Ezekiel25
New American Standard
1And the word of the Lord came to me, saying,
2“Son of man, set your face against the sons of Ammon and prophesy against them,
3and say to the sons of Ammon, ‘Hear the word of the Lord God! This is what the Lord God says: “Because you said, ‘Aha!’ against My sanctuary when it was profaned, and against the land of Israel when it was made desolate, and against the house of Judah when they went into exile,
4therefore, behold, I am going to give you to the people of the east as a possession, and they will set up their encampments among you and make their dwellings among you; they will eat your fruit and drink your milk.
5I will make Rabbah a pasture for camels, and the sons of Ammon a resting place for flocks. Then you will know that I am the Lord.”
6For this is what the Lord God says: “Because you have clapped your hands and stamped your feet, and have rejoiced with all the malice in your soul against the land of Israel,
7therefore, behold, I have reached out with My hand against you and I will give you as plunder to the nations. And I will cut you off from the peoples and eliminate you from the lands. I will exterminate you. So you will know that I am the Lord.”
8‘The Lord God says this: “Because Moab and Seir say, ‘Behold, the house of Judah is like all the nations,’
9therefore, behold, I am going to deprive the flank of Moab of its cities, of its cities which are on its frontiers, the glory of the land, Beth-jeshimoth, Baal-meon, and Kiriathaim;
10and I will give it as a possession along with the sons of Ammon to the people of the east, so that the sons of Ammon will not be remembered among the nations.
11So I will execute judgments on Moab, and they will know that I am the Lord.”
12‘The Lord God says this: “Because Edom has acted against the house of Judah by taking vengeance, and has incurred great guilt, and avenged themselves upon them,”
13therefore this is what the Lord God says: “I will also reach out with My hand against Edom and eliminate human and animal life from it. And I will turn it into ruins; from Teman even to Dedan they will fall by the sword.
14And I will inflict My vengeance on Edom by the hand of My people Israel. Therefore, they will act in Edom in accordance with My anger and My wrath; so they will know My vengeance,” declares the Lord God.
15‘This is what the Lord God says: “Because the Philistines have acted in revenge, and have taken vengeance with malice in their souls to destroy with everlasting hostility,”
16therefore this is what the Lord God says: “Behold, I am going to reach out with My hand against the Philistines and eliminate the Cherethites; and I will destroy the remnant of the seacoast.
17I will execute great vengeance on them with wrathful rebukes; and they will know that I am the Lord, when I inflict My vengeance on them.”’”
Study Guide
Public-domain commentary and original-language notes for Ezekiel 25.
Chapter Summary
In this chapter: Judgments against the Ammonites. (1-7). Against the Moabites, Edomites, and Philistines. (8-17).
vv1-7
It is wicked to be glad at the calamities of any, especially of God's people; it is a sin for which he will surely reckon. God will make it appear that he is the God of Israel, though he suffers them for a time to be captives in Babylon. It is better to know Him, and to be poor, than to be rich and ignorant of him.
vv8-17
Though one event seem to the righteous and wicked, it is vastly different. Those who glory in any other defence and protection than the Divine power, providence, and promise, will, sooner or later, be ashamed of their glorying. Those who will not leave it to God to take vengeance for them, may expect that he will take vengeance on them. The equity of the Lord's judgments is to be observed, when he not only avenges injuries upon those that did them, but by those against whom they were done. Those who treasure up old hatred, and watch for the opportunity of manifesting it, are treasuring up for themselves wrath against the day of wrath.
Key Words
דָּבָר: a word; by implication, a matter (as spoken of) or thing; adverbially, a cause
אָמַר: to say (used with great latitude)
בֵּן: a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative relationship, including grandson, subject, nation, quality or condition, etc., (like father or brother), etc.)
אָדָם: ruddy i.e. a human being (an individual or the species, mankind, etc.)
שׂוּם: to put (used in a great variety of applications, literal, figurative, inferentially, and elliptically)
פָּנִים: the face (as the part that turns); used in a great variety of applications (literally and figuratively); also (with prepositional prefix) as a preposition (before, etc.)
נָבָא: to prophesy, i.e. speak (or sing) by inspiration (in prediction or simple discourse)
עַל: above, over, upon, or against (yet always in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great variety of applications
שָׁמַע: to hear intelligently (often with implication of attention, obedience, etc.; causatively, to tell, etc.)
אֲדֹנָי: the Lord (used as a proper name of God only)
Cross References
Ezekiel 25Parallels Ammon's pride, taunts, and "Aha" against God's people, with subsequent judgment by eastern tribes.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Detailed indictment of Edom's active vengeance and rejoicing over Judah's day of calamity.
Supported by Matthew Henry, JFB
Ezekiel's closely related prophecy concerning the sword drawn against the insulting Ammonites.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Historical conspiracy of confederate nations, including Moab, Ammon, and Edom (Seir), against Israel.
Supported by JFB
Extended prophecy against Mount Seir (Edom) for its perpetual hatred and vengeance against Israel.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Jeremiah's parallel judgment on Edom, mentioning Teman and Dedan being laid waste.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Amos's earlier prophecy against Ammon for their cruel boundary-stretching and hostility.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Jeremiah's extensive judgment on Moab, matching Ezekiel's warning of Moab's impending ruin.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Prophecy of Israel laying hand upon Edom and Moab, executing God's anger.
Supported by Matthew Henry, JFB
Amos condemns the Philistines for their relentless enmity and taking captive whole communities.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Parallel judgment on the Philistines and Cherethites by the sea coast.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Explains the prophetic posture "set thy face against" as a sign of divine menace.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Lists the frontier cities of Reuben, including Baal-meon, later reclaimed by Moab.
Supported by JFB
Identifies the Cherethites in the southern territory associated with Philistine geography.
Supported by Matthew Poole