Ezekiel 35:3-4
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This prophecy isn't just about a geographical location; it's a personal declaration from God. "I am against you, Mount Seir," God says, treating the place as a representative of the people dwelling there, highlighting the intense, personal nature of divine judgment against their actions. The repeated phrase "most desolate" emphasizes that their utter ruin will be a profound and undeniable sign of whose hand brought it.
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. I will lay your cities waste, and you shall become a desolation, and you shall know that I am the LORD.
English Standard Version (ESV)
This prophecy is directed at Mount Seir, which represents the nation of Edom, for their ongoing hatred and mistreatment of God's people, particularly during the exile of Judah. Just as God is about to restore Israel, He declares His judgment is now coming upon Edom for their cruel actions. The message is a stark warning that their land and nation will be utterly laid waste as a consequence of their opposition to God and His chosen people.
When God declares He is 'against' someone, it’s not a maybe, it’s a definitive statement of opposition. What does this divine declaration truly mean?
The phrase "I am against you" isn't about God being capricious or picking favorites. It's about His fundamental opposition to sin, injustice, and those who actively harm His people. For Mount Seir (Edom), this opposition stemmed from their brutal actions against the Israelites during the Babylonian exile. Their joy in Israel's suffering and their own attempts to usurp Israel’s land triggered a direct response from the Lord.
This isn't just about ancient history. It speaks to the core of God's character: He is a God of justice who will not tolerate the exploitation and hatred of His chosen ones. When we see injustice, especially against those who follow God, we are seeing a situation where God's righteous opposition is ignited.
God's opposition isn't passive. He actively intervenes. What does it mean for God to 'stretch out His hand'?
The imagery of God 'stretching out His hand' is powerful. It signifies an active, intentional, and unavoidable judgment. This isn't a distant threat; it's a tangible force about to strike. For Mount Seir, this meant their land would be utterly devastated – reduced to 'desolation and a waste'.
This divine action underscores that God's justice isn't merely a concept; it's a force that reshapes nations and landscapes. It serves as a stark warning: attempting to destroy or delight in the destruction of God's people will result in facing the full weight of His corrective power.
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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.
Yahweh · Hebrew Proper Noun
The covenant name of God, revealing His self-existence, faithfulness, and eternal nature. God acts so that the nations may recognize His unique identity and sovereignty as the only true God.
This prophecy against Mount Seir (Edom) comes in the immediate aftermath of Jerusalem's destruction, a time when Edom's hostility towards Judah was particularly egregious. The judgment pronounced here is a direct response to their actions during the Babylonian conquest.
c. 605 BC
Nebuchadnezzar's First Deportation of Jews
Babylon under Nebuchadnezzar begins deporting skilled Jewish citizens to Babylon, marking the start of the Babylonian Exile and increasing tensions in the region.
587-586 BC— this verse
Fall of Jerusalem and Destruction of the Temple
Nebuchadnezzar conquers Jerusalem, destroys the Temple, and deports the majority of the remaining Jewish population to Babylon. The Edomites are noted for their hostile actions against the fleeing Jews.
c. 585 BC
Ezekiel Prophesies Against Edom
Ezekiel delivers prophecies of judgment against the Edomites (Mount Seir) for their actions during Jerusalem's fall, including this passage in chapter 35.
c. 580 BC
Obadiah's Prophecy Against Edom
The prophet Obadiah delivers a short, fierce prophecy against Edom, echoing themes of judgment and desolation for their pride and betrayal of Judah.
Late 6th century BC
Edomites Settle in Southern Judah
Following the destruction of Jerusalem, Edomites began to move into the southern territory of Judah, displacing or absorbing the remaining Jewish population there.
c. 312 BC
Nabataean Influence Grows
The Nabataeans, an Arab people, displace the Edomites from their traditional homeland in Mount Seir, forcing them further north and west.
This passage echoes Ezekiel's judgment against Mount Seir, warning that Edom's pride led them to believe they were secure, yet God would bring them down to utter desolation, mirroring the prophetic declaration of God's hand against Seir.
Obadiah 1:10Obadiah directly links the judgment on Edom (Mount Seir) to their violence against their brother Jacob, stating they will be cut off and brought to shame, reinforcing the reason for God's opposition declared in Ezekiel 35:3.
Isaiah 34:5-6This prophetic passage describes God's sword being directed against Edom for judgment, declaring that his sword will be satiated with their blood and flesh, underscoring the severity of the 'hand stretched out' mentioned in Ezekiel.
Ezekiel 25:12This verse speaks of God's vengeance against Edom for their ancient grudge and acting against Judah, promising to stretch out His hand against them and make them desolate, directly paralleling the threat in Ezekiel 35:3.
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."
This prophecy isn't just about a geographical location; it's a personal declaration from God. "I am against you, Mount Seir," God says, treating the place as a representative of the people dwelling there, highlighting the intense, personal nature of divine judgment against their actions. The repeated phrase "most desolate" emphasizes that their utter ruin will be a profound and undeniable sign of whose hand brought it.
This prophecy is directed at Mount Seir, which represents the nation of Edom, for their ongoing hatred and mistreatment of God's people, particularly during the exile of Judah. Just as God is about to restore Israel, He declares His judgment is now coming upon Edom for their cruel actions. The message is a stark warning that their land and nation will be utterly laid waste as a consequence of their opposition to God and His chosen people.
This prophecy is directed at Mount Seir, which represents the nation of Edom, for their ongoing hatred and mistreatment of God's people, particularly during the exile of Judah. Just as God is about to restore Israel, He declares His judgment is now coming upon Edom for their cruel actions. The message is a stark warning that their land and nation will be utterly laid waste as a consequence of their opposition to God and His chosen people.
"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. I will lay your cities waste, and you shall become a desolation, and you…" — This prophecy isn't just about a geographical location; it's a personal declaration from God. "I am against you, Mount Seir," God says, treating the place as a representative of the people dwelling…
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Last reviewed October 2026
