Ezekiel 25:5

KJV

And I will make Rabbah a stable for camels, and the Ammonites a couchingplace for flocks: and ye shall know that I [am] the LORD.

KJV (with Strong's)

And I will make {H5414} Rabbah {H7237} a stable {H5116} for camels {H1581}, and the Ammonites {H1121}{H5983} a couchingplace {H4769} for flocks {H6629}: and ye shall know {H3045} that I am the LORD {H3068}.

Complete Jewish Bible

I will turn Rabbah into a camel pasture and 'Amon into a sheep-yard. Then you will know that I am ADONAI."

Berean Standard Bible

I will make Rabbah a pasture for camels, and Ammon a resting place for sheep. Then you will know that I am the LORD.’

American Standard Version

And I will make Rabbah a stable for camels, and the children of Ammon a couching-place for flocks: and ye shall know that I am Jehovah.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Ezekiel 25:5 delivers a profound divine judgment against Rabbah, the capital of Ammon, and the entire Ammonite territory, prophesying their complete and utter desolation. This once-thriving urban center and its surrounding lands are declared to be reduced to mere desolate pastures, suitable only for livestock. The ultimate purpose of this severe prophetic declaration is revealed to be the experiential acknowledgment by the Ammonites, and by extension all nations, of the sovereign power, identity, and justice of the LORD.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Ezekiel 25:5 is strategically placed within a significant prophetic block (Ezekiel 25-32) dedicated to God's judgments against the surrounding nations. This section immediately follows the detailed prophecies concerning the fall of Jerusalem and the desolation of Judah (Ezekiel 1-24), serving to underscore God's universal sovereignty. It demonstrates that Yahweh's authority and justice are not confined to His covenant people but extend to all of humanity, holding every nation accountable for their actions. Specifically, Ezekiel 25:1-7 addresses the Ammonites, detailing their particular offenses and the precise nature of their impending doom. This broader literary framework emphasizes that even amidst the apparent defeat of His people, God remains the supreme ruler over all earthly powers and destinies.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The prophecies of Ezekiel were delivered during the Babylonian exile, a period of immense national trauma and humiliation for Judah. While Judah suffered the consequences of its disobedience, neighboring nations, including the Ammonites, often capitalized on Israel's vulnerability or openly celebrated its downfall. The Ammonites, descendants of Lot through his son Ben-Ammi (as recounted in [Genesis 19:38](/genesis/19-38 "Genesis 19:38 - Origin of the Ammonites")), were situated directly east of the Jordan River. They possessed a long-standing history of antagonism and conflict with Israel, evidenced by narratives such as the oppression under Eglon of Moab and Ammon ([Judges 3:12-30](/judges/3-12-30 "Judges 3:12-30 - Ehud's Deliverance from Moab and Ammon")) and Saul's victory over Nahash the Ammonite ([1 Samuel 11:1-11](/1_samuel/11-1-11 "1 Samuel 11:1-11 - Saul Defeats the Ammonites")). Their specific offense leading to this judgment, as highlighted elsewhere in this chapter, was their malicious joy and vengeful actions towards Jerusalem after its destruction ([Ezekiel 25:3](/ezekiel/25-3 "Ezekiel 25:3 - Ammon's Reaction to Jerusalem's Fall") and [Ezekiel 25:6](/ezekiel/25-6 "Ezekiel 25:6 - Ammon's Malicious Joy")). Rabbah, their capital, was a prominent and strategically vital city, making its prophesied reduction to a desolate wasteland a powerful and symbolic representation of their complete and utter downfall.
* **Key Themes:** Ezekiel 25:5 powerfully contributes to several overarching themes within the book of Ezekiel and the broader prophetic corpus. Foremost is the theme of **Divine Judgment**, which asserts God's righteous wrath against nations that demonstrate malice, pride, and hostility towards His covenant people. It unequivocally declares that such actions incur severe divine consequences. Another crucial theme is **God's Sovereignty**, particularly underscored by the recurring declaration, "ye shall know that I am the LORD." This phrase, a pervasive motif throughout Ezekiel (e.g., [Ezekiel 36:23](/ezekiel/36-23 "Ezekiel 36:23 - God's Holiness Known Among the Nations")), emphasizes God's ultimate control over the course of human history and the destinies of all nations, even when His people are in exile or seemingly defeated. Finally, the vivid imagery of Rabbah becoming a "stable for camels" and the Ammonites' land a "couchingplace for flocks" vividly portrays the theme of **Utter Desolation**. This signifies complete ruin, depopulation, and a profound reversal of status, where once-thriving urban centers and populated territories revert to wild, uninhabited pastoral areas, a stark contrast to their former glory and prosperity.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **know (Hebrew, _yâdaʻ'_):** This verb (H3045) denotes far more than mere intellectual comprehension; it signifies an experiential, often forced, recognition or acknowledgment. In the context of divine judgment, as frequently seen throughout Ezekiel, it refers to the nations being compelled to understand and confess the unique identity, supreme power, and absolute authority of Yahweh, the God of Israel, through His decisive and undeniable actions. This "knowing" is ultimately a vindication of God's name and His sovereign rule over all creation.
* **stable (Hebrew, _nâveh'_):** Derived from H5116, this term can broadly refer to a home or dwelling. However, in this specific context, it denotes a pasture, fold, or enclosure primarily for animals. Its application to Rabbah, a once-proud and populous capital city, powerfully conveys the extent of its depopulation and ruin. The city will be so utterly abandoned by human inhabitants that it will revert to a primitive state, suitable only for the sheltering of beasts, symbolizing complete desolation and the irreversible loss of its former status and human significance.
* **couchingplace (Hebrew, _marbêts'_):** This noun (H4769) literally means a reclining place or a place to lie down, specifically used for flocks of sheep or goats. Like "stable," it evokes an image of a desolate, wild, and uninhabited area suitable only for grazing animals. Its pairing with "stable for camels" reinforces the comprehensive nature of the judgment, indicating that the entire Ammonite territory, not just its capital, would be reduced to a state of wilderness and abandonment, stripped of its human population and cultivation.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"And I will make Rabbah a stable for camels":** This clause emphatically declares God's direct and active agency in orchestrating the judgment. Rabbah, whose very name means "great" or "populous," will be stripped of its urban character and reduced to a desolate pastureland. The imagery of a "stable for camels" signifies not merely ruin but a profound reversal of status, where a once-bustling human center becomes a primitive enclosure for beasts of burden, symbolizing utter abandonment, depopulation, and the complete collapse of its former glory.
* **"and the Ammonites a couchingplace for flocks":** Extending the scope of the judgment from the capital city to the entire Ammonite people and their territory, this phrase reinforces the theme of comprehensive desolation. Their land, once inhabited, cultivated, and prosperous, will become a wild grazing ground for sheep and goats. This signifies a return to an untamed, unpopulated state, emphasizing the all-encompassing nature of the divine judgment that would leave their land desolate and their people scattered, destroyed, or subjugated.
* **"and ye shall know that I [am] the LORD":** This concluding declaration serves as the theological climax and ultimate purpose of the judgment. The Ammonites, through their experience of utter desolation and the fulfillment of these prophecies, will be forced to experientially acknowledge the supreme sovereignty, power, and justice of Yahweh (the LORD), the God of Israel. This phrase, a hallmark of Ezekiel's prophecy, underscores that God's judgments are never arbitrary but serve to reveal His true identity, vindicate His holy name, and demonstrate His absolute dominion before all nations.

#### Literary Devices
Ezekiel 25:5 employs powerful **Imagery** to convey the profound depth of the impending divine judgment. The vivid pictures of Rabbah becoming a "stable for camels" and the Ammonite territory a "couchingplace for flocks" are not merely descriptive; they are deeply symbolic. They evoke a scene of profound desolation, depopulation, and a reversion to a wild, untamed state, standing in stark contrast to the former glory of a thriving capital and populated land. There is also a strong element of **Irony** in the prophecy, as Rabbah, whose name means "great" or "populous," is prophesied to be reduced to a mere animal enclosure, highlighting the dramatic reversal of its status and the humbling of its pride. The sheer extent of the ruin depicted can also be seen as **Hyperbole**, serving to emphasize the completeness and severity of the judgment. Finally, the concluding phrase, "ye shall know that I am the LORD," functions as a potent **Theological Declaration**, a recurring motif throughout Ezekiel, asserting God's ultimate purpose in revealing His sovereignty and identity through His acts of judgment and their undeniable fulfillment.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Ezekiel 25:5 powerfully articulates God's unwavering justice and His absolute sovereignty over all nations, not merely His covenant people, Israel. It underscores the profound truth that God holds all peoples accountable for their actions, particularly their attitudes and behaviors towards His chosen people. The Ammonites' malicious joy and exploitation of Judah's suffering incurred severe divine wrath, demonstrating unequivocally that God is not indifferent to the injustices inflicted upon His people. This verse also highlights God's ultimate purpose in judgment: to reveal His identity as the one true LORD, compelling even His enemies to acknowledge His supreme power and authority. The desolation described serves as a stark reminder that earthly power, pride, and national strength are fleeting, and ultimately, all will bow before the sovereign will of Yahweh, who alone determines the destinies of nations.

* [Isaiah 13:20-22](/isaiah/13-20-22 "Isaiah 13:20-22 - Desolation of Babylon")
* [Jeremiah 49:2](/jeremiah/49-2 "Jeremiah 49:2 - Judgment on Rabbah and Ammon")
* [Zephaniah 2:9](/zephaniah/2-9 "Zephaniah 2:9 - Ammon and Moab like Sodom and Gomorrah")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Ezekiel 25:5 offers enduring lessons for believers today, reminding us that God's justice is universal and extends to all people and nations. It serves as a potent warning against the dangers of *schadenfreude*—rejoicing in the misfortunes of others—and against prideful hostility. Just as the Ammonites faced severe consequences for their malice towards Judah, we are called to examine our own hearts for any ungodly attitudes towards those who suffer, even our perceived adversaries. The verse reinforces the comforting and challenging truth of God's unwavering sovereignty; He remains in control, even amidst global chaos or personal trials, and His ultimate purposes will prevail. His judgments, though severe, are always aimed at revealing His character and vindicating His holy name, prompting a deeper, experiential knowledge of who He is. This should inspire both profound reverence and unwavering trust, knowing that the LORD who judges nations is also the one who consistently upholds justice and righteousness.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How does the imagery of Rabbah becoming a "stable for camels" challenge our understanding of worldly power and permanence, and what does it teach us about where we place our ultimate trust?**
* **In what ways might we, individually or corporately, be tempted to rejoice in the misfortunes of others, and what does this verse teach us about such attitudes in light of God's justice?**
* **How does God's declaration, "ye shall know that I am the LORD," encourage us to trust in His sovereignty even when circumstances seem chaotic or unjust in our own lives or in the world?**

### FAQ
**Why was God so harsh with the Ammonites?**

Answer: God's judgment on the Ammonites, as detailed in Ezekiel 25, was not arbitrary but a just and proportionate response to their persistent hostility, idolatry, and, most significantly, their malicious joy and vengeful actions against Judah during its time of distress and the fall of Jerusalem. They "rejoiced with all their heart" and "clapped their hands" at Israel's calamity ([Ezekiel 25:3](/ezekiel/25-3 "Ezekiel 25:3 - Ammon's Reaction to Jerusalem's Fall"), [Ezekiel 25:6](/ezekiel/25-6 "Ezekiel 25:6 - Ammon's Malicious Joy")). This demonstrated a profound lack of compassion and a defiant rejection of God's purposes for His covenant people. God's judgment was a vindication of His justice and a clear demonstration that He holds all nations accountable for their actions, particularly their treatment of His people.

**What is the significance of the recurring phrase "ye shall know that I am the LORD" in Ezekiel?**

Answer: This phrase, which appears over 70 times in the book of Ezekiel, is a central theological motif that encapsulates the ultimate purpose of God's actions, whether in judgment or restoration. It signifies a forced, experiential recognition of Yahweh's unique identity, supreme power, and absolute sovereignty. It's not merely about intellectual understanding but about a profound, undeniable revelation of God's character through His mighty acts. In the context of Ezekiel 25:5, the desolation of Rabbah and Ammon would serve as an undeniable testament to the LORD's power, compelling even His enemies to acknowledge that He alone is God, the one who controls the destinies of nations. It's about vindicating God's name and demonstrating His holiness to all who observe, ensuring that His glory is revealed throughout the earth.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
While Ezekiel 25:5 speaks of a specific judgment on an ancient nation, its theological underpinnings find profound Christ-centered fulfillment. The declaration, "ye shall know that I am the LORD," foreshadows the ultimate and universal knowledge of God revealed in Jesus Christ. In the Old Testament, this knowledge often came through punitive judgment, compelling recognition of God's power. In the New Covenant, the deepest and most redemptive knowledge of God is found in the person and work of Christ, who is the "radiance of God's glory and the exact representation of his being" ([Hebrews 1:3](/hebrews/1-3 "Hebrews 1:3 - Christ, the Radiance of God's Glory")). The desolation of Rabbah points to the ultimate spiritual desolation of those who persistently reject God's gracious rule, a truth fully unveiled in Christ's teaching on final judgment and the separation of the sheep and the goats ([Matthew 25:31-46](/matthew/25-31-46 "Matthew 25:31-46 - The Judgment of the Nations")). Christ, as the rightful King and Judge, holds ultimate authority over all nations and will one day execute perfect justice, ensuring that "every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father" ([Philippians 2:9-11](/philippians/2-9-11 "Philippians 2:9-11 - Every Knee Shall Bow to Christ")). The earthly kingdoms that rise and fall, like Rabbah, stand in stark contrast to the eternal, unshakable kingdom of God established by Christ, which "will never be destroyed" ([Daniel 2:44](/daniel/2-44 "Daniel 2:44 - God's Eternal Kingdom")). Thus, the judgment on Ammon serves as a microcosm of the final, universal judgment where all will ultimately "know" the LORD, either through redemptive embrace of Christ or through the just consequences of rejecting Him, thereby fulfilling the divine purpose of God's self-revelation.

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

Ezekiel 21:20

Appoint a way, that the sword may come to Rabbath of the Ammonites, and to Judah in Jerusalem the defenced.

2 Samuel 12:26

¶ And Joab fought against Rabbah of the children of Ammon, and took the royal city.

Isaiah 17:2

The cities of Aroer [are] forsaken: they shall be for flocks, which shall lie down, and none shall make [them] afraid.

Zephaniah 2:14

And flocks shall lie down in the midst of her, all the beasts of the nations: both the cormorant and the bittern shall lodge in the upper lintels of it; [their] voice shall sing in the windows; desolation [shall be] in the thresholds: for he shall uncover the cedar work.

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.

Ezekiel 26:6

And her daughters which [are] in the field shall be slain by the sword; and they shall know that I [am] the LORD.

Isaiah 32:14

Because the palaces shall be forsaken; the multitude of the city shall be left; the forts and towers shall be for dens for ever, a joy of wild asses, a pasture of flocks;