therefore, as I live, declares the Lord GOD, I will deal with you according to the anger and envy that you showed because of your hatred against them. And I will make myself known among them, when I judge you.
English Standard Version (ESV)
God's declaration isn't just about punishment; it's about revelation. He's going to make Himself known, not to the enemy who caused so much pain, but to His people, revealing His presence and favor through His righteous judgment on their oppressor. This judgment, then, becomes a profound display of His faithfulness to those He loves.
therefore, as I live, declares the Lord GOD, I will deal with you according to the anger and envy that you showed because of your hatred against them. And I will make myself known among them, when I judge you.
English Standard Version (ESV)
In this passage, God is directly confronting Mount Seir (representing the Edomites) for their deep-seated hatred and desire to possess the land of Israel. The Edomites gloated over Israel's downfall and actively sought their destruction. Now, God declares His intention to judge them, mirroring their own intense anger and envy against His people. This judgment will not only punish Edom but also reveal God's power and faithfulness to the people of Israel.
Ever felt like someone's rage was way out of proportion to the offense? God's about to give a lesson in righteous retribution, and it’s not subtle.
Ezekiel 35:11 lays out a principle of divine justice: God deals with people based on the motivations and intensity of their actions against His people.
The Principle of Reciprocity
God declares, 'I will deal with you according to the anger and envy that you showed because of your hatred against them.' This isn't a tit-for-tat of petty revenge. Instead, it's God responding to the depth and nature of Edom's malice. Their fierce hatred and envious desire to destroy Israel will be met with God’s own fierce judgment. It’s a holy anger against unholy hatred.
How can judgment reveal God? This verse suggests that when God acts, His true character and power are unveiled—not just to the wicked, but especially to the oppressed.
The second half of Ezekiel 35:11 holds a profound promise: 'And I will make myself known among them, when I judge you.' The 'them' here refers to the people of Israel.
Revelation Through Retribution
God's judgment on Edom isn't just about punishment; it's a divine unveiling. For Israel, who felt abandoned and battered, God's intervention and the downfall of their enemies would be a powerful demonstration that He is active, sovereign, and has not forgotten them. His judgment on their oppressor serves as a revelation of His faithfulness and might to His own people. It corrects any misconception that God is weak or indifferent.
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Understand the original words
chay ani · Hebrew Interjection/Verb phrase
A solemn oath formula used by God, affirming the absolute certainty and life-giving power of His existence in contrast to false idols.
aph · Hebrew Noun
A settled, intense indignation or divine retribution against evil, often displayed in God’s judgment of sin.
qin'ah · Hebrew Noun
A misplaced, zealous resentment or intense jealousy, often describing the intense feeling Edom had toward Israel’s status as God's chosen inheritance.
sin'ah · Hebrew Noun
An intense, deep-seated hostility or abhorrence toward others, frequently condemned in Scripture as contrary to the command to love one's neighbor.
shaphat · Hebrew Verb
The act of formal judicial assessment by God to punish wickedness and vindicate righteousness, often resulting in the display of His glory to the nations.
Ezekiel's prophecy against Edom (Mount Seir) arises directly from their brutal and hateful actions against their kinsmen, the Judeans, during and after the fall of Jerusalem. The verse emphasizes that God sees this specific, intense hatred and vows a reciprocal judgment.
c. 1375 BC
Edomites Supplant Traditional Territory
The Edomites, a nomadic people, settled in the mountainous region south of the Dead Sea, displacing the Horites. This marked a significant territorial presence for the Edomites in the region.
c. 10th Century BC
Saul and David Subdue Edom
During the reigns of Saul and David, the Israelites waged war against the Edomites, eventually bringing them under Israelite dominion. However, Edom maintained a distinct identity.
c. 9th Century BC
Edomish Revolt
After the division of the united monarchy, Edom revolted against Judah and regained its independence. This fostered a long-standing animosity between the two peoples.
605 BC
First Babylonian Deportation
Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon begins deporting Jewish elites and skilled workers to Babylon, marking the start of the Babylonian exile. This event intensified the suffering of Judah.
586 BC— this verse
Fall of Jerusalem and Temple Destruction
The Babylonians destroy Jerusalem and its sacred Temple, ending the Davidic monarchy and scattering the remaining Jewish population. This catastrophe is the backdrop against which Ezekiel prophesies.
c. 580 BC
Edom's Cruelty to Judah
During Jerusalem's fall and the subsequent exile, the Edomites sided with the Babylonians, actively participating in the destruction and mistreating fleeing Jews. This act of hatred is the specific focus of Ezekiel's prophecy against Mount Seir.
This passage echoes the principle that judgment will be without mercy for those who have shown no mercy, directly reflecting the idea in Ezekiel that God will deal with Edom 'according to the anger and envy' they displayed.
Amos 1:11This verse also speaks of divine judgment against Edom for their relentless hostility and their lack of compassion towards Israel, highlighting the persistent theme of God's retribution for such actions.
Psalm 103:8While Ezekiel focuses on God's judgment in response to hatred, this Psalm emphasizes God's inherent nature as merciful and compassionate, providing a contrast and a reminder of God's ultimate character, even in judgment.
Romans 12:19This New Testament passage offers a direct charge to believers not to 'take vengeance, but rather give place to wrath,' aligning with the concept that vengeance belongs to God, who will ultimately judge those who have acted out of malice like Edom.
Ezekiel 25:12-14These verses directly precede the passage in Ezekiel 35, detailing God's judgment against Edom for their 'vengeance' and 'enternal enmity,' showing that the declaration in 35:11 is part of a consistent prophetic message regarding Edom's fate.
gillEzekiel 35:11: "Therefore, as I live, saith the Lord GOD, I will even do according to thine anger, and according to thine envy which thou hast used out of thy hatred against them; and I will make myself known among them, when I have judged thee."
Therefore, as I live, saith the Lord,.... An oath, as before in Ezekiel 35:6 , I will do according to thine anger, and according to thine envy which thou hast used out of thy hatred against them: as thou hast been angry with them, and hated them, and d…
jfbEzekiel 35:11: "Therefore, as I live, saith the Lord GOD, I will even do according to thine anger, and according to thine envy which thou hast used out of thy hatred against them; and I will make myself known among them, when I have judged thee."
- according to thine anger—(Jas 2:13). As thou in anger and envy hast injured them, so I will injure thee.I will make myself known among them—namely, the Israelites. I will manifest My favor to them, after I have punished thee.
God's declaration isn't just about punishment; it's about revelation. He's going to make Himself known, not to the enemy who caused so much pain, but to His people, revealing His presence and favor through His righteous judgment on their oppressor. This judgment, then, becomes a profound display of His faithfulness to those He loves.
In this passage, God is directly confronting Mount Seir (representing the Edomites) for their deep-seated hatred and desire to possess the land of Israel. The Edomites gloated over Israel's downfall and actively sought their destruction. Now, God declares His intention to judge them, mirroring their own intense anger and envy against His people. This judgment will not only punish Edom but also reveal God's power and faithfulness to the people of Israel.
In this passage, God is directly confronting Mount Seir (representing the Edomites) for their deep-seated hatred and desire to possess the land of Israel. The Edomites gloated over Israel's downfall and actively sought their destruction. Now, God declares His intention to judge them, mirroring their own intense anger and envy against His people. This judgment will not only punish Edom but also reveal God's power and faithfulness to the people of Israel.
"therefore, as I live, declares the Lord GOD, I will deal with you according to the anger and envy that you showed because of your hatred against them. And I will make myself known among them, when I judge you." — God's declaration isn't just about punishment; it's about revelation. He's going to make Himself known, not to the enemy who caused so much pain, but to His people, revealing His presence and favor…
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Last reviewed October 2026