Ezekiel Chapter 35

What is the meaning of Ezekiel 35?

Introduction to Ezekiel 35

Ezekiel 35 presents a divine oracle against Edom (Mount Seir), revealing God’s righteous judgment against those who harbor perpetual hatred against His people. This powerful chapter serves as both a historical indictment against ancient Edom and a timeless warning about the consequences of sustained animosity against God’s covenant people. The prophecy demonstrates how God deals with nations that rejoice in Israel’s calamities and seek to possess what יהוה has set apart for His purposes.

Context of Ezekiel 35

This oracle against Edom appears strategically placed between prophecies of Israel’s restoration (chapters 34 and 36), highlighting the contrast between God’s treatment of those who oppose His people and His faithfulness to His covenant promises. The placement emphasizes that the restoration of Israel necessitates the judgment of their enemies who sought to thwart God’s purposes.

The broader context connects to the ancient enmity between Jacob (Israel) and Esau (Edom), dating back to their struggle in Rebekah’s womb. This ancestral conflict evolved into national hostility, culminating in Edom’s betrayal during Jerusalem’s fall to Babylon. The chapter exemplifies how unresolved bitterness can perpetuate through generations, eventually bringing divine judgment.

Ancient Key Word Study

• Mount Seir (הַר-שֵׂעִיר): More than just a geographical location, this term symbolizes the entire Edomite nation. The word “Seir” means “hairy” or “rough,” connecting to Esau’s physical description and suggesting the rugged, mountainous territory they inhabited.
• Perpetual Enmity (אֵיבַת עוֹלָם): This phrase denotes an enduring, generational hatred. The root word for enmity (איב) implies active hostility, while עוֹלָם emphasizes its permanent, unending nature.
• Desolate (שְׁמָמָה): Used repeatedly in the chapter, this term signifies complete abandonment and ruin. The root שׁמם conveys the idea of being appalled, suggesting both physical destruction and emotional horror.
• Blood (דָם): In Hebrew thought, blood represents life itself. The repeated reference to blood in this chapter connects to both violence and legal guilt, emphasizing Edom’s bloodguilt.
• Inheritance (יְרֻשָּׁה): This term carries legal and covenant implications, referring to divinely appointed possession. Edom’s desire to possess Israel’s inheritance represented a direct challenge to God’s sovereign choices.
• Know (יָדַע): This verb, appearing multiple times, implies more than mental knowledge. It suggests experiential recognition of יהוה’s sovereignty through His acts of judgment.
• Magnified (גָּדַל): When used in the context of speaking against God, this term indicates arrogant self-exaltation, directly challenging divine authority.
• Return (שׁוּב): This key covenant term implies both physical return and spiritual restoration, contrasting with Edom’s permanent desolation.

Compare & Contrast

• Verse 2’s use of “set your face against” (שִׂים פָּנֶיךָ) deliberately echoes similar prophetic announcements, emphasizing divine authority. The alternative phrase “speak against” would lack the personal, confrontational nature of this prophetic stance.
• In verse 5, the phrase “perpetual enmity” was chosen over potential alternatives like “ancient hatred” to emphasize the ongoing, active nature of Edom’s hostility. The Hebrew construction stresses the unending quality of this enmity.
• Verse 6’s repetition of “blood” creates a powerful wordplay with Edom’s actions – since they did not hate (שָׂנֵא) blood, blood shall pursue them. The alternative construction would lose this poetic justice element.
• The use of “desolate” (שְׁמָמָה) in verses 7, 9, and 15 creates a deliberate echo effect, emphasizing complete destruction. Alternative terms like “waste” or “ruins” would miss the emotional and spiritual dimensions of the judgment.
• Verse 10’s phrase “two nations and two countries” emphasizes both the political and territorial aspects of Edom’s ambition. The repetition strengthens the gravity of their offense against divine sovereignty.
• The declaration “יהוה was there” in verse 10 uses the divine name to emphasize God’s presence and ownership, making Edom’s claim particularly egregious.
• Verse 11’s “according to your anger” (כְּאַפְּךָ) creates a measure-for-measure principle in God’s judgment, showing divine justice perfectly matching the offense.

Ezekiel 35 Unique Insights

The chapter presents a fascinating theological principle of divine retribution known in Hebrew as middah k’neged middah (measure for measure). This concept appears in early rabbinical literature, particularly in the Mishnah Sotah, which teaches that God’s justice perfectly corresponds to human actions. In Ezekiel 35, Edom’s hatred of blood leads to blood pursuing them, and their desire to possess two lands results in their complete dispossession.

The repeated use of the recognition formula “then you will know that I am יהוה” carries special significance in this context. Early Jewish commentators, particularly Rashi and Ibn Ezra, noted that this phrase appears in contexts where God’s justice becomes evident even to His enemies. This reveals a crucial aspect of divine judgment – it serves not only as punishment but as revelation of God’s character.

The prophecy contains a subtle but significant wordplay on Edom’s name, which means “red.” Their bloodthirsty nature (associated with red) leads to bloodguilt, creating a powerful theological statement about how a nation’s character determines its destiny. This aligns with early Christian interpretations, such as those found in Jerome’s commentary, which saw Edom as representing forces opposed to God’s kingdom.

The concept of “perpetual enmity” in this chapter connects to the broader biblical theme of two seeds (Genesis 3:15), which early Jewish believers in Yeshua understood as foreshadowing the cosmic conflict between God’s kingdom and its opponents. The Targum Jonathan makes this connection explicit, interpreting Edom’s hostility as part of this larger spiritual warfare.

Ezekiel 35 Connections to Yeshua

The judgment against Edom prefigures the Messiah’s final victory over all forces opposing God’s kingdom. Yeshua’s teachings about the kingdom of God often referenced this ultimate triumph over enemies who, like Edom, exalt themselves against divine authority (Matthew 23:12).

This chapter’s emphasis on blood guilt finds its resolution in Yeshua’s atoning work. While Edom faced judgment for shedding blood, the Messiah’s blood provides cleansing and redemption. This contrast highlights the transformation from the old covenant’s blood of judgment to the new covenant’s blood of mercy (Hebrews 9:11-14).

Ezekiel 35 Scriptural Echoes

The prophecy resonates with multiple biblical passages. It echoes Obadiah’s oracle against Edom, sharing themes of pride and divine retribution. The concept of perpetual enmity connects to the ancient conflict described in Genesis 27:41.

The theme of divine inheritance and its inviolability appears throughout Scripture, from the promises to Abraham (Genesis 15:7) to the New Testament’s teaching about the believer’s eternal inheritance (1 Peter 1:4).

The recognition formula links to Exodus, where God’s judgments against Egypt led to recognition of His sovereignty (Exodus 7:5). This theme continues through Scripture, culminating in the universal acknowledgment of Yeshua’s lordship (Philippians 2:10-11).

Ezekiel 35 Devotional

This chapter challenges us to examine our hearts for any root of bitterness or generational enmity that might be growing. Just as Edom’s hatred festered over generations, we must guard against allowing past hurts to develop into sustained animosity.

The prophecy reminds us that God sees and judges those who rejoice in others’ calamities. This calls us to cultivate compassion even toward those we might consider enemies, reflecting Yeshua’s teaching to love our enemies and pray for those who persecute us.

We’re also reminded that God’s promises are irrevocable. Just as He preserved Israel’s inheritance despite Edom’s attempts to seize it, we can trust His faithfulness to maintain our spiritual inheritance in Messiah.

Did You Know

• The territory of Edom, centered around Mount Seir, was naturally fortified by steep cliffs and narrow passes, leading to their overconfidence in their security.
• Archaeological evidence has confirmed the complete destruction of Edom’s major cities during the period following this prophecy, exactly as predicted.
• The Hebrew word for “perpetual” (עולם) in this chapter appears over 400 times in the Hebrew Bible, often in contexts relating to God’s eternal nature and promises.
• Early Jewish traditions record that Edom’s betrayal during Jerusalem’s fall included guiding Babylonian soldiers to hidden escape routes used by fleeing Israelites.
• The strategic location of Edom along major trade routes contributed to their wealth and pride, factors specifically addressed in this prophecy.
• Mount Seir’s name derives from its appearance – the word “seir” means hairy or rough, perfectly describing its rugged terrain.
• The repetition of blood imagery in this chapter (appearing seven times) creates a deliberate literary structure emphasizing divine justice.
• Historical records show that Edom, unlike many ancient nations, maintained its distinct hatred of Israel across nearly a millennium of interactions.
• The placement of this prophecy between restoration promises creates a literary envelope structure common in Hebrew poetry and prophecy.