and say to it, Thus says the Lord GOD: Behold, I am against you, Mount Seir, and I will stretch out my hand against you, and I will make you a desolation and a waste.
English Standard Version (ESV)
It's easy to hear "I am against you" as just divine anger, but this declaration to Mount Seir (Edom) is more specific: God's opposition is a direct response to their enmity against His people. The phrase "I will stretch out my hand" isn't just about power, but about an inevitable, sweeping judgment that will make their land utterly empty and astonished.
and say to it, Thus says the Lord GOD: Behold, I am against you, Mount Seir, and I will stretch out my hand against you, and I will make you a desolation and a waste.
English Standard Version (ESV)
The prophet Ezekiel is delivering a prophecy directed at Mount Seir, the land of Edom, which is being personified as an individual recipient. This message comes after Ezekiel has been prophesying judgment against the surrounding nations and also against the unfaithful leaders of Israel. The Edomites had shown particular malice towards Israel, rejoicing in their downfall and even participating in the destruction of Jerusalem. Therefore, God declares His direct opposition to Edom, promising a complete and utter devastation of their land as a consequence of their actions.
Have you ever felt like the whole world is against you? This verse shows God directly confronting an entire nation. It's not a vague threat; it's intensely personal.
God Takes Sides
The Lord God declares, 'Behold, I am against you, Mount Seir.' This isn't just judgment; it's a declaration of divine opposition. God isn't neutral when His people are attacked. Mount Seir, representing the Edomites, had a history of hostility toward Israel, reveling in their downfall during the Babylonian exile. God’s ‘againstness’ means He actively opposes their destructive actions and attitude.
An Inevitable Judgment
The phrase 'I will stretch out my hand against you' signifies an unavoidable and powerful judgment. God’s hand, when stretched out in wrath, is immense and inescapable. It’s a visible sign of His power being deployed to bring about their destruction. This isn't a human war, but a divine act that no earthly power can thwart.
What does it mean for a place to become 'most desolate'? It’s more than just ruins; it's a total erasure of presence and purpose.
Beyond Ruins
The Lord declares He will 'make you a desolation and a waste.' This isn't just about physical destruction; it's about utter emptiness. Imagine a vibrant city or a fertile land reduced to nothing – no inhabitants, no life, no future. The Hebrew phrasing emphasizes a double measure of ruin, signifying a complete and absolute end.
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A Warning to Nations
This prophecy serves as a stark warning. God’s judgment isn't arbitrary; it’s a consequence of nations acting as enemies to His chosen people. While a remnant of Edom might eventually call on God's name, their destructive actions in Ezekiel's time warranted this severe, sweeping judgment. Their very land would become a testament to God's wrath.
Understand the original words
Adonai Yahweh · Hebrew Proper Noun
The Sovereign Lord or Master; a title emphasizing God's absolute authority, lordship, and supreme right to command both his servants and the nations.
yad · Hebrew Noun
An anthropomorphic expression denoting God's active power and intervention in history to execute judgment or salvation. Stretching out the hand signifies the initiation of divine action against an object of judgment.
shemamah · Hebrew Noun
A state of total ruin, emptiness, and abandonment resulting from divine judgment. It describes a place stripped of life, security, and productivity due to sin.
Edom's betrayal during Jerusalem's fall and subsequent exile, rather than being a minor historical footnote, became a profound spiritual offense. Ezekiel's prophecy reveals that God's judgment isn't just on political enemies, but on those who act with ruthless hatred against His chosen people.
c. 588-586 BC— this verse
Siege and Fall of Jerusalem
During the Babylonian siege of Jerusalem, the Edomites allied with the Babylonians, attacking Judean refugees fleeing the city and looting its property. This act of hostility against their kinsmen deeply angered God and the Judean exiles.
c. 585 BC
Babylonian Exile Intensifies
Following the destruction of Jerusalem, many Judeans were deported to Babylon, where Ezekiel was ministering. The prophet's words of judgment against Edom would have resonated strongly with the traumatized exiles who had suffered greatly from Edom's betrayal.
c. 540 BC
Ezekiel's Prophecies Circulate
Ezekiel's prophecies, including the judgment against Mount Seir (Edom), were likely shared among the Judean exiles in Babylon, offering them a sense of divine justice and future restoration.
c. 539 BC
Cyrus the Great Conquers Babylon
The rise of the Persian Empire under Cyrus marked a turning point for the exiles. This event set the stage for their eventual return to Jerusalem, fulfilling prophecies of both judgment on their enemies and restoration for God's people.
This passage parallels the destruction of Mount Seir by describing Edom as a place of horror and ruin, highlighting a consistent prophetic theme of divine judgment on those who oppose God's people.
Obadiah 1:10Similar to Ezekiel's prophecy, Obadiah declares a complete overthrow and destruction for Edom, emphasizing that their violence against Jacob would result in their own permanent ruin.
Psalm 137:7This psalm voices the deep pain of Jerusalem's destruction, invoking God's judgment on Edom for their cruel rejoicing and participation in the downfall of Judah, echoing the divine opposition mentioned in Ezekiel.
Isaiah 34:5-6Isaiah prophesies God's judgment against Edom, describing His sword descending upon them and making them utterly desolate, a powerful foreshadowing of the judgment detailed in Ezekiel 35.
gillEzekiel 35:3: "And say unto it, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, O mount Seir, I am against thee, and I will stretch out mine hand against thee, and I will make thee most desolate."
And say unto it, thus saith the Lord God,.... The prophet was not upon the spot, and could not direct his speech immediately to the Edomites; but he might send this prophecy to their ambassadors at Babylon; or in a letter to them in their own land, in the name of the Lord: behold, O Mount Seir, I am against thee: no…
clarkeEzekiel 35:3: "And say unto it, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, O mount Seir, I am against thee, and I will stretch out mine hand against thee, and I will make thee most desolate."
Most desolate - Literally, "A desolation and a wilderness."
It's easy to hear "I am against you" as just divine anger, but this declaration to Mount Seir (Edom) is more specific: God's opposition is a direct response to their enmity against His people. The phrase "I will stretch out my hand" isn't just about power, but about an inevitable, sweeping judgment that will make their land utterly empty and astonished.
The prophet Ezekiel is delivering a prophecy directed at Mount Seir, the land of Edom, which is being personified as an individual recipient. This message comes after Ezekiel has been prophesying judgment against the surrounding nations and also against the unfaithful leaders of Israel. The Edomites had shown particular malice towards Israel, rejoicing in their downfall and even participating in the destruction of Jerusalem. Therefore, God declares His direct opposition to Edom, promising a complete and utter devastation of their land as a consequence of their actions.
The prophet Ezekiel is delivering a prophecy directed at Mount Seir, the land of Edom, which is being personified as an individual recipient. This message comes after Ezekiel has been prophesying judgment against the surrounding nations and also against the unfaithful leaders of Israel. The Edomites had shown particular malice towards Israel, rejoicing in their downfall and even participating in the destruction of Jerusalem. Therefore, God declares His direct opposition to Edom, promising a complete and utter devastation of their land as a consequence of their actions.
"and say to it, Thus says the Lord GOD: Behold, I am against you, Mount Seir, and I will stretch out my hand against you, and I will make you a desolation and a waste." — It's easy to hear "I am against you" as just divine anger, but this declaration to Mount Seir (Edom) is more specific: God's opposition is a direct response to their enmity against His people. The…
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Last reviewed October 2026