Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I will stretch out mine hand upon the Philistines, and I will cut off the Cherethims, and destroy the remnant of the sea coast.
Therefore thus saith {H559} the Lord {H136} GOD {H3069}; Behold, I will stretch out {H5186} mine hand {H3027} upon the Philistines {H6430}, and I will cut off {H3772} the Cherethims {H3774}, and destroy {H6} the remnant {H7611} of the sea {H3220} coast {H2348}.
therefore,' Adonai ELOHIM says, 'I will stretch out my hand over the P'lishtim, eliminate the K'reti and destroy the rest of the seacoast peoples.
therefore this is what the Lord GOD says: Behold, I will stretch out My hand against the Philistines, and I will cut off the Cherethites and destroy the remnant along the coast.
therefore thus saith the Lord Jehovah, Behold, I will stretch out my hand upon the Philistines, and I will cut off the Cherethites, and destroy the remnant of the sea coast.
-
1 Samuel 30:14
We made an invasion [upon] the south of the Cherethites, and upon [the coast] which [belongeth] to Judah, and upon the south of Caleb; and we burned Ziklag with fire. -
Zephaniah 2:4
¶ For Gaza shall be forsaken, and Ashkelon a desolation: they shall drive out Ashdod at the noon day, and Ekron shall be rooted up. -
Zephaniah 2:15
This [is] the rejoicing city that dwelt carelessly, that said in her heart, I [am], and [there is] none beside me: how is she become a desolation, a place for beasts to lie down in! every one that passeth by her shall hiss, [and] wag his hand. -
2 Samuel 15:18
And all his servants passed on beside him; and all the Cherethites, and all the Pelethites, and all the Gittites, six hundred men which came after him from Gath, passed on before the king. -
Ezekiel 25:13
Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD; I will also stretch out mine hand upon Edom, and will cut off man and beast from it; and I will make it desolate from Teman; and they of Dedan shall fall by the sword. -
Ezekiel 25:7
Behold, therefore I will stretch out mine hand upon thee, and will deliver thee for a spoil to the heathen; and I will cut thee off from the people, and I will cause thee to perish out of the countries: I will destroy thee; and thou shalt know that I [am] the LORD. -
Jeremiah 47:1
¶ The word of the LORD that came to Jeremiah the prophet against the Philistines, before that Pharaoh smote Gaza.
Ezekiel 25:16 delivers a powerful declaration of divine judgment against the Philistines, a long-standing adversary of ancient Israel. This verse underscores God's unwavering justice and His sovereign control over all nations.
Context
Ezekiel 25 is part of a series of prophecies (chapters 25-32) delivered by the prophet Ezekiel against the nations surrounding Israel. These prophecies articulate God's judgment not only on His own people for their sin but also on the Gentile nations who either rejoiced at Jerusalem's downfall, actively participated in its destruction, or harbored long-standing enmity towards Israel. Prior to this verse, Ezekiel has pronounced judgment against Ammon (Ezekiel 25:2-7), Moab (Ezekiel 25:8-11), and Edom (Ezekiel 25:12-14). The Philistines, residing on the southwestern coast, are targeted here for their "malice," "vengeance," and "perpetual hatred" against Israel, which intensified during Judah's time of weakness and exile.
Key Themes
Linguistic Insights
Practical Application
Ezekiel 25:16 reminds us that God is a God of justice who holds all nations and individuals accountable for their actions. While the immediate context is historical judgment on ancient enemies, the principles remain relevant: