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.

And say {H559} unto it, Thus saith {H559} the Lord {H136} GOD {H3069}; Behold, O mount {H2022} Seir {H8165}, I am against thee, and I will stretch out {H5186} mine hand {H3027} against thee, and I will make {H5414} thee most {H4923} desolate {H8077}.

and say that Adonai ELOHIM says, 'I am against you, Mount Se'ir. I will stretch out my hand against you and make you utterly desolate.

and 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.

and say unto it, Thus saith the Lord Jehovah: Behold, I am against thee, O mount Seir, and I will stretch out my hand against thee, and I will make thee a desolation and an astonishment.

Ezekiel 35:3 delivers a stern prophetic declaration from the Lord GOD against Mount Seir, representing the nation of Edom. This verse is part of a larger oracle of judgment against Edom, highlighting Edom's particular transgression against Israel.

Context

The prophet Ezekiel received this message during the Babylonian exile, a time of immense suffering for Judah. While Jerusalem lay in ruins, Edom, historically descended from Esau (Jacob's brother), instead of showing compassion, gloated over Judah's demise and even participated in plundering the weakened nation. This prophecy in Ezekiel 35 directly addresses Edom's long-standing animosity and their actions during Judah's catastrophe. It follows Ezekiel's extensive prophecies of judgment against various nations and precedes the prophecies of Israel's restoration. The judgment on Mount Seir underscores God's justice and His unwavering commitment to His covenant people, even when they are in exile. For a broader understanding of Edom's actions, see Obadiah 1:10-14.

Key Themes

  • Divine Retribution: God declares His direct opposition to Edom, promising desolation as a consequence of their historical enmity and recent actions against Judah. This illustrates the principle that nations, like individuals, are accountable before God.
  • God's Sovereignty Over Nations: The phrase "Thus saith the Lord GOD" powerfully asserts God's ultimate authority over all earthly powers, including those seemingly triumphant in their wickedness. No nation can escape His judgment.
  • Defense of Israel: By judging Edom so severely, God demonstrates His protective care for His people, Israel, even in their broken state. He sees and responds to the mistreatment of His chosen nation.
  • Utter Desolation: The prophecy emphasizes a complete and irreversible destruction for Edom, contrasting sharply with the promised restoration for Israel.

Linguistic Insights

  • "Mount Seir": This is not just a geographical location but a symbolic representation of the entire nation of Edom. The mountains were often seen as embodying the strength and identity of a people.
  • "Thus saith the Lord GOD": In Hebrew, this is Adonai Yahweh, a powerful combination emphasizing God's absolute lordship (Adonai) and His covenant faithfulness (Yahweh). It signifies a divine decree that is certain and unchangeable.
  • "I [am] against thee": The Hebrew verb form here denotes a very strong, decisive opposition. It's a personal declaration of war from God Himself against Edom.
  • "stretch out mine hand against thee": A common biblical idiom signifying active divine intervention, often for judgment or punishment. It implies direct, forceful action.
  • "make thee most desolate": The Hebrew phrase uses a repetition of the root shammah (desolate), creating a superlative emphasis – "desolation upon desolation" or "utterly desolate." This conveys the extreme nature of the coming destruction, leaving no doubt about Edom's fate. This concept of profound desolation is also seen in other prophetic judgments, such as Jeremiah 25:11 concerning Judah's seventy years of desolation.

Practical Application

Ezekiel 35:3 serves as a timeless reminder of God's justice and His unwavering commitment to righteousness. It teaches us that:

  • Accountability is Universal: Whether nations or individuals, none are exempt from divine judgment for their actions, especially those marked by malice, pride, or cruelty towards others.
  • God Defends His Own: Those who seek to harm or rejoice over the downfall of God's people (or any innocent party) will ultimately face His wrath. This offers comfort and reassurance to those who are persecuted or oppressed.
  • Consequences of Enmity: Holding onto perpetual hatred and acting on it brings severe consequences. Edom's fate stands as a stark warning against deep-seated animosity and schadenfreude.
  • God's Word is True: The fulfillment of prophecies like this one affirms the reliability and power of God's declarations. What He says, He will do.

This verse ultimately points to God's ultimate control over history and His commitment to establishing justice on the earth, a theme echoed throughout the prophetic books and culminating in the final establishment of His righteous kingdom.

Note: Commentary was generated by an advanced AI, utilizing a prompt that emphasized Biblical fidelity over bias. We've found these insights to be consistently reliable, yet we always encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

  • Jeremiah 6:12

    And their houses shall be turned unto others, [with their] fields and wives together: for I will stretch out my hand upon the inhabitants of the land, saith the LORD.

  • Ezekiel 6:14

    So will I stretch out my hand upon them, and make the land desolate, yea, more desolate than the wilderness toward Diblath, in all their habitations: and they shall know that I [am] the LORD.

  • Jeremiah 15:6

    Thou hast forsaken me, saith the LORD, thou art gone backward: therefore will I stretch out my hand against thee, and destroy thee; I am weary with repenting.

  • Ezekiel 35:7

    Thus will I make mount Seir most desolate, and cut off from it him that passeth out and him that returneth.

  • 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.

  • Nahum 2:13

    Behold, I [am] against thee, saith the LORD of hosts, and I will burn her chariots in the smoke, and the sword shall devour thy young lions: and I will cut off thy prey from the earth, and the voice of thy messengers shall no more be heard.

  • Jeremiah 51:25

    Behold, I [am] against thee, O destroying mountain, saith the LORD, which destroyest all the earth: and I will stretch out mine hand upon thee, and roll thee down from the rocks, and will make thee a burnt mountain.

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