do not execute vengeance—that belongs to God alone—we can rest confidently that He witnesses every act of injustice. We must examine our own hearts: Do we harbor hatred? Do we celebrate others' falls or speak arrogantly against God's purposes? Let us instead cultivate mercy, guard our tongues, and trust God's perfect justice.