Ezekiel 35:12
And you shall know that I am the LORD. “I have heard all the revilings that you uttered against the mountains of Israel, saying, ‘They are laid desolate; they are given us to devour.’
English Standard Version (ESV)
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It's easy to read "blasphemies" and think only of direct insults against God, but here the text reveals that Edom's reproaches against Israel's land were considered blasphemy. God declares He heard their taunts, "They are laid desolate, they are given us to devour," understanding that these attacks on His people and their inheritance were actually attacks on His own name and faithfulness. He didn't just overhear; He heard with the intent to respond.
The prophet Ezekiel is pronouncing judgment against Edom for their relentless hostility towards Israel, particularly during Jerusalem's downfall. Edom actively rejoiced in Israel's suffering, even boasting that the desolated land of Israel was theirs for the taking, and in doing so, they had essentially insulted God himself. This passage highlights that God hears every hateful word spoken against His people, viewing it as direct defiance against Him.
Ever feel like your angry words or bitter thoughts go unheard? God wants you to know He's listening, even to the harshest criticisms aimed at His people.
The Edomites looked at the devastated land of Israel and scoffed, 'They are laid desolate; they are given us to devour.' This wasn't just idle gossip; it was a direct insult aimed at God Himself.
Mocking God's People is Mocking God
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When God says 'I know,' it's not just an observation; it's a prelude to action. Get ready for what happens when God has heard enough.
The verse opens and closes with a powerful declaration: 'And you shall know that I am the LORD.' This isn't a request for acknowledgment; it's a promise of divine intervention.
Knowing God Through His Judgments
Understand the original words
YHWH · Hebrew Noun
The sovereign, self-existent covenant God of Israel (Yahweh), who reveals Himself through His redemptive and judicial acts.
ni'atsah · Hebrew Noun
Blasphemous, contemptuous, or insulting language directed against God or His people, implying a rejection of His authority.
shemamah · Hebrew Adjective/Noun
A state of being laid waste, destroyed, or left empty, often as a result of divine judgment for disobedience or hostility against God.
This prophecy comes after the devastating fall of Jerusalem and the Temple, a time when the Edomites, descendants of Esau and rivals to Israel, gleefully took advantage of Judah's destruction, even settling in its depopulated lands and mocking God. Ezekiel's message here is God's direct response to their cruel taunts and greedy claims over His chosen land.
c. 734-732 BC
Assyrian invasions of Israel
The Neo-Assyrian Empire begins its conquest of the northern Kingdom of Israel, leading to the eventual destruction of Samaria and the deportation of Israelites.
597 BC
First Babylonian deportation of Judah
Nebuchadnezzar II of Babylon deports a portion of the Judean elite and skilled laborers to Babylon, including King Jehoiachin. This marks the beginning of Judah's exile.
587/586 BC
Fall of Jerusalem and destruction of the Temple
The Babylonians conquer Jerusalem, destroy Solomon's Temple, and deport most of the remaining population to Babylon. This event devastates the people of Judah.
Post-586 BC— this verse
Edom's exultation over devastated Judah
Following the Babylonian conquest, the Edomites occupy and claim parts of southern Judah, rejoicing in the desolation of their ancestral enemies and God's people.
c. 540 BC
Ezekiel's prophetic ministry
Ezekiel, an exile in Babylon, delivers prophecies of judgment against surrounding nations, including Edom, for their actions against God's people during and after the Babylonian conquest.
539 BC
Cyrus the Great conquers Babylon
The Persian Empire under Cyrus conquers Babylon, opening the door for the Jewish exiles to eventually return to Jerusalem.
This passage echoes the idea that God is not to be trifled with, stating, 'Talk no more so very proudly, let not arrogance come from your mouth, for the LORD is a God of knowledge, and by him actions are weighed.' It directly parallels the Lord hearing and knowing all arrogant words spoken against His people.
Matthew 25:45Jesus explicitly states that neglecting or harming 'the least of these' is equivalent to neglecting or harming Him. This highlights the principle that actions and words against God's people are seen by God as directed against Himself, just as Edom's taunts against Israel were heard by the LORD.
Psalm 79:10This psalm expresses a plea to God regarding the nations' taunts, asking, 'Why should the nations say, “Where is their God?”' This resonates with the Edomites' rejoicing and thinking God had abandoned Israel, a sentiment the LORD promises to make them recognize He heard.
Luke 10:16Jesus tells his disciples, 'Whoever listens to you listens to me; whoever rejects you rejects me; but whoever rejects me rejects him who sent me.' This reinforces the divine connection between God's messengers and Himself, mirroring how Edom's contempt for Israel was seen as blasphemy against the LORD.
Revelation 13:6This passage describes the beast opening its mouth 'to utter blasphemies against God, blaspheming his name and his dwelling, that is, those who dwell in heaven.' It shows the ongoing spiritual warfare where opposition to God's people is framed as direct defiance of God Himself.
pooleEzekiel 35:12: "And thou shalt know that I am the LORD, and that I have heard all thy blasphemies which thou hast spoken against the mountains of Israel, saying, They are laid desolate, they are given us to consume."
Thou didst reproach, scoff, and vilify my people, as if they had been the people of some deaf idol; but I will make thee know I am the Lord, who heard all thy blasphemies, and can, for I have punished them. Which thou hast spoken ; not speaking this without insulting and rejoicing,…
jfbEzekiel 35:12: "And thou shalt know that I am the LORD, and that I have heard all thy blasphemies which thou hast spoken against the mountains of Israel, saying, They are laid desolate, they are given us to consume."
12, 13. blasphemies … against … Israel … against me—God regards what is done against His people as done against Himself (Mt 25:45; Ac 9:2, 4, 5). Edom implied, if he did not express it, in his taunts against Israel, that God had not sufficient power to protect His people. A type of…
It's easy to read "blasphemies" and think only of direct insults against God, but here the text reveals that Edom's reproaches against Israel's land were considered blasphemy. God declares He heard their taunts, "They are laid desolate, they are given us to devour," understanding that these attacks on His people and their inheritance were actually attacks on His own name and faithfulness. He didn't just overhear; He heard with the intent to respond.
The prophet Ezekiel is pronouncing judgment against Edom for their relentless hostility towards Israel, particularly during Jerusalem's downfall. Edom actively rejoiced in Israel's suffering, even boasting that the desolated land of Israel was theirs for the taking, and in doing so, they had essentially insulted God himself. This passage highlights that God hears every hateful word spoken against His people, viewing it as direct defiance against Him.
The prophet Ezekiel is pronouncing judgment against Edom for their relentless hostility towards Israel, particularly during Jerusalem's downfall. Edom actively rejoiced in Israel's suffering, even boasting that the desolated land of Israel was theirs for the taking, and in doing so, they had essentially insulted God himself. This passage highlights that God hears every hateful word spoken against His people, viewing it as direct defiance against Him.
"And you shall know that I am the LORD.
“I have heard all the revilings that you uttered against the mountains of Israel, saying, ‘They are laid desolate; they are given us to devour.’" — It's easy to read "blasphemies" and think only of direct insults against God, but here the text reveals that Edom's reproaches against Israel's land were considered blasphemy. God declares He heard…
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