Ezekiel 35:15

KJV

As thou didst rejoice at the inheritance of the house of Israel, because it was desolate, so will I do unto thee: thou shalt be desolate, O mount Seir, and all Idumea, [even] all of it: and they shall know that I [am] the LORD.

KJV (with Strong's)

As thou didst rejoice {H8057} at the inheritance {H5159} of the house {H1004} of Israel {H3478}, because it was desolate {H8074}, so will I do {H6213} unto thee: thou shalt be desolate {H8077}, O mount {H2022} Seir {H8165}, and all Idumea {H123}, even all of it: and they shall know {H3045} that I am the LORD {H3068}.

Complete Jewish Bible

Since you rejoiced over possessing the house of Isra'el, because it was desolate, that is what I will do to you - you will be desolate, Mount Se'ir and all Edom, all of it. Then they will know that I am ADONAI.'

Berean Standard Bible

As 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.

American Standard Version

As thou didst rejoice over the inheritance of the house of Israel, because it was desolate, so will I do unto thee: thou shalt be desolate, O mount Seir, and all Edom, even all of it; and they shall know that I am Jehovah.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Ezekiel 35:15 delivers a potent divine indictment and judgment against Edom, personified as Mount Seir and Idumea, for their malicious and opportunistic rejoicing over the desolation of the house of Israel's inheritance. This verse declares a precise and reciprocal desolation upon Edom, emphasizing God's unwavering commitment to justice and His sovereign power to execute judgment. Through this decisive action, the prophecy asserts that all nations will be compelled to acknowledge His identity as the LORD, revealing His absolute authority and faithfulness to His covenant people.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Ezekiel 35 stands as a singular, powerful oracle against Mount Seir (Edom), strategically positioned within Ezekiel's broader prophetic framework. It forms part of the series of judgments against the surrounding nations (Ezekiel 25-32), which serve as a necessary prelude to the glorious prophecies of Israel's restoration and spiritual renewal found in [Ezekiel 36](/ezekiel/36 "Ezekiel 36 - Restoration of Israel") and subsequent chapters. This placement is crucial: before God can fully restore His covenant people, He must address and judge those who maliciously opposed them and profited from their suffering. The judgment on Edom, therefore, underscores God's comprehensive plan for justice, His defense of His chosen people, and His ultimate sovereignty over all nations, even when Israel is under divine discipline.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** Edom, the descendants of Esau, Jacob's twin brother, maintained a long-standing and deeply hostile relationship with Israel, rooted in the ancient sibling rivalry described in [Genesis 25:23](/genesis/25-23 "Genesis 25:23 - The Prophecy of Two Nations"). This animosity manifested throughout Israel's history, notably in Edom's refusal to grant passage to Israel during the Exodus (cf. [Numbers 20:14-21](/numbers/20-14-21 "Numbers 20:14-21 - Edom Refuses Passage Through Their Land")). The specific sin condemned in Ezekiel 35:15—their "rejoicing at the inheritance of the house of Israel, because it was desolate"—refers to their opportunistic exploitation and active gloating during Jerusalem's destruction by Babylon in 586 BC. Historical accounts and other prophetic texts (e.g., [Obadiah 1:10-14](/obadiah/1-10-14 "Obadiah 1:10-14 - Edom's Violence Against Jacob")) indicate that Edom not only celebrated Judah's downfall but also actively participated in the looting, occupied portions of the desolated land, and even blocked escape routes for fleeing Israelites. This deep-seated malice and active betrayal, rather than mere neutrality, provoked God's severe wrath.
* **Key Themes:** This verse powerfully articulates several core themes pervasive in Ezekiel and the broader prophetic literature. Firstly, it highlights **Divine Retribution** and the principle of *lex talionis* (law of retaliation), where God promises to inflict upon Edom the very desolation they celebrated for Israel. This demonstrates God's commitment to a just recompense for sin. Secondly, the recurring phrase "they shall know that I am the LORD" emphasizes **God's Self-Revelation through Judgment**. This motif, appearing over 70 times in Ezekiel, signifies that God's actions, whether in judgment or salvation, are designed to undeniably reveal His sovereign power, unassailable justice, and unwavering faithfulness to all nations, not just Israel (cf. [Ezekiel 6:7](/ezekiel/6-7 "Ezekiel 6:7 - God's Self-Revelation Through Judgment") and [Ezekiel 36:23](/ezekiel/36-23 "Ezekiel 36:23 - God's Holiness Declared Among the Nations")). Lastly, the passage serves as a stark warning about the **Consequences of Malice and Presumption**, cautioning against taking pleasure in the misfortune of others or presuming to benefit from God's disciplinary actions against His own people.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS

#### Key Word Analysis
* **rejoice (Hebrew, _simchâh'_):** From H8057, meaning "blithesomeness or glee, (religious or festival); exceeding(-ly), gladness, joy(-fulness), mirth, pleasure, rejoice(-ing)." In this specific context, the word carries a sinister connotation, denoting a perverse, malicious joy or triumphalism. It is not a neutral or innocent emotion but an active, gleeful celebration of an enemy's downfall, specifically Israel's desolation. This malicious delight is precisely what God condemns and will reciprocate.
* **desolate (Hebrew, _shâmêm'_ / _shᵉmâmâh'_):** The King James Version uses "desolate" twice, reflecting two closely related Hebrew terms. The first instance, "because it was desolate," derives from H8074 (_shâmêm'_), a primitive root signifying "to stun (or intransitively, grow numb), i.e., devastate or (figuratively) stupefy." The second instance, "thou shalt be desolate," comes from H8077 (_shᵉmâmâh'_), a feminine noun meaning "devastation; figuratively, astonishment." The deliberate repetition and use of these cognate terms powerfully emphasize the utter, complete, and reciprocal nature of the ruin prophesied for Edom, directly mirroring the state they celebrated for Israel. It speaks to a profound and inescapable desolation.
* **know (Hebrew, _yâdaʻ'_):** From H3045, a primitive root meaning "to know (properly, to ascertain by seeing); used in a great variety of senses, figuratively, literally, euphemistically and inferentially (including observation, care, recognition; and causatively, instruction, designation, punishment, etc.)." In the climactic phrase "they shall know that I am the LORD," this verb signifies a profound, experiential, and undeniable knowledge or recognition of God's true identity, power, and authority. This knowledge is not merely intellectual but is brought about through His decisive and manifest acts of judgment, compelling a forced acknowledgment of His absolute sovereignty by all who witness it.
* **LORD (Hebrew, _Yᵉhôvâh'_):** From H3068, referring to "the self-Existent or Eternal; Jehovah, Jewish national name of God." This is the sacred, covenant name of God (YHWH), emphasizing His eternal, unchanging nature, His covenant faithfulness, and His absolute sovereignty over all creation and history. The declaration "I am the LORD" is a foundational statement of divine identity, authority, and self-existence that permeates the Old Testament, particularly prominent in Ezekiel, affirming that He is the one true God who acts decisively in the world.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"As thou didst rejoice at the inheritance of the house of Israel, because it was desolate,"**: This opening clause lays bare the specific and egregious sin of Edom, personified as Mount Seir and Idumea. Their transgression was not merely passive observation or indifference but an active, malevolent "rejoicing" – a gleeful, triumphal celebration – over the "inheritance" (the divinely promised and protected land) of "the house of Israel" being in a state of "desolation." This highlights Edom's deep-seated animosity, their opportunistic nature, and their profound lack of compassion, taking perverse pleasure in the suffering and divine judgment meted out against God's covenant people.
* **"so will I do unto thee: thou shalt be desolate, O mount Seir, and all Idumea, [even] all of it:"**: This segment delivers the divine pronouncement of reciprocal and proportionate judgment. God explicitly declares that He will inflict upon Edom the very same desolation they celebrated for Israel. The direct address to "mount Seir, and all Idumea" underscores the comprehensive and inescapable nature of this impending judgment, indicating that the entire region, its inhabitants, and its very identity will experience utter ruin. The emphatic phrase "even all of it" further stresses the totality and completeness of the prophesied destruction, leaving no part untouched.
* **"and they shall know that I [am] the LORD."**: This powerful concluding declaration reveals the ultimate, overarching purpose behind God's severe judgment. The utter desolation of Edom will serve as an undeniable, manifest demonstration of God's sovereign power, His unyielding justice, and His true identity. Through this dramatic act of divine intervention, not only Edom but potentially all surrounding nations will be compelled to acknowledge that the God of Israel, YHWH, is the one true, self-existent, and all-powerful God who actively governs and executes His will among the nations, revealing His character for all to see.

#### Literary Devices
Ezekiel 35:15 masterfully employs several potent literary devices to convey its message of divine justice and retribution. **Irony** is profoundly evident, as Edom's malicious joy and triumphalism over Israel's desolation become the precise justification and blueprint for their own impending and reciprocal ruin. What they celebrated, they will themselves experience, creating a powerful sense of poetic justice and divine mirroring. **Personification** is utilized by directly addressing "Mount Seir" and "Idumea" as if they were sentient entities capable of malicious rejoicing and subsequently receiving judgment, thereby representing the entire nation, its people, and its geographical identity. The powerful **Repetition** of "desolate" (derived from closely related Hebrew roots) emphasizes the completeness, certainty, and inescapable nature of the destruction prophesied for Edom, underscoring the severity and finality of God's judgment. Finally, the concluding declaration, "they shall know that I am the LORD," functions as a recurring **Theophany** or **Self-Revelation motif**, which is a distinctive hallmark of Ezekiel's prophecy. This phrase highlights that God's decisive actions, whether in judgment or salvation, are ultimately for the purpose of undeniably revealing His true identity, sovereign power, and unassailable authority to all creation.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Ezekiel 35:15 serves as a profound theological statement on divine justice, demonstrating God's meticulous attention to the attitudes and actions of nations, even those seemingly outside His direct covenant. It underscores the biblical principle that malicious joy (schadenfreude) and opportunistic exploitation of another's suffering, particularly that of God's people, do not go unpunished. God's absolute sovereignty extends over all nations, and His perfect justice ensures that those who oppose His purposes or delight in the misfortune of others will face commensurate judgment. This passage reminds us that God is not indifferent to human cruelty, animosity, or the perversion of joy; rather, He actively intervenes to uphold righteousness and reveal His ultimate authority, ensuring that His character as the just, sovereign, and faithful LORD is known throughout the earth. His judgments are not arbitrary but are righteous responses to human sin and rebellion.

* [Obadiah 1:10-15](/obadiah/1-10-15 "Obadiah 1:10-15 - Edom's Violence Against Jacob and Its Consequences")
* [Psalm 137:7](/psalms/137-7 "Psalm 137:7 - Remembering Edom's Malice During Jerusalem's Fall")
* [Romans 12:15](/romans/12-15 "Romans 12:15 - Rejoice with Those Who Rejoice, Weep with Those Who Weep")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Ezekiel 35:15 stands as a powerful and timeless warning against the insidious sin of malicious joy and the profound dangers of taking pleasure in the misfortune of others. In a world often characterized by division, competition, and animosity, this verse compels us to deeply examine our own hearts and attitudes. Do we ever find ourselves secretly delighting in the struggles, failures, or downfalls of those we perceive as rivals, opponents, or even those undergoing God's difficult discipline? This passage profoundly reminds us that God sees and judges not only our outward actions but also the hidden dispositions and emotional responses of our hearts. It challenges us to cultivate genuine empathy and compassion, even for those we might consider adversaries, rather than indulging in the destructive emotion of schadenfreude. Furthermore, this prophecy reinforces our unwavering trust in God's perfect and unwavering justice. While His ways may often seem slow or mysterious to our finite understanding, He is ultimately sovereign over all nations and all history. He will ensure that all wrongs are eventually righted, and His holy name is ultimately glorified. This profound truth should inspire both profound humility in our own lives and unshakeable confidence in His ultimate control and righteous governance of the universe.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **In what subtle or overt ways might I, or my community, be tempted to take pleasure in the difficulties or downfalls of others, especially those with whom we disagree?**
* **How does God's severe judgment on Edom for their "rejoicing" challenge my understanding of righteous indignation versus unrighteous malice in my own heart?**
* **What does the recurring phrase "they shall know that I am the LORD" teach me about God's immutable character and His ultimate purposes for all of human history?**
* **How can I actively cultivate a heart of genuine compassion, empathy, and even lament for others' suffering, even towards those with whom I have significant disagreements or who have caused me harm?**

### FAQ
**Why was God's judgment against Edom so severe?**

Answer: God's judgment against Edom was exceptionally severe primarily because of their persistent, deep-seated malice and active hostility towards Israel, their kin. Unlike other nations who might have been passive observers of Israel's plight, Edom actively "rejoiced at the inheritance of the house of Israel, because it was desolate" ([Ezekiel 35:15](/ezekiel/35-15 "Ezekiel 35:15 - Edom's Malicious Joy")). This malicious joy was coupled with opportunistic exploitation, including gloating over Jerusalem's destruction, potentially participating in the looting, and blocking escape routes for fleeing Israelites during the Babylonian invasion (cf. [Obadiah 1:10-14](/obadiah/1-10-14 "Obadiah 1:10-14 - Edom's Cruelty to Jacob")). Their sin was not merely a lack of compassion or neutrality, but an active, malevolent celebration of Israel's calamity, viewing it as an opportunity for their own gain. God's justice is always proportionate to the offense, and Edom's malicious joy and active betrayal warranted a reciprocal and total desolation, ensuring that His sovereignty and righteousness would be undeniably known to all.

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

Answer: The phrase "they shall know that I am the LORD" (Hebrew: *yada' ki ani YHWH*) is a foundational theological motif throughout the book of Ezekiel, appearing over 70 times. It signifies God's self-revelation through His mighty and decisive acts, whether in judgment or in salvation. In the context of judgment, as powerfully demonstrated in [Ezekiel 35:15](/ezekiel/35-15 "Ezekiel 35:15 - Edom's Malicious Joy"), it means that God's intervention will leave absolutely no doubt about His identity, His supreme power, and His unassailable authority. The nations, including Edom, will be compelled to acknowledge, experientially and undeniably, that the God of Israel is the one true, sovereign, and self-existent God who actively executes His will in history. It is a declaration that God's character and power will be so clearly demonstrated that it will lead to a forced and universal recognition of His divine nature and ultimate control.

**How does this passage relate to the concept of "schadenfreude" in modern ethics?**

Answer: Ezekiel 35:15 directly and unequivocally condemns the ancient equivalent of "schadenfreude" – the malicious pleasure derived from another person's misfortune. Edom's "rejoicing at the inheritance of the house of Israel, because it was desolate" is the precise biblical illustration of this condemned emotion. The passage serves as a powerful and timeless biblical warning against such an attitude. From a modern ethical perspective, it highlights that our inner dispositions, our emotional responses to the suffering of others, are not morally neutral. God holds us accountable not only for our actions but also for the hidden attitudes and desires of our hearts. The Christian ethic, profoundly exemplified by passages like [Romans 12:15](/romans/12-15 "Romans 12:15 - Rejoice with Those Who Rejoice, Weep with Those Who Weep"), calls believers to cultivate deep empathy, compassion, and solidarity with those who suffer, standing in stark and absolute contrast to Edom's condemned malice and self-serving joy.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Ezekiel 35:15, with its stark declaration of divine judgment against Edom for their malicious joy over Israel's desolation, finds profound Christ-centered fulfillment and illumination in several crucial ways. Firstly, Jesus Christ is the ultimate embodiment of God's perfect justice, who will one day return to judge all nations, including those who have opposed His people or delighted in their suffering (cf. [Matthew 25:31-46](/matthew/25-31-46 "Matthew 25:31-46 - The Judgment of the Nations")). The desolation prophesied for Edom foreshadows the ultimate and just judgment awaiting all who reject God's love and persist in malice and rebellion against His kingdom. Secondly, while Edom celebrated Israel's desolation, Christ came not to rejoice in our spiritual desolation caused by sin, but to bring an end to it, offering a new and eternal inheritance (cf. [1 Peter 1:3-5](/1_peter/1-3-5 "1 Peter 1:3-5 - A Living Hope and Incorruptible Inheritance")) through His atoning sacrifice on the cross. He did not delight in our ruin but entered into it, bearing the curse and desolation that we deserved, so that we might receive blessing and life (cf. [Galatians 3:13](/galatians/3-13 "Galatians 3:13 - Christ Redeemed Us from the Curse")). Finally, the declaration "they shall know that I am the LORD" is ultimately and supremely fulfilled in Christ, for in Him, the fullness of God dwells bodily (cf. [Colossians 2:9](/colossians/2-9 "Colossians 2:9 - Fullness of Deity in Christ")), and through His death, resurrection, and ascension, God's power, justice, and redemptive love are supremely and undeniably revealed to all humanity, compelling a universal recognition of His divine identity and Lordship (cf. [Philippians 2:9-11](/philippians/2-9-11 "Philippians 2:9-11 - Every Knee Shall Bow to Jesus")).

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

Isaiah 34:5

For my sword shall be bathed in heaven: behold, it shall come down upon Idumea, and upon the people of my curse, to judgment.

Isaiah 34:6

The sword of the LORD is filled with blood, it is made fat with fatness, [and] with the blood of lambs and goats, with the fat of the kidneys of rams: for the LORD hath a sacrifice in Bozrah, and a great slaughter in the land of Idumea.

Ezekiel 35:3

And say unto it, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, O mount Seir, I [am] against thee, and I will stretch out mine hand against thee, and I will make thee most desolate.

Ezekiel 35:4

I will lay thy cities waste, and thou shalt be desolate, and thou shalt know that I [am] the LORD.

Lamentations 4:21

¶ Rejoice and be glad, O daughter of Edom, that dwellest in the land of Uz; the cup also shall pass through unto thee: thou shalt be drunken, and shalt make thyself naked.

Obadiah 1:12

But thou shouldest not have looked on the day of thy brother in the day that he became a stranger; neither shouldest thou have rejoiced over the children of Judah in the day of their destruction; neither shouldest thou have spoken proudly in the day of distress.

Obadiah 1:15

For the day of the LORD [is] near upon all the heathen: as thou hast done, it shall be done unto thee: thy reward shall return upon thine own head.