For thus says the Lord GOD: Because you have clapped your hands and stamped your feet and rejoiced with all the malice within your soul against the land of Israel,
English Standard Version (ESV)
God's judgment here isn't just for a feeling, but for the actions that broadcast pure, malicious delight. The clapping hands and stamping feet weren't just casual expressions; they were outward, physical displays of scorn and hatred, showing the fullness of their wicked joy against Israel.
For thus says the Lord GOD: Because you have clapped your hands and stamped your feet and rejoiced with all the malice within your soul against the land of Israel,
English Standard Version (ESV)
The Lord is speaking directly to the Ammonites here, denouncing their gleeful reaction to Jerusalem's destruction. The Ammonites had expressed their malicious delight with outward gestures of clapping and stomping, showing their deep-seated hatred for Israel. This verse sets up God's judgment against them for their spiteful exultation.
Have you ever seen someone's face light up with glee when something bad happens to someone else? Ezekiel 25:6 paints a vivid picture of this very thing.
The Ammonites expressed their deep-seated hatred for Israel through physical actions. Clapping hands and stamping feet weren't just casual gestures; they were outward displays of intense, malicious delight over Israel's suffering. This wasn't a quiet, private feeling – it was a celebration of another's downfall, fueled by scorn and contempt. God sees this inner malice and the outward expression of it. He notes their 'rejoicing with all the malice within your soul.' This shows us that God is attentive to our deepest attitudes and how they manifest, especially when directed towards His people.
The Ammonites thought their joy was just about Israel's troubles. But God's message reveals something deeper is at stake.
This passage emphasizes that God is not only aware of actions but also the 'malice within your soul.' The Ammonites' rejoicing was deeply personal and hateful. The commentaries highlight that their 'despite' was a profound hatred and contempt. This wasn't just political rivalry; it was a spiritual battle manifested as scorn for God's chosen people. God declares judgment precisely because of this deep-seated, malicious spirit. He saw their 'heartfelt rejoicing' as an affront, not just to Israel, but to Him. This reminds us that our attitudes towards God's people are often reflections of our attitude towards God Himself.
Understand the original words
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Adonai YHWH · Hebrew Noun
The Hebrew title 'Adonai,' signifying God as the sovereign Ruler, Master, and owner of all things, emphasizing His absolute authority over nations and individuals.
she'at nephesh · Hebrew Noun/Adjective phrase
An intense, deliberate feeling of hostility or ill-will towards others, often associated with deep-seated wickedness and a lack of compassion. Biblically, it is the opposite of the command to love one's neighbor.
The Ammonites' malicious joy at Jerusalem's destruction wasn't an isolated incident but part of a broader pattern of hostility from surrounding nations towards Israel, fueled by centuries of political and social conflict.
722 BC
Fall of the Northern Kingdom
The Assyrian Empire conquers the Northern Kingdom of Israel, exiling many of its people and scattering them among other nations. This event sows seeds of long-term animosity and distrust between the remaining Southern Kingdom (Judah) and its surrounding neighbors.
605 BC
First Deportation to Babylon
Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, attacks Jerusalem and deports a significant portion of the Judean elite, including the prophet Daniel. This marks the beginning of the Babylonian exile and a period of growing Babylonian dominance.
597 BC
Second Deportation to Babylon
Following a rebellion by Judah, Nebuchadnezzar deports more of Jerusalem's population, including King Jehoiachin and the prophet Ezekiel. This event deepens the crisis for the people of Judah.
586 BC— this verse
Destruction of Jerusalem and the Temple
Nebuchadnezzar utterly destroys Jerusalem, razes the Temple, and deports the remaining population, effectively ending the Davidic monarchy. This is a catastrophic event for Judah, leaving it desolate.
c. 585 BC
Ezekiel Prophesies Against Ammon
In the immediate aftermath of Jerusalem's destruction, Ezekiel pronounces judgment against the surrounding nations, including Ammon, for their malicious rejoicing over Judah's downfall. This prophecy, found in Ezekiel 25, directly addresses the Ammonites' sinful glee.
This passage describes Jerusalem's enemies clapping their hands and shouting in triumph, mirroring the malicious joy described in Ezekiel 25:6.
Ezekiel 6:11This earlier passage in Ezekiel also mentions clapping hands and stamping feet as expressions of shock and distress, but here in chapter 25, it's a gesture of malicious delight against God's people.
Psalm 137:7This Psalm speaks of Edom's encouragement of Jerusalem's destruction, showing a similar spirit of gloating and malice against God's chosen people, which is echoed in Ezekiel's prophecy.
Nahum 2:1This prophetic passage describes a destroyer who comes to scatter, and though the context is different, the intense emotional reaction of those witnessing destruction can be seen as a parallel to the exultation mentioned in Ezekiel.
gillEzekiel 25:6: "For thus saith the Lord GOD; Because thou hast clapped thine hands, and stamped with the feet, and rejoiced in heart with all thy despite against the land of Israel;"
For thus saith the Lord God,.... Their sin and punishment are further enlarged upon: because thou hast clapped thine hands, and stamped with thy feet: gestures expressive of joy and gladness, Isaiah 55:12, the Ammonites clapped their hands together, and leaped and skipped for joy, when they heard of the calamities o…
ellicottEzekiel 25:6: "For thus saith the Lord GOD; Because thou hast clapped thine hands, and stamped with the feet, and rejoiced in heart with all thy despite against the land of Israel;"
(6) Clapped thine hands, and stamped with the feet. —See Ezekiel 6:11 and Note there.
God's judgment here isn't just for a feeling, but for the actions that broadcast pure, malicious delight. The clapping hands and stamping feet weren't just casual expressions; they were outward, physical displays of scorn and hatred, showing the fullness of their wicked joy against Israel.
The Lord is speaking directly to the Ammonites here, denouncing their gleeful reaction to Jerusalem's destruction. The Ammonites had expressed their malicious delight with outward gestures of clapping and stomping, showing their deep-seated hatred for Israel. This verse sets up God's judgment against them for their spiteful exultation.
The Lord is speaking directly to the Ammonites here, denouncing their gleeful reaction to Jerusalem's destruction. The Ammonites had expressed their malicious delight with outward gestures of clapping and stomping, showing their deep-seated hatred for Israel. This verse sets up God's judgment against them for their spiteful exultation.
"For thus says the Lord GOD: Because you have clapped your hands and stamped your feet and rejoiced with all the malice within your soul against the land of Israel," — God's judgment here isn't just for a feeling, but for the actions that broadcast pure, malicious delight. The clapping hands and stamping feet weren't just casual expressions; they were outward, ph…
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Last reviewed October 2026